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?!

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

Teaching Her All We Know...

The perfect way to spend a day...

Phew it's been a bit busy!

We've been busily teaching HF all we know about life here at Muleteer HQ.  HF is just the most brilliant pupil (we think she might be a secret mule, her ears are in disguise), she is learning quickly and we enjoy our daily lessons with her, we chat while FH does the clean up duty.

So we've been teaching HF about the essentials in life...



Eating

Oh yes this is the important one HF.  Food is to be enjoyed in abundance.  As we understand HF is neighbraying for more food on a regular basis and can't get enough, well she is a growing girl isn't she?  Hopefully not growing too much though as we want her to stay small enough to ride us minis for a while yet!

Sleeping

HF has adopted Roller's art of sleeping and is very good at this skill.  She sleeps and sleeps and sleeps some more, she's not fussy where she sleeps either, although limpet attached to a human seems to be a favourite, I wonder what the humans would think to having a limpet mini mule asleep on their chests??

Windy Pops!

Oops, this is something that The Mini has been discussing with HF, he is the King of windy pops and appears to have explained the skill well to HF.  People stand back in amazement at the decibels of disgrace issued by the cute little HF.... she's mini mule trained you know ;-)

Pooping

Hmmm ok in a similar vain we've taught HF about the joys of liberally spreading poop everywhere.... Dragon has been trying to teach HF about being tidy, nah, us minis have persuaded her that liberal quantities and spreading are best!

Looking Cute

Oh yeah we muleteers have this one off perfectly and it seems our foal has mastered the art too, wait a go baby, this ensures excellent service from the big humans :-)

How could the humans resist us cuties?!

Work…

Well Dragon has been trying to extol the benefits of work to HF but it would seem that HF is not keen on doing 'mule work' and has decided that she will be the one hitching rides on the big humans for the moment…. we like the look of that carrier thing, do they make a mini mule sized one?  What do you mean I'm too heavy?!  The good thing is that FH can tend to our needs (hehe muck out) whilst carrying HF, teaching them young is good and ermmm well it's good exercise for FH!

Diesel has been trying her own version of the cling-on.... no one told her that clinging to FH's foot is not quite the same thing?!

And Finally…..

We Muleteers see our duty in life is to make people happy!  It would seem that HF has also adopted a similar motto, she is such a good HF we almost forget she is a human…. maybe it's because we taught her all we know? Yep we're taking full credit!

We can hear the summoning neighbray of HF, it is suspiciously like lunchtime... actually every hour is lunchtime in HF's world (girl off to our own heart!) so we better go tend to her.  FH! Come quick!

Never Too Early....

Hey there HF, have you come to learn some of the work that goes on here?  It's never too early to learn!

What's that?  You don't like the sound of work, it's too early to start?  Don't be silly HF, it's never too early to teach you how to muck out.....

No, no, no don't scream

There, there, oh yikes!  Screaming baby, what to do?!  Roller, come quick, I need your help....

Dumdedum.... errm, what is that?!

So this is what they've all been going on about?  Well it looks like a human in miniature, how nice!

Don't scream little human, it's nice here, and don't listen to that Dragon about work.... she's always talking about work.  Some of us like to take life a little easier....

You stick with me and adopt the Zen of Roller and you'll do just fine.  Leave the big humans and mules to the work, us minis are here to look good and take life at our own pace.... if in doubt have a little nap.  That's it!

I think I've got this babysitting thing sorted don't you?

Besides which those tools are way too big, if I were you HF I'd sneak a nap while FH does the work, she's used to it after all ;-)

A good nap was had by us sensible ones.... miraculously the stables were clean when we awoke!

Sunny Happy Baby

Spring has definitely arrived at Muleteer HQ… it has taken the form of a certain little lady Human Foal.    This Sunny Happy Baby has brought the most delightful of weather to us all, we think we'll keep her ;-)

HF has been busy checking out her kingdom, we're pleased to see that she has ensured plenty of blossom on the apple tree so that us Muleteers will have a plentiful bounty of snacks in the Autumn….

She has brought Dragon blue skies for sunbathing in and showing off those mulificent ears against!  Dragon is VERY happy with her new charge and is insisting on greeting HF with happy mule chuckles whenever she appears… Dragon it may be a while until she's up to riding you!

And of course not to be left out the canine furries are enjoying their new charge too and guarding her well….. hmmm Milo is the guardian of the hand lick and nappy snuffle (ick!) 

Murph is wondering what next?!  He has just finished bringing up the puppy to some form of adulthood (yeah right….) and now his has a new charge to pull on his ears and guard, no one is getting past this saggy Cloth Dog.  Oh well the life of a labrador is hard but he has broad shoulders and life is good :-)

Our humans would like us to thank you all for your lovely comments and wishes, they are very happy to share their new addition with you all, sorry for not replying to everyone individually - normal service will resume in a little while!  In the meantime sending you all a wish for a slice of our happiness, we're off to sing some nursery rhymes..... we're pretty good at Old MacDonald's Farm in this house!

And as for Human Foal?  Well it's all a little tiring so she's off for a nap.....

Sweet Dreams xxxx

Human Foal Has Arrived!

My Little Human has arrived!

Finally!  Our Human Foal has arrived and it's fallen to me The Mini to introduce her :-)

Can you believe who came to visit me this morning?! It was My Little Human!

Human Foal decided to grace us with her presence on Saturday 10th May at 2.03am (hmmm early riser are we?) at a decent mini mule sized 7lb 15oz.

We have decided to name her Lara Imogen Patience, of course us Muleteers had first approval of names and have been sounding board extraordinaire over the last few months of choosing.... we particularly like Patience as it's what us long ears are good at teaching you humans ;-)

FH, MH and our new playmate are all doing fabulously and all is well.  Our little Human Foal came out to see us earlier, and here are some pics (sorry there are rather a lot but what better excuse?!)

Who is this?! 

We knew she'd arrived!

First approval belongs to The Mini!

Dragon approves HF's ears... although there may be an extra set?!

Diesel checks out HF with The Mini keeping a close watch

The Mini stakes his claim

The Mini has something to say to 'My Little Human'...

"I.....

......LOVE......

.......YOU!

 Would you like a ride?!

OK, maybe a little too soon but a quick lie across my back with FH is good enough for now!

Her ears are a little on the small side but heyho ears aside we love her still and Roller is pleased that he isn't the only one with weeny ears ;-)

Roller in his inimitable fashion stayed focussed on.... eating and promises to appear for foal snuffles later, secretly I think he is devolving HF duty to me - yippee! I, The Mini do hereby stake my claim to this Human Foal and promise to teach her all I know.... especially mischief!

Spot the baby?!

MH also made sure that he and My Human Foal inspected some of her future duties like filling haynets, inspecting the hedgerow for yummy cow parsley and stomping in mud.  Well done MH, always good to start them young...

Haynet duty.... 

Get used to mud HF, there's plenty here in your new kingdom 

Just behind you is the Cow Parsley little one, yummy to eat :-)

So dearest little Lara we can't wait to play with you, snuffle you, get you muddy, carry you, teach you the best muleteer fun tricks in the world and be your bestest friends.

Love Always,
Your Muleteer Brothers and Sisters xxx x xx