Animal Crackers - Cold January!

Howdy - 

 It has been a bit chilly here in South Texas for me! Lol.... I'm not a winter person. Ok so I'm not a heat of summer person either. Give me Spring and Fall! But COLD WET Winter is just HORRIBLE!! Right now we are preparing for some really cold weather this coming week. And with all the fur children that means a lot of work for Hubby. Got to pull out all the water heaters to keep them from freezing, ready to go out and break ice on smaller water buckets and haul water to ones that do freeze. Bring in extra round bales for the larger pens, be ready to feed extra square bales to the smaller pens. He is a real hard worker in normal weather but the cold is rough and freezing weather is even tougher! We don't get it too much here but when we do it is A LOT of Work!! 

 He really works to make sure the older "family members" are good for the weather. Darlene was getting normal feed plus extra alfalfa to keep her body extra warm.

 

She has grown in some really thick fur like everyone else, but she doesn't have the meat on her like she use too. So some extra greens keeps her body working and heats her up. I just wish she wasn't so picky and didn't leave the stems!! She picks off the leaves and leaves the stems... that stuff is really expensive Darlene! LOL But as long as she is eating good and staying warm!

Chipmunk was trying hard to convince me that he needed some of the extra alfalfa that Dad was giving to old lady Darlene. Maybe those stems could be sent his way? LOL

 Heard some banging in the girl Goat pen. Penelope had dragged over a branch that had fallen into their pen. They have been really enjoying it this week since it fell over the weekend. GREAT scratching stick! She was going to town on that stick, back and forth and moving it all over the place. Of course the other end was banging all over the fence and the huts. Ha! But it was feeling good to her!

 

I called out and asked her if she was enjoying her new branch. She stopped right away and ran over to chat! 

She has really become such a friendly sweet girl. Loves her head scratches and our little talks! Me too Penelope!! She is such a good listener!

Another timid family member that is now totally a sweetheart is our once feral outside cat Greybeard. This guy is a total love. A total Tom Cat yes, but still comes running as soon as he knows anyone is outside. Needs the rubs and attention. No matter if it is Hubby, Me or Chica... He Adores Chica BTW... Chica puts up with him but no where near adores him. LOL Hubby comes next on his love list... I come in a far third as in...  well you will do since no one else is here to rub my head.

I love that he is getting so good at posing for his photos! Here he had just came out from his heated porch bed for some mid morning breakfast. See our fur children are not spoiled at all.... 

Snapped a photo through the window of Hubby's Greenhouse... The house is pretty much up and in use now. Not 100% done. Still needs to be stained and a few finishing things done. Like inside floor. But hey the cold came and it was needed to be put in use now the finishing items can be done when it warms back up again.

You can see through the steamed up window things are very happy in there! His Citrus and other flowering plants are thriving and growing very well while it is below freezing outside and I was shivering!! 

Hope you are warm where you are! And I hope you enjoyed this week with my fur kids, and have a smile on your face! 

Have a blessed weekend! 

HUGS and -

Animal Crackers - What a Look!

Howdy - 

I don't think Ferrari was ready to wake up this morning! It was a chilly morning and she was cuddled up in her quilt at the end of the bed warm and that light did not make her happy! Is that an unhappy look or what?? LOL

 

That Kitty is not a morning kitty at all! I'm with you baby! No worries - she got happy as soon as she heard her bowl clink in the kitchen! 

But as soon as we went out side it was like a repeat of last weekends photo... but this time it was Cocoa screaming out! FEED ME!!! I'm STARVING!!! UH If you could see her belly you would know that was not true... hungry maybe.. starving no. But she was fed right away not a moment wasted old girl!

Shame you couldn't hear her... she has that old long hee haw that is just so heart wrenching. You have to stop and pay attention to her when she calls out! 

I then had to pay attention to Chipmunk He was head banging a bit on the fence to get his attention. I asked him why he has to do that... may not hurt his head but watching it makes mine hurt!!

Such a handsome man! Love that long flowing black beard! And yes it has hay flowing stuck in it.... that is a good place to store your hay for later, didn't you know that??  

I tried to find some of the girl donkeys to photo this week. But it has been windy and cold for the last few days and they were hunkered down in the back of their pasture in the bushes grazing and honestly it was too cold to walk back to photo them so early in the morning. I am so over cold already... and yes I know it hasn't even really started yet. yuck! 

Thought I would show this weeks Greenhouse update since there was lots of changes this week.  You can't tell by this photo but most of the roof is on. all the windows and the door... and now all the siding is going on next! So it should be able to be heated up and have the plants in it before the first freeze! Oh he will still have trim and pretty stuff to do to it, but it will be usable!

 

Can't wait until next Spring! Then he will start doing the planting around it and putting in gardens around it! Then it will look like the photos in the books he has been showing me forever! 

Hope you have enjoyed! Have a blessed weekend!

HUGS and -

Animal Crackers - Demanding!

Howdy - 

Not only blocking the gate out of the backyard, but very demanding that his breakfast is first!! That is our Teddy! 

 

Now trying to explain to this enormous fellow that in order to get him his breakfast he has to get out of the way of the gate so we can open the gate is not easy! The very LOUD hee haws and the banging on the gate makes his point but he still has to MOVE!! LOL... such a funny big boy! 

After the children had been fed we took off to feed us! Then coming back into our front gate the men in the front pen were up front so we pulled over to visit. Love getting to love on my guys. My very first baby donkey Diego... such a sweet baby! All though now not a baby, but always my baby boy... 

He came straight to me and I had a chance to love all over him before the other guys made it to me. They all get so pushy. And Diego is not as pushy so he moves to the back of the group. So I LOVE when I get private time with him. My first sweet little baby boy!

Miguel made his way to "Dad" first and was pushing his way over the fence for loving. When did all my fur children all start getting so gray? Again ... getting older but still my babies! 

And standing off to the side handsome man Patricio "Pat Man" - I got a slight little head scratch before he moved off. Handsome just like his Daddy Black Jack.

Came around the corner into the kitchen and found Bubba asleep in the middle of floor... yep in the position. Exact position. Just as I snapped the photo one eye opened. LOL I think I woke the sleeping giant... ha!

One more photo... The first stages of Hubby's Greenhouse... We moved the ladies goat pen back now that there are as many of them and Hubby is going to have a bigger garden and greenhouse in the backyard. Started his Antique Roses and other plants a few months ago and now he needs a close place to keep them warm in the winter. I think this is going to be great - and look great. He is using old windows in it so I think it will look "cute" as well as being practical!

Will show more photos as it moves forward! 

Hope You have a Animal Crackers Smiles ! Have a blessed Weekend

HUGS and
 

Animal Crackers - Early Morning

Howdy - 

Didn't make it out yesterday to get photos. Worked to late and then it just got to dark. So I got up early this morning and went out to get some photos before breakfast. You know if they get fed I get no faces at all! LOL 

Lacey came up first this morning. Such a sweet girl and my is she getting grey!

Love her personality and her long long ears! So sweet. But watch out charging up behind her is Juliet!!! 

Full speed this big girl loves to front and center for the attention. Ears back is get out of my way I'm coming through... seriously.... I snapped quick cuz I knew what the next view would be - 

EXTREME CLOSE UP!

This girl cracks me up! She loves to her nose scratches and to have 110% of the attention that is for sure! I gave her lots of scratches and then tried to move on to Macey ... but oh my look out Macey... Juliet is coming up behind you!!
 

I got one photo of Macey and about 10 seconds of ear scratches and Juliet was front and center again. LOL It takes two to get photos some days... one to take the photos and one to entertain Juliet!

So moving on to the goat pen was next. I found Lizzy doing some early morning back scratches... must have felt pretty good she was really doing a dance against that hut base! 

 

 But Surprisingly after that she walked towards me and then let me love on her. She is so moody most of the time but this morning was a good morning and I got her good side! 

Thought I would show off the tomatoes 

 

... Now the plants are not the prettiest, but hey these are Hubby's Spring Tomatoes.... he cut back and brought back through the summer. And man the tomatoes have been coming on strong!! And really that is all that matters right! YUM YUM!!!

Hope you have wonderful weekend plans - And that you enjoyed Animal Crackers and have a smile on your face! If not... go back and take a look at Juliet again! 

HUGS and

Animal Crackers - Grass Vs. Hay?

Howdy - 

It is always best to have fresh green grass. Right? Well once in a while you just need that old fashioned hay. Especially when it is coming in on a truck right past you!! LOL The Men up front don't get hay every day, I mean really look at their pasture - gorgeous! But when their favorite hay cutter calls and has a few bales and it is coming in on the truck through the gate right past you it just wouldn't be nice to drive right past them would it? 

They LOVE the hay from our hay grower, and they know when it isn't his hay. No worries - they are spoiled and got some last week to enjoy. You can tell when it is just a treat and when it is a meal. They were not "hungry" as they graze 24/7 on the fresh grass... but they did munch on this hay for a few days just to enjoy the flavor. If they were hungry it would have been gone in hours not days. LOL 

Hubby sent me this rare photo the other day... to snap one of the old kitties is great but to find them both together and snap a photo is super rare! We were trying to decide just how old they are now... OLD is all we could decide on for sure but we know they are way over 12 years old.

Old Mom is on the left... you can tell she is really getting up there, but her child Fraidy is almost the same age. 

I had a few photos from my visit with the ladies that I didn't get to share.  Macie, Man I love this girl. She has such a sweet calm loving personality. 

 

She still looks "heavy" but she actually has lost a little weight. She will always be a bit wide it is just in her genes. Kinda like me.. LOL

Love this photo of Miss Bella.. formally "Anna Bell" She is so beautiful, here she was really keeping a watch on Dad. There was a chance he was coming her way and she wanted to be on the ready to be first in line for breakfast.

 

 You can see Raffie in the back ground doing the same thing in his pen... funny donkeys. 

Got a good shot of Hannah (Bella's daughter) - she is hard to get photos like this of as she usually trots towards you pretty fast for close ups! But she was 1/2 asleep when I got out there so she wasn't really on her game. I can't believe she is so grown up. No longer my baby girl, but sweet young lady!

Last photo is me stopping to check on our tomatoes. Oh start turning red!!! These are the grape tomatoes. There a sooooo many of them. Can't wait! 

Hope you enjoyed this week and have you weekend Animal Crackers Smile - we really do love that you visit us each week. It really means so much to us! 

HUGS and

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 - 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 - Summer Cut

Howdy 

 This heat is unbearable! It has been over 100 degrees all week. I do not do well in the heat. But the attention has been more about our fur children - first up Miss Libbie.

 At her age she doesn't like the heat either. So for only the second or third time in her life we decided a summer hair cut was in order. She has always slicked off and a good brushing and her fur was stunning and cool. But she just wasn't loosing it this year so a haircut was needed to make her feel better. She wasn't happy about it at first. Being blind and nearly deaf it was confusing - but she soon started enjoying all the attention. 

 

Ok, so it is not a professional cut. A "Mom" home cut. But honestly she looks adorable and is loving how much cooler she is. She had a cut, a bath and then got her toes done. A Libbie Spa afternoon! She seriously does look so cute! 

Now the entire time spa time was going on - Chica was in total hiding. She goes into total panic mode when that word bath is mentioned. Much less the hair cut or toes! Good thing she has lost her winter fur and has such silky thin hair, that she isn't as affected by the heat. But she did end up getting the bath - 

"Dad" says to her "Chica you may be a pretty little girl but you are no Lady" LOL she loves to get dirty! She is getting older and greyer, but she is still such a pretty girl. 

Now I went out to snap photos of the outside fur children. It wasn't that late but man it was already so so so hot! 

Black Jack said nope not leaving the shade! 

 

"Dad" got his pen all mowed this week and it is turning that summer shade of dead. But it still has some hints of green, and now more feed is brought in. But at this moment... shade was all that mattered. 

I made sure to check on Darlene - as our grandma on the farm she really doesn't like the heat that much either. But she has slicked off and most of the time stays in the shade herself. All though she did come out for some much needed scratches and loving! 

For an old lady she still has her looks!  I spent most of my time outside with her. She got a full body rub done and lots of chatting.

 Now I did a chat with the little chicks as well. All though they are not so little anymore. They are growing so fast! 

They are all so pretty. And some have some really striking colors!

"Friz" is getting some really long feathers on those cute little feet. She is one of the smallest in the group, but tries to hold her own with the bigger girls.

 

 

She is a cutie isn't' she?? 

 

And one last photo today - despite the over 100 degree heat we still have tomatoes! Are the plants getting long and and and well summer looking? Yes, but Hubby still has tomatoes turning red! And they are so so yummy! 

 

A great treat - garden tomatoes with cold cottage cheese is my favorite! 

Hope you enjoyed - and hope you are all doing great this weekend enjoying some furry or feathered friends! 

HUGS and-