Matt Ross, our farrier, came today to trim Lulu and Fanny’s hooves, they were a bit long. The donkey’s hooves grow much faster in the summer, when they are eating fresh grass – with the rain, there is a lot of it this year. These are two sweet donkeys, Matt says they are the nicest donkeys he has ever trimmed. Fanny loves him, and snuggles up to him while he is trimming Lulu.

Matt is a good and fast worker, he was in and out in 15 minutes, and the donkeys look sharp. He says both are in great shape.

They will be here to greet and meet people on our Open House, Columbus Day Weekend. It is shaping up beautifully. Rachel Barlow will paint on Sunday, Maria’s belly dancing group is also coming Sunday, and we have a stellar poetry reading session on Saturday afternoon (the shearer is coming at 1 p.m Saturday).

Mary Kellogg’s new book ‘This Is My Life” is out, and I will read from it. Amy Herring will be reading some poetry from her new book, so will Jackie Thorne and Carol Gulley will also be reading one of her poems.

I’ll be doing many sheepherding demonstrations with Red and the incomparable Fate, and people can meet  Bud, our new Boston Terrier, riding up on the rescue van from Arkansas on September 29.

I’ll be giving a talk about the small dog experience, from Gus to Bud.

The heart of the Open House is Maria’s art show, her studio will be chock full of unique and interesting and inexpensive from nine local artists, plus herself. Our theme is “The Art Of Rural Life.”

This celebration of our lives and of the creative spark looks quite special. Hope to see some of you there, for those who can’t  make it, lots of videos and photos.