Best. Day. Ever.

Tap tap tap...do I remember how to do this? Four days incommunicado was tough. I missed you. But it was kind of nice to break the shackles that keep my wrists attached to this keyboard, if only for an extra-long weekend. You didn't miss too much - there was a day of shopping, a day of cleaning, a day of chicken-coop building... But the best day of all? That's the one I want to share with you now.

The boys of Morning Bray Farm arrived Sunday morning.
Bernard couldn't get off the trailer fast enough for his play date. 

And look who was next...Patrick! We all wanted to make sure he had the best time ever, this being his first outing
away from Morning Bray Farm since being rescued from his life as a roping donkey.

Ellsworth was the last to unload. I think he may have sensed that fun and games were not the only items on his agenda.

Anyway, seeing six donkeys in one corral was more than any of us could stand. Hank literally was jumping for joy.
(Don't worry. He knows how to land softly and safely from his airs above the ground.)

Everybody had to show off and establish his place in the new herd.
Me: Yes, George, I do think you look tough with your slicked-back ears.
Now put them back up and play nice.

Alan and Patrick are of like size, and there was a short meeting of the minds.
Or was that a meeting of the short minds?

All the boys lined up for an audience with the queen Lucy.

Bernard: I am not worthy. Get me out of here.

Once the formalities were over, Justina and I saddled up Ellsworth and Lucy for the mane event,
while Don stayed back to babysit brush Hank. Hank can be so demanding. Sorry, Don, but thanks!  

Ellsworth took to the trail like he'd been doing this all his life. Riding in ditches, through narrow pathways between trees, alongside live cows, alongside a dead cow... the boy passed every test we gave him. And you should see him trot and lope! It was tough to take pictures of Justina, though. The glare from her smile kept overexposing the images.

She took this picture of me taking a picture of her. The smiling was contagious.

Ellsworth: Want to come over to my place next time? 
I know this great trail down by the river where we can be alone.

Meanwhile, back at the corral after the best-trail-ride-ever, 

Patrick was in his element. He got to taste his first potato chip...

and his first margarita.

He even went nose-to-nose with Smooch...

...while I was giving a lecture on hoof anatomy. Perhaps it was the tequila talking.

Wynonna got her fair share of attention. She also got her biannual vaccination. It's a three-person job, and Justina and Don were gracious enough to assist. You know who your real friends are when they help you give your pig a shot.

Then it was time to hang out in the pasture and see if we could get everybody together for a group shot.
Lucy: Dare I ask what you're doing, Justina?

Justina: Work with me here, ok? I'm trying to move everyone closer together.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end and it was time to load up the MBF boys for the trek home.

There goes Patrick, the self-loading donkey. (If his cattle-prod-wielding abusers could see him now...) 

Best. Day. Ever.