Integration

 

The Beginning of Something

I love this series of photos.

When Qilin was first born, Emma fervently wanted to see him.  She maybe even wanted to keep him for herself.  She even showed a bit of swelling in her udder to prove it.  After the first week or, the oxytocin high wore off a bit and she came to her senses.  However, there is another grey donkey who has also been intensely, but quietly, curios.

He finally got a chance to make a very thorough investigation.

From the tip of the ear to the tip of the tail.  Qilin seems to have passed inspection.

I will be very curious myself to see how this relationship develops as Ben remains extremely, but quietly and gently, interested in Qilin and Qilin is starting to interact more and more with the donkeys.  I couldn't ask for a better mentor than Ben. 

This could be the beginning of something....

Fun to be One

Baby Ian is no longer a baby - he just turned ONE.  I was told I had to stop posting pictures of "that darned mule" and get some appropriate B-day pictures up.  Who am I to argue with Border Collie rules?

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Ian (aka: The Blackfly!)

Lessons Learned

Things Qilin has learned:

• The deeper the hay, the softer the bed
• Deep hay or tall grass is the best place to pee 
• Poop outside because that's what mom does (nice to have housebroken horses:)
• Mud is icky and gets all over pretty white legs so it is best avoided
• Don't kick either mom
• Don't put your front feet on the human's shoulders
• Don't try to twiddle with the milk bar when you are just bored and not actually hungry
• If you do try to twiddle with the milk bar, the tail will get you....

• Going for walks is fun

• Ropey things are OK

• Being in the lead is OK

• Weird things like these are not edible yet humans are still oddly fascinated with them

• Ear rubs are good, but only while lying down.  Way too much to do otherwise

• Donkeys are interesting, but a little scary

• If you stand still for a few seconds, you might get a backrub (not sure it's worth it, standing still is soooooo hard)

Custom Made

Socializing

I've been on vacation maternity leave for the past couple of weeks, but it is back to the salt mines for me today😢

I will try to keep up with the blog better than I have been recently, but it probably won't be every day.  My new "not-phone" works great with instagram so I finally understand its appeal.  The blog takes hours where that takes seconds, it also loads to my FaceBook account, which you can find under my name: Kris Maxwell (although the pics always go through marked "private" and I have to change them to "public".  Does anyone know how to change that?  I haven't found the magic button for that).  There will probably be lots of pictures over there if you need a Qilin or donkey fix.  You can follow the link on the side of the blog or look for me on Instagram at: thedancingdonkey

Socializing comes in a lot of forms these days so even if the blog gets a bit sparse because my job is making my brain hurt too much to post, we'll all still be around somewhere.

Qilin is, of course, the star pupil at "puppy Class". 

New Configurations

First....I knew I forgot to answer a burning question in my last post:  Has he made any sounds, i.e. neighing, braying? So curious.

YES, he has.  Twice now he has nickered at me, only it's not quite like a horse nicker and not a donkey wuffle.  It sounds kind of like a deep chuckle crossed with a duck quacking:)  Very cute and unexpected.  Like everything else mules do, the sounds they make are usually a unique combination of a neigh/bray.  If I get lucky enough to have the video open at just the right moment to catch such sounds, I will be sure to post it.  I suspect this guy might turn out to be a talker, he certainly has strong opinions already:)

I made two new doors in the back of the barn in order to give everyone more room and more options.  One leads out to the back of the "sunroom" area where the donkeys have been hanging out.  I have been thinking about putting a door here for a while as I usually park my little manure spreader right where Ben's back feet are...

With that bit of wall turned into a door, I can load the spreader right where it parks...or give the donkeys a fun thruway:)

The other door goes straight out the back wall of the barn and allows me to make seperate entrances for the donkeys and for Tess and Qilin.  I put hinges on the the portion of wall I cut out and, viola, wall becomes door.

A board across the bottom of the barrier inside the barn and closing the gate lets everyone share the space, but I can still keep them in separate pastures.  This configuration, along with the portable fence I use allows for numerous pasture/shelter options with very minimal changes to the barn.

Qilin was a bit sceptical. 

"Uh Mom....there's donkeys in our house."

Qilin may have doubts, but Ben highly approves.  He was missing his favorite corner.

He also approves of having multiple escape routes when strangers come by.  A true introvert from the tips of his little ears to bottoms of his dainty hooves.

Tess doesn't care as long as she can keep her fan.  Good moms do share the fan though.  Such sacrifice:)