Animal Crackers - HUGS

Howdy - 

Yesterday I approached Cocoa and Valentine as they were enjoying some Donkey Hugs... and scratches. But Cocoa always cautious stopped and kept an eye on me. Always gotta keep a watch on "people" I know I'm "Mom" but still have to be on guard. We have no clue what her early life was ... but from the day we have had her she has been treated like the Queen around here. But its her personality to be cautious and jumpy... so we think maybe not so nice.

Now Valentine - He is my big baby and usually will always let me get some lovin' 

As I was talking to Valentine. Jealous came up - Teddy was trotting fast at me. He is suppose to ALWAYS have first head scratches. ALWAYS

And as I told him - if he hadn't been in the back trying to sneak stray pieces of Alfalfa from the goat pen he would have been there to notice I was out giving attention. LOL It was all good he got lots of scratches, and then I realized I now couldn't touch anything else cuz he is was one sticky donkey. Why? I really don't want to know - sigh Lots of soap and water are needed!

Moxie and I have had a rough week. This dog is spoiled like royalty. Fed the best, Bed on front porch, and when we had the ice storm and lost power and water for days a few years ago.... we nearly froze to death, but Moxie was toasty warm on the porch under gas heat lamps. She is a very timid girl when it comes to doing anything "to her". Medicines, picking her up for any reason, looking at boo boos whatever - It is a loud NO. Not sure why, but she just is that way. We talked about making her an inside dog once... she would freak out. She got closed in the back yard once and nearly had a stroke. She owns this property and loves to roam on her land with all HER animals. This last week she really HAD to have her Flea treatment. I sent Hubby out with it behind his back in one hand and her breakfast in the other hand. Heck I even added some of my Boars head Turkey meat to the plate! Well she got her treatment - flew off the porch and then I worried all day as she would not come anywhere near the house. Usually she gets upset for an hour or so... but she was really mad and even that night would not come anywhere near me at all. She always comes to see me! I was sick to my stomach and nearly in tears cuz she hid from me all day and I imagined she ran off for good. But Hubby came home that evening and she finally showed herself. 

She was still a little upset with me the next day... but at least she would let me love on her a little before she ran off. And you can see the look on her face. That is not her normal happy smiling look at all! I'm taking out chunks of chicken to her for dinner so that should help a little bit maybe. 

Went out by the chicken coop, and Guinea was standing still!!! Not running the coop fence at all. She was just standing there in a group of the chickens to see if I was bringing dinner... sorry Dad will do that later Guinea... But I did snap real quick! She is getting pretty old now... But still doing good and loves living in with the chickens. Oh and then she starting running the fence again -

Chickens are finally doing great at their "JOB" We have lots of gorgeous eggs in blue and brown. Late bloomers, but happy now! 

 

Oh and I thought I would show an update on Hubby's Tomato Plants. The rain this last week has really given them the right stuff cuz they have jumped in size big time! Can't wait for fresh Tomatoes!!

Hope you enjoyed - I guess you are still out there enjoying? I wondered the other day if anyone would miss me showing off my kids each week? Hmmmm

HUGS and

Animal Crackers - Spring Fever

Howdy - 

Its that time of year - sleepy afternoons snoozing in the shade.

I went out mid morning to take photos... most everyone was just totally snoozing in their favorite shady spots. The weather was gorgeous, and honestly if we had a comfortable place for me to lay back I think I  would have joined them.

Sergio was totally snoozing and not even noticing that I was out watching him. 

 

It is his favorite place in the afternoon - shade from the tree in the back corner - he can see our direction to the house, and then the back pen where all "the ladies" are grazing. 

Alvin Jr. "AJ" was completely out. 

Even had his tongue sticking out while he was asleep. I stood there a while... I think he was snoring! He was very comfortable for sure!

Now Jorge's spot is right up at his gate. Large tree and his best spot  to keep a watch on things. I couldn't sneak up on him though. He was way to interested in some scratches and attention. 

 

We had a little chat about how nice it was outside. All the green grass, his velvet nose and how much he loves his nose rubbed, and of course how totally good looking he is. 

Hubby sent me this photo early in the week. He was headed out to feed and check out everyone. Heard a meow, but only saw Cocoa under the tree. It wasn't until he got right under the tree the meow sounded off again and he saw big boy Grey Beard posed just perfectly in the tree.

 

Been giving lots of attention to Miss Chica. She really has missed Libbie, but I think she,well all of us, are trying to get use to the loss in the house. And honestly the quiet. We were so use to Libbie's time schedule. Her snoring, her coughing, her barking and how we set clocks to take her out very regularly. Chica now looks at us as if to say really... out again? I don't have to go but alright.... 

Pretty old puppy ... love her. 

End off today with Hubby's roses - WOW they are all popping with color. He kept asking did you show these? What about these? They are all gorgeous - but had to only pick one photo for today ...

He gave me a funny look - I reminded him it is called "ANIMAL" Crackers... LOL 

I do hope you enjoyed today - Things might be calming down a little bit around here... ready for some calm spring time to get some things caught up and enjoy our fur babies more. 

HUGS and

Animal Crackers -

Howdy - 

 Thank you all for the wonderful comments for Libbie. They have meant a lot to us - 

It has been a quiet week around the house without Libbie, we both have found ourselves looking for her and then remembering. I told Chica she was now the lead dog. First time in her 13 years that she was the boss and now the big dog bed was all hers. Libbie always made her leave it if she wanted it instead of her smaller one. So I washed everything and we stared off clean and new for Miss Chica. The next morning I got out of bed and found Chica squished in the little bed and this... 

Yes.. McLaren has now claimed the big bed. I have never seen any of the cats sleep in the dog beds. But then again... Libbie was always in control. But more than once I have come around the corner and found McLaren taking naps and sleeping in the large bed. Sorry Chica... at least McLaren will share with you at times. 

Went out and saw the guys the other day. Their pen is just stunning with fresh green grass! 

They are LOVING it and the bellies are showing proof! lol 

I would love to move Sergio into the large pen, but he doesn't get along with Patricio and Flavio too well. So for now he has to stay in his smaller private pen. He still has some nice green grass. And he is much closer for lovings and those ear scratches! And honestly sometimes a private place is nice -

Wanted to share a photo my sister sent me this month! Many of you know my nephew Tagen and years ago may have even sent him cards to cheer him up after surgery. Well he is all grown up now! Where does the time go? 

He went to the local rodeo with his class group and he just had to make sure and get a photo with the miniature donkey of course!

Looks a lot like Raffie, my smiling donkey,  doesn't he? So proud of Tagen - such a big heart and great young man! 

Now this last week we were at the Round Top Antique Show - and it has been awhile since I shared any photos of one of the booths that Hubby and I set up with our stuff for sale. So I thought this would be a great week for it since it was one of fullest booths ever! LOL

So big I had to do it in two shots!

Great stuff we have been gathering for this show! Was lots of different things for us, but fun to find! After all the hunt is most all of the fun of it right? 

Hope you all enjoyed this week  - and hope you will be back next week for more! 

HUGS and

Animal Crackers - Celebrating Libbie

Howdy - 

 This is a hard one to write ... But I am going to try and make this a celebration instead of sad. This week we lost the leader of our family. Miss Libbie. 

 

There is a huge hole in our hearts. But it was time. She was old, Hubby figured it out. 15 years, 4 months and 4 days old. She was blind and the last few months pretty slow but still in charge. 

Hubby and I have been really talking about our favorite memories of her. Like the day we met her. 

 We drove almost 4 hours to "look" at a Miniature Aussie. Got there late in the evening knocked on the door and said we were excited to see her Miniatures... The lady looked funny at us and said oh I'm sorry all my Mini's are sold all I have now is a couple of Toy Aussies. TOY? Flashes of Paris Hilton and dressing up dogs.... I wasn't sure about that. They came around the corner with her.... tiny thing in one hand. I'm not sure... we were use to full size Border Colllies. But I looked over at Hubby and I knew we were buying a puppy. He was totally in love.  And honestly as soon as I held her... so was I. 

We had to wait a couple more weeks until we could bring her home. But the day we picked her up, we knew she was meant to be a member of her family. This next photo is one of my all time favorite photos..... My Manly Man and his new dog.

Beautiful Little girl as a puppy and as she grew up. 

 While she was still a puppy, despite me saying I would never dress up my dog.... we came across a Halloween costume and I just couldn't help myself. It lasted about 30 seconds. And she was not happy with me at all! 

 

She had it off and away from me in less than a minute and spent the rest of the day giving me this same look. I never put her through that again. It was just degrading for a dog of her standing! 

 And the puppies she gave us... oh my! She and Autie really did make beautiful babies. 

 

She was a good Momma. Not the most gentle and cuddling Momma all the time. But Autie was there to back her up and do the cuddling. But she did her job and was good with the puppies. All three litters she had. 

From day one she was in charge of us all. And ran the house. Well and ran the animals outside too.

We never let her out with the goats or donkeys but even with a fence between them she ran them mentally and physically. 

She watched over them... even when she lost her sight. She knew where everyone was and would sit outside and listen to them all. 

 

Another of my favorite photos... Her leading Autie around the yard. He was never allowed to run ahead of her, but always stayed right by her side.

Now they are together again I suppose on the other side of that Rainbow Bridge they talk about. 

I will miss her so much just as we do Autie. 

We will always love you Libbie!

Hugs and - have a blessed weekend.

Animal Crackers - Bubba's Glamour Shot

Howdy - 

The other day I was sitting and talking with Bubba... started snapping some photos while playing with settings on my phone's camera that I have never used. This one cracked me up!! Flash back to all those wonderful 1980's Glamour Shot photos. So here is Bubba's Napoleon Dynamite photo! 

 

 

 As you can see he was not amused with me snapping all the photographs. But this is his serious Glamour Shot... I just don't know why but it just makes me laugh to hard! 

 

Now I went out yesterday afternoon trying to get some photos before the storms moved through. Most everyone was in hiding or way out in their pens and walking through the wet grass in my flip flops just wasn't in my plan. So I stuck closer up to the house... had a chat with old Alvin. He was having a late lunch but still took time with me. 

 

 

That made me think I could make it over to his boys pen and snap a photo of them ... Alvin Jr. "AJ" was also chowing down.... way too big of bites Dude!

He is a copy of his daddy... Just younger and thinner at this point. 

I was snapping a photo of his brother Chipmunk... but he made mad so he didn't get a photo today. The wind was really blowing and my hair must have tempted him too much... well in half of a second his nose poked through the fence and he had a giant wad of my hair and then yanked as hard as he could. Thank goodness he dropped when I yelled!!! Otherwise I might have had to have some shaved hair cut in my future! OUCH! 

 

Then I heard a loud whining scream. Miss Darlene was making sure I knew she was out and there was no "old people gruel" in her bucket. Sorry old girl... Dad feeds you that in the morning and despite you taking a nap... it is still the same day! HA!

She is such a funny girl. I did go over and do some lovings on her. She is just too sweet to ignore. 

Hubby sent me this photo this week. He was out in one of the pastures and found Grey Beard and Orange enjoying one of the old trees. Just hanging out I guess -

But honestly that is what their whole day it right? Sleep, eat breakfast, nap, explore, hang out, eat then hunker down for Sleep again. Tough life.

I snapped a photo of Hubby's Amaryllis flowers. They are SO gorgeous! These are the first two of many buds that came up this year.

These bulbs came from a sweet old lady we knew in one of the little towns we lived in. Her old German Yard was FULL of them!! We were very lucky to have gotten some to remember her and enjoy in our yard! 

One last photo... wanted to capture Hubby's Tomato plants! They are in and doing great! I can see sliced tomatoes in our future!!! MMMMM

Hope you have a smile this week... if not scroll back up to that photo of Bubba!! Cracks me up!!

Have a blessed weekend!
HUGS and

Animal Crackers - Beautiful Spring Day

Howdy - 

Yesterday morning was a cloudy yucky start. We were suppose to get some good rain, but it broke up and went around us... again. But when the clouds broke, the sun came out and it was a beautiful spring day. 

Here in Texas you know it is Spring when the Bluebonnets arrive! 

 

Along the highways, or large fields they are a gorgeous site. We have some large patches on our property. And even a few in our back yard. So pretty! 

Now the first thing I do when going out to visit the fur children is check on those that we keep the close watch on due to their age and health. 

Darlene was up first. Little heart stop when I didn't find her in her pen. But all was good when I got the gate open and made my way to her private hut. She was just taking a little morning rest. 

 

It was all good - she grunted and popped up and followed me around her pen. Then went to her left over breakfast and started eating. My old girl.. Darlene. 

Next was Old Black Jack.... Her neighbor.

 

He is getting hard to get good close up photos of, he just keeps coming at me full force for loving. I so totally adore this old man. When we purchased him so many years ago he wouldn't let us touch him. He was a crabby jack that wasn't friendly at all.  Years here with us and he knows he is safe and seems to be very happy. Oh and LOVES head, ear and rear end scratches with lots of attention. 

So two oldest fur children are all good! I then go to the ladies goat pen to check on Crissy. She gave me a horrible scare this week. So much so that I called Hubby at work to let him know she was not well at all and I thought it was coming close to her end. He got home that night and she was up, breathing well and seemed ok. I find her today and she looks great! And was out chomping down like crazy enjoying the new Spring grass!

So happy! I then head off to visit everyone else and snap more photos. I always make sure to have a chat with Alvin. But he too was enjoying a shady spot and napping.

Didn't want bother him... he seemed so comfortable and enjoying his morning snooze. Sounds like a plan I would like have a nap too... LOL I'll go back out for our daily chat later.

Then I heard Little Rooster scream out... He talks 24/7... I think he was just showing off his women. 

I snapped a photo of him screaming out ... again... he is adorable. 

Came back in after finishing the rounds. Went back inside and there was a little Meow in the window next to the back door. 

McLaren was watching me the entire time I was outside from her window bed.

 

McLaren is the one we call Psycho Kitty. Oh my this little girl has two speeds. Zero resting/sleeping and then speed of light insane. She is Hubby's kitty. As she seems to have claimed him and chooses his lap in the evenings. That is once she calms down... for about 30 minutes she must head butt, jump, kneed, and just beat Hubby up before she settles down. I'm good with her liking him best. LOL But I do love her. And I am good with Ferrari or Bubba who are calm and sweet in my lap.

Well I do hope you enjoyed this week and have your Animal Crackers smile. Until next week... 

HUGS and

Animal Crackers - You can't see her...

Howdy - 

Went out to take photos yesterday afternoon ... had to wait till mid afternoon it was just dreary and wet all morning, but then suddenly the clouds cleared and sun came out. I went out front to see the "3 Stooges" our full size donkeys. They were all in front grazing in the nice weather. As I walked up front I noticed that Cocoa was "hiding' from me... she was turning her head away and looking like I couldn't see her. What do you think? She doing a good job hiding from me under the oak tree?

 

Finally she came out and said hello... but she didn't want to until I really talked her out. Now Teddy... he was enjoying the grass and chowing down!

 

So so happy the grass is thick and feeding them. Oh the 3 stooges are at the back gate every morning screaming out for breakfast to be brought out to them. In winter they get louder and louder until it is delivered. But now that they have spring grass coming in they yell out for a little while then give up and feed themselves. Cracks me up.... I do the same I guess.... Lets get Mexican Food... Lets go.... now lets go.... oh ok we will just find something at home to eat. LOL 

I then went out to the goat pen and saw the guy goats. Stinky... dirty... wet,  but AJ is still a cutie. Oh sorry men like Handsome! 

AJ's brother Chipmunk was lounging behind his hut. Just as Handsome. Now what I didn't show was their hut.... sad sad hut.

Hubby fixes it and gets it all nice for Chipmunk and his brother AJ. Within a few weeks, they have head butted, banged and destroyed it again. Last time they tore the back completely off. This time it is on its side. Not that it is new to turn it over, but this may be a last time as this poor hut has been repaired too many times. Ha! 

As destructive as the brothers are... they are nothing compared to Domino. He is a bit bigger, and much more aggressive. His pen is usually always a mess, turning over everything. His fence is no longer straight. He charges and bangs on the panels and they ALL are bowed out. As I got out to him he was scratching the top of his head... then banging his horns. Yep... destructive!

One more photo from earlier in the week.... we had a cold front come through and it got pretty chilly. Hubby and I were watching a movie and I was under a quilt. And very warm with the top layer of kitties!

Bubba, Mommy Cat and Ferarri all were all curled ON TOP OF me. So we were all staying warm! LOL Sweet kitties! And yes very warm kitties. 

Hope you have a smile again this week. Enjoyed our fur children again this week. 

Have a blessed weekend 

HUGS and