Hee Haw! A Saturday Morning Hello!

 Good Morning from the donkey field!  We often pass by this field on our way to and from places, and so many times I have wanted to stop and take pictures of these beautiful donkeys, but it always seems like we are in a hurry to get somewhere and so we never stop.  

Until this morning! We had no particular place to go, and these fellas were just standing there by the fence like they hoped we would stop and say hello!

I'm sure they were hoping I had some kind of treat for them, but sadly I was unprepared for this event.

I was just so excited that my hubby said yes to stopping and that he actually pulled off the road, and that these fellas didn't seem at all afraid of my approaching them...

It's like they were all clamoring to see who would get their first...

Even if I did have a snack for them, I probably would've been a little afraid of actually putting my hand out that close to their teeth. I wasn't even sure if I should try to pet them, so I just stayed a respectful distance and took their pictures.

They didn't seem to mind at all.

Perhaps they were just as curious about me as I was about them...

Whatever their thoughts, it was a thrilling moment for me to be able to get this close and take their pictures finally.

Here is the  AI Overview about the "behavior" of a donkey. I found this pretty interesting. Wish I'd known this before I went to visit them. Then I could've understood what they were communicating to me better! LOL.

"What is the behavior of a donkey?

Donkeys are intelligent, social animals known for their deliberate, problem-solving nature, often mistaken for stubbornness; they assess situations before reacting, possess strong memories, form deep bonds, and communicate through distinct body language like ear position and vocalizations (braying). They are naturally curious, can be playful, but also sensitive to stress, requiring patience and trust-building for positive interactions.

Key Behavioral Traits:
Deliberate Thinking:
Instead of fleeing like horses, donkeys pause to evaluate threats or new things, a survival instinct from arid, mountainous origins.
Strong Memory:
They remember people, places, and experiences, forming lasting trust or fear based on treatment.
Social & Bonding:
Deeply social, they form strong bonds (dyads) with other donkeys or humans and thrive in companionship.
Intelligence & Honesty:
They are smart learners, but their "stubbornness" often signals they find a request unclear, frightening, or against their safety.
Curiosity & Playfulness:
Donkeys can be playful, curious, and even affectionate, enjoying games and new objects.
Stress Signals:
Signs of stress include tucked tails, tense muscles, wide eyes, sweating, or pawing/rolling; they are sensitive to routine changes.
Reading Donkey Body Language:
Ears Forward: Curious, focused.
Ears Pinned Back: Agitated, annoyed, or fearful (like wanting food or feeling crowded).
Tail: Relaxed (calm) vs. swishing (irritated) vs. tucked (scared).
Eyes: Soft (relaxed) vs. showing white (fear/anxiety).
Head: High (alert/anxious) vs. low (relaxed).
Understanding "Stubbornness":
Donkeys' perceived stubbornness is actually a strong self-preservation instinct to stop, assess, and avoid danger, rather than bolting. They won't do something if they believe it's unsafe or they don't understand."

That was pretty interesting! But I also found this information even more interesting...

I asked Google "What does the donkey represent in the Bible?", and here is the AI Overview:

"In the Bible, the donkey primarily symbolizes humility, peace, service, and divine purpose, contrasting with the warhorse, most famously seen in Jesus's triumphal entry fulfilling prophecy as a king of peace, but also appearing as a vessel for God's message and a tool for the lowly to enact His will, like the speaking donkey of Balaam.

Key Symbolisms

Humility & Peace:
Unlike horses for war, donkeys represented peaceful kings and humble service, culminating in Jesus's entry into Jerusalem on a donkey to fulfill Zechariah's prophecy of a peaceful Messiah.
Service & Provision:
As beasts of burden, donkeys carried people and goods, symbolizing humble service and God's provision, used by ordinary people for daily tasks and by prophets.
Divine Purpose:
Even a simple donkey could be used to convey God's message (like Balaam's talking donkey) or carry the Messiah, showing God's ability to use the humble for His grand plans.
Redemption:
In some interpretations, the donkey's law (requiring redemption with a lamb) foreshadows Jesus, the Lamb of God, who redeems believers.
Key Biblical Examples
Balaam's Donkey (Numbers 22):
The donkey saw an angel God's messenger blocked the path and even spoke to Balaam, revealing divine truth when the prophet was blind to it, highlighting wisdom found in unexpected places.
Jesus's Triumphal Entry (Matthew 21):
Jesus chose a donkey to show He was the Messiah, a king of peace, fulfilling prophecy and demonstrating a different kind of power than worldly rulers.
Ruth & Naomi (Ruth 1):
Donkeys carried them as they journeyed, symbolizing provision and God's care for the vulnerable.

I guess I never realized just how important the role of the donkey really is!! 

I hope you enjoyed this visit with the donkeys as much as I did. Maybe next time I will be better prepared for our visit!

Here is a link to the Wikipedia information about the Donkey, if you want to know more!

This picture is of a flock of wild turkeys, who were in the field behind the donkeys. I didn't have my good camera with the zoom lens, so I couldn't get a better closeup. But that sure is a LOT of turkeys!

Last night we spent the evening having dinner with our kids at their house, which is not very far from where we live.  On our way home we drove past Lake Ida, which is just down the street from their house, so we could see what was left of the sunset. We were not disappointed!

The lake was smooth as glass, and the reflections of the sun and the trees and clouds were magnificent.

What a lovely way to finish our very pleasant evening with our "kids".  

That was after we had enjoyed a wonderful supper of Roast Pork Loin, Scalloped potatoes and broccoli and cauliflower mixed.  I forgot to take any pictures of that delicious feast that Rose had prepared. It was truly yummy!

I brought the dessert...homemade Strawberry Shortcake!  I make my shortcake the old fashioned way, which is kind of like a big sweet biscuit baked in an iron skillet.  

The recipe I used is from this cookbook, which was a wedding gift over 56 years ago:

This is the recipe my mother always used:

But I did take the "speedy shortcake" shortcut and used Jiffy Biscuit mix for the main part:

It turned out really good, and here's how it looked with the strawberries and whipped cream:

After supper we took a little walkabout their property and also had a tour of "Ben & Rose's Country Workshop", where they build so many wonderful things for their Etsy shop and also the things that they sell at local markets.  https://www.etsy.com/shop/BRCoastalRusticDecor  is a link to their Etsy shop.

And outside they are growing some vegetables!  Broccoli

Lettuce!

Strawberry plants (but not ready yet for our dessert)

All in all, it was a wonderful evening, and we are SO thankful to have our kids close by so we can enjoy these sweet times together.

Well, folks, I hope you've enjoyed this little trip around our neck of the woods. We are praying for all of you in the path of the winter storm that is to the north of us this weekend.  We will get some cold weather next week, but nothing like what you may be experiencing.  Please just stay safe and warm, and let us know how you are doing when you can.