Donkeys! Are they mystical, soulful with great wisdom; or are they stubborn and wilful. We didn't know anything about Donkey's except they carry people on rides sometimes. Then Betty and BJ entered our  lives. They needed a new home so we provided one for them. We soon learnt they were very friendly, only did things on their terms (unless carrots were involved when some discussion could happen), they're curious and clever. We soon learnt so latch the gates properly or they'd take themselves for walks and they couldn't live near the garage or they'd take themselves inside to raid the feed bins! It didn't matter what you were doing in a field, if they were in the same field they'd come to see what you were up to, even if that meant chasing the ute. They love attention! They have such slender, fine bones I wonder when they trot around and the choice of a farrier was very important. The farrier really does need experience with Donkey feet to be able to do a good job. They settled well when a horse came to live with us, but Betty was the Boss! The bellows have to be filled with air before that unique bray floods the surrounding area, usually to attract our attention when they wanted chaff or carrots. I can't think of not having a donkey in our lives now, there's the ears and lovely soft nose. Although the next may have to learn to be a guardian Donkey for our lambs.

 

 

 

We often go to the local Antique fairs and that's where I saw him, looking forlorn and homeless. I couldn't help myself and bought him, to add to others of his kind I had at home. The other three had been given to me as a child by my parents. The white teddy happened one memorable day when both parents had had a bit to much to drink at a winery, I worked both of them and they forgot to say no! So my new big yellow Wendy Boston teddy came to live with Brown bear, Mary (small yellow) and Terry the white bear. Wendy Boston bears were revolutionary, they were the first washable bear with safety eyes. The company started by Wendy and Ian Boston in 1945, created these bears in 1954 from plush material with the ears all part of the teddy body for easy hanging after being washed. My brother also had a Wendy Boston bear and I remember that bear hanging from the washing line from his ear on a number of occasions. These bears are easily recognised by the label sewn into either their paw or leg, depending on their size. I'll keep an eye out for more homeless bears to add to my family.

I've grown fond of our chooks particularly Polly who is always friendly, coming over whenever we're in the veg garden working. However egg production has stopped after a couple of months of soft shelled eggs, weird globs and the occasional proper egg. They're both ginger chooks breed for the maximum output in egg production and we're had them for over two years, so this may be the end. We've added grit and calcium to their feed hoping to help them along, but still no eggs. The question is do we get rid of them. We're thinking of getting a couple of new chooks and maybe some pure breed chickens to, but can we afford to keep the original pair?

The chook house has been altered over the last few months, a change in perch position, nest box and a new outdoor run, but can it hold 6 chickens. There's lots to think about. However there's nothing like collecting fresh eggs!