Stubborn Henry

Henry is already showing a stubborn streak. He wants whatever it is that his mom is eating out of that bucket even though he doesn't know about eating food yet.

Something Completed...Maybe

After the skunk incident, I installed the new foyer light fixture. As usual, I had agonized over just the right light fixture for days. I'm schizophrenic when it comes to decorating, trying to find a way to blend all of the styles I like into one place...Spanish, contemporary, glam, shiny polished chrome and/or silver, and black or oil rubbed bronze. Ack. But I finally decided and I'm very happy with it. In the picture it looks gold but it's not. It's a dark brass with a patina and an "English Pewter" (according to the product description) finish. It has crystal flowers and buds hanging off of it and it looks beautiful up on my ceiling.

I intended to install it myself. I can do those kinds of things, ya know. So I turned the breaker off, took down the old fixture and installed the hanging bracket. Then I tried, really tried to find a way to hold the light fixture up there while I wired it, but there was just no way. So I finally had to call one of the workers to help me. He got it wired while I held the fixture jammed against his face. He probably still has a leaf print on his chin, but he was a good sport and properly admired the fixture after it was lit up. According to him, it looks "Christmasy". Hmmm, not exactly the look I was going for.

Le Pew!

Yesterday, Kerry, the carpenter reported that the barn reeked of skunk when he opened it up to get his lumber. I went to investigate and found it right away tucked in a corner behind an old wheel (Yes, unfortunately, we already have old wheels laying around, although this one was left behind by previous owner). Anyway, after observing the animal for a few moments and detecting no movement, I called Kerry (on the cell phone even though he was only a few yards away) to tell him I'd found the skunk and should I poke it to see if it was alive. He told me to wait for him, which I did as he came running down the path shouting, "Don't touch it, they carry rabies!" As if I didn't know that. Duh.

I happened to be carrying a long metal fence stake that I thought I might poke and run with, but Kerry was very cautious (and chivalrous...and dramatic). He directed me to stand outside while he picked up a long piece of lumber and threw it like a javelin. It hit the tire with a big thud and still the skunk didn't move, so we pronounced it dead. Kerry scooped it up with a shovel and buried it a few yards from the barn.

I felt a little sorry for it because it surely must have died a miserable death. I don't know how long it had been locked up in the steaming hot barn with no water and probably nothing to eat. Well, I don't know what skunks eat. I supposed if they eat mice or hay, it might have had plenty, but I don't think so. Having been sprayed by a skunk as a child, or so he said, Kerry had no pity.

Mom's Donkey Review

This is what Mom had to say about the donkey situation. I thought it was funny, so I thought I'd share.

"One of the mama donkeys had her baby yesterday morning so that was a delight to see it walking around and her protecting it very well. Normally the mother is very friendly with the other donkey she is also female and purported to be "with donkey " (for some reason "with child " doesn't seem correct and as we were taught in our very young days at home , you never said the word " pregnant " in our house ?? My how things have changed!! ) Anyway , now she will not let the little colt? (donkeyling? )get close to the other donkey and will even appear to fight her off if the little one goes near. ( "This is my donkey , and I'm the boss of it !")"

Henry

Ok, so little donkey's name is Henry. His mom is Buffy, the alter ego of Kip rather than Henry. But I like Henry better.

He's so much fun - so soft and fuzzy. Surprisingly, his mom lets me pet him to my heart's content. She still won't let Hilde near him and she gets pretty nasty about it, kicking and biting her, and making mean faces. I think she'll get over that in a few days. Tom feels sorry for Hilde. He thinks she wants a baby of her own.

AND, yay! The tape/bedding/texturing is FINISHED inside the house. Finally.

Peas are growing well, squash is coming along, corn...not so much. Some of it didn't come up at all and the corn that is up is not growing as fast as the spring corn did. I got broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, carrots, and bush beans (can't remember) planted on Tuesday morning before the Gustav rains started. It rained the rest of Tuesday and most of Wednesday. Oh, and I went out to mow paths around and through the garden (pitiful, I know) and discovered that we have some new watermelons growing. I had completely forgotten about the watermelon vines. Luckily, Tom didn't take the tractor out there to mow because he would have squashed them since they are completely hidden in the grass.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow because I plan to take up all the paper off the floor and clean up the dust. My house will look like a home rather than a construction site.

Pin the Name on the Donkey

Baby has arrived! He was born some time on Sunday night, discovered on Labor Day. Isn't he cute! He's only a few hours old in these pics.

So, in keeping with the Bosom Buddies theme of Buffy and Hilde, I'm thinking we should name him either Kip or Henry. For those who watched Bosom Buddies way back when, you may remember that Buffy and Hilde were the alter egos of Kip and Henry. I'm leaning towards Henry. Meagan thinks we should name him Donkey Kong, but I can't imagine myself standing out in the field calling, "Donkey Kong!". "HenREEE!", I can imagine.