A strangely timed series of events

First, the good news — I was sound for two full years, and in July I was pronounced sound enough for work! This after five years of medical retirement on account of laminitis and sundry. Farmwife, you may recall, bought me as a riding mule only to find that I was already woefully chronically lame.

Sound enough, the vet and trimmer agreed, to be restarted under saddle and in harness. Happy day! Farmwife obtained for me a Wintec saddle, an assortment of bridles, a comfy fit harness, and a wooden road cart.

Then the bad news—Farmwife tried to lunge me and learned that I do not understand lunging. She tried to ground drive me and learned that I remember little, or that she is a bad ground driver, or both. It was sketchy. We desisted.

Having no ring and no trails, we decided I should go to sleepaway camp for a while. She found two trainers, one to take me for a couple of months to gently rebuild my fitness and another skilled driver to help restart me in harness. You may remember that I pulled carts and carried riders for an Amish family in another lifetime, so we all hope it will come right back to me on a new foundation of trust and safety.

More good news—we started looking for a friend for Melvin, for when I go to sleepaway camp. Enter Poppy—Princess Popstar—Cherry Poptart. She was given to us by a friend of the man and she is a queen.

Now, we are three in a paddock built for two. It’s ok, though. They’re small and I’m spending the autumn away. Correct?

Not so fast! Bad news—I started limping the very next day. Abscess? Perhaps. X-rays show nothing definitive. Soaking and poulticing is for naught. The vet is coming for a third time this Wednesday and all we can say is my coffin bones look nice, which is something. Plus “no arthritic changes”—good news for mules of my age and experience.

More bad bews—the person with whom Arrietty has been living is having a change of life and can no longer keep her. What’s that, you say? Four in a paddock built for two? We considered it. Mind you, this news came the same week we brought Poppy home. Tricky timing, Universe. Very tricky!

But good news, too—Etty, Miss Teaspoon, the OG! How we’ve missed her.

Bad news—our sister-in-law lost a mini horse to colic, and has a lonesome mare. Good news—her paddock is warm and welcoming, and Arrietty will fit right in.

So that’s the news. Farmwife is right at this very second sitting in the back of a van with Arrietty on the long journey from Sequim to Everson. It sounds as though I won’t meet Miss Teaspoon in person today, as she’s going straight into Sister’s care, but we should get more frequent updates. Farmwife says you will remember Arrietty, and that I should tell you she is well.

As for me, I do not think I’ll be ready for sleepaway camp next week. We are talking now about MRIs, which sound expensive. We are soaking and poulticing. We are buying stock in epsom salts and praying to the soundness gods that I don’t develop laminitis in my compensating forehoof. Bray for my full recovery!

Ears to you,

Songbird Sparrowgrass, Melvin, and Poppy plus Miss Arrietty G. Teaspoon (foreign correspondent)

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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

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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...

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BRAYS OF OUR LIVES

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