Jumping Practice

"WHEEEE THIS IS SOOO MUCH FUN....

HEY MOM HOLD STILL CAN'T YOU SEE I'M JUMPING"...

"Would you go play somewhere else, I'm trying to have a nap here."

"SHEESH MOMS ARE NO FUN. MAYBE THE ROCK WILL PLAY WITH ME"...

Done!

We finished putting in the rest of the first cutting hay today.  We had planned on doing it in two days because there was a ton of hay left, at least a 1000 bales.  However, the dammed weather forecast changed and that 20% chance of showers/thunder storms could mean the difference between a barn full of beautiful hay and complete catastrophe.  We worked like crazy and put in about 600 regular square bales, unloading the last truck in the dark.  We had the neighboring farmer round bale the rest.  A little different from the original plan, but that's farming.  Plans never last.  Adaptability is the only way to survive. 

The really good part is that we are DONE.  Hallelujah, Thank the Lord, Amen, we are DONE with the hardest part of haying for this year.  Everybody gets to eat well this winter.  Knowing that the barn is full of good hay is one of the most satisfying things there is.  Oh, we'll still put in second cutting (if we actually get some rain now that is.  If we don't get rain, we may really be done for the year), but second cutting is relatively easy.  The really hard part is done.

A huge THANK YOU  here to our wonderful hay crew.  A group of very good friends who take time out of their own very busy lives to help fill the barn.  We couldn't have done it without you.  All of these guys will be very grateful come winter...

Dreaming

when i wake up, i will run i will jump i will play and leap....

when i wake up, i will hear the thrum of earth beneath my feet....

when i wake up, i will taste all there is to taste of new and familiar....

when i wake up, i will look i will see i will listen i will feel, i will learn....

when i wake up, i will feel the joy of being and i will be joy....

 when i wake up, i will feel the sun on my back....

and i will grow and grow more so that i might run faster, farther and faster yet....

when i wake up, i will run run run....

and run more....

when i wake up, the world will be waiting for the tread of my feet....

when i wake up, the world will be waiting.

KM

Stink-Eye

Before you read this post you really need to go visit the7msnranch if you haven't already.  Be sure to check out the posts for Mon-Wed, I guarantee they will make you laugh and my post will make more sense.  So go on over, have a good chuckle, cast your vote and then come back over to get Ramsey's take on the situation.

Are you going?

Really, go ahead, I promise we'll wait for you.

Back now?

Good.

So....I read this blog post Monday morning while eating my breakfast.  Five minutes later I was still chuckling over it when I stepped out onto my deck to survey my little kingdom and got this shot of Ramsey and Emma. I just couldn't resist sharing it....

The Loch Ness Monster Stink-Eye



What About The Dog

Evemarie (hi Evemarie) asked me where Tanner has been during all of this baby drama.   He has, once again, proven himself to be the best dog ever.  As soon as he realized that there was a new baby in the barn, he made a point of staying far away.  He stopped coming to the barn with me and instead kept a vigilant and quiet eye on all the proceedings from the far side of the house. 

Emma and Ramsey have been living on part of my lawn which is normally Tanner's territory.  I have them there because the grazing is better for Emma and it is easier for me to keep an eye on them.  Not all of the grass in the fields has been mowed and I'd never be able to find Ramsey out in the tall weeds.  He would have a hard time navigating through it as well.  He is only a couple of inches taller than Tanner and weighs half as much.  I don't want to misplace him:)

Tanner is none too happy that the donkeys have invaded his space, but he is being very good about it.  He has been extremely careful not to bother Emma or be any kind of threat, which I am grateful for.  Before the birth, I had been concerned about how I would keep him safely away from her.  There is a good reason why donkeys are used as guard animals after all and new mothers are always dangerous to be around.  However, Tanner knew just what to do.  I know how intelligent Tanner is, yet I still underestimate him sometimes.  I never cease to be amazed watching his mind at work. 

 

You can be sure that Tanner makes himself very scarce when this little devil gets going...

 

PS - I know my camera needs cleaning, but I haven't figured out how to do it yet.  It is the internal works of the camera that are dirty.  I am working on it, for now just bear with me please.

Another Donkey at the Door

"HEY WHATS IN HERE... 

WHEEE.... WHATS THAT AND THAT... OOOH CEMENT FLOOR FEELS FUNNY GOOD SOUNDS FUNNY FUN FUN FUN THIS IS SOOOO MUCH FUN"

"Good God Mom!!!  You're not going to let those things in the HOUSE now are you!??!"

"It's OK Tanner, just wait there, I'll take care of this."

"C'mon baby, you can't be in here, it isn't safe and my poor dog is going to move into the bathtub and never come out if you start coming in the house."

"NONONONO iM NOT LEAVING...YOU CANT MAKE ME...i WANT TO PLAY IN HERE...NONONONO.....OOOPHH"

"Hmmm, I think you've gotten heavier already.  We're going to have to start some leading lessons soon, like tomorrow.  I'm not gonna get away with hoisting you out of trouble for very long am I?"

"LET ME BACK IN PLEASE PLEASE LET ME IN i WANNA PLAY IN THERE..."

"MOMMY MOMMY SHE WONT LET ME PLAY IN THERE i WANT IN i WANT IN MOMMY...."

"Yeah, whatever.  Why don't you just come play on the grass, grass is good."

"BUT MOMMY i WANT TO PLAY IN....OOOOH LOOK...YOURE TAIL IS SWISHING....

BITE THE TAIL ON THE DONKEY!!!...OH SUCH FUN...

OOOOH WAIT LOOK AT THAT THINGIE OVER THERE....

AND THERE...GOTTA GO MOM"...Zoom

"Geez Em, how on Earth did such a nice, sweet, quiet donkey like you manage to produce such a wild little heathen like that?"

zoom

"I have no idea, I'm still trying to figure out what happened.  I really didn't believe you about this whole baby thing ya know."

zoom

"Well, you sure did good anyways Em, he's a wonderful baby and you are a wonderful mother.  I am very proud of you."

zoom

"Hmmm thanks, I guess...say Ma?"

zoom

"Yes Em"

zoom, zoom

"Can donkeys drink those margarita things I've heard people talk about?"

zoom, zoom, zoom....

"Ahh Em, I don't think so.  Besides alcohol isn't good for the baby and you're still way underage."

ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM

" Oh.  Bummer"

ZOOOOOOM !

Introducing...

First,  the pain killer that I have given Emma has really helped tremendously.  She is much more comfortable, happier and relaxed today.  Getting rid of the pain has relieved most of her anxiety as well.  She hasn't had to wear the grazing muzzle at all today and she is just much more relaxed.   She was also able to spend a considerable amount of time resting.  She won't lay down to sleep yet, but she spent nearly all day yesterday and most of last night dozing in front of the fan I set up for her.  Today she is nearly her normal, happy self.  I think the pain relief and the rest will go a long way towards helping her fight off any potential infection.  She even enjoyed a very good scratching session this afternoon...

And now for the news you've been waiting for: what's this baby's name?  First, I want to thank everybody for all of your suggestions, there were some really good ones.  By far, the name choices that were proposed the most were either Emerson (as in son of Emma) or Emmett, which I think is a variant of the same thing.  I like both of these names and really gave both of them a try.  The problem with them is that they are too similar to Emma's name and the contraction for all three names is the same.  I am an extremely visual thinker and the image associated with Em is Emma herself.  Every time I tried using one of these names with the baby, my mind tripped over the imagery and it just didn't work.  

My animals all know their names because I make a point of using them often.  I talk to my critters a lot and I use a lot of voice commands.  This has stood me in good stead over the years and works well for me.  I don't think I could change it even if I wanted to.  I want a name for this baby that is easy to say, is distinct from all the other names in the barn and will still be a good name 10 years from now, even if he changes color or turns into a slow, lazy bum (hard to imagine at the moment that that could actually happen:).

So...the name that has floated out of my subconscious from God-knows-where and keeps presenting itself every time I look at this baby even when I have tried hard to reject it is....Ramsey.  The funny thing is that I really have tried to reject this name as I wasn't sure I liked it.  It just won't go away though so it must be right.  Perhaps it is because he was standing posed in the sun, looking regal and beautiful and the phrase "Ramses the Great" floated into my head.  The image was striking and etched itself into my very visual brain and that was that.  And it isn't such a terrible thing to be named after the very first monarch to ever create and sign a peace treaty, they didn't call him great for nothing:)

Hello World...

I am Ramsey the Greatest