My "mool"

12 years ago

Here is a picture of me and my mule, Sabrina. Three years ago I started taking care of some neglected donkeys. I tried to buy four of them, but the owner wouldn't sell them. I was really heart broken, because I had become very attached to them and they had become dependent on me. "On the rebound", I found and bought three other donkeys. I was very taken by how different donkeys are than other equines. They are much more "personable". They love attention...even more than horses I've had that liked attention. In finding out more about donkeys, I became interested in mules. I really wanted to breed one of my mares but my donkeys have no interest in mares, plus it would be years before I could ride...and at my age...I am running out of years. One of my FB friends found this mule and went to see her and rode her. She told me about her and I went to see her. I didn't ride her....she had already been unsaddled but I was "smitten". She is only three years old and really, that is too young to ride a mule, and I didn't like the way the guy handled horses that owned her. (He had only had her for less than a month.) So, I broke all my rules for buying a horse (or mule) and bought her. What was I thinking?? Oh, probably thinking I was 30 years old, instead of 67 and could train her my way. It's okay, because I still think that. She has been a joy so far. I have hauled her twice to events, just for experience for her. One of the places has an obstacle course for horses or mules and she did excellent. Went on the teeter totter (like a see saw), walked on tarps, crossed bridges, etc.

My hair is messed up, but you can see by my smile that I am so happy.

And then....about three years ago, someone told me a sad sob story about a quarter horse mare. She wanted to buy her to save her from a terrible home. I loaned her the money. I said you don't have to pay me back all at once, but you must pay me back....even if it is only $20 a month.

Surprise, surprise. She never paid me one nickel on her. And she quit coming around. When she finally did come over again, she said she was moving to Virginia and going to sell the mare. I said, "You can't sell her....she is mine." So, she agreed to give me the mare. It wasn't a wonderful thing...the mare bucks like a rodeo bronc, so I can't ride her. The only thing she is good for is as a broodmare and I didn't really want to raise a foal, but I have no use for her, and if she was sold, she would most likely end up slaughtered.

But, when I got the mare's papers, I was more enthused. Her pedigree is first class. She the daughter of a horse who was never shown, due to an injury but colts have won over $10 million at cutting and his sire's colts have won over $25 million cutting. Good cutting horses all over her pedigree.

So I am going to breed her to a jack. There is a mammoth jack only five miles from me, but I have champagne tastes on a Pepsi budget, so I may breed her to a jack in Oklahoma, who has won more shows (in all events) than just about any other in the country. She would be bred by artificial insemination, if I breed her to him. I have to have her to the vet and have her checked over and get her in better condition. She has been fed once a day, but not on good pasture or really very well taken care of.

This is her picture. Her name is Badger's Nightlight.
(I call her Hell B tch, after the gray mare in Lonesome Dove that liked to buck...but she is easy to handle for everything but riding.)

I haven't brought her home yet, but she will look better once I start taking care of her.

This is the local jack that I might breed her to, if I run out of funds for the one in Oklahoma.

And here is a picture of Badger Starlight, the gray mare's sire.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (32)

auntyara
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Oh so pretty, All of you! I love to look at horses, There is a barn across the street with 5 or 6 of them. I know from watching my neighbors that they are a lot of work. A true labor of love I'm sure. Good luck with the 'breeding'.
Laura
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I love all of them! That mare is absolutely beautiful. So is your mool LOL.
And I must say you look fabulous too!
You just stay so busy it amazes me. All the animals are so lucky to have you to love them and care for them.

Our garden club was at Furrs for lunch yesterday and through the window we spot this itty bitty kitty with a broken leg out in the parking lot! It was running around trying to find food and holding up that leg. We all were about to start crying so a group of the gals went out to try to catch it so one of us could take care of it and get it to the vet. Well that little 3 legged cat could run! We had probably 15 people that joined in the hunt but no way could we catch it.
I thought of you of course!!
One of the ladies that does a lot of catching of ferals said she was going to call and get a trap and see if they could catch it.
I sure hope someone does I think it is going to be short lived in that parking lot.
Related Discussions
Miele MW/convection question:
Q
Comments (30)
OK, I think I have some answers. I did call Miele and after several irritating conversations and several call-backs (though all in one day, to their credit), I finally reached a seemingly fairly-knowledgeable "parts specialist" named Theodore: 800-843-7231. He has an extension I wrote down elsewhere if someone needs it.... Bottom line, according to Mr Theodore: When Miele redesigned their machines recently, they redesigned the metal racks. Whether due to chemical or physical changes, he could not say but the upshot is the new racks for the 8042 and 4042 machines (Super and non-Super chef respectively) *can no longer be used in MW-only mode*. There evidently never was a 4040 machine, analog to the 8040 - that is, there ever only was an older SuperChef wire rack to be had, not Chef. However, the old wire racks from the 8040 are interchangeable in all newer machines (8042 and 4042). Mr T offered to send me one, which seemed mighty decent of him. Asked why the metal racks are kosher on MW/combi but not on MW alone, he said .... darn it all; I'm forgetting his answer. We all know the claim is that [using the old rack for] MW/combi is fine while for full-MW it is not; that MW is at 40% in combi mode vs 100% in full-MW mode. But as to why it should matter, I went round and round with him on this so much I can't remember his claim now -- I believe he said the internal configuration of the magnetron had changed such that the MW reflected differently now? I don't know what a magnetron is and asked him to explain but he deflected that question. But he stated that things like foil and metal containers still could not be used in MW-only mode. Why the rack could be but these accoutrements could not still wasn't enormously clear; just was, I guess. That is, the foil and pans would arc, harming the machine, though the old racks would not. Bottom line is that clearly either the alloy or physical configuration of the old rack (only) renders it permeable or reflective to the MW's. Mr T also noted that if you use the (old) metal rack in MW-only mode it is subject to heat-transfer from what you are heating so to be very careful. Other useful info: > do not set a vessel on the bottom of the interior when MW'ing - won't harm the machine, but MWs won't reach the material for heating b/c they need to bounce and on the bottom of the cavity the reaching MW's won't be bouncing. > Do not set cold glass plate in hot oven; tempering insufficient to overcome that sort of shock. > Careful of slamming door on glass plate! (a poster here noted this $175 mistake already). >>>I wish I had taken notes. He did invite a call back. And he and several others suggested they have a hotline for questions about how to use the oven, either technically or gastronomically. I was rather astonished to be scolded by not one but three people, at rather great length - argued with, defended against, denied - that their manual is *TERRIBLE*. I couldn't believe it, over and over first one then another said "whenever I need information I go straight to the manual...." and offered to help me find the info, etc. In fact I have tried to find various and sundry information in the manual several times to no avail; they were completely unwilling to hear from me that in my experience the manual was functionally useless. I presumed mine was a fairly conventional view; I just presumed as people dealing with both the manual and others trying to, that they must field dozens of complaining calls regarding it every day. Instead they defended the thing, saying they sold the appliance in 70 countries and so couldn't generate a functional manual for them all (why not? But I don't believe they have one for even the motherland, personally). It was so bizarre -- why not just file the complaint in the circular file; why *argue* against it? Especially when it's so patently obviously true. IMHO. Anyway, as it seems Miele has never heard the complaint that the manual for these ovens is problematic, and as several have complained here about it, I invite you in your copious spare time to phone Miele and register a complaint. They won't fix the problem until they hear there is one. I cannot believe how many seemed to feel this was a seminal reference manual. I think the users guide to my $5 wrist watch is better (and it's clearly written by someone whose native language is not even Germanic). HTH
...See More
Grrrr... Fault code on my E'lux induction range during self clean
Q
Comments (24)
A suggestion for people who have had confirmed overheating problems, and perhaps for those who are running self-clean for the first time and want to avoid potential trouble -- When running self-clean, aim a portable desk fan at the unit. If it's a free-standing range with control panel on top, set the fan on a chair or stool and direct the airflow toward the controls and such that some air blows down behind it as well. If a wall oven, try to determine where is the intake grill and direct the fan there rather than at the unit's exhaust flow. The point is to get some additional cooling happening. Sure, this shouldn't be necessary, but it's a small concession to make for the convenience of self-clean. I've run self-clean on my GE Profile range several times to no ill effect. I typically set it to run at night so it's finished in the morn and thus had not monitored how much heat is involved. Last time I ran it during the day and found that the control panel did get quite hot. There is no cooling fan on my range, and although no problems had occurred as a result of previous runs, this time when I noticed the heat buildup, I set a small deskfan blowing at the panel and it cooled noticeably within a few mins.
...See More
hood for induction range
Q
Comments (13)
Yes, I understand you can put in downdraft ventilation, but it's gonna be pretty far from where it needs to be. Thinking about the downdraft system you're considering, the concern I have is that it will be farthest from the larger two hobs (at least, on the E'lux range). That puts your suction source about 17" away from the center of these hobs. Hard to see how that positioning will be very effective. I guess it would help to add downdraft ventilation units on both sides of the range as well, but I'm guessing you weren't considering that. CFM is important, but catchment area and the placement of ventilation in relation to the (large) hobs that need the most venting is also very important, and will affect the CFM you need. I ended up with a Broan hood, about 600 cfm; its adequate. There are full upper cabinets to either side of the range, and small doors above the hood. Your peninsula will be much more open and "windy". You can find island hoods that raise and lower as needed, but venting from these open locations tends to be more expensive.
...See More
Comments on Broan E6430SS range hood?
Q
Comments (29)
Now that I'm back home, I think its a miracle I've never burned myself on that lamp -- but so far, I haven't. The rocker switch is directly in front of the knob that varies fan speed. The right side lamp is about 2" to the right of them. Somehow, just far enough away to miss. As you can see from robj's second photo, there is a small concave capture area underneath the hood where the baffles are canted at an angle. Its adequate. Sure helps to turn the hood on before smoke appears. Depending on your cooktop burner layout (and cook's height), it could help to set this hood forward a couple inches. We have 7" diameter round ducts (I'm sure there's a good reason for this, but no idea what that was). A gradual 90 degree bend to the right, then a straight shot 6 ft. out the wall. Tried running on highest speed with the baffles in and out -- perhaps a tad quieter with baffles removed, but not enough of a difference to notice, I'd say. To whine once more about those lamps: Its a trivial thing, but they symbolize how little pressure Broan must have felt from competing products, to not upgrade those ridiculous lamps to a more usable screw-in style (like a PAR20). This is not so much Broan's fault as a sign of scant incentive to improve products in a backwater industry.
...See More
kayjones
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
What a wonderful service you do, Marilyn - thank you!
sleeperblues
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I'm not a country gal, so I have no idea what cutting and jacks are, but I love your stories. You have a beautiful, infectious smile and I can tell that you love being with animals. Thank you for sharing your love.
lydia1959
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Thanks for the pictures and the stories Marilyn... always so interesting! Good luck with the breeding!

Hope someone can catch the kitten Raven. The poor little thing must be in pain.
PattiG(rose)
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Marilyn, I love the stories you share about your animals. I hope all goes well with the breeding.
chisue
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Marilyn, you are a beautiful lady -- inside and out!

One of our charities is the Hooved Animal Humane Society here in Illinois. It's one of only two places we support that do not provide basic *human* needs for food, shelter and medical care.
jeaninwa
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
You have an amazing smile!

One question...may be a dumb one, but I thought mules were sterile?
glenda_al
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
They are blessed to have you as their owner!

Thanks for sharing!
arkansas girl
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
jeaninwa, the mare she wants to breed is not a mule, she's a horse(the gray one). The picture of the "Jack" looks like a donkey to me and not a mule right?. Breeding a horse(mare) and a donkey(jack), if I remember correctly, produces a mule.
socks
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Well, aren't you adorable, to say nothing of your wonderful animals! Very interesting!

Years ago we rode mules down into the Grand Canyon, and it was a great and memorable experience. The wranglers said horses weren't suitable for the steep, narrow trails. Maybe Sabrina the best riding choice for someone 67 years old (my age as well, no offense). Certainly safer than Hell-B, right? I

Thank you so much for sharing your interesting life. Keep us posted, everyone here loves to hear about animals. Good luck with the breeding program, too.
minnie_tx
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Bless you. good to swee you againn and you are a beautiful lady too
patti43
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I agree with the ladies above. You get younger looking and prettier every year! Your gray horse reminded me that every year when we made our "bets" on the Derby, Harry would look for a gray horse. He would've loved that one!
Jasdip
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Marilyn, you are fantastic-looking! You get better looking each year. Love your short wavy hair.

You are always looking for new animals, and new things to do with your animals. You are truly an 'animal whisperer'.

Hugs to you
sylviatexas1
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Yes, Marilyn once explained that mules are sterile, so if you want another mule, you have to find a horse & a donkey & let them do what comes naturally.

can't remember if she said there's a difference if it's a jack donkey & a mare or if it's a stallion & a...don't know what you call a female donkey.
clubm
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Beautiful animals!!! I love the ears on the donkey...lol. Thank you
for taking such good care of all these animals. You look wonderful.
marilyn_c
Original Author
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Raven, so sad about the little kitten. I hope someone catches it. I wouldn't doubt that it broke it's leg when someone tossed it out of a car, onto the pavement. So many cruel people....but so many kind ones, and I am glad someone is going to try to help it.
marilyn_c
Original Author
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Mare to jack = mule and stallion to jenny = hinny. Hinnies look more like horses....shorter ears. They aren't as common as mules because jennies are often too small to carry a foal sired by a stallion.
pudgeder
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Just love 'em!
bengardening
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
TY Marilyn for telling us about your new animals. Just the other day I was thinking about the interesting stories you told about your animals. You have a really nice way to tell a story.
Georgysmom
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Loved the pictures. You can see by the smile on your face how happy you are with animals.
jae_tn2
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
You know I'm a fan! Love the story and the pictures!
sjerin
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Beautiful, all! I've learned something new today. :) I hope the breeding goes well and you end up with a fine mule. Hey Marilyn, how's the little "truck" kitty doing?

Raven, while waiting for someone to catch the little kitten, can someone leave some food and water out for it? Poor little thing.
jemdandy
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
If i got my facts right, mules as a rule live longer than horses. When I was a youngster, we had a neighbor who had a pair of mules that were 20 yrs old and he was still farming with them.
marilyn_c
Original Author
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Yes, mules do tend to live longer than horses. Two of my horses are in their 30's though. My husband says we are just trying to out live them. I have already made arrangements for Sabrina and my donkeys and future mule(s), after my demise.

The little "truck" kitten, Favio, is doing fine. I call him "Fav"....my husband calls him "Fob". I need to take a recent picture of him. I am amazed every time I look under the back seat of the truck...how he managed to get out of there, get between the cab and the bed, and get back in. I haven't been able to get my husband to crawl under the truck to see where he was. I don't think it isn't that he doesn't believe me....but maybe he doesn't. I swear it is the truth. I am as puzzled about it as anyone, but my neighbor was there and he knows the kitten was under there. I had a hold of his paw with two fingers. I still look under the seat trying to figure out how he got into there, and there is no opening. Or how he got back. I guess it is just one of life's mysteries. He is an especially loving little kitten....not so little now...7 months old. Another one of my animals that is very special to me.
lindaohnowga
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Oh there you are, beautiful as ever. I had just posted to your other post asking to see the picture with "you" in it. If I could have one wish, it would be to spend one day with you and all of the animals. I get attached to your animals just by seeing their pictures. I cried over PiggySue and still think of her often. Prayed for little Fav to make it. Mool is gorgeous. Don't ever change Marilyn.
Sue_va
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
What a treat to see this post about "Mool." Your smile in the picture says it all.

Have always enjoyed your posts about the animals, and for some reason recently something reminded me about Piggy Sue.

I also am curious about the house you were working on. Any news about that?

Sue
jannie
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
It's so wonderful to hear about your animals, Marilyn. Keep on doing what you're doing! I hope someone is able to catch that injured kitten!
dedtired
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Once again I am completely surprised by the appearance of one of our members. No one ever looks like I imagine.

Nice "mool", Marilyn. Bless you for taking care of these animals. I;d never have the patience.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
oh yes we did put out some food from our tables at the restaurant and a little cup of water.
The gals went over and talked to the car dealership next door that shares the parking lot and they said they have been putting out food and water for it too and trying to catch it. It is tiny but very fast and with so many cars to dart under it is a near impossibility.
Toni one of our ladies actually sat on the ground beside the car it was under and was throwing it bits of food to try to entice it out. It ate the food but would not leave the car.

Marilyn the little kitten in the parking lot made me think of Favio too! And I was wondering what he was like now that he is a lot bigger. Maybe you can snap a picture of him for us.
I just showed these pics to my husband and he said Marilyn looks like she is getting younger LOL I agree!
wanda_va
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I love your stories and your animals. You are a truly special person! The picture of you is wonderful (and your teeth are beautiful)!
yayagal
12 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I love this whole thread. You're an amazing person and gorgeous too. There aren't enough people in the world that have the heart for animals that you have. Kudos to you, your animals are the lucky ones.

My "mool"

Comments (32)

auntyara

ravencajun Zone 8b TX

Related Discussions

kayjones

sleeperblues

lydia1959

PattiG(rose)

chisue

jeaninwa

glenda_al

arkansas girl

socks

minnie_tx

patti43

Jasdip

sylviatexas1

clubm

marilyn_c
Original Author

marilyn_c
Original Author

pudgeder

bengardening

Georgysmom

jae_tn2

sjerin

jemdandy

marilyn_c
Original Author

lindaohnowga

Sue_va

jannie

dedtired

ravencajun Zone 8b TX

wanda_va

yayagal

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

My "mool"

Comments (32)

Related Discussions

marilyn_cOriginal Author

marilyn_cOriginal Author

marilyn_cOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

marilyn_c
Original Author

marilyn_c
Original Author

marilyn_c
Original Author