I know I promised you pictures of Jim ON Kate but there is a small problem - getting Jim on her.  As you can see from the pictures, Kate is BIG.  Jim is 6' tall so you figure it out.  I'm thinking some sort of hydraulic lift.  I don't think normal mounting blocks go that high.....we did get a saddle for her so we're getting close to lift off but we will have to figure out how to get Jim's ass onto his ass. (Oh I'm so confused.....)

        Kate is peacefully living with the donkeys and goats.  The only one that has the guts to approach her is Dude and actually I saw her following him around this morning.  I think she kind of likes him.  Of course if he trys to have his way with her - he'll hurt himself.  Not enough Viagra in the world to help him out with her!

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      We often get uninvited gets dropping in on us.  That's okay - we like company.  However, as you can see from the following pictures we had a surprise guest (or I should say the doves had a surprise guest) drop in that was entirely unwelcome.  Enter SLINKY - our official farm snake.  He's a black snake and harmless - but he is a snake after all and does anyone like snakes?  Well, Slinky apparently had a hankering for eggs for breakfast so he thought he'd drop into the local fast food joint serving eggs - the aviary of course - always a fresh supply on hand.  Jim and I were sitting in the living room chatting when I noticed a black hose fall to the bottom of the aviary.  It only took a nanosecond to figure out that the black hose was in fact a snake.  How he squeezed through those bars I will never understand - a talented snake for sure.  Jim came to the rescue and did his best bob and weave with a stick until he got Slinky out the aviary door and heading for home (which by the way is under the house.)  The appreciate doves sat on the highest perch and patiently waited for the all clear sign.  They say that black snakes kill water moccasins so I guess I should be grateful he's around - let me think about that.....

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       So I was out cleaning the sheep pasture when I noticed one of the barn kitties up in a tree.  Not unusual - these kitties don't like to wait for meals  - they go after what they want.  So I assumed he was zeroing in on some hapless bird.  I also noticed Simone and Leah hanging out under the tree looking up.  Also not a big deal since the sheep are often amused by the antics of the kitties.  All of a sudden a crab apple came flying out of the tree missing my ear by an inch.  Simone and Leah gratefully dove for the apple.  Simone got it first.  Not to worry - a minute later a second apple came wizzing down.  Leah got that one.  Then the kitty emerged from the tree and trotted off to bigger and better things.  So do you think the sheep are paying the kitties on the side to deliver apples?  Amazing how animals learn to cooperate with each other.  

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     Speaking of poop (see reference above) - i spend at least 3 hours each day collecting and disposing of animal output.  You have no doubt heard that there are only two sure things in life - death and taxes.  I'd like to add a third to that one - if you feed them they will poop.  In fact, I'm not even sure you have to feed them  - I think they'd produce poop anyway.  I would like to find a way to make money from what I collect - it could be my ticket to financial security.  

There is no question that Babe has held the record for most amount of poop in a single day - until Kate came along that is.  Kate's piles well they look a little like Mount Rushmore - lots of interesting curves - and massive.  She puts out twice as much as Babe.  There must be a world market for this stuff - someone please help me out here!  

Donkey poop is no big deal - they are nice and small and firm - kind of the size of a golf ball.  They also like to hang together so all I have to do is from the "drop zone" - that's the spot where someone gives a signal to let loose and they all do.  Very convenient.  

Now the sheep are a different story.  They are very talented - they can walk, eat, poop and talk all at the same time.  You just try that once - it's an amaziing feat.  The fact that they walk and poop at the same time makes cleaning up after them a challenge.  The line of output can stretch for 5 or 6 feet.  And then if there are several together walking at different angles it can get very confusing.   I'd love to train them to stand still but I doubt that will work.  Sheep know they are prey animals and the theory is if you keep moving the coyote can't catch you.  I guess they haven't quite figured out that they are living in a coyote-free zone.  There must be a great use for sheep poop - they are small and perfectly round - like chocoate jelly bellies.  

Anyone who comes up with a money making proposition for poop (forget compost - that's so ordinary) - will win a prize - a year's supply of poop !         

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     Well that's all the news that's fit to print (at least on my blog) - hope everyone is having a great summer.  I know I am.  Would love to hear from those of you following this blog and anyone who lives close enough - come on over and visit.  No charge for the deluxe tour and the opportunity to scoop poop for an hour - you surely don't want to miss out on that!  

      Blessings to all of you from all of us at Follow Your Dream Farm.