We have the bestest donkey in the universe!
Saul is so sweet and gentle! Today he came up to me at the fence was was just resting his nose against mine, ever so gently. He's adorable.
Such a good boy!
Meanwhile...
... Annuk the Greek goddess always has something to say!
And she likes to supervise the equines...
Can you see her on the fence post above Finney? And Pip is hanging out on the fence to the left.
There's Annuk again, supervising the ponies from her post!
And our old boy Tristan. He's having a tougher and tougher time getting around but he hasn't quite given up on life yet.
Meanwhile...
..Buttercup was also keeping an eye on things!
Isn't Annuk a gorgeous cat?
Tristan doesn't mind the ponies, but when the donkey approached he fence, he let out a big WOOF! He's not allowed in there with them. No doubt Saul would kick him down the paddock,
Buttercup was unimpressed with Archie's attempts to play with her! But mostly they get along. I wonder if they are related? They came from the same dump in Syros, Greece but were born a year apart.
And...
...Pip from Perth is lovely, as always.
The ponies and donkey are getting some grazing time now. I am getting a hay muzzle for Esme. I let her out for a very limited amount of time but because she is so prone to laminitis, I can't let her go nuts on pasture. It's a shame but it's for her own good!
And Redford...
...is the on-farm egg inspector!
Whereas Archie likes to hang out in the pig pasture!
He's a lovely boy!
He wants to make friends with Redford, but Redford is having none of it!
He thinks we have far too many cats here now!
And a random butterfly. I think it's called a Silvery Blue.
The temperatures dropped quite a bit today. In the end, I think it hit about 16C but it started out at 5C. On Monday it was 33C!! It's up and down and all over the place.
The creek was looking nice.
Gordon saw something splashing in here the other night that was bigger than a muskrat. We figure it was either an otter or a beaver. We have both around here. Our neighbour across the road had four otters in his ponds last summer!
There's Annuk again!
Have I mentioned how much I love this donkey? :)
Great photos, Natalie. All the animals look great.It's always nice to see Tristan outside with the others. The cats must all be so happy living at the farm. Funny how with so much space and yet some get very territorial. Pip is such a pretty cat. Does my heart good to see her. I actually enjoyed the cooler weather today but I'm ready for some heat again. Your creek is so cool and if there's otters in it, all the better.
ReplyDeletePip is really sweet! But she's figured a way to escape the barn at night, which drives me nuts. We've figured it out and are going to fix it. She climbs right up the side of the bird "aviary" out back and through a crack between the wire "wall" and the roof! She's an amazing climber.
DeleteDo you have an inventory of all these critters? Horses 2. I got that. Donkey 1 ok But i've lost count of the pigs chickens, ducks geese....
ReplyDeleteMostly but I actually need to go out and count the ducks and chickens because I have lost track again!!!
DeleteAnnuk is stunning! I so wish I could bring her and Archie home!
ReplyDeleteIt's strange and amazing to think that some of your cats have travelled all the way from Greece to find their happy home. Everyone looks perfectly happy with life, including their mom.
ReplyDeleteI worry about the barn cats but they do seem content. I wish all 15 were in the house with! I still have dreams of turning our granary into a studio, and I figure then it could be a house for the barn cats, at least at night. :)
DeleteIt is heartwarming to see all the animals you have on your farm. I imagine it is so hard to get anything done with all the hugging and cuddling they all expect! What a wonderful way to spend your day. Can you tell I miss our cats?:)
ReplyDeleteI work hard to satisfy demands for cuddles and lap time! :) Cats are the greatest.
DeleteThey definitely are!
DeleteI thought about Tristan as I started reading. How good to see him. Do you count the cats at night to know they're all in?
ReplyDeleteRepeatedly!! Pip and Missy have both figured out an escape route, so we are working on sealing that up!! I feel better if everyone is locked in at night. There are still dangers for outdoor cats in the day, of course, but the predators all seem particularly active at night!
DeleteSo many little questions pop into my head as I look at your pictures.
ReplyDeleteWhy is one egg blue?
Do the cats still think cat thoughts in Greek?
What is it about donkeys, not ponies, that rubs Tristan the wrong way?
And this lovely post begins and ends with a donkey kiss!
I have a bunch of hens that lay blue/green eggs! :)
DeleteI wonder that about the Greek cats myself!
Donkeys are naturally aggressive towards dogs (and great guard animals!) I bet Tristan senses that.
:)
Well yes donkey kisses though I occasionally chide my wife by mentioning " I refuse to kiss lips recently kissed by dog lips...;)
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, it's all looking so glorious and springy!! Looks like they're all just loving it - what a sweetheart Saul is. It somehow just completes your landscape that there's a donkey in there too :-) And Tristan... what a soulful boy - I love his kind face. And Annuk - Greek goddess indeed!! She's a beauty and she really seems in her element up that pole! And I'm afraid it appears that Archie is just being his very cheeky self with Buttercup - he used to give all his sisters that "treatment" from time to time. I hope one of the girls stands up to him and growls at him, lol! And Pip... oh my weakness for brown tabbys! I believe we now have our own 'Redford' here - he's a Redford lookalike and simply won't leave. I've been wondering about a name for him - maybe I'll just simply call him Redford, what do you think ;-) Please give them ALL a great big smooch from me - and to you too! I miss you!!! XO
ReplyDeleteLook at the long eyelashes on Saul! A handsome boy, for sure.
ReplyDeletebeautiful photos!!!
ReplyDeleteWhiskery kisses are the best! But I'm prejudiced, my hubby has a beard. :)
ReplyDeleteI had to use Google to check that donkeys and asses are the same thing, but "Donkey Kisses" does sound better than Ass Kisses.
ReplyDeleteNice images as ever.
What wonderful photos! I think I say that every time, but I mean it. Saul is adorable, and I love seeing the kitties. They are all beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAs I've said before, love your pics! And love seeing your happy contented animal family... that keeps growing and growing.
ReplyDeleteLooks so wonderful on your farm . I love all the animals and I do love donkeys big or mini . Yes the temps have been up and down , down here to but by this weekend we here should have our usual May temps from then on ! Thanks for sharing , Have a good day !
ReplyDeleteA lovely collection of photographs of your family of animals. And yes Saul is sooo sweet :-)
ReplyDeleteyour life is like a beautiful picture book. The land, the animals, everything is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIt must be so entertaining ...and a huge amount of work having so many animals in your care. It's obvious you love them and they all love you too.
ReplyDeleteHope you're able to keep the sneaky kitties indoors at night.
This post gave me so many smiles. Thank you for the wonderful photos.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos. Do you suppose the Tristan barks at Saul because he's jealous of the donkey's affection for you?
ReplyDeleteWe were talking this morning about you, Gordon, and the family and farm you've created (that we've only been able to experience through your blog, which is incredible). What a beautiful life. But why does the expression, "Well, kiss my ass and call me Natalie" keep coming to mind.
ReplyDeleteYour farm looks so green and beautiful. I want to eat that grass! :)
ReplyDeleteI love reading about your marvellous menagerie! Your idea of a studio and cattery sounds perfect. What inspires us more or draws our attention to things overlooked more than cats? The season is still young. It would be a lovely project under the summer stars.
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures of all these wonderful creatures!
ReplyDelete