THE DONKEY’S HAVE BEEN FOUND ALIVE & WELL:))))))))

Here is the email we received this morning from Jeanie & Ray….“The donkeys came home last night!  Sheriff's car was at our gate around 9:30pm.  Donkeys were heading south out of Elfrida down the middle of Central Hwy.  The deputy herded them 3 miles to the hay place on central hwy and got them in a pen then came and got us.  So glad to have them home, sure was a job getting them loaded.  We are starting a trailer loading training TODAY.  no more bad loading experiences for them or us.  Thank you so much for all your support and help, we so appreciate you....
I'll let you know when we come by.”
Jeanie
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay:))

HEADER PHOTO WAS TAKEN FROM ATOP THAT HIGHER ROCKY RIDGE ON EXTREME  LEFT

Had a question about our header photo.  Commenter Phil asks, “Al, I am intrigued by your new banner photo. How did you get that angle? A nearby tall mountain & telephoto lens? You seem to be too high for that, and the hike would have been a real struggle. A hang glider?”  To answer that question I will refer you to my blog post on the day I took that photo…A COLD WINDY DAY IN THE AJO HIGHLANDS.  Most of the photos in todays post are from that particular day I took the header photo.

THE WHITE DOT AT TOP CENTER IS A COUPLE FROM LONDON ONTARIO IN THEIR 5TH WHEEL…. WE FIRST MET THEM IN CANNONVILLE, UTAH A FEW MONTHS PREVIOUSLY.  THEY ARE IN COSTA RICA THIS WINTER…ADVENTURES WITH MnM

 

  

 

IT WAS QUITE A HIKE TO THE TOP OF THE ROCKY RIDGE BUT BOTH CHECKERS & MOTORMOUSE CLIMBED RIGHT TO THE TOP WITH US…THE LITTLE MOUSE NEEDED A BIT OF HELP COMING DOWN…MAX STAYED IN THE MOTOR HOME RECOVERING FROM A SORE LEG.

THE FLYING W RANCH

Kept myself busy today raking up a lot of brush on the property.  I enjoy that sort of thing so I was right in my element.  My fourth hobby besides travel, blogging & photography happens to be landscape gardening, so with lawn rake in hand I enjoyed a fair few hours in the sunshine today just cleaning up a lot of dead scrub grass.

 

LOTS OF RAKING TODAY

Jeanie & Ray popped in this afternoon & we’re soooooooooooooo happy about getting their donkeys back.  Took them until midnight Friday to get Pancho, Nellie & Sarah loaded in the trailer & taken home to their cozy corral with lots of hay & water.  Jeanie said there were no signs of trauma to them but they were pretty quiet this morning.  Sarah came over to Jeanie & rested her head up against her.  Still a mystery as to what happened to them or where they were but when they were spotted they were walking down the road in the dark headed for the ranch about 2 miles away.  The gate they got out of a few nights ago was a strong steel gate & it was definitely broke down by humans.  It may never be known what happened but the main thing is, the donkeys are home now safe & sound:))

THE DONKEYS WERE WALKING DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THIS ROAD HEADING FOR HOME WHEN THEY WERE FOUND

 

We all sat in the front yard for awhile today with birds, birds, everywhere.  And, we had 3 deer come to within about hundred feet of where we were quietly sitting.  We sure fit in here & it is soooooo nice to be alone with nature all around.

I didn’t let myself get too upset Friday about my broken camera.  I bought that Nikon D50 new about 5 years ago & took thousands upon thousands of trouble free photos with it.  Never a problem with that camera.  Considering the fact I use my cameras almost every day I am actually a little surprised I have not incurred more damage to my photo equipment.  I don’t baby my equipment & these Nikons have proved very durable despite some fairly rugged handling at times.

So, what will I do now?  Well, it’s already done.  I was on the internet first thing this morning looking for the best deal on a Nikon D90 body.  Found one & it is on it’s way:))  Because of the amount of dust I had on my D50’s sensor I had to basically retouch ever single photo I took with it, especially if there was a lot of sky visible.  I will so enjoy not having to do that anymore.  I do have dust on my D40’s sensors too but at least it’s not as bad as the D50 was.  Dust is just a normal way of life out here in the southwest.

So, what is the scoop with the house & property here where we are staying.  Well, lets just say Kelly & I did a lot of chin wagging & brain storming again today & I can tell you this…..we have postponed our area departure now for a few more days…..or maybe a little longer.  Sunday I will continue my natural exercise program by continuing with the yard work.  With 40 acres here at the Flying W it just might take me a couple extra days:))

The Bayfield Bunch welcomes a couple new blog followers today.  Thanks for climbing aboard Donna K:))  TRAVELS IN THERAPY.  Russ Krecklow rides in as Blog Follower 228 &  big welcome to you as well Russ.

GROANER’S CORNER:(( 

- What do you call a cow with no legs? Ground beef.

- What do you call a man who drinks and falls off his horse? The wine-stoned cowboy.

- What do you call a rabbit with fleas? Bugs Bunny.

- What do you call a veterinarian with laryngitis? A hoarse doctor.

- What do you give a person with water on the brain? A tap on the head. 

- What is a newly hatched beetle? A baby buggy.