mud-luscious and puddle wonderful

We are having RAIN today!

(and thanks to ee cummings for the evocative phrase)

fireworks 2009

We had called neighbors to determine who would be setting off fireworks tonight - one neighbor down the lane (2 houses down) and another up at the top, through the woods. We fed early so there wouldn't be stress while eating dinner, and turned the horses and donkeys out back. I took a chair out, a small glass of Rescue Remedy tincture, a little syringe, and proceeded to give everyone a dose.

Redford declined; I think the little syringe looked too much like the shot he got in the spring! Dickens (cowboy cat extraordinaire) wanted a dose, so he got one too.

At one point there were fireworks going on both sides. Salina went on high alert, pacing the fence line. The donkeys followed because of course they're her guardians! Keil Bay went in and paced with her for awhile, and the pony trotted in during the particularly loud parts.

Cody was in the bottom of the back field happily grazing for most of the action. He cantered in two times when there was a series of extremely loud booms. My daughter delivered a glass of wine, and she and my husband joined me to sit out the noise.

Once things quieted down, the geldings went back out. Salina stopped pacing but she was still on guard when I came in, flanked by her donkey boys. I left hay all along the paddock so they can munch until they decide to head out to join the geldings.

And now, the cicadas are back to full volume. A much nicer celebration of the 4th of July, imo. I prefer the celebration of independence to be the quieter sort. :)

a preview for a party yet to come

This was a post from August 2007, when we had just met Rafer Johnson and were eagerly awaiting the day he could come join our family.

In a couple of weeks he will be two years old, and I've been thinking about how much joy he has brought to November Hill, as well as how much we've learned from him about donkeys and patience and healing. And grace.

His mother, Contessa, still reminds me of Salina, and I wonder if Rafer feels that too.

I have called him a being of light, which he is, and he is also an independent donkey who will take himself a break from the herd when he wants one, happily hiding behind the round bale for a private snack while Salina and Redford call to him to come back.

If you look into his little donkey eyes in the pictures below, you see the very same look we see today. He has a gaze that could melt granite, or iron.

How did we ever live without the donkeys?








His name is Rafer Johnson and he is coming to live with us in the new year, after he weans from his mom, Contessa.

It is just not possible to describe how cute and sweet he is. He's very good at conveying that himself!

war horse

This is one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time. Wish I could see the show in person!

july - it's a redford day

I've been waiting for the perfect July photo, one that captures the heat, the dryness we're having right now, and the dusty feel to the air. This morning my son was out assisting me with barn chores, and he got the shots I was waiting for.



Redford is about a year and a half old right now. He has been much slower to mature than Rafer Johnson was, but I think in these pictures you can see that he has finally begun to lose his "baby" self and is transforming into a more mature young donkey.

Sheaffer, here you can see that he is practicing some of his "donkey dressage extravaganza" moves. NO ROLLKUR HERE! He is behind the vertical but I suspect he got wind of the upcoming performance and is trying to be funny.



In spite of the dry spell we're having, July is also an incredibly bountiful month. We have so many yummy things growing, ripening, and being harvested. And as all donkey lovers know, every donkey activity ends with some happy munching.



Here's to a relaxed, productive, and bountiful month for all.