Animal Crackers - A View of the Back Pen

Howdy - 

One evening this last week Hubby and I took a drive in the Jeep and went to check out the back of the property. Checking on the trees and the cracking dry ground, with all this heat and no rain things are crispy. Well the Ladies followed us to check things out with us. 

Juliet looked so pretty in the sunset - 

They all looked so pretty - they love when we are back there spending time in their pasture. 

 

 

We are keeping a watch on Ellie Mae she has been a little slow the last couple of days - I think she has a bruised hoof, but we are watching her carefully just in case. 

 

 

Hate when one of our fur children are not feeling well. I wish they could tell me where the issue is, it would make things so much easier. Just kills me to see them not well. 

Jolene and the other ladies were all lining up to move with us. LOL I love how they move in a line. Controlled movement. Unless their is food in sight... then they all haul and take off on their own! 

 

As we got back in the jeep and started move on, we got one of Patti's looks... As I said in the past, she has such expressive eyes. You just know her thoughts!

 

I think this is "Where do you think you are going?" Ha! 

Then I turned forward and this is what I saw - Uh.. Yeah - they were not ready for us to move on. 

More attention here please... LOL They are the boss - more attention then slowly we moved back to the front of the pasture - with our single file trail of donkeys following! 

I love spending time with my fur kids! They are so funny. All though I did end up having a corner of my shirt slobbery and a pocket with hay in it. I think Josie had a mouth full of hay and got a hold of my shirt and shorts. Silly girl. Heck they are silly, lovable personalities. 

Hope you enjoyed and have a smile this week. 

HUGS and 

High Hopes Stamps - Thankful Friends

Howdy - 

This week for High Hopes Stamps I am thinking Fall and Fall Holidays - Thanksgiving comes to mind first for me - Always have loved cooking up that big holiday meal and sharing with loved ones. I went through all the great images at High Hopes Stamps Thanksgiving images - I chose "Thankful Friends" 

 

Fun image! I colored with my Copics (colors below) And then went digging in my stash of papers. Found some Fiskars papers that I liked with the fall image. Stacking up three of the patterns, and using black card stock for the base and a mat. 

The sentiment is also from High Hopes Stamps "Scripty Happy Thanksgiving" a little faux orange mat with a copic marker. I needed a little more for the card - and found some great enamel dots that matched the pattern papers perfectly. 

Love the fall feel of this one, there are so many great images for fall at High Hopes Stamps. Click HERE to get straight to having fun looking for your next images. 

Copic colors used -

Hope you enjoyed - have a blessed day - 

HUGS and

Animal Crackers - Strike a Pose

Howdy- 

This week I went out to snap photos with the purpose of getting some individual posed photographs. I like to have photos to put into their folders of each animal of different ages and just show off how beautiful they are, and keep up with their changes as they get older.

First out the gate was Miss Cocoa - She isn't always the best at standing still and letting me get close up for a pretty portrait. But she did this week! 

Pretty old girl - still shows off those ears very well!  Love her with that bright blue morning sky behind her! 

Then I went towards the lady goats. I was trying to snap a photo of Abigail - with out Penelope at her side. Finally had a chance... but she was chewing her cud. And she chews to the side... silly girl.

Crissy gave m a professional side glance for her photo. Showing off her teeth with her smile.

 

For an old goat she is a beautiful girl. Perfect horns, beard and coloring. 

Now back to the Lady Donkeys - They were all at front end of their pen, I called out to them to see who would pose for me. Miss Bella was the first to approach me - morning shadows were not nice though - 

I think she was sniffing something in the dirt... her nose is dirty. I cleaned it off so she is good now. :0) 

Fancy Pants came next. Sweet girl - wish she could have been bred. Tried for years and no babies. Her brother Miguel tested sterile as well. A family thing, sadly. But still loved! Family to us -

Then Miss Macie - She has trimmed down this summer. Yes ... that is trimmed down. She looks so good. Always beautiful.

We are all really wanting Fall to blow in and stay for a while. Technically the calendar is showing it, but it has still been so hot and so so so dry. The weather people are saying it is suppose to be a wetter and colder winter here - we are ready for the wetter part for sure, and just down from the high 90's would be nice! 

Hope you enjoyed our portraits this week. And have a smile as always! 

HUGS and

High Hopes Stamps - Apple Pie Anyone

Howdy - 

Fall is here! And that makes me think of all the spices - Now for many that is all the pumpkin everything that appears this time of year. But me I fall more in the apple pie section! And I so I went looking for this cute little image "Apple Pie Anyone"from High Hopes Stamps.

 

Colored with my Copic markers, and then went looking for papers to match up. I found some making memories scraps that just make me feel warm. Love the old fashion cross stitch paper with apple pie theme. 

The sentiment is also from High Hopes Stamps - "If friends were apples.."  

Copic colors used -

Love the warm feel of this one! And now I want apple pie... 

For lots of fabulous image to have fun with this fall. Make sure to pop over to the High Hopes Stamps web store HERE and fall for LOTS! 

Have a very blessed day - 

HUGS and

Animal Crackers - Morning Hugs

Howdy - 

This week I went out to snap my photos. No hurry to beat Hubby out before he feeds breakfast. He went fishing - so I was the one out checking and making sure all was good. He did leave lots of food for them for his one day fishing. But I still had to go out and say good morning and check on everyone. But it was nice for the fur children to actually look at me and have interest in me not keeping a watch for breakfast - LOL 

I found Cocoa and Valentine with a little Donkey Hugs going on. I was just two seconds late for the full hug. But still an adorable Mother Son photo right?

Snapped a great shot of Jorge and all his whiskers... LOTS and LOTS of whiskers.

Funny boy - And yes he has lots more whiskers than other ... its his thing I guess. ha! 

Sweet Pea must have enjoyed eating all night - and now was using what was left as a cozy bed.

She is a pretty girl isn't she. Love her little side grin!

 I had to snap this photo of my little old girl Libbie - Bath time! She is pretty good at bath time. Well other than sitting down constantly. 

Makes it hard to wash the back half. But I guess as an older girl she gets tired of standing and sits. Sweet silly ole' girl! 

Now I mentioned that Hubby brought in food for everyone. Wasn't just for his fishing trip. We are trying to make sure they all have plenty to eat. Usually we bring in large round bales in the end of October. But due to the heat and lack of any rain it is time to bring in the big bales as our square bales are running low too soon. 

 The men really were enjoying it and started in right away. The ladies in the back.. their bale is now over 1/2 gone in only a few days. If it is there they will eat - 24/7. The guys get full and walk away. Guess it is a woman/man difference. 

Last photo this week Hubby sent me last week - His outdoor kittens are getting big - Three of them have decided to stick in the back yard and around the house. Safe, Hubby puts food and water, and they have lots to play on and with. 

This photo was through the back window - All three boys decided to nap on the Hay cart. It was really a warm or HOT night - still in the high 90's after dark. That hay cart must have been nice, letting the breeze all around them. 

Hope you have a smile this week - All the fur children are happy you visit them each week. 

HUGS and -

High Hopes Stamps - Writing Mouse

Howdy - 

This week for High Hopes Stamps I looked for something fun and fall - I saw Writing Mouse and and it made me smile. And with that pretty pencil in his hands it made me think of a new school year. That is Fall right? 

Here is Writing Mouse -  

 

He is adorable right? I colored with my Copics (colors below) and then found some older papers from Prima Marketing, En Francais collection. I like the pattern with the hand writing on it. I matched up with other papers from the collection and then created a band with the EK Success border punch. 

All the layers are sewn down matted with dark brown card stock. The sentiment "Thanks!" is also from High Hopes Stamps Love the Dot font. It is punched out with a EK Success ticket punch. 

Copic color used -

Fun image and loved coloring it - To see many many many more great image to have fun with make sure to click HERE and pop straight over to the Web Store at High Hopes Stamps. 

Have a wonderful blessed day - 

HUGS and

Animal Crackers - Sunrise Portraits

Howdy - 

Went out very early one day this week to snap some photos. And the sunrise light was great for some portraits. 

Valentine was right outside the back gate. Look how handsome he is. 

 

This angle makes him look slimmer than he actually is.. LOL  But this big boy is really good looking. And he wears those ears perfectly! 

I tried to get a photo of his Mom, Cocoa...she would have nothing to do with it. Breakfast time, not photo time! We went around in circles a couple time trying to get a photo, then I just gave up. She usually wins.

Ted always will pose for me. Still a little dark for a photograph but he is still stunning.

 

 

 

 He knows it too... I can't get over how grey he is getting. And that the grey is coming in spots. He really looks polka-dotted. Love him so much silly guy. 

 

Headed out to the Ladies pen. All being very calm and waiting for breakfast. It was still early so maybe they were still sleepy. But that made getting in and snapping photos a little easier. Sometimes they are so excited about feed that they make it hard and honestly I just don't go in the pen. They are not dangerous at all towards me, just very pushy and well very heavy to be shoving me. Especially in my flip flops! 

 

Patti looked very pretty in the morning sun.  Her angle does show a bit of belly though. Next time more from the front for her to look slimmer. They don't like to look bad on the web you know.

 

Again this week Macie was being very friendly. And she was off by herself so it gave me a chance to love all over her. 

She is such a sweet loving old lady. Shame there was a shadow on her! This would have been a perfect photo of her.

Bella was off in the shade of the barn. This portrait really makes those ears show off doesn't it? 

Now she doesn't need an angle to look slim. She is very trim. Always has been a skinny girl. Well other then when pregnant she really gets wide when carrying her babies.

Lacey pushed her way to the front of the girls for some head scratches.

She too is really getting grey. But still young at heart. Very active and always front and center. 

As I was working my way back towards the gate Jolene wanted her portrait as well. Problem is that she would not work with me and the 8 foot distance to snap the portrait shot... She wanted a close up!

Funny girl! 

Hope you have a smile again this week. They were all in great spirits and happy to have photos taken this week. Well until they saw "Dad" coming out to feed. Then all the screaming and movement started. Got loud standing within them all. So I decided to make my way out of the pen and save my hearing! 

HUGS and

High Hopes Stamps - Hay Ride

Howdy - 

 It is officially Fall right? Ok its still pretty hot where I am but on the calendar it is Fall coloring time! I pulled out a cutie favorite from High Hopes Stamps - Hay Ride

 

 Totally Adorable Right?? I adore the farm country images at High Hopes Stamps! And this cute little kids seem to be working on getting a few chores done? Maybe or just have fun giving rides. I colored with my Copics (colors below) and then inked the edges with Ranger Tie Dye ink,  for a more vintage feel on it. 

My pattern papers are from Memory Box Valise collection. All sewn down and put on a kraft paper card stock. Love the kraft card stock look of all of these papers! 

The sentiment is also from High Hopes Stamps "Welcome Fall" Great sentiment that is also an image of sorts! I used an enamel dot to faux hold the sign to the card - then decided that a few more in the opposite corner was needed as well. 

A happy card! Love how soft yet country this one feels. 

Copic colors used -

To find so so so many more fabulous images for your fall and winter projects click straight over to the High Hopes Stamps web store HERE - 

Have a blessed day - 

HUGS and 

Animal Crackers - Before Breakfast

Howdy - 

 Well this week I got out before breakfast!! Early Early..  

 Macie did end up calling out and getting excited that I was out so early... until she realized that I was not there to bring her breakfast. 

As I was walking out they were all giving me the look... Breakfast please. NOW. They didn't believe me that "Dad" was coming out right behind me.

Ellie Mae was trying hard to be so calm and wait. It really was tough though. As soon as they saw Hubby coming out of the backyard towards the hay barn.. everyone was trotting and moving towards the barn.

Juliet was giving me her look... And that look has more personality! Ha! She is so funny, love that big silly girl!

 

 

And what a fabulous pose! Of course it only lasted seconds - as the hay bale hit the ground and it was more than she could handle! I got a slight glance as she turned and ran off - "Bye Mom.. breakfast time!" 

 

Crissy knew that the goats were next! She stood in her favorite spot keeping a close watch - chewing on her cud... no reason to hurry it takes a few minutes to feed those other girls. Then our turn. 

 

Moxie followed me to all the pens as she always does. But it was early remember. She laid down each time I stopped. Looking down at her I asked if she was still sleepy. Then I got the Moxie belly rub pose. Even if covered in grass and dirt it is a must... you have to stop and rub that belly!!

One more photo.. had to show off a present from a dear friend. She found this vintage sterling pin and said it had to be mine. Oh my I love it! Looks like Raffie's smile donkey pose! 

 Such a sweet friend! I love it!

Hope you have a wonderfully blessed weekend - and it started off with Animal Crackers Smiles! 

HUGS and -