Thanksgiving morning, I walked out to find Alan and George munching on cholla cactus. I was horrified.
This stuff is positively evil, yet there they were, chewing the spiny branches like it was some delicacy.
Finished with the appetizer, they moved on to the main course – some sharp-leaved bush I've yet to identify.
Short of keeping them penned up, there's nothing I can do to stop them from eating whatever they find out on the range. I've got to think they know what's best for themselves. But that doesn't mean I have to like it.
It's just so darned hard to stay mad at them.
Oh holy crap, that cholla is evil. The "jumping" cactus. UGH!!!!! Hate it. We've got it here in CA all over the place too. It is pretty, I have to admit. If you like that kind of thing. I think my heart would've stopped if I were there and saw those two munching away. scary stuff!!!!
ReplyDeleteYikes! I hope they don't have any spikeys in their tonques!!?
ReplyDeleteThey are sure handsome boys! It's hard to stay mad at such cute faces, isn't it? I have the same problem with My Boy. I just can't resist him when he gives me that "look!" ;)
Dang! That reminds me of when I was a kid and we raised dairy goats. When they got loose they would eat my moms rose bushes, thorns and all. Don't know how they do it!
ReplyDeleteOne more thing: I LOVE your new snowy header!!
ReplyDeleteI love the new header, too!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'd have much luck in trying to stay mad at those two snuggly-wuggly little guys.
I'll bet they know how good they have it! :0)
Have a great week.
Oh but they are so darned cute. You can't stay mad at them.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Eeyore LOVE thistles? :)
ReplyDeleteI am not sure what compels the donkeys to snack on so many different things, but Rafer and Redford do it too. Not that we have cacti here, but they seem to delight in finding new and unusual treats.
And they eat while gazing at me with those little donkey eyes, so like you say, there is no scolding to be done.
Our horses loved to chow down of the very thorny rose bushes that were planted along the barn. These tasty morsels could be reached right through their windows. I've never seen thornier bushes so I don't know how they could stand it. They were removed last spring and replanted.
ReplyDeleteIf you didn't have the pictures showing them eating the cactus it would be hard to believe, just look at those innocent faces.
They're a very resourceful duo, aren't they? It's amazing that they can finesse their way around the thorns for a tasty nibble.
ReplyDeleteThey're lookin' a little hang-dog in the last photo. Did you just scold them?
Wow, Cactus? How do they keep from having pickers stuck to their noses and mouth and gums and tongues and, and, I guess they know what they are doing.
ReplyDeleteThey sure are cute! :-)
I'm guessing that since we're several days past Thanksgiving that those sweet boys are ok? I love the pictures, especially when I enlarge them.
ReplyDeleteYour header is beautiful ... was that actually taken at your place or did you do some photo-shop stuff? Being as I am always amazed at your weather, guess that's why I ask such stupid questions. LOL
Five days post-cactus brunch and all's well. The cattle out here feast on the cholla all the time, so I guess I wasn't totally surprised to see George and Alan chowing down on it. Still... I am being EXTRA careful when I kiss them on their noses.
ReplyDeleteThe photo in the new header was taken a few Decembers ago...from my bedroom window. What a wimp I am. The scene reminded me of one of those snow globes you shake.
Like every other New Mexico weather event, it was big, but short-lived. Rarely does the snow stay around for more than a day or two, thank heavens.
The awful bush your donks like to have as a main course is called Agarita. We have them here in Texas too. The flowers smell wonderful, but that's all that is wonderful about them. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/31559/
ReplyDeleteMy horse used to go out of his way to snap thistle flowers off the plant as we would ride. I thought maybe it was just him. I've never heard of anyone else's equine's doing something similar.
CeeCee! Thank you so much for identifying that shrub. It's not the prettiest thing on the planet, but at least it's not poisonous. BTW, both my horses love to eat thistle, and they don't stop at just the pretty flowers.
ReplyDeleteYo Linda - Come get an award over at my place!
ReplyDeleteI agree, great header. Cholla are wicked, but I guess these little guys know what they're doing.
ReplyDeleteDan
they certainly do know what they are doing.
ReplyDeletebeautiful photography, love the buuro's.
ReplyDeleteHow can you be mad at the dudes when they look so blissful as they're munching happily away?
ReplyDeleteI've missed your posts, had internet connection stuff going on; it's good to be back!
Harmony,
Janet
I can't believe they eat cholla! That is a real talent!! Great pics as always.:)
ReplyDeleteAmazing they will eat Cholla! I've had some encounters with the Cholla in my yard and I just can't imagine eating it but the Javalina here in AZ can also eat the spiny stuff. Love your donkeys and your blog!
ReplyDeleteOK, so being from Niger and Sweden (not many chollas around here...), what exactly would happen to them when they eat cholla? Our horses are always stuffing themselves with trees of different kinds (Sahara has actually EATEN a few bushes already, she starts off with the leaves and eventually eats her wall all the way down, trunk included) but here in Niger, most things are edible.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I got my first two donkeys and I went outside one day (in Southern California) to find them chowing down all the stinging nettles in their paddock!! My donkey e-mail list friends all laughed at my shock and worry. It seems that, yes, donkeys adore spiny things, including cactus. Though I will admit I'd never heard of any taking on CHOLLA cactus! Those are two baaaad boys you've got if they can take on those things!! :-) LOL. They both have such adorable expressions. I love all donkeys, but your two really do have sweet, sweet eyes. I miss having a gelding; the boys play so much more than the girls. I have one little girl that does enjoy playing and she would love to meet your guys. She's also a little hussy and loves the boys. :-) (On a note about your post about the toys: she looks at me with disbelief when I gather up her toys to put them in one place -- how DARE I touch HER toys?? But my hubby can do no wrong in her eyes. ;-) )
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