What a Strange Summer It's Been

This, I think, was the summer o' visitors. It's been good—the June visitors brought carrots, the July visitors brought watermelon, and the August visitors brought pears. One of the July visitors had muleback rides (but gently, and only because he was two—July was also the month, if you will recall, of the hock injection); the August visitors remembered to include me in their beautiful family photo.

Yesterday, a friend from way-off Massachusetts came for lunch, and produced carrots from the garden.

Jasper Jules and I have a special way of enjoying little carrots: I commence to chewing the delectable root, whilst he robs me of as much greenery as he can gobble. His little pink lips browse the foliage, nibbling right up to the limits of my own big brown ones. It is a race to see who can swallow more, and sooner, but he usually gets most of the green stuff (which, doctors say, is the healthiest part!) Like taking candy from a baby, except that it is a vegetable and I am a grown mule. I cannot stop him without compromising my reputation for gentleness and dignity, and so I don't. Anyway, there's this comfort—the root is sweeter.

When it comes to bigger carrots, the humans break them into safe bite-sized pieces. This "oh, but they'll choke!" business is silly, if you ask me. It's as though they're forgetting that we ungulates have gigantic masticating molars the size of a grown man's knuckles.

Speaking of silly, there was apparently a goat costume contest at our local fair yesterday. We missed it! I am so disappointed. I would have loved so much to make Jasper Jules don his tutu and hennin for the event.

PHILIP A. DWYER | BELLINGHAM HERALD

Macki Johnston, 11, Whatcom Cattle & Company 4-H club member and Mia, a, saanen goat, test a new head dress Tuesday morning, Aug, 17, 2010, in preparation for the goat costume contest.

And, speaking of costumes, I know what I'm going to be for Halloween. Do you?

With that, I take my leave of you . . . but first, cross your fingers for me that NEXT summer will be the summer o' trail rides!

Ears to you,
Fenway Bartholomule

Comments

Here are the Cloud Dog's X-Rays

Here, for your edification, are the X-rays of dear Paisley's leg. There is, apparently, no new break (since his Monday siezure) but there is, of course, a great deal of abnormality caused by years of living with a shortened ulna. His pronounced lameness, the vet says, may temporarily improve. Unlike me, Fenway Bartholomule, poor cloud dog can't expect much in the way of a full recovery. Not having the $$$$ for surgery to fuse the joint, we are working on making some sort of rigid splint to support the limb and prevent further degeneration. That is, the humans (with their space-age material inventions and their opposable thumbs) are working on making a splint; I am working on giving cloud dog brayful looks of support and encouragement every time he totters into the yard to relieve himself. As always, he fears me (me?!) and keeps his distance. Ears to you, Fenway

Continued . . .

Vegan Spring Rolls

I, Fenway Bartholomule, am a vegan: of course I only eat plants, not people! My human is too, so I'm sharing my blog with her today so that she can participate in the 2014 Virtual Vegan Potluck ! When you're done perusing the recipe for these delicious spring rolls, click "back" or "forward" for the entire potluck experience! Virtual Vegan Potluck: Spring Roll Appetizers Beautiful? Check. Healthy? Check. Delicious? Check. Easy? Check. Fancy? Check. Quick to clean up after? Check. Vegan? OF COURSE! If you're looking for something portable, colorful, and crowd-pleasing for your next potluck, look no further than these simple vegan spring rolls! The best part? You can substitute ANYTHING. I never make these the same way twice, so play around with cilantro, kale, cabbage, scallions, or whatever you think sounds good! Ingredients Veggie mix: 2 carrots (grated) 4 oz mung bean sprouts 1/3 cup chopped peanuts (raw, or roasted and salted) or ...

Continued . . .

The Scoop on Bird

Human here, to give you the scoop on Songbird. He is shiny, sweet, and wonderful . . . and a little bit broken hearted. (Fenway was once, too.) As I've gotten to know him more over the last month, I've come to understand that he associates humans with unpleasantness, at least, and suffering, at worst. He has some gnarly scars. He flinches away from touch, though he warms up quickly when treats are involved. He's quite a foodie. He's easily startled. He's alert, and vigilant. He doesn't always feel safe. He also really likes it at my mom's house, which has a slower pace than the wonderful boarding and lesson barn where he lived in June. He appreciates the predictable routine, the long quiet afternoons, and the retired horses who give him company. He has flattened the grass under the big cedar out back and created nests to rest in. The soft footing at my mom's is better for his newly bare feet. He is starting to believe he'll be ok. I have ridden him...

Continued . . .

That Which Was Foretold Has Come To Pass

After some negotiation and exchange of words like "motheaten" and "raggedy", Farmwife talked me into enduring the roaching of my mane, which I had rubbed on the fence while reaching for delectable edibles at my previous home. We both agreed on four things: 1) it was essential to retain my forelock, which is a thing of splendor that adds greatly to my dashing good looks. I'll get a picture for you tomorrow. 2) once the cut has grown out a bit, she will give me those fancy castle turrets that she used to style for Fenway. 3) we owe our dear readers a better photo, when I have not just rolled in the mud. 4) there is no hairstyle capable of making me look anything but marvelous.

Continued . . .

BRAYS OF OUR LIVES

Search This Blog