Saturday Daily Dose of Cute:Let's Get Together, Yeah Yeah Yeah

Scooch Over, Dan



That's Better

Want to see more donkey doings?
(some categories overlap)
Evie Photos
Esmeralda Photos
Dolores Photos
Daphne Photos
Donkey Doodle Dandy Photos
Dinky Photos
More Donkey Photos
And even more Donkey Photos

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the foodie farm blog where Donkey Doodle Dandy (who is all fluffed up for winter—so cute!) loves his herd and we don't think he regrets for a minute not being lone donkey on the farm anymore, but sometimes he likes to put a little space between himself and all those girls. (And in case you're wondering, that baling twine wrapped around the top of the gate was a vain attempt at keeping Marta—who is gigantic and yet can still magically get through anything—from climbing through it. A long overdue big white dogs update is hopefully coming soon.)

Thursday Daily Dose of Cute: Happy Happy, New New

Off to a better life - and a better name?

A couple of weeks ago Dolores' son Dinky, who was born back on July 2nd 2007, was finally picked up by his new owner—only a year after she had originally planned to come and get him. Sometimes things move at a much slower pace out here in the country.

In 2004, we started naming all the new lambs born each spring alphabetically: 'A' names in 2004, 'B' names in 2005, etc. This makes it really easy to remember who was born when, and it only took me nine years to come up with the idea. Other animals, such as baby donkeys, also get corresponding year/letter names, such as Esmeralda and Evie who were born last summer.

Since we knew that Dolores' darling little baby donkey would eventually be going to live with someone else (because you can't have two jacks together and Donkey Doodle Dandy is never leaving), we gave him the temporary name of Dinky. We figured the new owner could then give him a fitting (and of course much more manly) name of their own choosing.

Dinky isn't a hugger like Evie and Esmeralda are, but since he'll gladly take treats out of your hand I was able to lure him fairly easily into the trailer. His new owner (who fell in love with him at first sight) told me that Dinky spent the 40+ mile ride home alternating between peering out the little peephole by the cab of the truck at the scenery and poking his nose up to it in order to get a whiff of everything. Peek, sniff, peek, sniff, peek, sniff. Too cute. Upon arriving at his new farm, he leaped out of the trailer and headed straight over to an enormous Belgian horse who nuzzled him and held his giant head protectively over his new little pal's.

Dinky now has his own small flock of sheep to guard, and he loves his new life. But since his new owner says he "looks like a little grey mouse standing next to that giant Belgian," I'm afraid the name Dinky may have stuck.

Wishing you a new year filled with health, happiness, wonderful food, and lots of laughter—whether you're starting a whole new adventure or simply continuing the one you're already on.

Want to have a look back at Dinky donkey?
12/2/07: A Little Donkey Secret
12/10/07: Flying Donkeys
2/9/08: Donkey Update
4/7/08: Surprise Inspection
5/17/08: A Little Look Back at Dinky
6/16/08: Mother Love
6/17/08: Playing Hide and Seek
7/2/08: Happy First Birthday Dinky Donkey!
1/3/10: Two Heads in a Bucket

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the longear loving foodie farm blog where if my New Year's resolution comes true, there will be lots more Less Fuss, More Flavor recipes appearing in the coming months. But since things often move at a much slower pace out here in the country, it might not actually happen.

Saturday Daily Dose of Cute: Thirsty Girls

It Takes A Lot of Water to Look This Cute (Treats Help, Too)

Want to see more donkey cuteness?
(some categories overlap)
Evie Photos
Esmeralda Photos
Dolores Photos
Daphne Photos
Donkey Doodle Dandy Photos
Dinky Photos
More Donkey Photos
And even more Donkey Photos

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where this afternoon as we were driving past the five donkeys in the front field (we still have Dinky, too, but he has to be kept separate from Dan) Joe said, "I hadn't noticed that Evie has Neopolitan ears—they're dark brown at the base, vanilla in the middle, and light chocolate on top." "You mean like the ice cream?" "Yeah, only she doesn't have strawberry."

Monday Farm Photos:A Girl's Gotta Draw the Line Somewhere

Keeping A Close Watch on the Enemy

This is Robin. She hates donkeys. Hates them even more than cows, and she hates cows a lot.

When our wandering herd of five donkeys meanders up by The Shack (which happens at least a couple of times a day), our usually smiling beagle turns all menacing looks and ferocious barks (unless she's curled up indoors in one of her cat beds). This has been going on for years. And when she starts barking, she sets off Bear, who (because he does not hate donkeys) naturally believes there is an actual, non-donkey threat about to jump out of the woods and attack. He gets very excited. Every single time.


Does She Look Pissed or What?

I could never figure Robin out until I read that dogs can smell ten thousand times better than we can. Fifty thousand donkeys in my yard? I suppose I wouldn't be all that happy either.

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where Farmgirl Susan shares recipes, stories, and photos from her crazy country life on 240 remote Missouri acres—and most of us love donkeys (which really don't smell bad at all).

Saturday Daily Dose of Cute: Cleanup Crew

Will Work for Treats

A year of Farm Photos ago:
9/27/07: Made for Each Other?
9/30/07: It's A Stock Dog's Life
10/2/07: Love on the Rocks
10/5/07: Staredown

Two years ago:
9/28/06: Our New Ram Is Showing Some Style
9/29/06: Perfect Landing
9/30/06: Seeing Double
10/1/06: He Looks More Like a Bodyguard than a Nanny Bear
10/2/06: Be Back Soon I Hope
10/3/06: Follow the Yellow Dirt Road

Three years ago:
9/27/05: Autumn Bloom
9/28/05: It's Starting. . .
9/29/05: Heart of Vine
9/30/05: Name That Sheep Contest! You Could Win a Sheep!
10/1/05: I Wonder if Anyone Has Noticed I'm Gone
10/1/05: Weekend Cat Blogging #17—I Heart Patchy Cat
10/1/05: Weekend Chicken Blogging #1—Whitey Gets Even

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where people often ask if our donkeys do anything besides look cute. The answer is sort of. The idea was that they would help protect the sheep by chasing off the coyotes, but as Joe puts it, now that we have a whole herd of donkeys, they pretty much just like to protect each other. They do eat a lot of weeds and brush that the sheep don't care for. And of course their entertainment value is priceless. Besides, you know how far cute goes in my book.

Monday Daily Dose of Cute:Bonding with Her Baby

Dolores & Daughter Esmeralda (who is already 2-1/2 months old!)

Need more hee haw in your life?
Baby Donkeys
Donkey Photos
More Donkey Photos
Donkey Doodle Dandy

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where having two baby donkeys who can't seem to get enough pets and snuggles is almost more cuteness than we can bear—and all the donkeys have this ability to look at you in such a way that you always feel as if you've just interrupted something really important.

Wednesday Daily Dose of Cute: Meet the Dog Day

Dolores and Esmeralda Inspect Lucky Buddy Bear

Want to see more?
Stock Dog Inspections
Baby Donkey Photos
Dolores Photos
More Donkey Photos

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where Esmeralda (who was just 6 days old when this photo was taken back on July 12th) is 100% donkey but has turned into quite the little attention hound. And yes, a baby donkey who runs right over whenever she sees you and can't get enough hugs and cuddles is definitely cause for some serious cute overload around here.

Wednesday Daily Dose of Cute:Happy First Birthday Dinky Donkey!

A Year Ago Today: Dolores & Just Born Dinky

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where we actually have a whole little series of newborn Dinky photos that we'd planned to share, but time got away from us even more than usual tonight. It must have been baking the late night Parisian Daily Baguettes (beautiful!) that were immediately followed in the oven by a batch of White Whole Wheat Raisin Oat Scones (breakfast!). The rest of the Dinky photos will hopefully be posted tomorrow or Friday. We haven't forgotten about explaining the haying process either but, for obvious reasons, birthday announcements must come first.

Tuesday Daily Dose of Cute: Playing Hide and Seek

He's Still Learning the Game

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where we couldn't decide which was cuter, yesterday's photo of Dinky or this one (which was also taken last September), so we decided to simply post them both.

Monday Daily Dose of Cute: Mother Love

Dolores and Her Son Dinky, Age Two Months (Taken Last September)

Need to see more cute?
The First Daily Doses of Cute
Daily Dose of Cute Part 2
Daily Dose of Cute Part 3
Lambing Season 2006 Photos & Reports
Lambing Season 2007 Photos & Reports
Lambing Season 2008 Part 1
Lambing Season 2008 Part 2
Farm Stories & Farm Life Tidbits

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where we've been discovering some forgotten and never shared favorite photos while sorting through (and somehow trying to organize) about a zillion of them (yep, somebody's hard drive is ridiculously full).

Saturday Farm Photo: Grass Fed Donkeys

Daphne & Dan by the Front Field Last September

Want to see more?
Daphne Photos
Donkey Doodle Dandy Photos
More Donkey Photos
Farm Landscape Photos
Same Scene, New View Photos

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where we're wondering if it really is possible to sweat to death in June, but are comforted by the thought that if we survive after summer it'll be fall — and Daphne just keeps getting more pregnant.

Tuesday Farm Photo: Party Animals

Do They Look Hungover or What?

And We Appear to Have Just Lost Dan

So how was your holiday weekend?

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where it's obvious that some of the animals around here lead secret lives we don't know about - and you know it's been a wild and crazy night when the next morning none of the donkeys are able to hold their ears up, let alone stand up.

Saturday Daily Dose Of Cute: A Little Look Back

Dinky Donkey on July 14th, Age 12 Days

Just over a year ago I brought home two girlfriends for Donkey Doodle Dandy. Dolores was already pregnant when she arrived, and on July 2nd she gave birth to Dinky. Dinky was supposed to go live with a friend on another farm several months ago, but she's having a fencing - or, more precisely, a lack of fencing - situation, which I understand completely.

Meanwhile Dan's other girlfriend, Daphne, is expecting Dan's baby, which we thought she was going to have a month ago. Instead she just keeps getting bigger, kind of like poor Zelda. Maybe she's waiting for lambing season (which keeps dragging on and on) to be done - or at least for Zelda to be done.

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where the photos are sometimes actually taken the same day they're posted - just not lately. But cute is cute no matter when it's from, right?

Saturday Farm Photo: Grooming Session

It's A Donkey Thing

Want to see more donkey doings?
Donkey Photos
Dolores Photos
Dinky Photos
Daphne Photos
Donkey Doodle Dandy

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where you learn a whole lot more about donkeys when you add two new members to your herd of one, like that they love to gnaw on each other - and these days Daphne is looking extremely pregnant.

Monday Farm Photo #2: Who's A-fraid Of The Big Bad Creek? The Big Bad Creek?

That Would Be Our Donkeys

Back in February when the wet weather creek started flowing during all those snow and ice storms (this was before it flooded over), the donkeys literally camped out for three days up by The Shack (complaining loudly the entire time) rather than get their precious hooves wet crossing over to the barn. Begging, pleading, coaxing, and even a bucket full of treats dangled temptingly from the other side of the water didn't work. Fortunately they've gotten a little better since then. A little.

© 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where our motto is If you need more laughs in your life, just go out and get yourself a little donkey.

Farm Photo 3/26/08: Donkey Dietary Habits

They Got Tired Of Eating A La Cart

Want to see more than just the ears?
Dolores Photos
Daphne Photos
More Donkey Photos

A year of Farm Photos ago (Lots of Lamb Reports!):
3/9/07: Zelda's Curious Twins
3/14/07: Tana & Her Baby Boy
3/15/07: Gang Activity
3/16/07: The Definition Of Relaxed
3/18/07 Martha's Twin Girls, Age One Week
3/20/07: All Booked Up At The Bonding Suite Inn
3/22/07: Gobble Gobble Gobble
3/24/07: Just Hangin' Out
3/25/07: Baby Gobble

Two years ago:
3/13/06: I'm Gonna Need More Than Spun Gold For Breakfast
3/14/06: On The Breakfast Lookout
3/14/06: A Whole New Way To Start Dan's Day
3/15/06: One & A Half Anonymous Hay Eaters
3/16/06: World's Best Pillow
3/17/06: A Little Green For St. Patrick's Day
3/18/06: J2 On The Potting Bench
3/19/06: Off Duty Dog
3/19/06: Farewell Winter
3/20/06: Happy First Day Of Spring
3/21/06: You Don't Mind Another Daffodil, Do You?
3/22/06: Whitey & Lindy The Chickens Take Over
3/24/06: Uncle Dan Is Back On The Job!
3/25/06: Well Somebody Has To Eat It
3/25/06: Weekend Cat Blogging - Smudge
3/26/06: I Told You They Have No Manners

And out of the garden came:
The Great Compost Cover Up
It's A Bouncing Baby Blog!

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where the telephone rings and the next thing you know you've bought a little donkey - or two big donkeys.

Farm Photo 3/2/08:How Do Donkeys Order Lunch?

A La Cart!

Want to see more?
Donkey Photos
Dolores Photos
Dinky Photos
Daphne Photos
Donkey Doodle Dandy
Snow Photos & Snowstorm Stuff

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where country life is crazy and so is the weather. Today it was a blustery, balmy, and bizarre 76 degrees. Tomorrow night and Tuesday we're expecting 4 to 6 7 to 8 inches of sleet and snow, with thunderstorms, flood warnings, and ice before that. Here we go again.

Farm Photo 2/23/08:Please Don't Step On My Heart

Watch That Hoof, Dolores

A year of Farm Photos ago:
2/11/07: Cary's First Woolcut
2/18/07: More Scenes From Sheep Shearing Day 2007
2/19/07: I Love Black Sheep!

Two years ago we also had a lot of snow:
2/16/06: Poultry In Motion
2/17/06: Up For The Winter Look
2/18/06: This Is Not Cute Donkey Abuse
2/18/06: For Some Reason I Thought They'd Be Safer Indoors
2/19/06: Same Scene New View - The Haybarn
2/19/06: Winter Spring & Better Than Evian
2/20/06: Snow Dance
2/21/06: Note To Self Re Snowstorm Preparation: Think Tarp
2/21/06: It's A Boy! It's A Girl! It's A Boy!
2/22/06: Snow Love (What a heartfind coincidence!)
2/23/06: Martha & Her Baby Girl
2/23/06: Chickens On Snow - Not A Recipe

And out of the kitchen came:
Susan's Super Spinach Soup
My Best (And Very Popular) Bran Muffin Recipe (Has it really been a year already? Wow.)

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where hearts are found all over the place and treat-seeking donkeys are constantly crashing into photo shoots.

Daily Farm Photo: 7/23/06

As we surveyed the various fallen trees and tree limbs on our way back to the house after tucking in the sheep for the night, the conversation went something like this:

"We need to think about fixing the chipper shredder."

"It's broken?"

"Yep."

"Still? Like from a couple of years ago?"

"Yep."

"We never fixed it?"

"Nope."

"Are you sure?"

"Yep."

"What's wrong with it again?"

"An important bolt fell out of it."

"Bummer."

"Yep."

Country time. Country talk.


So in the meantime, we've hired a Professional Crew. . .



To eat up the mess.
(The one sitting down is the supervisor.)

A year of Daily Photos Ago:
Eighteen-Year-Old Gretel Soaks Up The Sun
(And now at 19, she's doing just fine.)