Merely a Monday in Animal Paradise at the Rancho-Paradiso

Not a lot going on today- which is fine with everyone here. After reading about the earthquakes in Reno, I realized I am not quite up to snuff with earthquake-preparedness, esp. when thinking of the animals to feed and water. So I've made a list and will make sure we have adequate supplies should something ever happen. Luckily we have a creek below us that if I had to I could get water out of for the donkeys. I further freaked myself out but stumbling upon an "Equine Emergency" website that talked about what to do in other disasters, like a fire- and how horses (and donkeys) should be trained to board a trailer if evacuation is necessary. Number one, we don't have a trailer (I think I will start looking for one)...and the idea of training Paco and Luigi to board one (especially after recalling their one and only venture into transportation thus far in the BMW) is not that appealing. The website even suggested training to load in the middle of the night, so everyone is used to doing it in the dark! Worse case scenario, we'll have to walk them out- so I think we should invest in some saddles soon so they'll be able to carry the dogs, hens and Boulder should we all need to leave the property!

Paco rather likes the idea of going some place.

Watching Farmer Randy.
Boulder in the grass.
The boys come in for dinner.
We have a zillion lizards this year.
They're everywhere!

If I were Toby I'd always have a sore neck.
Scratching on the metal post Randy put up to support the oak tree.
Sophia relaxes.
Kiss from Toby!
More kisses from Bravo!

Solo chats with Boulder.
Isabella stands guard.
Moth in the morning.
Hanging out at the benches.

Howard Lyman
Ethical vegetarian and fourth generation cattle rancher- turned-vegan for his leadership in the animal rights movement.

He was awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award in Sherborn, MA on April 12, 1997

"I would love to see the meat industry and the pesticide industry shaken up. I would love to see feedlots close and factory farming end. I would love to see more families return to the land, grow crops for our own species, and raise them organically. I would love to see farm communities revive. I would love to know that I've wandered into my nation's heartland by the sweet smell of grain and not the forbidding smell of excrement.
When you can't take it with you, all that really matters is what you leave behind."