Skip to main content

No Reason Not to Smile

Photo posted by Chai to the Chronicle of the Horse forums
I can't smile in the traditional fangs-flashing, lips-retracted fashion of the great apes, and I lack the curved-lip conformation of my caprine brethren, but I smile with the best of them in my heart of hearts. My smile starts in my stomach; aside from ear-rubs, most of my little joys are edible. Carrots, hay, and sunflower seeds. Delish.

FarmWife has been apologizing, lately, for her failure to ride me twice weekly as had been our arrangement. "I'm sorry, lovey," and, "we'll get out soon." I think she's projecting some emotion onto me that I, quite frankly, don't experience. I get my ear rubs, morning, noon, and night. I get my breakfast, I get my dinner, and I get a carrot at lunch. I get my hoofies picked most afternoons, and I get my back curried rather more often than I'd like. I get my nostrils cleaned out when they're dusty, my paddock picked over when it's mucky, and my shed raked and freshened when it's less than its best. It's all good. I love it. I've no reason not to smile.

We'll go riding soon, and FarmWife's grin will stretch ear to ear. She'll come home invigorated, thrilled, and delighted, and I'll come home well-exercised, cooled, and content. And, at the end of it, I'll be rewarded with dinner, which is just as much of a treat as anything else.  Win-win.

Smile!

FB

Comments

  1. wow...what a cute donkey...love your post...really exciting....keep it up..

    bestessays.co.uk

    thanks,
    badloi

    ReplyDelete
  2. Interesting, but here in Santa Cruz I don't think that would happen to you...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Delete my remark, it sb in "winter Head"

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks in Advance for Your Mulish Opinion!

Popular Posts

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

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 ...

Mowers and raccoons and steers, oh my!

In my informal Facebook survey I learned that the majority of Friends of the Muleness want more stories—All the Stories!—and that the story they want most of all is the story of the raccoon.  Farmwife says it's hardly a story at all, and that it would be something to talk about had the raccoon been in my barn, or touching my body, or gesticulating at me with it's bizarrely human little fingers to indicate that it would like a little snack or help with its homework. Alas, this is not that kind of story.  Before I tell you about the raccoon I have to go backwards and tell you that I am feeling very good in my body these days. My track through the forest has been expanded, my laminitis is at bay, and my health has been very largely excellent since I came here to the Atomic Ranch in December. I am feeling so good, in fact, that I have been cleared for long walks around the neighborhood! Puck, Farmwife, and I sometimes make the long loop up Saratoga and back around Fox Spit, which ...

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 million other kinds, too, but a mule has only so much time.) I love my Easyboot Epics, and I would gladly wear a second pair on my hind hooves if the opportunity presented itself. So far, it hasn't, but it's only a matter of time until a mule of my caliber starts seeing the corporate sponsorship love. All in due time!  In the meantime, FarmWife wonders about protective or supportive boots. You know, the kind that make a mule look very fancy, ready for anything, and primed for tremendous athletic accomplishment?  Really, I would love to have some. I think they'd look sassy. The arguments in favor of wearing something like a Sports Medicine Boot are thus: I love to a...