......so to speak.
It's not the fact that nothing has been happening on the farm lately - far from it - life has been exceptionally busy for all of us, but I have just not found the words to capture any of it.
Writing a blog is, for me, a pleasurable jotting down of thoughts and events, and the moment that starts to feel like a chore, is also the moment when all other tasks previously considered undesirable, seem to take on immense significance. Examples being, preparation of two-year budgets, getting the carpet cleaning machine out, and writing business profiles for on-line marketing. I have done all these things since last blog entry, and am now treating myself once again, to a small slice of farmlife prose.
Thought I would kick off with the donkeys, as they seem to have kicked off with me. The big idea (well, this big idea in particular), is that one day soon, these two unruly chaps, will walk quietly on a halter, alongside guests wishing to enjoy the company of donkeys, in a relaxing and gentle manner. No-one could accuse me of not being visionary. The journey to reach that point, is admittedly, taking a lot longer than anticipated ....
On those days when I am feeling less than hopeful, like when Rusty refuses to walk through a field because there are cow pats, or when Dandy quite literally, digs his heels in, head down because he wants to eat grass and not walk either - I try to think positively and persuade myself that progress has been made.
I remember when the donkeys arrived at Dove Farm earlier this spring. Training was basic - starting with wearing headcollars, which neither donkey especially enjoyed. I came to put on Dandy's headcollar one day, to discover that he had reached through the bars of his pen, to where the 'tack' was kept, and had taken the purple headcollar which was his. He had then hidden it in a clump of nettles, in the far corner of the field. It took me a good while to find it, because I wasn't thinking 'sabotage' in a donkey kind of way.
Needless to say, husband Henry didn't buy into this equine psychology stuff and told me not to be so daft (using other words) - but I never underestimate the donkeys' perceptions or actions since this incident.
I have resorted to bribery with carrots on frequent occasions, and yes, it does work, but like all of us, donkeys appreciate a bit of variety in incentives used, and will not willingly co-operate unless they feel safe and secure, no matter how many carrots are dangled. Now then, how to tackle the presence of cow pats?
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