Animal Crackers - Humid Afternoon

Howdy - 

Came home yesterday afternoon and spent some time outside with the "children" and the garden. First up was my special boy Sergio. He is such a love and oh so handsome! 

He was very into his lunch... still had a bit on his face as you can see. But he always, ok usually makes time for his Momma! I just adore me sweet little bottle fed baby boy! I barely got a photo as he was charging towards me as usual. Then his entire head was through the fence at me. But after lots of head, ear and nose scratches he let me back off from him to snap a few sweet photos of him. A rare thing to get some face pictures!

The lady donkeys were just absolutely ignoring me as they were still eating their lunch. So I moved on to the lady goats. Jackie was munching away but had a very important story to tell me. So I stood and let her tell me all about it even with her mouth full and answered her and seemed oh so interested. She is not normally so talkative so I have to make sure to let her feel like I am totally into what ever she wants to tell me. :0)

I am guessing by Penelope's attitude she had already heard the story and was tired of hearing it. She paid no attention at all to either of us the whole time I was out there.

Hubby was coming in from work the other day and found Greybeard enjoying one of his concrete flower pots. He was very lucky there were no flowers growing in this pot at this time! Oh we all know Hubby would have not gotten mad at him no matter what. He is a big softy when it comes to the kitties!

Bougainvilleas - Hubby rescued these couple of plants. Literally. He saw a guy that had ripped them out of the ground they had no roots left on them. He was pitching them into a dumpster. Hubby stopped him and asked if he could have them and try and save them. Guy though he was a bit nuts, but said sure. Well look at them now~!!

They are very happy and growing like crazy! So beautiful!! I don't touch them - as I do not have any sort of green thumb at all. Hubby ... all his fingers, thumbs and toes are green. ;0) 

The tomatoes are coming on!! Won't be long now!

 Hope you enjoyed this week! Have you Animal Crackers Smile! And I hope you all are doing well. 

Have a blessed and wonderful weekend -

Animal Crackers - 38 Years!

Howdy - 

Happy Birthday Hubby and Happy Anniversary! Yesterday Valentines Day was his B-day and our 38th Anniversary. Wow has it really been that long? Its been great years. Happy years. And many of those have been with these fur children! 

 After a nice lunch out we came home to visit with our fur children. It was chilly out but they were all ready for some attention. Even though there were no treats involved. LOL Look how furry they all are! It was really warm last week... then it has gotten chilly this week. And now they are talking freezing temps next week for a few days. Up and Down Up and Down. Sigh already so tired of it! Common on Spring! 

Juliet was keeping a close watch on Hubby to make sure he wasn't going to give another hay bale for the day.. but she did come to me and let me give her some head and ear scratches while watching. Love those LONG LONG EARS! 

Sweet Little Josie was really being lovey with me. I adore how this little one all though all grown up still has her "young girl" bangs. :0) And man she is VERY VERY thick fur! She is keeping warm in the cold for sure! 

And I just can't help myself but those black noses are just like velvet and I have to kiss the top of them! So gorgeous! 

I then found Patti... Oh my she was not happy I was in with them and causing a stir. Her nap in what was left of their hay was being disturbed. I was getting some really unhappy side looks from her. But after a few minutes she decided she was awake so she might as well get up. She stood up - snorted - stretched - snorted again, then walked over for some head scratches. Such a sweet pretty Old girl!

Hubby sent me this photo the other day - The sun had come out and it was warming up outside. Mom Kitty and Graybeard were stretched out "Cat Napping" enjoying the weather. Glad they enjoyed it - next day the another cold front blew in and they were back under the heat lamps napping to stay warm!

I hope you enjoyed this week. We all love that you 

Hugs and -

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 - Day Late

Howdy - 

Oops... Got working on a project in the house and well... days got away from me. One little project and now my house is all torn up and things are a big can of worms! But will be all worth it when done. Anyway the day got away from me and I didn't get my post done on time to go out on time yesterday. Guess that is just how life is lately. I'll do my best but things may from time to time go hay wire! Just how my life is now.  LOL

 This week Hubby and I were up with the "Men" just after 7 am with their breakfast feeding. Always can count on some happy faces when they have been fed first thing in the morning. 

Miguel and Flavio stopped and posed for the camera. Handsome men that is for sure! And looking  a little bulky too... he he 

But that is ok guys will be good to keep you warm this winter right? 

Now Diego... he didn't want to stop eating to have his photo taken. Chewing but finally did look over at us... Hey at least we got a glance during his meal. 

The most skittish is always our man Patricio "Pat Man" But Hubby has a way with him and he stood and let him get a photo and then let him rub all over him. That makes me happy. 

 He was such a sweet friendly baby... then sold. When we rescued him back to keep him and Flavio from going to auction he was very skittish it has taken a long while for him to be as calm as he is. And really Hubby is the only one he will let rub on him most of the time. I occasionally can scratch between his ears and talk to him. But we do love him and I am so glad that he can live here stress free and happy now. 

Lately we have been having lots of little feet prints on the trucks... hmmmm never had that before even with always having outside kitties. Hubby sent me this photo the other day to show me proof that it was both Greybeard and Momma that was guilty - 

Not that they would ever be in trouble of course! LOL Hubby could never get mad at his kitties! 

I just had to take a photo of one of his Hibiscus flowers this week to show it off. First part of September and they are just gorgeous!

They have bloomed all summer strong! Love this one with the dark pink flower pattern in the bright pink. Now he is getting ready for things to bloom for the fall. Always growing and blooming! 

Hope you have a smile and sorry it was a day late! 

HUGS and

Animal Crackers - Hide and Seek

Howdy - 

Oh Bubba... Always  into something. The other day he was in a hiding and jump out and grab you kinda mood. He thinks he is a very good hider! I mean how in the world could I see in in that laundry basket?? LOL He is cute but not the smartest!

 

 He really is a funny guy! 

I got up really early this week to take photos... before 7 am is really early for me! Went into the Lady Goat pen and snap a photo of our three last ladies. Seems so weird to not have many goats. These three and then Chipmunk are it. But it is time to downsize a bit and take some work off of Hubby. And the Goats, although we love them dearly, they were all getting so old and we decided that a break would be best. So now these three girls have the entire pen to themselves. I will say there is not much fighting for places to get now. Enough huts for them each to have their own .... but they still usually pile up in one.

I do miss all the noise and calling out from the goats. But Penelope is trying her best to keep some sound out there for me. She is always talking. 

Before I came outside I walked by the back window all the Lady Donkeys were all right up front at the fence looking towards the house. Perfect! I can get out there and get some good photos and love on some girls! Grabbed my shoes, my camera and went out the back door... just in time to see the long line of donkeys heading way off into the pen. Really??? It wasn't 5 minutes! But when they didn't see anyone moving out to them they took off to graze before it got hot. Darn!

So I turned and went back to my reliable Three Stooges. Still at the breakfast bar. Cocoa and Valentine on one side mouths full of hay. 

 

And then Teddy on the other side. So I stopped and talked to them, loved on them... cautiously with Cocoa gotta move slow with her or she takes off. Valentine is a depend on his mood for attention. This morning he let me love all over him. He must of gotten a good night sleep! And then Teddy a more of a in your face attention kind of donkey. He will always take attention!

I was so upset everyone else was off and didn't want their photo taken. But I'll try again in the next few days to get some close ups of them. 

As I was heading back to the house I saw another kind of hide and seek! A rare snap of the photo to capture two of Hubby's Old Cats. They usually take off and I can't get photos of two of them together. I think this is Mom and Scaredy Cat... But I didn't want to make them run off to take a closer look. So I snapped and backed away slowly! 

 It is starting to cool down a bit here. It has only been in the mid 90's all week. And the mornings have actually been nice. I am sure the animals are enjoying it! I know I am. That over 100 degrees stuff stinks! Common on FALL! 

Hope you have a smile - Thanks for visiting!

HUGS and

Animal Crackers - Blessed with Summer Rain

Howdy - 

We are blessed with some Summer showers! Green in July is a rare thing here! It's mostly weeds growing but hey its green weeds! LOL This coming week they are calling for some pretty heavy rain. Hoping we get some of that. So far we have just been getting light showers, but very happy with those! The boys are loving their green and the lower temps! Its been in the lower 90's so much cooler than normal! 

We came through the gate and found Cocoa drinking over the fence stealing water from the boys tank. I guess water on the other side is better? Kind of like grass is always better?

Hubby has to make sure and feed the boys hay farther in the pen than her use to. She is tall enough she will stretch into the pen over  then fence and take their hay if she can.... Funny old girl!

Found Valentine closer up by the house standing in some weeds. My lumpy big boy! 

Still can't get over green weeds in JULY!

Teddy came in for a close up and lots of ear scratches. He is such a sweet guy. Man he is turning so grey though! His face use to be all brown! But it is a distinguished good looking grey! 

Coming through the back gate I had to ask Grey Beard to back up he was blocking the gate and I couldn't get in the yard. I got a meow... then a yawn. I think I had disturbed an afternoon nap. He is such a sweet guy especially for an outside feral kitty!

Like his Momma.... Now she is very skittish! She is getting much better. Heck she actually stayed still while I snapped a photo of her within 10 feet! But as I stepped into the yard - she was gone!

If you are wondering why she is laying next to a tool here.... Hubby had to work on the Jeep this afternoon. Battery went dead.... sigh. Always something isn't it? 

Hope you enjoyed this week - have a Animal Crackers Smile. Enjoy a furry friend where you are! 

HUGS and

Animal Crackers - Noses

Howdy - 

This week I went out to see the fur children and realized how many donkey noses I show... LOL It is just how they love for me to love on them. Noses first. When they were babies we started the kissing on the end of the noses and so now because I have "trained" them for their kisses that is how I am greeted I suppose. 

Today it was the men, Sergio and Jorge. 

 

Sergio was my orphan baby I raised, so he got LOTS of kisses and loving while he was getting his buckets of milk around the clock as a baby. Now it is our thing... I call out and tell him to come for his kisses and he trots to me and nose comes out at me.

 

Adorable... and Jorge all though more independent he still does come for the kisses... then swaps around for scratches! LOL And you gotta love all those whiskers!

I went out and opened up a small pen off the goats pen yesterday - It had lots of "grass" weeds actually but they saw them as green and were trying to reach the green through the fence. So worked it out so they could go in and chow down!

They were all very happy to have the big buffet. But sweet little Penelope took a few minutes to come and visit me first. I adore this little girl! So very sweet. 

and beautiful!!!

Snapped this photo for Hubby. His outdoor kitty Grey Beard was perched up on one of the goats fence pole enjoying a breeze from the front that had just come through. He was so content and enjoying it.

Such a sweet kitty - especially for an outdoor kitty. 

Now not so happy to see this next visitor! Yes I know they are cute and all... but I don't need him hanging around eating the kitty food and washing up in everyone's water. They carry bad things that I really don't want him to give bad cooties to my fur kids.

I've been doing my best to scare him off. Cat food is picked up just before dark. And when he shows up... I bang on window, worked first time... then stomping, banging the door, then running out yelling. Yes Crazy woman on the loose. Not sure it is working but at least he runs off for the night. Sigh... 

Hope you enjoyed this week and got a smile - 

Have a blessed day - 

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