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!

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!

First Ride!

Well Muleteer friends it's been a while but we just had to come back to report our excitement at our first ride by HF :-)

HF is rather pleased with our furry handsomeness and is never happier than when allowed to stroke and touch us all, apparently we are much more satisfying to stroke than those hairless humans ;-) We knew that we'd trained her well!  She does look really happy with herself doesn't she?

FH reckons that 19 weeks is old enough for a ride surely? OK so it was more of a sit but we reckon it still counts?

Roller was first to get in on the action... apparently he has been sanctioned as the first mount as he is 'bombproof'.... well he wouldn't notice anything anyway as his head is firmly attached to the grass in front of him!

I was not to be outdone though, whatever they say about me I know my job and it is to look after my herd and most especially my new rider - come on FH I told you when you were growing my new rider that she was MINE!

So come on HF hop on over, get off that ponio and discover the delights of looking through an amazing set of ears!

Yep there we go, don't I look just right with her on top!  Watch out FH if you grin anymore you'll split your face :-)

I'm off to plan some adventures for my new rider..... I have had a few folks say I look like a medieval jousting mule in my bug armour?  It befits my brave nature!

And finally apologies for our absence.... our human foal has been unwell (she is now getting better by the day) and we sadly lost MH's Mum recently so things have been a little difficult.  We are pleased to report that all inhabitants of Muleteer HQ - furry and non furry are well and enjoying life, we will update on all of their fun and frolics soon!

Ears Waves, Snuffles, Miaows, Woofs, Gurgles and of course Neigh-Brays to you all xxx

Five A Day…. The Messy Way!

Nom, nom, nom, slurp, slurp, can't talk now, I've been told not to talk with my mouth full!

It appears that it's the 'tidy the fruit bowl' out day in the house, excellent, plenty of fruity goodness just for me, mini mules need their five a day too you know :-)

This fruity goodness can be a little messy though you know?  Especially when there's pears involved….. very ripe, sloppy pears…. all the better!

And for the finale?! Well you just can't beat a good banana peel.  So good it is best enjoyed with your eyes squeezed tight shut.  

Wonder what's in this week's fruit bowl, mmmm maybe a tasty satsuma?  

Don't worry folks I did share with the others but they were a little slow off the mark and didn't gallop at full speed downhill to investigate the offering, hmmm FH did insist on saving them some, it seems there are runner's up prizes in this house!

Have a lovely week ahead folks and remember those five a day!

Milo's Movember Moustache!

Milo's Magnificent Movember Moustache!

Greetings Puppyteers!  This month I have been busy supporting the spectacular that is Movember  - this month is made for me as a moustachioed master of hairy handsomeness!   It is also in a very good cause - us boys grow moustaches to raise awareness of men's cancer and health issues.  If the girls can do it with pink we can use our manly moustaches!

So whadya think?  I look handsome don't I?  And I've decided my moustache is not just for Movember, I of course will be keeping it ;-)

I take my facial hair very seriously - it's very useful for collecting all sorts of yummy morsels just ready for a midnight puppyteer snack - yum!

And it's not just a moustache that I have been cultivating.... I am going for the full beardy look :-)

So here's to my friends with facial hair everywhere!  To the Beardy Barons and Masters of Moustaches - this Movember I salute you!

Woofs! Milo xxx

The Perils of Tea Leafing!

Milo Pups here Muleteers!  Oh dear I got caught out tonight.... I was having a lovely little truffle snuffle in FH's carelessly discarded crisp packet (see all her fault).

And what do you know?  I kinda got my long pointy nose kinda stuck in the bag....

Oops, I need some assistance here folks, I know I been bad but could you kinda help please?

While I'm waiting for you to assist me I will just lick our the little crumbs in the bottom.....

I thinks it's a bit like a doggy nosebag?  I think my long nose is made for this thieving thing.... or in rhyming slang as is beloved of our London friends it is also known as 'Tea Leafing'

What's a dog gotta do to get some assistance here?!

Hah don't need your help!  I sorted it all out on my own :-)  

Great Muleteers!  I know how to sort this out next time I go Tea Leafing ;-)  Not that I'd do that, like ever, never.... well maybe next time FH leaves carelessly discarded foodstuffs around that my long nose will fit in!

No Ifs Just Butts!

What better way to brighten up a gloomy Autumn morning than a good look at some muddy mule and mini butts?

OK so we admit that these are not the sleek glossy rear views of Summer but hopefully you will appreciate them nonetheless.

It has been a miserable and grey weekend with rain, wind and fog so we decided to brighten up the humans' day by standing our pretty butts all in a row.

The rain has played havoc with our pony tails and has led to some rather unfortunate (in the humans' eyes but not ours ;-) mud packs being liberally applied but we're sure you will excuse our less than 'finished' hairdos!

There are some butts in our gang that are just always together..... honestly those minis are joined at the hip and even when there's not enough room they just gotta do everything together.  No one told them that the track is just too narrow for both of them! Somehow they seemed to manage.

Even when they're eating they gotta eat the same blade of grass and make sure that they're not too far apart... honestly, anyone would think they were best buddies or something?

As for me?  Well I like to show off my butt in a casual kinda way.... a girl's gotta look nonchalant and casual so I like to do the little hip dip if you know what I mean? ;-)  But you will notice that I have no need for a hip buddy, I am perfectly content as an independent woman.... as long as my minis aren't too far away!

So there you have it.  No ifs just plenty of butts in this gang, and mighty fine (if muddy) butts they are too.  FH says we must blog about something serious next time..... I don't know what she means but I am thinking about a post on the marvels of mud!