If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

By: Katrina Fleener

Mr. Peabody’s “Way-Back Machine”

We don’t really have a “Way-Back Machine” that lets us travel back in time. However, one cold winter night we did come across some old photos that put a smile on our faces. We thought you might get a kick out of them also. We will only do a couple at a time to keep from boring you to death.

First of all we need to look at where we are today.

TODAY!  Having fun at a Christmas Parade (2009)

We had a lot of fun participating in a local Christmas Parade. This was the first for our Miniature Donkeys and they acted as if they had been in parades on a regular basis.

BACK IN THE DAY (The Seventies!!!!!!!)

How fun is this photo!!!!!!  This was back in the Seventies and I was a teenager. The dog is my Greyhound, Cyrus, as a puppy, at his first dog show. This Greyhound was from the last litter from the famous Seamair Kennels, Santa Barbara, CA.  Seamair was very well-known in the 60s. This is a show win in which the judge was Joan Frailey. Cyrus easily attained his American and Canadian Championships and helped me to wins in Junior Showmanship.  Every weekend was spent at a dog show with my mother and siblings.

This photo (although quite old and worn) is also from the Seventies and is my Palomino Quarter Horse, Lipton. The first time I ever saw Lipton and rode him and he bucked me off. Despite objections from my parents, that was the horse I wanted to purchase. I like spirit and a challenge. He was a challenge at first but we became best friends and spent countless hours on long trail rides. The next time you see my, ask me why the horse was named Lipton!

I also showed him a few times in Western Pleasure, but in those days, I was concentrating on showing my dogs.  Our family also had a sorrel Quarter Horse, two Shetland Ponies, a Welsh Pony and a 1/2 Arab/1/2 Welsh foal.

Technorati Tags: Greyhound, joan Frailey, Miniature Donkeys, Palomino, Quarter Horse, Seamair Kennels

This past weekend we had a Big Winter storm. Unlike the Midwest and Northeast, folks in Tennessee are not accustomed to these conditions. There were at least 100 auto wrecks and 1,000s without power for a period of time. But it sure was a beautiful!!!!

Dolly, our farm dog loved running in the snow.

As you can tell from the lack of hoof prints on the snow, the Miniature Donkeys were not as keen on the weather. They preferred their snuggly barn with plenty of hay.

But Wait!  We had a few brave souls who ventured out into the snow.

Well not for long!!!!! The Donkey train decided snow was not for them and ventured back to the barn.

One of our animals found the snow very exciting!!!!!!!!!!

Technorati Tags: Donkeys in winter, Farm animals in the snow, Miniature Donkeys, storm in Tennessee

By: Richard

Did you ever play Marco Polo in the swimming pool as a kid? You know; you close your eyes and yell “Marco” and the other kids yell back “Polo” and you try to find them. Well today I played “Marco Polo” in the barn but it was really “Louise Meow”. I also kept my eyes open even if it was an unfair advantage.

Let me explain. I went out to the barn this morning to feed the little miniature donkeys. The first thing I usually do is encounter Thelma and Louise, the barn cats. Thelma is usually just returning from a night of hunting in the woods behind the barn and Louise is usually just waking up from a night of restful sleep in the hay loft. On this morning Thelma greeted me in the grain room with a meow and then another and another. This was unlike her and there was no Louise. I really didn’t think much about it until I went out into the stall area and heard more meows.

These were obviously coming from Louise and sounded somewhat distant so I figured she was up in the hay loft and would soon be down to say hello and get a little loving. As I fed animals she still did not come around but kept meowing. Now I had to figure out what was wrong.

I would yell out “Louise” and a “Meow” would echo back. I kept yelling “Louise” as I walked through the barn. The “Meow” would get louder and then quieter. As the banter continued I began to hone in on the allusive meow.

Then I found it. The “Meow” was coming from the tack room. I opened the door and out sprang Louise. She meoooooowed and ran for the grain room and some breakfast!

We have had a hectic couple of days around here, which you will read about soon, and Katrina had accidentally locked Louise in the tack room when she was turning off the water to the stalls the night before.

All is well and Louise and I have a new game to play.

Technorati Tags: lost cat, marco polo, thelma and louise

By: Richard

Katrina and I recently expanded our animal empire by two. It all began this winter when my animal loving wife went to the barn to feed the precious little miniature donkeys. She opened one of the plastic bins we keep grain in and out jumped a barn mouse!

In her words it was more like a 10 pound rat and it went for her throat but she was able to wrestle it off only with the aid of a nearby shovel. My guess is that her screams hurt its ears so bad it ran for the field and never returned.

The Tractor Seat is Louise’s favorite spot in the barn.

Well, it makes no difference which side of the story you believe we agreed we needed to get a couple of barn cats to keep the mice population in line. After all we purchase grain to feed our animals and not the entire population of mice in Rutherford County.

With the assistance of Katrina’s sister, Valerie, we added two new little kittens to the barn. They are named Thelma and Louise.  They are terrific. Thelma is a real hunter and daily places her catch from the night before in the barn in plain site so we can’t possibly miss it. Bird feathers and mice body parts are now part of our barn decor. Although Thelma is loving and purrs as soon as she is picked up her joy in life is doing what we asked of her, hunting.

Thelma with a full stomach!

Now, Louise is a different cat. She is more of a lover than a hunter. I have yet to see her so much as bat at a fly. She prefers to sleep and be petted. When she sees Katrina or I approach the barn she starts meowing and running after us. She wants to be picked up and purrs as soon as we stop to pick her up. When we do, she just melts into our arms and purrs louder.

Even if she never catches a mouse she has a home for ever. In fact I have told Katrina I think we should swap her out for Lucile our house cat from hell. Louise would be a wonderful house cat and Lucile could use a reality check that living in the barn would deliver.

I never have to worry about the Tractor Seat being dirty, Louise keeps it neat as a pin!

Technorati Tags: barn cat, bird, mice, mouse, thelma and louise

By: Richard

Just found this on YouTube and couldn’t resist. It is just too good. Now, if we can just get one of the miniature donkeys to strut to a Four Seasons or Beatles song we might be able to retire! I’m headed to the barn with my boom box now!! Where is Macy Lee? She has attitude.

Technorati Tags: bird, miniature donkey, ray charles

By: Katrina

A Xoloitzcuintlil, or Xolo for short (pronounced Sho-Lo) is a hairless breed of dog from Mexico. I really love interesting breeds of horses, dogs, etc; and this is pretty unique.

The breed comes in three sizes: the Miniature, Intermediate and Standard. The one in the photo is a Miniature, Karmen, shown by my mother, Barbara Hamilton. Karman is a World Champion and has Championships in 11 different countries.

History

The Xolo is native to Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Archaeological evidence shows that the breed existed in the New World for more than 3,500 years. Their value in ancient native cultures is evidenced by their frequent appearance in the art and artifacts produced by the Colima, Aztec and Toltec civilizations in Mexico.

Xolos were considered sacred dogs by the Aztecs because they believed the dogs were needed by their masters’ souls to help them safely through the underworld. The Aztecs also raised the breed for their meat. 16th Century Spanish accounts tell of large numbers of dogs being served at banquets.

When Columbus arrived in the Caribbean in 1492 his journal entries noted the presence of strange hairless dogs. Subsequently, Xolos were transported back to Europe.

Xolos were among the first breeds recorded by the American Kennel Club. The first AKC registered Xolo was in 1887. The first AKC champion was in 1940. In 1959 the Xolo was dropped from the AKC studbook due to the breed’s scarcity and perceived extinction.

As of 1/1/09, the breed has just been introduced into the Miscellaneous Group at AKC dog shows, with exhibitors working towards full AKC recognition in the near future.

Technorati Tags: AKC, American Kennel Club, Aztec, Barbara Hamilton, Mexican Hairless, Xolo, Xoloitzcuintle

  By: Richard

Our cat, Linus, has been a part of the family for many years. He has learned all of our habits and how to take advantage of them. He also, like most cats, loves milk and yogurt. In the morning while I am having breakfast it is not unusual for him to beg  for a little milk in his bowl. However, let me grab a cup of yogurt and he is an instant pest. He can be in any part of the house and as soon as I pull the cap off the cup of yogurt he comes running.

Our ritual is that I eat what I want in the cup but always make sure to leave a little around the edge of the cup and in the bottom. I place it on the floor next to me while I finish reading the paper and he cleans the cup out.

I was recently on a regular business trip out of town and stayed at one of those hotels that has a free breakfast bar. As usual, I went down to the lobby and grabbed a newspaper and a tray of food including yogurt. I found an empty table in the center of a group of similar travelers and began reading the newspaper and eating my food. That is one of my morning habits, read the newspaper and eat breakfast. I don’t make small talk, just catch up on the news and enjoy my food.

When I finished the cup of yogurt, you guessed it, I never looked up from the paper; I just reached down and sat my nearly empty cup of yogurt on the hotel lobby floor next to me! I never gave it a second thought, Linus would soon be licking the inside and I would hear the usual sound of the plastic cup scooting across the tile floor.

But wait there’s more! I was not at home! The floor was not tile and most of all, there was no Linus! I quickly reached down, picked up the cup and put it back on the table. I never looked around to see who was watching. I was too embarrassed. However, I did sense a slight quieting of conversations in the room.

I guess I am beginning to a feel a little too much at home at that hotel. I may need to start staying somewhere else.

Technorati Tags: cat, embarrassed, hotel, linus, yogurt

We are very excited about some wonderful Babies we have planned for 2009:

Due in Late April:

Sire: Springlake Razmataz

Dam: Cobra’s Angel

Pedigree is listed here.

Due in Mid- May.

Sire: Springlake Razmataz

Dam: Cobra’s Rose Petal

Pedigree listed here.

Due in Late August

Sire: Springlake Razmataz

Dam:  Cobra’s Anastasia

By: Katrina

Thanksgiving is a Special time for all of us to reflect and realize how thankful we are for all of the wonderful things in our lives. Economically times are tough! We may have to tighten up our belts a bit, but as Americans we have so much to be thankful for.

When you sit down at the dinner table tomorrow on this glorious day, remember as Americans the freedoms we have the ability to speak our beliefs, vote for our favored political candidates, follow the teachings of our religion, pursue an occupation of our choosing, and enjoy our hobbies.

Be thankful this day for your health, having food to nourish your bodies and your family. Be thankful this day for our troops who put their lives on the line so that we can all be free.

My occupation is a banker and you can imagine I see negative economic news every day. But I am very optimistic that this will be an event of the past just like other downturns we have experienced.

Enjoy this wonderful Thanksgiving and remember we live in the greatest country in the world, and don’t forget to hug your precious donkey.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Technorati Tags: Thanksgiving

 If she can’t eat, you can’t sleep!

If you are a regular reader you have already heard of Lucille. If not, she is Katrina’s cat; not our car; KATRINA’S cat. She will have little to do with me and often looks at me with great disgust and wonders why Katrina lets me stay in the house. If Lucille was a human I am convinced she could be a serial killer. She is the only bi-polar cat I have ever seen.

One minute she is sweet and gentle (to Katrina, not me) and the next she is a witch! She is at her most extreme when her food bowl is getting low on food.

Our two cats, Lucille and Linus, are used to having a bowl with food in it at all times. This makes it easy for them and simplifies our lives when we can’t be at home for their regular feeding time. For the most part they will graze on the bowl all day long and eat just a little at any one sitting. However, Lucille has one terrible flaw.

She is very controlling and can’t stand it when her food bowl begins to get low. The cats eat out of one of those clear plastic jugs that is filled with food and inverted over a feed bowl. As they eat the food falls down into the bowl ensuring they always have food. When Lucille sees that the food is getting low in the jug she goes into her “Aren’t I Cute and Loving” mode. She will begin to purr and rub up against Katrina, she will seek out attention. This is the only time she will do it. If she is loving, the food is getting low.

Katrina loves to milk this for all it is worth. She enjoys having Lucille pay her attention. The rub is, if you don’t fill her food bowl before you go to bed she gets even.

Last night was one of those times. I needed to get up at 5:00 a.m. to catch a flight to California for work and really needed a good nights sleep. Katrina forgot to give Lucille food so she let us get to sleep and then it began.

Every time this happens, Lucille let’s us get deep into a sleep and then begins to run around the bedroom making as much noise as possible. She sticks her claws out and walks on the carpet; it sounds like she is scratching her claws on a tree next to your head. Then she bounces over to the small metal blinds on the glass doors out to the deck and begins to hit them with her paws. The sound is like a xylophone being played by a 2 year old. If that doesn’t work she will scamper across the bed on the pillows directly above our heads stopping at the night stand to knock off what ever she can find.

Last night she was playing piano on the door blinds; I looked up from my pillow and reached for a shoe to throw at her; I looked her straight in the eyes and I could read what she was thinking. If she could talk she said, “You see me you lazy oaf, get up and get me some food.” With that said she scampered off before I could reach a shoe. The concert of annoyance continued all night.

When we could take no more Katrina got up, went to the garage and brought in a full jug of food for the little control freak. At that point it was time to get up anyway.

We showered, dressed and headed out the door. As we looked back Lucille was sound asleep on the bed, her tummy full. She won again.

Technorati Tags: animals, cat, cat food, Lucile