This is what I think about Paisley, the clouddog: I think he is a weenie and a scaredy cat. He is afraid of the goats, and he is afraid of me, and he is even a little bit afraid of the chickens. He avoids the paddock like the plague. He w…
Hip Hip HoorBraaaay!
Look, dear friends and supporters of the Muleness, at what we've done! I, Fenway Bartholomule, could not feel more loved than I do at this very moment. You are the BEST—dripping with Muleness, every one of you. I cannot thank you enou…
FARMWIFE
We're in a hurry here today, for FarmWife's brother's coming. I have a poem, though, to share, about my favorite human:
Fondly are my thoughts disposed when pondering my lady.
Ambling down the trail with her astride through pat…
Goodbye Goatlings, Hello Family!
We said goodbye to our little doelings yesterday, sending them off to the best home imaginable with our good friends Marie and Loren. Missy was more than happy to bid them farewell, not even bothering to stand for a parting "maaah.&qu…
A List
FarmWife has a to-do list, and "Ride the Mule" is sadly absent. The best thing on the list is "Muck out the Paddock," during which time I can enjoy the pleasure of her delightful company. The worst thing on the list is …
A Mule Walks Into a Bar . . .
. . . and the bartender says . . . .
"why the long face?"
**Ba-dum-chhh!**
Really, though, I'm staying home in a drizzling rain today whilst FarmWife and the humans go on a visit to Grandpa. He's MY grandpa, too, but I…
Perspective
Feeling down? Maybe you just need a new perspective.
I, for one, am anything but down. In fact, I am having a mulishiously splendiferous day. For one thing, FarmWife loves me. For another, I am on the greener side of the fence today, havin…
Ten More Commandments
We all know—don't we?—that "thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's ass" is flawed advice, at the very least. After all, look where a little bit of ass-coveting got FarmWife! Now, I don't want to ruffle any feathers but b…
Marnie versus the Triffids.
The triffids are gaining a foothold with this sun-after-rain we've had, and I spent the evening in valiant battle. I absolutely love the greenness of my home and region, and can't complain. And then, of course, there's this—I l…
To Boot or Not to Boot
There're boots (FarmWife's, pictured) and and then there're boots (mine, below) and boots (suspensory). And THOSE—suspensory, support or protective boots—are what I want to talk about today. (And yes, I know that there are a mi…
Other Obligations
One of the side-effects of FarmWifery, at least when you've got a celebrity mule to look after, is that chores and opportunities are never in short supply. In our case, FarmWife has laundry to fold, dishes to wash, a paddock to muck, …
2010, phase I
Six months ago, I had a new facebook page, earning 87 fans by the end of its first week. I was bored as a trail mount, looking for a challenge, and ready to try something new.
I've accomplished a lot in the first half of 2010, and I…
Linda Avenue, continued
N, right, removing staples from F, left. I spent half a dozen formative years on Linda Avenue—years of evolution and change. My mom, single at the time, bought the ugliest house in the best neighborhood she could afford, a house with broke…
A Good Husband
FarmWife went to sleep on the wrong side of the bed after a stressful weekend, a missed ride, a cat fight, and a generally tribulation-riddled Sunday afternoon. She woke up on the wrong side, too, to four dead chicks in the mail (and one …
Ode to a Jack, My Father
With ears so long
And bray so strong
And hooves like solid rock,
You were so mighty,
Never flighty,
Always taking stock.
You never flinched
when harnessed, cinched,
You carried men or towed them.
You hauled their loads
Down dusty roads
A…
There, I Fixed It: Tack Edition
If there was a There, I Fixed It for the equestrian set, FarmWife would be a rising star.
Witness, a homemade crupper of old bungee cords, billet guards, and assorted hardware salvage:
A goat harness of old carseat seat belts and extra p…
What a Workout
Fen
Before
Exercise
Fen
After
Exercise
Do you see how hard she works me? Really. Yesterday we worked on long reining with yonder milk jug in tow, and when that was done she rode me in the pasture "arena" for a full 25 minutes. W…
Linda Avenue
With two half-brothers, eight and 10 years my senior, I suffered my share of tortuous early experiences. My bike was stolen and ridden to within an inch of its life. I was tripped in every doorway. I was taken on covert missions, and bribe…
Wowie Zowie!
I'd better get better acquainted with yonder tire, 'cause I'm going to be towin' things in style pretty soon! Look at this fantastic progress we've made with the Harness Fund :
Now, the bad news is that FarmWife has clu…
Contest Winner!
A million mulish thanks to the wonderful competitors, as well as our voting audience, in our Ear Story contest. It was hard to settle on just one great story. I, Fenway Bartholomule, was relieved that the final decision was out of my hoove…
A Bit Like This, A Bit Like That
I, Fenway Bartholomule, have had the pleasure of trying a variety of bits and other various signaling devices, and my reactions to them have ranged from quiet acceptance to frantic grimacing and hollow resistance.
Below, for your edificat…
New look?
Love it? Hate it? Couldn't care less? Bray your opinions in the comments field!
Many mulish thanks,
FenBar
Snuggles!
FarmWife and I have endured a few challenges together lately: the visit to Dr. Ratchet, when I was tortured to within an inch of my life; the introduction of the tire, otherwise known as the MEDUSA (Mule Eating Device of Unparalled Sadist…
My Better Half
If I have a flaw, it is that I procrastinate. I am not really a go-getter, a follow-througher (follower-through?), a driven woman of stamina and determination. I like to stop and smell the flowers. Twiddle my thumbs. Check facebook. My husb…
Camping, Then and Now
Camping in 2009: The number one and two questions were usually, "Ooh, is that a donkey?" and "Is it pregnant?" This was before I was famous.
Camping in 2010: "Is this THE Fenway Bartholomule?" and "Can I …
The Goet iz the Bos.
Hiy. Thiz is Jazpur Jewlz. Im eeting all the haey todae cuz Finwey left mee in charege. Im sleping in hiz brekfist spot. I peeed next ta hiz sault blok too.
Finwey went wif the humin ladie to trayl ride an kammp. He probly dosnt no that h…
Introducing Missy's Grandchildren!
This is Jasper Jules' littermate B.G. enjoying one of two newly arrived kids. Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker arrived on Saturday and made me sort of an uncle all over again! Congratulations to her owners, our good friends Dirty Mama…
Four Versions of the Ear Story.
Appearing below are four possible explanations for the nick in my right ear. Please read and savor these tales of self-sacrifice and mulish derring-do, and vote for your favorite. The winner will win a Fenway Bartholomule "Half Ass an…
Money, it's a gas!
Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash. In the comments field of a previous post, Blue Page astutely asked me to elaborate on my reference to "the God Money" (mentioned on Monday in relation to the Gulf oil tragedy). I&#…
My New Favorite Online Resource
Photo: Lancelot the dressage mini. Not associated with Axwood Farm.
My new favorite source for long lining wisdom and harness how-tos: http://axwoodlibrary.com/
These people seem to have written a series of articles designed just for me,…
Harness News!
I thought that you, my supportive and encouraging fans, would like to know two important bits of mulish news. The first is that I was followed by an empty milk jug for the ENTIRE duration of my trail ride yesterday. At first it threatened…
Heaven is Where You Find It
Who said "heaven is where you find it?" I heard this recently and I'm not sure where. True, though. One day, if you're lucky, you'll look around and gasp at the beauty. You'll wiggle your toes and feel connected t…
Today's Forecast
Today's forecast calls for rain, followed by more rain. Look for a steady downpour this morning, followed by sheeting rain and a continuing torrent after lunch. This evening should bring heavy gray skies, dumping precipitation, and a …
Testing, testing
This life is a test. It is only a test. If it had been an actual life, you would have recieved further instructions on where to go and what to do.
Actually, I'm just experimenting with this scheduled post function. You see, FarmWife an…
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