In Praise of the Daddy Ones!

It's a special day here at Muleteer HQ, it's Father's Day so we're making sure that MH (also known as The Daddy One these days...) has a nice day.  Yep lots of practical fun to be had.... like poo patrol, tidying bedrooms, soothing crying HF and walking with waggy tails - all to be topped off with a cool beer, sounds like a perfect day!

MH has kept us Muleteers all happy, healthy, clean and tidy whilst FH has been a little side lined by our new baby sister.  Thank goodness for MH, he really is the most wonderful muleteer these days, he can muck out a stable in a few minutes, pick out mini feet, fill hay nets and tell Dragon off for being grumpy when she's being a mardy mare (and she listens to him!!).  Yep we are lucky to have this Daddy One and we are happy to share him with HF, we have to report she already has him wrapped around her tiny little finger :-)

So on this Father's Day we say a thank you for the Daddy Ones, MH, Dads, Fathers, Poppas, Papas, Grandpas, Grandads and Uncles - those strong and loving men that keep us all on track and smiling, we know may of you are lucky to have had some wonderful men in your lives too :-)

And to our own special Daddy One, thank for all you do for us, we may reward you in the strangest ways sometimes but we sure do appreciate  and love you!

Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a Dad.
Anne Geddes

We also remember those that are not here today but whose wisdom and love continues in their absence, they are always there if only in our hearts.

My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.

Jim Valvano

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

Mini Christmas!

Does this make my ears look big?

 Wishing all of our friends a...

Very Mini Christmas!

Santa hats are unavoidable in this house at Christmas :-)

 We really are very long suffering.....

Purrfect Gymnastics for Team GB

Greetings Miaowleteers!  Gymnastics… a very elegant and superior sport which I have been enjoying watching with FH.  However, I am a little surprised at the standard of competition.  You two legs really do find this difficult don’t you??  Us kitty cats are blessed with purrfect gymnastic balance, timing and prowess but then again we are cats!

Vault

So here’s my guide to Purrfect Gymnastics the Catanian way!

There are a number of events in Gymnastics for us ladies.  All of them require timing, strength, agility and purrfect elegance (easy peasy for this kitty;-)

Vault

The first event is the vault.  This miaowleteers is where you run at full speed and leap on to your target, then an explosion of gymnastic prowess with some turns and the odd miaow and you’re off again.  I have been practicing on FH by using her legs as the vault, I take a good run up when she’s not looking and launch myself at her knees, then using my purrfectly sharpened claws I reach her shoulders (hopefully she has thick jeans and jumper on, if not she squeals rather) and vault off.  At this I reign supreme, I have various different vault but the human shoulder tumble is my finest!

Uneven Bars

In the uneven bars a kitty must weave and swing between a set of flexible bars whilst looking graceful and possibly even jumping on a human or mouse in the process.  Here I am warming up for the uneven bars by sharpening my claws, you humans seem to require chalk – not us kitty cats, we have claws of grippiness!

Once on the uneven bars it is essential to maintain kitty elegance and look as if it is just a walk in the park.  Grace and kitty model posing are all part of the picture, the judges will be scoring me on my feline charm you know J

Balance Beam

Now Miaowleteers I am a little disappointed with you humans, apparently it is enough to prance around on a non-moving bar and you call that sport???  Well as I’m a feline I have decided to take this sport a little further and have developed the Human Balance Beam.  

Human Balance Beam

In this event I must leap from any object on to a human of my choosing (normally it is only FH that tolerates this!) and then have to maintain my balance whilst said human squawks and spins, at the same time I must perform a ‘kill’ maneuver on the hair presented to me.  I must maintain my feline prowess throughout this maneuver and hold on with claws until the judges (FH in this case) picks me off and tells me game over.  I do think Miaowleteers that this could be one of my favourite events…. much more challenging than your Balance Beam!

Floor

Floor is where grace, prowess and rhythm are so important.  In this exercise I must demonstrate my flexibility and agility with tumbles, twists, pivots, leaps and turns.  I am supreme in the kitty world at this discipline, I practice every day by darting in and out of the muleteers feet, I pounce on my prey and I have every ounce of elegance required to achieve Olympic prowess.  

FH does get a little concerned though as I do like to practice in the mud which does mean that I am not the cleanest of kitty cats, hmmm she can talk, I’ve seen the colour of her finger nails and some days she wears more mud than The Mini!

Pommel Horse Mule

Now then Miaowleteers I am not impressed with ladies Gymnastics, it would appear that the superior of the species (i.e. us girls) do not get to compete at the same events as the boys.  They have a wonderful event called the Pommel Horse…. Hmmmm…. Well it’s not really that difficult is it boys??

Us girls have a much better version; it’s called the Pommel Mule.

I think you’ll agree that I have perfected this sport.  I am at one with my gymnastic equipment and feel the movement.  I can perform amazing turns, twists, balances and pauses on my chosen Pommel Mule.

Eat your heart out boys; if I could compete alongside you I’m sure you’d agree you’d be no match for me!

Gold Medalist

Of course Miaowleteers I would win gold for Team Kitty GB and I have some final words of wisdom for you medal winners.

Always show appreciation to your coach.

A kiss on the cheek works wonders!

Well Miaowleteers I’m off to watch the rest of the Olympics, I have been sending training tips to a gymnast called Beth Tweddle, I think she may have feline agility!  Go Team GB J

Birthday Balloons!

Greetings Muleteers! Roller-Polar here today!  How much fun can you have with a birthday balloon muleteers?  The answer - lots!  It has been FH's birthday today, she has been trying to keep it quiet as she says that it means more grey hairs.... We bought her splendid presents, mostly for our benefit.... a lovely waterproof coat to ensure that she can attend to our needs whatever the weather and Callie spent her hard earned mule money on some new riding boots so that FH looks smart enough to go out with her highness! We were ably assisted by MH who had to actually go to the shops for us... apparently four legs aren't welcome in store, how rude.

Imagine our delight when FH also showed us the presents from the extended family!  FH received food (mmmm share), some human type things and the most adorable porcelain version of me (this one can fit on the shelf muleteers so FH can keep me close at all times!)  Granny Human (GH) also bought her a balloon!  Now muleteers we haven't come across one of these before but FH very generously shared it with us.  I was not really sure what to make of it, I thought I'd give it a taste but I couldn't recommend it....

Then her highness herself investigated, she seemed a little non-plussed by this floating vision and thought that it would make a good object to hide behind.... or perhaps a lollipop to lick?

The Mini was a little more dubious and eyed the balloon with much suspicion.... it must be an alien from outer space?

Finally we left the balloon discovery to the brave one of the gang, the intrepid explorer who always thinks everything is there to be caught... so Catanian put on her bravest cat paws and proceeded to stalk and kill that balloon, FH promptly put the balloon away before Catanian got too carried away.

Finally The Mini looked very smugly at the rest of us, we all know what he's thinking.... no birthday present will ever surpass that which GH bought for FH three years ago for her birthday..... the best present ever that will never ever be beaten no matter how hard anyone tries.....

Yes Muleteers GH bought FH the pony that she'd always wished for, we are sure GH must have missed the very obvious mistake.... the ears are a little on the long side.  Anyway it all worked out well in the end :-)

Six Months in The Life of a Mule

Greetings Muleteers!  What can a mule achieve in 6 months?  In my case a lot!  I have been in my new home for a whole six months this weekend and it has gone sooooo quickly.  So I was having a think about all the things I have achieved with my humans in this six months and this is a rundown....

1/. I have found myself in a new home with new humans that I now own.  There is Female Human (FH) who is maid service, mule rider, beautician and general mule's body!  Then there's my fave Man Human (MH) who constantly tells me how beautiful I am, scratches my neck in just the right place and brings me snacks from the hedgerow.  I have been busy training them and refining their behaviour.  The Mini has done a pretty good job but there's nothing like a woman's touch!

2/. I have introduced many new folks to the wonders of long ears.  I have travelled far and wide with FH and waved my mulificent ears to many passers by.  We are constantly stopped by cars to ask all about me, I feel a little like I am constantly being chased by the paparrazi, it's soooo difficult being a celebrity!

3/. I have attended two "horse" clinics with FH and shown off my fine skills at playing tag and something called obstacles, hopefully I can go again soon.

4/. I have wooed the Mini and Ro-Land and now have not one but two mini boyfriends, they're alright really if a little on the short side.... I also have a Catanian partner in crime for when the boys are tiresome.

5/. I have taken FH on the wild and open moor!  Yippee that was fun, moor mule has found her calling!

6/. I have had some exciting riding adventures and have met cars, tractors, sheep, cows, a pony and trap, a hot air balloon, a Chinook helicopter, lots of dogs, people, bonfires, trains, pushchairs, umbrellas, rivers, hills, tiny bridges and rocks and have kept cool under all circumstances, FH is very impressed with my mulish bombproofness, occasionally I will remind her that she can't be totally asleep though ;-)

7/. I have munched my way through 1.2 tonnes of food in the last 6 months! Mostly straw but with some grass, haylage, hedges and twigs thrown in there too.

8/. I have happily trodden and soiled my way through half a tonne of wood shavings bedding!

9/. I have produced over a tonne of mule's gold - ask FH she has weighed every ounce in the barrow ;-)

10/. I have found happiness muleteers!  FH and I are happy pottering around and I have my pals whenever I want, I'm never shut in a stable but can roam in and out when I please.  I have lots of lovely adventures and adoring fans and most of all I have found a little place in the world where mules are the norm not the exception and I am appreciated because I act like a mule.... heaven!

Well muleteers time for me to go and dream of the next 6 months to come, I wonder what the future will hold, more of the same will be just fine with me!

Oh I forgot No. 11...... I have also become a mule blogger and love telling you all about life here with the Muleteers!   We are nearly at 5000 page views, how perfect that we will reach this to celebrate my first 6 months!