Ho Ho Ho its HOT!

This week Papertake Weekly Challenge Blog asked for Christmas Cards. I know we all like to get a head start on our Christmas Cards... but I have a really hard time making Christmas cards when it is over 100 degrees outside! In fact when I finished it I showed it to Hubby, and he had the oddest look on his face and asked me why in the world I am in the Christmas mood. Hey that is the challenge right? Do what we may not in the first place... so here I am hair up on my head in shorts and the fan right on me, putting Santa and snow on my card.

This stamp is from Alota Rubber Stamps. I will admit, this isn't probably one I would have purchased, I don't buy very many Christmas type of stamps, it came in my DT kit. But I love him!!! He is so cute once stamped out. I colored him with my Copics and Sakura Glaze Pens. I then used Diamond Stickles the fluff of his hat and cuffs and snow. I cut him out with my Nestibilities and doodled the edges. Now the paper is from Heidi Grace. Hubby didn't like the pink in it. Said it just wasn't a Christmas color. Well if Heidi Grace puts pink in her pattern paper... then pink can be a Christmas color! Really it is cute paper and the set comes in some really fun glazed and flocked papers, can't wait to use those!

I cut pieces randomly and placed them on the background paper, and sewed down with red thread. When I went to make a sentiment... Oh I have the classic Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays stamps. But then I remembered the cute Christmas ribbons I purchased after Christmas last year. And this one just seemed too funny, and more for some of my friends!

Alright I promised new Irene photographs, I hate to disappoint, but I didn't get a chance to get any new ones yesterday. You see Miss Jazz wasn't feeling well and I spent time with her, I think she is getting really close. I can't image being that pregnant, and standing around in the heat. Poor girl, but she seemed to enjoy the rub down and I love petting on her. he he he once I was petting on her to brush out some of the winter hair and she loved it so much she fell over... asleep! It was too funny, she jumped up and looked at me like Wow did I do that? So I will leave you with one photo of Irene that I got day before yesterday.... she is beautiful girl.

Gotta get going other than that - It is MIL day... first one in a few weeks as she was out of town. I am sure she has a long shopping list today!

HUGS and-

Today I have Alota Bugs!

Alota Bugs!!! Yes last night I worked on two Alota Rubber Stamp Cards. For some reason after being out spraying the donkeys for mosquito's (they are big as buzzards here now), I was in the mood to make some cuter bugs! My first card is a simple card, but I did that way on purpose because I wanted that flower yo-yo to be a focus. Darn thing took me forever to make! I think I have the hang of it now and they will be easier next time.

This is Leaf Ladybug from the Alota Ladybug set. I love these little ladies! I colored her with my Copics, and white gel pen. Her wings are covered in Diamond Stickles. I cut her with my oval Nestibilities, and matted with a red card stock cut with the oval scallops Nestibilities.

The base for the card is the same red card stock and I love the pattern paper! This is actually two sides of one piece of paper from Lil' Davis Designs. I cut it into pieces and then put it back together. Love how the green dots look in the different shades. I ran a piece of red satin ribbon across the bottom and the sentiment is from the same set, cut with a Stampin Up Word punch. I then sewed the edges down and around the ladybug.

Now to that flower..... ok, while out shopping with MIL a few weeks back I found a flower yo yo pattern. I finally pulled it out and a scrap of red heart fabric and tried it last night. I like how it came out, but man those instructions were not easy to follow! I sewed a green button for the center of the flower and then placed two Prima leaves under it. I doodled the edges of the scallops to give it a more fun look. Cute huh?

The second card is Mr. Mail Bug and you can find him HERE. If you like to color... this one is for you! I loved all the different colors that can be put into this image. I think he is so cute and perfect for a note card to a friend. He is colored with my Copics and white gel pen. I used a green card stock for the base, and the pattern paper is two sided from FontWerks. One side is a pink lined side, perfect for a letter don't you think? And the other is a darker green with light dots. I used that to cut out the swirls, a Quickutz die, and to mat the image. I rounded the corners of everything with a Fiskars squeeze punch and inked the edges with a catseye dark brown ink.

The flower is something that has been in my stash forever! I think it is a Heidi Swapp chipboard flower. The sentiment is from Stampin Up, "Sending you My Love" how sweet is that! And it fits perfect in the medium Fiskar's Round Squeeze punch! I gel pen stitched the edges with white gel pen. With the large size of the image I had a hard time finding the right embellishments but I ended up happy with it.

Lots to get done today as always I am behind this week, I hope to get some cleaning done. Lots of playing with donkeys and especially the baby. (this is probably why I am so behind this week) And some cards done later in the day. I'll try and get some good baby photos today to share tomorrow!

HUGS and-

A Spoon Full of Sugar and some Raspberry Ribbon Love

I have some catching up to do! I have spent so much time outside with the new baby that I am really behind on my cards, and my blog surfing!

Today I have two cards my first is my DT card for A Spoon Full of Sugar: Challenge Blog.

This week is some for some "Animal Magic"
"We would love you to make a card with an animal somewhere in the design. Don't forget you must include at least one Sugar Nellie, Rachelle Anne Miller, Sarah Kay, High Hopes or a Hanglar Image somewhere on your design."

For my card I chose my Hat-itude Chicks from High Hopes. I colored them with my Copics and Spica Glitter Pens. Wish you could see that on the flowers, they really do sparkle! The pattern papers are from Paper Studio, and I used sage green and pale yellow Bazzil card stock. Everything is sewed down, twice! I liked the double stitching look. Prima flowers and buttons finish out the corner.

Why not give this weeks challenge a try. Lots of stamp brands to choose from and any animal will work!

My second card is a fun sketch from Raspberry Ribbons. I ran across this blog a few days ago I have of course drooled on their Ribbon kits from seeing them on lots of blogs, but then I found their blog and the fact that they are going to have a sketch challenge twice a month. The sketch this time really was cool, different and I had to give it a try.

I used a Sweet Ebony stamp and Doodlebug pattern paper and ribbons, I colored the image with my Copics to match the papers and ribbon, love the vintage colors. I don't do use these colors often, and I love them. For the sky I wanted something softer, so I used chalks.

I tried a million different things for the larger circle. I knew I wanted to use the buttons for the smaller circles, but that larger one... Then I found the flowers in my stash that were the same colors as the image, it just clicked. I couldn't decide which ribbon I wanted to use...he he..... so I used all three! I stacked the two on the bottom border of the image, love the soft velour flowers mixed with the satin ribbon. Then the larger ribbon I used as a background to my sentiment, which is from Stampin up, and punched with my new Stampin Up Word punch! (Thanks Claudia for helping me get one!)

Love the sketch, and think I will be checking in often to see what new ones they put up! Give them a look and see yourself.

Well I am off - Don't you think I should go back out and hug and love on the new baby? Don't want her to not feel loved ya know!

HUGS and-

Welcome Baby Irene!!!

We have a baby!!! Patti delivered a beautiful bouncing baby - who is spotted just like her mother, and is a GIRL! I would have been happy with any baby. But a spotted girl is just what we dreamed of years ago when we purchased our first donkey!

We named her Irene... my Grandmother's name and she would have loved these donkeys. I can remember when we use to get new puppies, or kittens as a kid. Grandma loved them. She didn't have any pets but she would giggle and love on the babies. I can only imagine what she would do around my new babies.

So Welcome IRENE!!!!

And now we wait on Jazz...

Hugs and -

Sarah Kay Challenge Week 4

Today is the Sarah Kay challenge week 4, wow it has already been a month! And this week is a fabulous sketch... love the scallops!

"*Week 4* - Scallop Sketch you will see a sketch. Please make your work using the Sketch as your guide, You can rotate the sketch & even re size the elements if you would like to, but do not move the elements around please. As long as we can still see the original sketch layout and can be easily recognised then that is fine! Please remember your work must include at least one Sarah Kay image."

For my card I use "A Kiss for Chloé" how sweet and innocent is this stamp. I colored with Copics and white gel pen. I planned the colors from this gorgeous pattern paper by Basic Grey's Sugared collection. Love the old fashioned pink roses. I then used a dark olive green Bazzill card stock as the base and sewed down a pink card stock. For my scallops from the sketch I used my Martha Steward border punch from the same green base. Layered the pattern paper on that and stitched down with a blanket stitch as well. The image is also matted and sewed with the same green. My band across the middle is a satin ribbon. Prima Flower and Prima leaf is added as a background for the sentiment from Rubber stamp Tapestry.

Make sure to try this weeks sketch is it a fun one room for lots of different styles and take a look at all of the other DT cards they are amazing this week.

Alright now for some personal updates for those that have emailed and asked.......

The concert was amazing! It was actually three concerts in one. Journey was my main reason for going. The starting band was Cheap Trick, they were good. Then Heart came out! OMG! They were wonderful! They look great, and sound even better! I have always liked their songs but after hearing them in person I am a new fan all over! Now if only I looked that good and had that much energy at that age and could belt out music like that! Nancy and Ann Wilson really rock! Then Journey came out and was even more than I expected! The new lead is no Steve Perry..... he is a Journey all of his own, he really does make the band sound new again and after 1 1/2 hours people were still begging for more! I will be back next time they come through!

Donkey update:

It has become a race --------- for weeks Jazz was in the lead, showed more of the signs. Our thinking was she was at least a week or more ahead of Patti. But as we stay up all night checking on Jazz two night in a row, her signs go away.... she doesn't appear like she is ready.... then from nowhere Patti takes the lead! Yesterday she just jumped ahead and now she is in a Momma Pen and we were checking on her regularly last night. I know we are crazy for checking on them so much. Just let them be and they will deliver just fine on their own. But we have had 7 babies... two did not make it. One was breech and one did not make it out of the sack and died. So I am extra paranoid when it comes to making sure they deliver healthy babies. And I like to be there to "footprint" them, let them smell and get to know me in their first minutes of life. They have to know who will be there to spoil them after all!

Thanks for all the emails and concern for them. And yes... lots of baby photos will be posted as soon as they are born!

Have a great Sunday!

HUGS and-

Things that Grow -

Cute Card Thursday challenge this week has the theme "Things that Grow". Ok after checking on a Momma donkey every hour on the hour last night, I wish that baby would be born and start growing! Yes it was a long night - and still no baby -

But I am happy with the card I managed to make in between nursing. I started with Alota Rubber Stamps Molly Moo stamp. This set is so much fun, I mean common a gardening cow just has to be cute right? I colored her with my Copic and white gel pen, and then the sky is filled in with shimmering chalks, it looks really cool in person. The water coming out of the hose it colored in with a Sakura glaze pen to give is some shine.

I used a Bazzil Bling green card stock for the base, then cut a deep red card stock the same size and punched it with the Fiskars Border/Corner punch. The pattern paper is from Creative Imaginations and I was excited when I saw how perfect it matched Molly Moo's flower. Didn't plan that when I colored it red =)

The ribbon is two satin ribbon stacked with a Making Memories felt flower. The sentiment reads "Beauty blooms in the heart... as it does in the garden" seemed to fit the image and the theme of the challenge. It is from Rubber Stamp Tapestry, loving these stump sentiments they punch out perfect with my medium Fiskar's Squeeze Punch.

Bold, but fun!


I think I may need a nap today - don't usually take naps but after my night last night and then my night I have tonight ---- I am so excited, you see I am going to see Journey in Concert!!! I know just dated myself - A friend and I said years ago that if they ever came to town we would go. Well the last time they came I just couldn't do it, really bad timing. So when I saw they would be here I called and got tickets for her, myself and my sister. I asked hubby to go too HA! He said they were a chick band - no way! So it is a girls night out! Gonna be fun and LOUD!


Hope you have something fun planned for this weekend. Make sure to fit in some crafting!
HUGS and -

Fanny's Cuddle

Fanny's Cuddle... I love that name of this Sarah Kay. I had a Great Aunt named Fanny, she was hysterical it was always fun when she came to visit. And when I look at the photographs of her and my Grandmother as children, this is exactly what they look like don't you think? I know the photo is in very poor condition but I still treasure it. My Grandmother is the front left and Fanny is front right.

Ok to the card now... I colored "Fanny" with my Copic Markers and white gel pen. The image is cut with an Oval Nestibilities and matted with a larger oval from the back side of the pattern paper which is from Chatterbox.

The flourishes! Oh lovin those I picked up one of the Quickutz dies at Hobby Lobby (of course with a 40 off coupon) Ran it through my Cuttlebug with a piece of the matching Chatterbox brown paper! Add those flourishes with Prima flowers and it makes me happy! Love them!

The Sentiment is a new addiction thanks to my Buddy Sue at SlumberCards! She sent me a RAK of fun wonderful "Oh My Word" Craftwork Cards - Simply Sayings. They are die cut sentiments that are just perfect for cards, the paper shimmers and the saying are in gold and in silver. Well I ran across some of them online and loved the ones she sent me so much I ordered more of them! I picked one that fit the image and inked the edges of it with brown ink. Doodled the edges of the image and the kraft paper base. Love how it came out definitely would have been a great card for my Grandmother or Aunt Fanny -

Donkey update: No babies yet, I really don't know what to say other than... that is my life with Donkeys, they have them when they want. Jazz should have hers first, and could be any minute. I keep going out and checking on her and Patti nearly hourly now. Any time now........................

Hope you have a chance to craft something today and have a great Thursday!

HUGS and -

Everyone feels pretty in a new pink dress!

Is she just beautiful or what? This is Alota Rubber Stamps - "Shopper Frog". My kind of frog! I can only imagine what she has purchased in all of those bags!

I colored her with my Copics and then white gel pen. And just knew with the "green" tone to her skin that pink was the best color for her dress. LOL!

For the Card I used this weeks Papertake Weekly Challenge Sketch, and it is another of Katharina's great sketches! These are Memory Box papers, love how they all coordinate within a package and the heavy weight of the papers.

I used my sewing machine with both zig zag and straight stitches in pink thread. The mat for the image and the base of the card is Bazzil pink. I went through every ribbon I had and didn't have anything I liked, then found two that fit perfect together, so I stacked them and love how well it matched. Three Prima flower with button centers were added to the bottom corner.

The sentiment is also from Alota Rubber Stamps and is actually part of the new Ladybug set. But seemed to be just what our frog was saying.

I also want to share an award I have received from both Fran and Annie... Sometimes I miss these and don't get the time to post and forward on to others, but loved the theme of this one.

The rules of this award are:

1. Only 5 people allowed.

2. 4 have to be dedicated followers of your blog

3. one has to be someone new or recently new to your blog and live in another part of the world.

4. you must link back to whoever gave you the award.

Quite simple really it is a way of saying thank you to those who take time out for wonderful comments to boost your day.

Here are my Five:

1- Sue - she has been with me since I started my blog and really has been an inspiration and has become a friend. Plus her stuff is just so darn cute!

2- Ila - I think I first started stalking her blog, I just adore her talent! Her coloring is amazing, but she has since become a friend and always makes time to post comments for my stuff and my little donkeys!

3- Claudia - This lady has been my rock... she has been such a sweet friend and not only with her comments on my blog, but our near daily emails back and forth. I love ya Claudia!

4- Patti - "Tennessee" is one of my Fiskateer Buddies and although she is more of a scrapbooker than a card maker she stops by daily to leave me the sweetest comments. She does some great pages and I think with a little shove will become addicted to ATC's and cards! HUGS girlie!
5- Karin - is one of my last Blog Candy winners and she is just so sweet! She leaves the sweetest comments and always ends them with XOXO Thanks!

Well I could have gone on and one, there are so many that leave wonderful kind comments regularly for me. I love each of you!

Off to get the day going... Hope you find some time to craft today!

HUGS and -

A double Katharina Sketch day!

Tuesday and that is A Spoon Full of Sugar time!

"We have the gorgeous Katharina as our guest designer this week who has created this fab sketch for us, if you haven’t paid her a visit pop over and take a look at her fab blog, and wish her well on her new adventure whiff of joy!

Don’t forget you must include at least one Sugar Nellie, Rachelle Anne Miller, Sarah Kay, High Hopes or a Hanglar Image somewhere on your design."

For my DT card I wanted to do something different, while going through my stamps I came across the Sugar Nellie Pirate Monkey... just staring at me... "I have never been inked....." it was saying. Well that was just sad, so I gave him a chance and while stamping I remember the fun sock monkey paper I had gotten a while back.

I colored this cute guy with my Copics and doodled the edges of the Nestibilities cut oval with a Sakura Red Glaze Pen. and then inked the edges to give an appearance of a mat behind it. I cut a circle for the Hero Arts Sentiment and did the same for it. The blue bands are embossed with a Cuttlebug folder. Everything is stitched down with a zig zag stitch with fabulous Red Metallic Thread! I so wish you could see just how cool it looks, that thread is awesome. I think it is fun looking... and I have a perfect idea of who I will be sending this one to!

And lets just make this an all Katharina Sketch day!

I got a chance last night to play with another sketch from her. Now if you haven't heard Katharina is starting a new stamp company! A Whiff of Joy is going to be one of those companies that everyone is going to be running to get all of the new releases, stores will sell out quick just from seeing the few samples she has shown on her blog I know I will be one with my nose stuck to the screen waiting impatiently for the "open for business" sign to come on!

The sketch is a challenge for a guest DT spot! Wow can you image how cool that would be! The DT was named this past week and it truly is a dream team, to join even for just a couple of months would be a dream as well! Make sure to check out the fabulous ladies that have been added to that team.

For my entry into her challenge I went with one of my all time favorite Sweet Ebony stamps. It just makes me totally happy and smile the entire time I color this adorable little lady. She is colored with my Copics, white gel pen and Glitter pens for her locket and buckle.

For my pattern paper I had this wonderful Bo Bunny floral paper, love the country look of it and perfect for the image. I then used a piece of Coordination's red paper and ran it through the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing folder. I sewed everything down, zig zag stitch for the backgrounds and then a blanket stitch around the image. Then in a my masses of ribbon I found this checked ribbon that matches perfect.

The sentiment is from Rubber Stamp Tapestry and I know I have used it a few times this last week... can't help it I love it! But I did just get a few more from the LSS... so there will be different ones coming. I punched it with the smallest Fiskar's Circle Squeeze punch, I placed that on a red Prima flower, and the with the medium Squeeze punch cut a slightly larger circle out of the card base green so the red flower would pop off of the red card stock.

I love how it came out. The country feel, and the fact that she is one of my favorites is surely why! Make sure you check out Katharina's blog for more details of all the fabulous news she has been sharing!

Today is catch up day... catch up on laundry, housework, and of course some time to catch up on my favorite blogs and find a few new ones too!

And as for Donkey update... we are still on standby.... but with soon to be Hurricane Dolly coming they are sure to deliver at the most wonderfully fun time to be outside with them! =)

HUGS and-

A BOLD Ladybug Hug

A second post today! I decided I should have put this on today too. I was thrilled on Saturday when my Alota Rubber Stamps arrived! Can you imagine how hard it was to leave them sitting on the desk until Sunday night! But I added some EZmount to a few and stamped out some images!

I just LOVE the new lady bugs! How stinking cute is this guy or is it a girl? I wanted the card to be bold just like the image that I colored with my Copic Markers and Stickles for the water drops.

I decided to follow this weeks Friday Sketcher sketch as it left lots of room to be simple and bold. I found a black Bazzil card stock and some scrap red to mat the image and make the corner. That was fun, I cut the triangle piece, border punched the top edge and then used a hole punch to create "lady bug" dots on it. Found a piece of red with black dots ribbon for the top and then added the sentiment Ladybug Hugs that came in the set in a metal book plate and brads. Simple but I like how it came out... these images just have so many possibilites.. I can't wait to mount all of the set and do more! Make sure to check them out HERE... they are so cute!

Now I have tooooo runnn I am so late for my date with Mom and my Sister! BYE!

A Young Fun Wedding Album

I thought I would show you the Wedding Album I made for my best friends daughter. It went together pretty quick I didn't do a lot of stamping in it, instead I ended up using some stickers and pattern paper. (I know shock... the stickers were cute and matched the paper and I was running out of time)

The base of the album is a 7 gypsies chipboard album, I took it apart and covered the outside and inside of the chipboard. I stamped Wedding Bella couple and used my pencils and mineral spirits to color. Now how clever was it that the words "Our Wedding" centered on the front...yea uhhh I planned that! Really it just worked out that way... too funny especially the day before the shower at 11 pm. I doodled the edges of the bella couple, and added some hot pink Prima flowers and black brads.

On each of the inside pages, that ended up being many more than I thought, I used hot pink and gray Bazzill card stock and my new Fiskar's Corner/Border punch to make a base for each page, then the stickers to decorate a corner of each page. I was really short on time and I think it ended up cute. Especially after I tied a few ribbons on the spiral. Some of the other pages were for the bridesmaids/maid of honor, groomsman/best man, the cake, the kiss... you get the idea. Just a FYI... one of her colors for the wedding is hot pink.... so I didn't just grab that color out of the air. And being she is young I think it is fun for her.

I also made a matching card with some of the scraps of pattern paper and another Bella couple image. I added two Fiskar Punch heart.

BTW - I think the shower went pretty well, she had quite a few friends and family there... Hugs, food, cake and presents.

Today should be fun... I am going shopping with my Mom and Sister! Just some chatting, shopping and of course a break for a nice lunch somewhere... I am getting hungry for Chinese (hubby hates it so I try and get it when he isn't with me) Wonder if I can talk them into it? Anyway, I don't get to do many things like this with them. Schedules and kids don't always match up, and today worked out so I am looking forward to it! Hope you have a great Monday and have some time to craft today!

HUGS and-

Sarah Kay is "Too Posh to be Square"!

Today is Sundays... and that means time for the Sarah Kay Challenge Blog!

*Week 3* Too Posh To Be Square
No square cards, or books, coasters, altered art etc.
You are free to create anything you like as long as it's not square!Please remember your work must include at least one Sarah Kay image.

How fun is that! Really give a lot of options, and let me tell you the other DT's really did some fantastic work, make sure to check them out.

I decided to make a small gift card. I don't have enough of these in my stash and they really are fast and easy. I started with the image "Rose's Garden" I just love her hair, just so Victorian and girlie. I colored her with my Copics, white gel pen and Sakara pens. I cut her out with my oval Nestibilities, a larger oval out of green and then a cut larger scalloped purple card stock for the mat. Now to make the card part I used the same size oval as the image and folded a piece of card stock then placed it under the die with a portion of the folded side just inside the die so it would not cut. I think that makes sense, doesn't it?

I then attached all of the pieces. To give a shadow look I took a dark purple Copic Marker and ran it along the outer edge of the scallops. I doodle the image, stitched the mat, and then stickle dotted the scallops. The sentiment is from Rubber Stamp Tapestry.

Well it isn't square... hope you like it -

I am off now.... crazy day! Today is the Bridal Shower I am co-hostessing, gotta go pick up the food and then decorate and then smile... greet host... then clean up... then come home and pass out! I am so tired from two midnight crops! I took some photographs of the book I made for the Bride.. I'll post later in the week, as I don't want her to peek early =)

Have a great Sunday!

HUGS and -

A Story about my Boy Diego -

FYI This is not a new baby... I am still on hold waiting for them....

Well last night was a midnight crop, so I have no card today, I spent the entire night working on a gift for a bridal shower on Sunday. So this morning I thought I would tell you a little story about my boy Diego. I have had some request for more Donkeys... so those that asked hope this makes you smile, those that don't like my donkey rambling... please be patient.

Diego is my baby. He actually isn't a baby anymore, but I tell him he will always be my baby. Isn't he just adorable when he was a baby? This is December 2004 and he was our first baby... And I will now admit that I was just a bit over protective and really spoiled him. I know those that know me will laugh as I spoil all of them, but Diego was really spoiled. If hubby would have let me bring him in the house I probably would have. You see that was a really cold December here in Texas, Ok really cold for Texas.... the night after Diego was born it dropped to 15 degrees and stayed pretty cold for a few days. Well I worried constantly about my new baby being cold and getting sick. So I went to the pet store and spent a stupid amount on this dog coat. I have to tell you Diego loved the thing, he knew he was special in it, and thought everyone was jealous of him. But I think he was just darn cute!
I could never sell Diego as he was my first baby, so we gelded him as he couldn't be used as a stud. Poor guy is just a "plain" grey dun, and is just too big, too tall, and as breeders would say nothing special. Well he is very special to me and I think he adorable! He has ended up serving a big purpose here. You see he loves the babies. And when I put Lacey and Rosie in the pen with him and the other donkeys he was immediately attached to Rosie. Lacey is not a great Mom. I don't know if it is a first time Mom thing or she just will never be, but she forgets that part of her job is looking after her child. Leaving her alone and in harms way for the Jack to chase and beat up on, and the other donkeys to bother. But not with Diego in the pen. We call him "Uncle Diego" now and he is a great baby sitter and protects Rosie like no Mom.

Now yesterday I went out to check on my two "Mom's to be" before I left for my crop. They are in a pen on the other side of our house from Diego. While coming back in I saw Diego kicking his front leg... actually looked like he was playing Soccer with one of his toys. Yes they have toys in each pen and love to play with them. But something wasn't right.... the ball wasn't rolling away from him and he seemed upset. After getting closer I saw the problem. Ok it was funny, but then ended up sad and scary for me. The ball was stuck around his foot. He evidently was playing with the ball and somehow got his foot through the handle and it stretched and was now stuck.

Diego isn't my smartest donkey... hubby says he is simple but sweet. Well he was not happy and was upset, and beginning to get angry. I went in and worked for 45 minutes trying to get it off but it was tight around the small part of what will call his ankle. He weighs something like 350-400 pounds and I just couldn't hold him still and work on the ball. So I hung around until Hubby got home and then the two of worked on it. Diego tried to run, he rared up, he pushed and pulled and I was worn out from trying to hold him while Hubby worked on the ball. Finally Hubby cut it off and Diego was free. We now are going to take all of the balls and cut the handles so this can't happen again.

After it was all said and done, we laughed about it, but it could have been worse and really tight and harmed his foot. Poor Diego..... this morning he has been out there playing with the ball..... that's my Diego!

Today is a 12 - 12 crop... so gotta get busy, but I hope you enjoyed my story of Diego - and hope you have some fun planned for your Saturday!

Thanks for sticking with my long story today... HUGs and -