"WHERE THE ANIMALS ARE SERVED FIRST...AND AREN'T ON THE MENU!"

Saturday, June 8, 2013

A Busy Fox is the Star of the Critter Cam, Keeping Cool on Hot June Days and Spending Time with Julie at the Lazy Vegan

It is amazing to me how fast another week has flown by.  We're in a holding pattern with Julie - she continues to amaze us all with her bedside conversations peppered with poetry, and I'm hearing many childhood stories  that are very unique and fun.  We've dealt with a few too-hot days for my liking, but thankfully the house stays cool since I leave the windows open all night long and then shut it all down in the morning (simple technique - but it works!).  The donkeys put up with a farrier visit (overdue, actually - their hooves were getting long) and there's an adorable fox making the rounds at the Lazy Vegan...I've been seeing fox scat on the trail and in other places (I fancy myself somewhat of a scat expert these days).  And that's it for this week...being with Julie in this last stage of her life is a constant reminder to enjoy each day and moment!

Relaxing one hot evening with the French doors open for fresh air...
Careful attention always given to "Buddy" and to "Baby"!
Four fox videos!







The foreman always has a moment to stop and pet Wasabi!
O.K., about this expression that Bravo has perfected throughout his years...here he's taking no claim whatsoever for the soggy mattress that we discovered one evening as we crawled into bed!  And, in fact, he probably was NOT responsible...poor Toby is having age-related issues in that area lately (the bed, thankfully, has been successfully cleaned and saved).
Play time.
Peek-a-boo bunny!

I went out to get something out of my car the other day and saw at least ten baby quail following their mama!  Rushed back inside for my camera but by the time I had returned she had them safely sheltered deep in the bushes.
Evening fun time.


I hesitated to post this on the world wide web, but then thought that people should see how cute it is to have a bunny hop up on your bed!
It was that time again...the farrier visited and the boys put up with him for another ten weeks or so.


The weekly (wind blown) pose!
There's nothing like a dust bath on a warm day!




And another weekly pose...I think Paco and I are starting to look alike.

On hot days Wasabi cools off  with a frozen bottle!


What cracks me up about the photo above is the dog bone next to Wasabi!

Grooming Buddy AGAIN.

The trio one morning.
Love this one!

Time to hop back up to the kitchen!
Karina on one of her visits to Julie stops to spend a moment with Bravo.


Toby is so nice to Bravo!
Seldom seen:  the foreman walking Bravo - bravely, because he's holding a cup of coffee at the same time!

First salad of the season hand-picked from the garden.
Bravo giving kisses!

Wasabi can't figure out why Bravo enjoys his bones so much...

Just another morning.


Went to get hay and found this adorable caterpillar on the door!


The pioneer stock Julie came from!  Best if you click on it to enlarge...that's Julie's mother on the far right.
Super cute squirrel!  The squirrels have been all over the place lately, especially the young ones.



 On the move!

Morning jack and squirrel

The foreman has been bringing me real estate work to do here while I'm at home...and I'm finding that the half-wall next to my desk makes a great spot for sorting through paperwork!

One of the poems Julie recited part of this week:
The Village Blacksmith
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. 1807–1882
Under a spreading chestnut tree
  The village smithy stands;
The Smith, a mighty man is he,
  With large and sinewy hands;
And the muscles of his brawny arms
  Are strong as iron bands.

His hair is crisp, and black, and long,
  His face is like the tan;
His brow is wet with honest sweat,
He earns whate'er he can
And looks the whole world in the face
  For he owes not any man.

Week in, week out, from morn till night,
  You can hear his bellows blow;
You can hear him swing his heavy sledge,
  With measured beat and slow,
Like a sexton ringing the village bell,
  When the evening sun is low.

And children coming home from school
  Look in at the open door;
They love to see the flaming furge,
  And hear the bellows roar,
And catch the burning sparks that fly
Like chaff from a threshing floor.

He goes on Sunday to the church
and sits among his boys;
He hears the parson pray and preach.
He hears his daughter's voice
singing in the village choir,
And it makes his heart rejoice.

It sounds to him like her mother's voice,
Singing in Paradise!
He needs must think of her once more,
  How in the grave she lies;
And with his hard, rough hand he wipes
  A tear out of his eyes.

Toiling,--rejoicing,--sorrowing,
  Onward through life he goes;
Each morning sees some task begin,
  Each evening sees it close;
Something attempted, something done,
Has earned a night's repose.

Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend
  For the lesson thou hast taught!
Thus at the flaming forge of life
  Our fortunes must be wrought;
Thus on its sounding anvil shaped
  Each burning deed and thought!