We're Back!

Greetings Muleteers!  We are so VERY sorry that it has taken us so long to get back to the blogosphere.  Those pesky humans have been rather preoccupied with things other than our blogging.... hmmm we wonder what could be that important?

So here we are, we have wrenched the hoof-pad from them and we can give you an update - hoorah!  First things first... we are all still in mighty fine form; all hooves, waggy tails, kitty whiskers and long and short ears are doing very well thank you very much.  We hope that someone out there still cares for our animal selves but if not we are happy to talk about ourselves to ourselves ;-)

What's the news then? Hmmm well, much of the same but with a new human to own and enamour with our humour, good looks and wit!

As there's rather a clamour for the hoof-pad we decided that we should each be allowed a few neigh brays to say hi to our loved ones (of course you all love us all right?)... here goes (please note that Dragon had to be censored as her big ears = big ego (oops meant big brain ;-)

The Mini 

Neigh Brays my friends!  As you can see by my topping the bill (George Clooney and Matt Damon you are SO yesterday) I am still firmly Number 1!  I have been up to lots since we last spoke..... eating, snoozing, staring suspiciously at the local sheep and waking up my neigh-bours with a chorus all of my own - someone has to announce the arrival home of Queen FH or she may get an inferiority complex?!  Oh and I have also been busy doting over my new charge, for I have a new human pal to consort with these days, oh yes my friends HF (Human Foal) is just like FH but more fun and offers us treats more frequently. Although... I do draw the line at a wet scrubbing brush.... this puts me in mind of Roller.....

Roller

Not true, errmm ok, it is true.... I am the My Little Pony-a-like in this gang and it appears that FH has passed on her love of humiliating me to HF.  I don't mind really, a wet scrubbing brush gently placed on the botty area? Fine really, especially when it's accompanied with a squeal of happiness and the rattle of my treat pot afterwards :-)  Apart from looking handsome, pondering the meaning of life and acting as psychotherapist to the mules I have mostly been preparing myself for glitter-geddon.  Apparently this is something that happens when Human Foals reach the age of 3 or 4 and start to paint ponies nails silver and plait ribbons in my hair?  I am ALL for it, I can barely wait!  I am just getting in my rest now so that I can manage the late nights that will surely come with this glittery, disco pony existence!

Dragon

Greetings my mulificent friends!  Well my horizons have been expanding.... actually FH says that I have grown rather prosperous (does that mean fat?!) as I haven't been getting as much out and about exercise.  The cheek of it!  Hmmm maybe she is right?  I am definitely not getting ridden as much as I was but I guess I'll forgive FH, she appears to be the one carrying the toddler at the moment.  Thank goodness that Foal can walk well now, it won't be long until she is on board.  She loves me the best.... I like to do my best neigh bray for her.... she pronounces "Dragon Happy" whenever I do this, why can she not understand that this also means "I am hungry"?? A Dragon has to feed her expanding waist you know?!  Anyway I am being the politest of matron mules with my delightful HF (she is mine right?!) and love her, my gentleness with her is not to be confused with softness I am at pains to point out (just ask the local dogs ;-)

Finally FH has got her act together and we are going out more, often on hikes together (FH says she can't be bothered to scrape the mud off me.... the cheek!) which is splendid! More please, I need to get my stamina back for gymkhana games - haha I don't think!

Diesel Catanian Catty

Yes Muleteers I have had a name change apparently!  According to the new bearer of all that is important (those cat treats laced with cat nip) my name is now Catty.  Hey when it gets called and the results are so spectacular can you blame me for responding?! I was a little unimpressed by the squawking foal when it first arrived giving it a wide berth but these days I'm a total convert.  HF just loves stroking me and giving me treats and when I've had enough I just go for a cat nap.  I am still terrorising the neigh-bour hood including giving the dogs the evil eye at every opportunity.  What can I say? Catty life is good :-)

The Pocket Sized Labrador

A little greyer, a bit saggier, but still willing!  Just when I thought my days of puppy raising were over I have been blessed with another charge to bring along in the world.  My FH says I am the best Grandpa Dog a girl could wish for.  I protect, I clean (faces and floors) and I provide education on the important things in life.... good square meals, fresh air each day, a hearty diet, a healthy dose of laughter and lots of waggy love. What more is there to teach a little one?

Mino

Errmmmm what happened to my name?  Well Puppeteers I also have a temporary new name..... It would appear that Milo is quite hard to pronounce for HF so I now get called Mino.  I don't mino though.  I could never have hoped at the endless opportunities that toddlerhood could bring me.... food, glorious food, everywhere for Mino.... I just love clean up!  And I still love running at top speed. beep. beep!





Human Foal

HF cannot yet write so we report on her behalf that she is two mule years, funny, happy, delightful and wilful :-)  A blonde whirlwind with an attitude the size of a.... well a mule!  This little girl appears to have been born ready for life and knows how to enjoy!  She loves us (feeds us a lot), she loves the outdoors, she eats well, sleeps well and smiles a lot..... perfection!  Oh and she's also REALLY good at pointing out poo-poo and announcing to FH 'pick it up now'..... that's our girl!

The Others

Haha, OK we guess we should mention the caretakers!  MH and FH are both doing good too!  They appear a little greyer,  a little more tired but even happier than before.  We all like to keep them on their toes but we have been super duper good for them and they tell us how good we are all the time.  Two jobs, three equines, two dogs, one cat and a little lady.... no problems?!

An Identity Crisis!

Erm.... FH.... I feel a bit silly in my new rug.....  I was pleased when you told me that you'd bought me another shield of steel against those pesky bugs but really?  I know us Muleteers are fine examples of Equus asinus x Equus caballus but did you really have to make me look like an Equus zebra as well?  A mini mule could end up having an identity crisis!

What's that?  It was the only colour left in my (perfect) size at this end of the season.  Hmm ok... And it's supposed to copy the zebra's stripes because flies don't like them?  Hmmm we'll see, if anyone can test that theory I can!  If there's a fly around it will find me for sure.

So I guess I better give this rug a thorough testing out, if only for 'scientific' purposes!

Sending ear waves and zebra like tail swishes to our faithful followers, it has been lovely to hear from you all, thank you for your comments - each one is read with huge happiness!

Your ever handsome Mini xxx

A Love Affair....

Gosh it's been a while hasn't it?  For this we (two legs and four) are very sorry!  We have all missed our friends online and have been hoping to find enough time to say hi!

All ears long and short are well and happy.  Us Muleteers are enjoying the summer grass and loving the occasional sunny day.  My long eared mulish companions are always busy neigh braying and eating everything in sight.

Dragon continues to conquer every path she treads and The Mini excels himself in looking ridiculous (errm no I didn't say that, I mean handsome) in his bug rug shield of steel (this is his third of the season, the others are shredded.....).

And me your humble pony Roller?  Well I am adapting well to my newest role in life..... The Love of HER Life....

What's that you say?  Yes, it is true my little friend Human Foal is really rather taken with me as you can see :-)

We eat together.  OK well I eat...

And HF plays 'dress up' with my food, why not I say?

Sometimes we play circus pony, I'm helping her with her walking skills ;-) 

And other times we play pony rides.  And yes I eat a bit more..... it's very hungry work you know!

Hmm and other times that naughty Mini gets in on the act and takes my HF away.... I can see I've got competition!

We promise to be back again soon!  We are all wonderfully well and hope you all are too :-)

We send you whinnies, neigh-brays, miaows, wags and woofs!  Oh and the humans say hi too!

Mates!

Spring is in the air, the grass is getting green and we're shedding our winter coats! FH is despairing of the effect a moulting mule can have on a clean fleece jacket, we reckon the mule hair look is in for this season?

We have been a little bit busy so getting our hooves on the blogging technology has been a bit challenging! But we are all doing great :-)

We love this time of year! The nights are drawing out so we see more of the humans in the daylight, the sunshine warms our backs and there is more time for fun.  Dragon is enjoying some lovely rides, us minis are loving our endless fuss from the Human Foal and MH and FH and generally we are just enjoying being together.

Our happy little herd of mates is about as perfect as it gets we reckon, we are quite happy to share the tiniest slice of green that our humans provide… they are a bit mean!

We're off for some sun bathing and day dreaming… Roller dreams of shoes, the Mini dreams of banana skins and Dragon is dreaming of her next adventure….

Take care folks!

Gotta Love That Dragon Mule!

This picture says everything about why I love the Dragon Mule.  Dragon has been the member of our gang who has to had compromise a little more than the others.  For a mule that loves to work and explore we've had to put things a little on the back burner.  My time is no longer quite my own and especially with being in the depths of winter she gets ridden occasionally by Smiley Human or even less occasionally by me.

I admit that I have worried about how this effects her and have thought long and hard about if it's fair to deny her one of her greatest pleasures…. but I have taken good advice and especially liked the advice that her 'job' at the moment is to fit in with family life :-) To be fair she seems happy enough with her lot in life and is very much loved, fed, watered and entertained (as much as can be managed - she'd always love more).

So this morning was one of my morning duties with HF under MH's control (much to his pleasure!), it was my turn to act as chief poo shoveller and to get Dragon ready for her ride with Smiley Human.  I was organising some hay and had the tarpaulin out, Dragon hasn't seen this for a while but thought it was great fun.  So much fun that she had to wear it and parade in it.  She is so unbotherable that she didn't even move when I plonked it very loudly on her back, I do believe that she flicked a ear at me as if to say, is that it? So I went back to my jobs and let her revel in her new fashion item…. Super Mule anyone?

She wasn't moving though when I was trying to sweep the yard so I had to go under her….

I love this mule, she is crazy opinionated and can whip you well with her Dragon tail but underneath it is a brain the size of a small country, a really willing heart and a softy.  No sooner had she whipped me with the Dragon tail whilst trying to do up her girths / cinches than she was happily burying her head in my arms for scratches.

Once she had swapped her Super Mule cape for her saddle off she pottered with Smiley Human, she hadn't been out for three weeks, the weather was good and she'd eaten a little too much good haylage - eek!  I was a little concerned about her behaviour for Smiley Human - who always just smiles at any antics.  I don't know why I bothered worrying really?

Smiley Human reported back that she had been perfect; the normal trains, bikes, tractors, cars, people and life in general firmly put in their place by brave muletta Dragon.

Then Smiley Human reported back that we had forgotten to put her stirrups on the saddle…..oops! Oh well, just a good job that she is a perfect muletta hey? I blame it on baby brain or the terrible cold that I have at the moment, many would say it's just my natural air-headedness.  Alas it's a good job the Dragon mule has brains enough for the rest of us :-) And a very good job because she'll be carrying a precious cargo in a few years time…..

Have a great week!  By the way thank you for all of your comments, even if I don't get chance to reply as much as I'd like I love reading every single one of them and its lovely to hear from old friends. We'll be back again soon!

My Little Pony

That's it folks, I've found my calling in life!  This little girl is already a huge 'My Little Pony' fan. Well who wouldn't be?!

I am officially this little HF's very own My Little Pony.  We had a little chat, well erm a snuffle really but don't tell ;-) and I offered my handsome services as her forever pony and I was accepted.

The acceptance sounded a bit like raspberry, coo, coo, gurgle but I got the meaning!

And what better way to celebrate? A munch on some haylage just for me and a little riding practice for the HF, she is rather a natural.  

I'm a little worried as she already looks the perfect size on me, think we need to have words with FH about feeding her so much hay as I don't want her to grow too quickly…...

…. because we all know what will happen then…..

This Dragon has designs on My Little Foal…. she's gonna have a long wait….. this one's mine for the moment :-)

Back soon friends, snuffles and mini pony ear waves! 

Three Muleteers and a Baby

Wow, it's been a while since we've posted, we have missed all of our blog friends and have missed commenting on your many blogs.  We have managed to follow them a little though, often at 4am with no ability to comment but we have been enjoying your posts nonetheless.

I've stolen the Muleteers blog just for a little while to update you all, don't worry their new year's resolution is to get back to chatting to you all!

Needless to say it was a very busy 2014 with the addition of our newest Muleteer member in May, hard to believe she is now 8 months old - yikes!  I was chatting with the minis this morning about life in general and remember wondering how on earth we would manage with all of our furry gang and a new baby and 'life' as well…..

Well we're relieved / delighted / pleased / exhausted to report that it can be done! All of our furry clan are doing fantastically and their new little sister loves them more than we could ever have imagined.  They have all enhanced each others' lives as we hoped they would.  It has been very hard though….. there have been nights where we haven't slept much when the last thing we wanted to do was muck out beds, fill hay nets or walk the dogs but these things gotta be done. And done they have been, MH has become PA to The Muleteers most of the time and is exceptional at housekeeping duties, grooming and scratches with assistance for the rest from me and HF when the weather allowed. Thanks MH you're a star :-)

We have strapped HF in to her baby carrier and walked the canine comedians daily who have been exemplary and taught HF the beauty of nature (and the delights of chasing shadows!).  Murph grows a little greyer each week as he realises his puppy raising duties have taken on a whole new level of complicated, he solemnly allows himself to be pulled and teethed on and just wags a lot.  Milo is HF's partner in crime, he can make her smile just by walking in the room and dutifully assists with clean up duty now that she is loving (read throwing, smearing, tearing, mushing, dribbling) real food…. obviously no faces are washed in this 'clean up' ;-)

Dragon has been ridden lots by Smiley Human and me when I can manage it, she has turned in to a wonderful riding mule enjoying cantering on the moor and pottering around the lanes. She is also a delight for HF who squeals at her, we can already 'hear' her saying "when can I ride Dragon?" Dragon just peers at her benevolently with a maternal look in her eye.

The Mini is still the apple of his Mummy's eye (sssh don't tell anyone, there's room in my heart for all of them ;-) and is HF's fluffy favourite.  Somehow The Mini has claimed HF for his own and when she appears he is quick to make sure the others don't get a look in….. although petrified of most adults and only willing to let them have a cursory touch he is quite happy to be climbed on and pulled at by HF who is particularly fond of his ears, who wouldn't be!

Roller is the ‘My Little Pony’ that every little girl would love to play with, he has been officially ‘backed’… with Roller this involves having HF placed on his back while he turns his nose to check she’s on board and then some standing very still and then a little s-l-o-w walking and some more standing – perfect! Roller’s fluff is also delicious to sink little hands in to and boy does he smell like heaven J

And of course our trusty huntress Diesel is busy terrorising the local mouse population and when not doing that is snuggled up tightly with her mini pals hiding from the winter weather. She tends to give HF a wide berth at the moment, happy to watch from afar (sensible you may say).

Oh and the humans? Well HF is just the best little person we could have hoped for! She was rather poorly early on but is now much better and is just the happiest little baby.  Full of squeals, coos and raspberries, her favourite things in the world are her furry brothers and sisters, music and food…. takes after her parents there. And then there's me and MH…. I think it's fair to say we are greyer, more tired, slightly dishevelled and occasionally incoherent but we are definitely happier than ever with our expanded Muleteer gang, they all make us very proud and happy!

Here's hoping for a healthy, happy, fulfilled 2015 for everyone reading and we look forward to catching up with you all again soon!