No Bull Mule

I had high hopes this evening of some fun.

Maybe a ride?  But no... FH said as it was raining I had managed to plaster myself with sticky, wet mud and there was no way my finest mule saddle was going near that mud pack.

That was ok though because FH took me for a walk, I am practising that agility, obedience stuff on her so it was a good chance to show her some moves.

So off we pottered up the lane to check on the hedge growth, the neigh-bours and the weather, FH says these last two topics are what most people chat about, so it's not just us mules then?

Catanian decided she needed a walk too, she has been hiding away in her cat palace as she didn't want to get her paws wet but a little persuasion and she was ready for a hike.  That kitty cat is game!



So I tested out the hedgerows and munched on the hogweed, think this should be called 'mule weed' I like it so much, FH says I could be a giraffe in disguise in that first pic, well how rude!

Catanian started out well but then realised quite how wet it was, she was miaowing and complaining but wouldn't go home on her own, she decided the best place to hide was on the human's feet as she could make the most of her coat overhang!

Nearly home and I spied some newcomer neigh-bours.  Hey boys, how you doin'?

Well really anyone would think you'd never seen a mule before, don't stare it's rude!

Mmmm.... that grass near you looks really good to eat, don't mind if I snatch from under your wet noses do you?

Yeah, yeah Catanian I know it's wet and you're not happy and sat there all cat like and sulky but I'm like busy chatting up these boys....

Hey there boys, no wonder you are stunned by my mulificence, think you need some better ears though.

Check out my finest half-ass!

Check out my half-ass!

Nah, looks like there's no bull in this field, all about the bull-ettes I think.  FH says I'm a terrible flirt, not fussy and an embarrassment to mulettas everywhere..... whatever, I am just keeping up with the neigh-bours.  

Time for home Catanian we don't wanna be around when the real bull arrives......

Mula Exploradora!

Mule Explorer!

The sun's shining, the breeze is blowing and this mule has energy! Come on FH let's go check out the wilds of Dartmoor!

I do so love it up on Dartmoor, it is made for mules!  Dartmoor is nearly 400 square miles of open moorland with herds of ponies, cattle and sheep (and the occasional Pixie aka Piskies in this area).

I have been exploring on the moor before but normally I have to wait for a more mature short ears friend to go with me as I get a bit excited!  FH reckons I'm ready to go on my own though now.

So let's get tacked up and out early..... we don't get blue skies like that very often here you know.









That looks like a mule track to me, need to go up hill and over yonder, hang on FH I'll get you there.

Dartmoor Mule!

I've noticed on Dartmoor that there are lots of these stone things everywhere.... FH tells me that some of them are the ruins of old houses (maybe we could come live up here FH, there's lots of grass), some are burial mounds (spooky!) and some are monuments that no one really knows what they are. These things have been here since the Bronze age, that's about 5000 mule years ago, wow!  They are all made out of granite and have a habit of popping up out of nowhere, I had to give some of those stones a good mule stare to put them in their place.... can't have those rocks thinking they've scared me...

Sometimes all is not as it seems, I noticed that quite a few of those stones actually moved when I passed them.  They was sheeps disguised as stones!  Naughty sheep!  This little lambykins wasn't that well disguised though, he had got left behind by his Mom.  Run, sheepy run.

After a few miles I was starting to get a bit thirsty, it was OK though as we were about to happen upon one of Dartmoor's many streams for a little drink.  We had to tip toe around a blanket bog first though.  Dartmoor has lots of bogs.... nasty squelchy things that suck your hooves off, thank goodness FH seems to know where they are as I wouldn't like to lose my pretty muletta hooves, good job I invited her along, humans are useful sometimes.

Bog tackled we neared the stream but what is this?  Some of the cattle had the same idea.  These are Belted Galloway cattle, I thought they were rather pretty, FH was not so convinced, she is a little bit nervous of them.  Apparently this herd are known to be fairly quiet but they got calves with them so we needed to be careful and not upset them.  FH needed to hide so she got off me and hid behind my mulificent self.  I gave those cows some stern mule stares and they quickly created a path for Queen Dragon to proceed through.  I don't know why FH is bothered by this lot they seemed pretty friendly to me.  I would've enjoyed staying to chat a bit longer but places to go people to see!

Just a second FH before we go I just gotta check under the bridge for the Piskies (this is the proper Devon word for pixies, those little fairy folk that live on the moor and have a mischievous time, us Muleteers love them, our humans don't believe they exist, they have no imagination sometimes).  

These old bridges are called clapper bridges, some nice person mules years ago put them up so you humans don't need to get your feet wet when crossing.  Us mules have superior waterproof hooves, you lot really need to evolve some too.

Checking for Piskies

OK bye now my bovine friends, I'll be back again soon.  What a nice view!  You can see where the farmer's fields end and the moor begins, they're such different colours.

Onwards we must go!  This is so much fun!  FH walks a bit and rides a bit and inspects the view while I inspect the plant life (mmm tasty).  We both sigh deeply and enjoy the sunshine, aahh bliss :-)

Nearly back to the track home and I came across this most interesting bunch of stones, I was desperate to climb all over it while FH had to get off to open one of the super difficult gates. This is called a 'Barrow', apparently not one of the wheeled ones but this is a name for an ancient monument sometimes a tomb or burial chamber.  These are found all over the moor, this is one of the oldest ones but alas it is now just a collection of big granite rocks. 

Perfect for a Mula Exploradora to pose on!

Homeward bound now, I'm sure I can hear The Mini bellowing from miles down the lane!  I'm having such a nice time do I have to go home?  Guess the boys need might need me.... oh well if we're going we might as well GO!  What do you mean FH that I really shouldn't canter down this path? It's only steep and rocky and narrow.... no problems for a Mula Exploradora but as you asked nicely I guess I'll carry you down it at a walk.  There is an advantage to that, I can snack along the way!

Next stop home.  Just time for a Mula Exploradora to replenish her energy levels with cow parsley, hogweed and campion - yummy!

I'm ready for my next adventure, where to FH?  I love being a Mula Exploradora!

A Mini Summer Nights Dream!

Greetings Muleteers!  The summer has been and gone so it figures that the sunshine has now arrived!  After a busy day's eating I am content in the evenings to dream of all of the lovely things that summer brought me.  So what's on a Mini Mule's summery 'Best Of' list?

 

1/. My Lovely Rug!

It's all about the outfits muleteers!  I am allergic to fly bites, they make me itch terribly.... so FH bought me a lovely rug to stop them biting me.  It is very fashionable and I think I look quite dapper in it!  I do take exception to the bonnet that she bought me though, I look like quite a fool..... don't worry Muleteers it didn't last long ;-)

2/. Grooming.

I love a good scratch to itch my fly bites and it also lets my friends know that I love them!  Dragon is a little on the tall side so I have to be careful not to crick my neck.  I am lucky though as Roller is much more my height :-)

3/. Bananas!

There is nothing that a lovely banana cannot solve.  Every morning I listen carefully for the cry of 'Mini' and the shaking of peel from MH.  He is peculiar and seems to like the inside bit of the banana and leaves the lovely tasty skin, if I'm quick I can have it all to myself but these days I have to share with others!  Secretly we think that MH has taken to eating more bananas to keep us happy, of course we can't let on that we know so we're happy to oblige in eating them!

4/. Being a Lap Mule

I am famed throughout my herd for being a lap mule.  This is a position that I have been perfecting for many years.  There is a definite technique to sitting in the lap of a human.... first you must begin the Mini Reversal, gently reversing back in to the human without treading on human toes (they are never impressed by this!), then gently nudging them towards sitting on my wall.  Once there I begin the gentle reversal again until I am 'sitting' on the human - normally FH.  Some of the humans I have tried this with have not been cooperative, shame on them!  I was only after a little tail rub and of course I am happy to lend a soft pillow to rest your head on :-)

5/. Teaching the Humans

These days I am the 'Elder Statesman' so that means that I have a reputation to uphold!  No longer am I allowed to behave like a juvenile delinquent (I leave that to Dragon) or the dreamer (I leave that to Roller), nowadays I am expected to display the best of mule traits and teach my human vistors how to behave and care for me.  I have of course taken my responsibilities very seriously.  I have shown young and old appropriate hoof care, I have demostrated the correct way to take your human for a walk and of course have taught our very own feline friend mule manners.  Don't tell anyone but I'm quite happy with my new status but of course I can still be a juvenile delinquent when no one's looking!

6/. My Secret Love

I freely admit that I don't 'do' cats.  In fact I would go as far as saying that I really don't like felines.  However..... I LOVE my secret best friend Catanian.  When this bundle of fluff arrived last year I spotted a kindred spirit; a fearless, loyal and very noisy creature.  After lots of stomping (my part), chasing (both parts), posturing (both parts), scratching (her fault, my nose - ouch!) and hissing (typical woman!) we called a truce.  I'm so glad we did as I have discovered one of my very best friends.  Catanian is my number 1 mule rider, she blows me kisses and sometimes she is cheeky enough to bat me on the nose.... and when there's no one around she sleeps in the stable with Roller and I, she has given up on sleeping in her own room and she now has a Catanian sized impression in the corner of my stable, Roller and I are very careful and never stand on her. 

7/. Eating!

No 'Best Of' list would be complete without my favourite thing being mentioned.... FOOD!  I love to eat!  FH is really quite mean as she is always telling me that I am a little on the prosperous side.  Apparently I am about to start Weight Watchers for Mules, I don't know what that is but I'm not sure that I like the sound of it.....

I'm not fussy about the food as long as there's lots of it......
Straw, twigs, grass, flowers, hay, carrots, apples, hedgerow, grapes and logs.... oh and bananas!  I could eat all of them all day, every day - yum!

Well Muleteers there we have my favourites.  I'm a simple chap really.... friends, food, the odd scratch and a habit of sitting in laps, what could be better?! Til next time Muleteers, I'm off to see if I can find my Kitty Cat for some snoozing :-)

Moooo-ve Over Neighbours...

Greetings Moo-leteers!  Callie here, Oh My Mule, the neighbours are causing havoc at the moment!

Imagine my dismay at being awoken by a rowdy bunch of young cattle.  This gang of boys do not have good manners, they are noisy, a little smelly, stare at me very rudely and... well they have the most disgusting toilet habits.

So I thought I'd better go and tell them who's boss in this neighbourhood.  Off I strutted to the top of the field to put these bovine boys in their place, no job is too big for this cowgirl.


I made sure my mulificent ears were looking particularly fine and faced them all down, one mule lady against rather a lot of bovine boys - no problemo!

And would you believe it those naughty boys didn't hang around long... they all sloped off across the field, as if they would be scared of little old me??? ;-)  

'Til next time muleteers, I'm mooo-ving on up!