Pictures!!! Hurray!!!!

Thanks, Ron, for getting the pictures available to the computer. Ron not only is my computer hero guy, but also works daily at the Thrift Store. He and Helen have made the Store a real success.
Jonathan had one last bridge stand before Jim finished the fence, keeping us in and longears out. Now maybe I can start a garden and have some hope of it growing.

Maggie B has been most unhappy with the new fence and gate that keeps her from the breezeway and deck. She keeps pushing the gate and tonight managed to open it. She had a short clip clop and then was ousted again.

Meet my three birthday mules. This is Toby. He loves the horses and will eat with anyone. No one seems to mind when he joins them for a nibble. He's a pretty dun with lots of stripes. Isn't Tango a cutie? She and the other two are settling in nicely. She is a grulla with lots of stripes, too.

This is Tawny our beautiful curly mule. She whinnies a hello now when the tractor approaches. She and Tango are always side by side.Yesterday our friends and volunteers came for an Easter bar-b-que. What a great time we had. Everyone got to meet the critters and the critters got treats. Did I get pictures? No, of course not. I was too busy having a good time.

Please, check the FaceBook page and website for Home At Last Thrift and Gift. Donations for the store and volunteers are still needed.

The vet will be out next week to give vaccinations. We can use help paying for the vet bill. Thank you.

Country Life

Country life is great. Not only do you have the beautiful views, the space and the animals, but you have neighbors who have the same interests as you. Yesterday as we were on the way to Chico to get a small load of hay ( the driveway needed one more sunny day before moving the trailer) and grocery shop we got a phone call. Love those cell phones!!! "Are you missing a black bull with horns?" No. Why, do you have one? "Yes, it's on my front porch looking in the window and wants to come in." Not ours, but try Mr. So & So. Sure enough a rancher who puts his cattle near us in the Spring was missing a bull. By afternoon Mr. Bull had been returned to the herd. I bet in the city no one would have called to try to locate the proper owner of a wandering bovine.
Last night the dogs would not stop barking because Maggie B the mini mule has now claimed the breezeway and back deck as hers. She demands food all the time and clip clops to the back sliding door to make sure we know she is there. After tossing aside the chairs we put on the breezeway to deter her- seven times- Jim finally built a temporary rope gateway to keep her out. Of course, that means we can't get out that way either, and feeding this morning will take longer, but at least peace reigned for the night time.
Sugar the mini hinny has now decided people are good things. She lets us pet her all the time. It took her over 4 years to become accustom to us. Posey still won't let us near her.
Toby, Tango and Tawny are adjusting well to their new herd. They trot up to the fence when the tractor arrives and eat with various horses. Juan had had enough of confinement and yesterday he came out to rejoin the Backyard Bunch. There are 11 critters- 4donkeys, 2 mules, 1 mini mule, 2 mini hinnies, 1 pony and 1 miniature horse- who roam the back yard at liberty. Jim needs to finish the fencing so we have some "people space." It should be interesting at the bar-b-que Sunday.
Sparkle, Ruby, Babe and Lacey continue their barn life. They are getting lots of extra groceries without having to compete with anyone else. We are very concerned about Babe. She is on our watch list. She has not been able to regain her weight after having the strangles last year. She is an old Pony of the Americas.
Patches has been darting out the door whenever he gets a chance. He is unwise to the ways of our cat killing dogs and we have to watch him all the time. Actually, our dogs don't kill all cats, just the ones who annoy them. Our four barn cats are safe as is Honey. I think Patches would annoy them, so he must stay in. He will be in kitty jail when we have folks who come in and out and don't know his wily ways.
Thank you Lin C and Dana D for your donations. Home At Last always needs your kind and generous support.

3 Birthday Presents

Some people are just extra lucky and today it was my turn. Two years ago beautiful Harmony the Arabian mare arrived for my birthday. Last year it was Jonathan donkey and lovely Moon Dancer. Today Tango, Toby and Tawny mules arrived!!!! They are so special. HorsePlus had rescued them from Lassen County and they have been mistreated. They are spooky and do not like people very much.
I took lots of pictures so soon you will be able to see them. Toby is a dun mule with tiger stripes on his legs. Tango is a brown molly mule and Tawny is a curly molly mule.
The previous owner had not been kind to them, and tomorrow I will call Lassen County to see if I can get more information on them.
They are in with the upper herd. They received quite a welcome when they came. Juan ran into the turnout to get better acquainted. Sparkle and Ruby waited at the gate as they arrived. Most of the horses chose to ignore them after a bit, but Marnie was fascinated. He wanted to visit and get to know them. Hopefully, they will settle down tonight and have a peaceful day tomorrow.
HorsePlus Humane Society and Home At Last work closely together to try to give unadoptable equines a safe forever place to live. Thanks, Tawnee, for bringing my presents. (Can hardly wait until next year. Maybe I'll get 4 somethings).
Jim spent the day building fences. We are going to close in the front so there will be some hope of a garden. I know most folks would pen in the animals, but we love to have them roaming around. Besides, the thin ones can eat all day without being bothered by anyone.
My day was more mundane- laundry, dishes, housework and of course, feeding and watering.
Need to order Ivermectin dewormer. Anyone have any extra they'd like to send to us? We use a lot. POBox 4129 Yankee Hill CA 95965
Supposed to rain again tomorrow. Larry from Wilson's Worms hasn't been able to get his truck and trailer in yet. Tawnee got stuck and Jim and CoralBelle the tractor pulled her out.
Hope all of you had a pleasant day. Thank you for your kindnesses and support.

Rain? Flies? Mud? We've Got It All

It rained- really rained last night and today. Now our flies are nice and clean. Today Bucky was a mule. He is so very cute when he acts like other critters. Thank you to Lisa A, Ruth C and Eileen G for your very generous donations. With great folks like you Home At Last can care for the many horses, donkeys and mules who live here. We were gone for a few days earlier in the month and found out how very much we love our home and ranch. We had a great time but really missed being home. How wonderful to feed and water every morning and evening and to be greeted by the animals who are really glad to see us. Of course, they are happy to see the food, but the nickers are still heart-warming. When Frankie decided to do his Oh Boy It's Feeding Time dance and Moon sidestepped his antics it started the day with a laugh. When Jet stands apart from the herd knowing full well she will get fed it makes your heart happy. When Tiger Lily follows the tractor along, then stops where she wants to eat, you know they trust you to take care of them. When little Cricket weaves in and out of the herd looking for a pile of her own it makes us feel good knowing there will be enough food for all of them. I turned 67 a week ago and I have never been happier or healthier. We don't have much money, no fancy clothes nor cars, but we have everything our hearts could want. Sparkle and Ruby have become quite demanding at feeding time. GRAIN and more GRAIN, please. Then the rest show up and there is squealing and slurping . Jonathan waits aways off so he can eat in peace. Keep those donations coming. We still owe the vet lots and vaccination time is coming. Shoppers, come on by the Thrift Shop. I know you'll find good things to buy. Next Sunday is Easter so the Sanctuary will be closed to visitors and volunteers.

Sunday April 17 2011

Thank you, Marla, for the truckload of hay. The critters are enjoying it. Ruby and Sparkle are still out nibbling lots of food. Babe and Lacey and Bobbie were out, too. We are going to give them extra food as they are still thin. Went to Chico State's musical program last night and heard some beautiful singing. Then we went downtown for an after show snack. Chico's mounted police were patrolling on their beautiful black Shires. They had reflective tape on their legs and it looked so neat to see them marching along. Tomorrow we are going to start building people fences. We have decided it is easier to keep us in than the donkeys. Yesterday Jonathan rubbed on the propane tank wires and created a gas leak. Jim had to hussle to get the leak fixed. Oh, you donkeys are quite the rascals. Was warm today with a heavy downpour tonight. Larry from Wilson's Worms was supposed to come tomorrow and remove some manure. Don't know how the roads will be. Bucky the club-footed pony has many costumes. Sometimes he is a Thoroughbred. Sometimes a donkey. Once in a while he is a mule and occasionally he is a calf. He picks out who he wants to copy, then follows them around, trying to act like them. Today he was a mini mule. He thought he and Maggie were twins. Been carrying the camera, but forgetting to take pictures. Once I figure out how to get pictures on to the computer I'll get better about getting them to you. Eileen G has been wonderful about sending boxes of goodies for the Thrift Store. So has Deb B. Thank you so much. Thank you, also, to all those who have sent in their donations. Need to get 65 tubes of dewormer and the vet will be here soon to give innoculations. 20 shots were donated by the Unwanted Horse Coalation, but we need to buy 40 more. Any help is appreciated. You can use PayPal or mail your donation to Home At Last Sanctuary P O Box 4129 Yankee Hill CA 95965. All donations go directly to horse care and feed. Thank you.

Friday Friday

The new computer LE (Long Ears) and I are beginning to understand one another. Can't do pictures yet. Volunteers came today and helped bathe Sparkle and Ruby. They were covered with mud and muck. They looked good when we quit and they stayed out in the yard in hopes they won't roll in the mud tonight. Tomorrow we load up for Tractor Supply Company in Oroville for a Meet Sparkle Day. Tractor Supply has been very suppportive of Home At Last and we love visiting them. Sugar the hinny has now become a real lover!! It seems as though when we let them out in the yard with us the critters view us differently. Both Sugar and Jessie had been reluctant to have human contact while they were in their turn-outs, but once they got to see us while they were free we became less threatening. Even old Jonathan let me scratch his back yesterday. Posey and Bucky have not crossed the threshold to friendliness yet, however. They remain suspicious. Thank you to everyone who has been so kind with birthday greetings and general well wishes. Had a great visit in Colorado but missed the animals and we were really happy to get home. Laura stayed at the ranch and with the help of her friend Sue everyone was well cared for. Thank you, ladies. The weather remains weird- warm, sprinkly, cool. The flies are hatching, but so far the Spaulding Fly Predators are doing a good job. We are going to start fence building next week, so we can have a donkey-free garden. Right now I have NO plants. The donkeys have pruned everything to the ground. The frogs are singing and it's time to quit, so welcome back to Home At Last.

Hi Everyone

We'll see if I can get this posted. Thanks to Cathy S and Ron for getting me back in the cyberworld, sort of.