It's official. The mule, Cyrus, is at my house and the Arabian, MiEddie, is at my neighbor's down the road.
We were really concerned about loading the mule. It took some patience (and separating him from the rest of the animals), but he finally just hopped up into the stock trailer and I shut him in. When we got him home, John did an excellent job of backing the stock trailer up to the paddock (thanks, John!). I got in with Cyrus, put the ropes on him and the halter and he just calmly walked out, through the paddock and then to the snubbing post in the middle of the paddock. Ooookay. I snubbed him up to the post (which means tying him securely and closely to the post) and left him there while I built the electric fence around the inside of the paddock. After it got the fencing done and a charge going through it, I left him loose and now he's pacing and won't come to me. I'll let him go overnight and hopefully work with him after work tomorrow. I don't like leaving the halter AND lead rope on him, but it does teach a potential harness mule NOT to step on ropes/harness. He'll be fine (I say to myself and anyone that'll listen)... I did find out that I thought he was coming three years old? No. He's just coming a little over two years old. So I feel a little better about him being such a punk. Two year old anything are punks.
It's been windy, cold and sunny all day. Pretty much all I got done was working with the mule, but that's ok.
The goats are milked and I hope to make paneer from the milk. I love paneer (a type of cheese) with garam masala (a combination of spices). Yes, I consider myself a closet vegetarian.
Since I was outside all day (it's now almost 6pm and I left to get the mule at 11am) the fire is now out in the woodburner. I'll get it started soon. Ahhhhh... Fire in the woodburner, heater running in the bathroom, a warm shower and food is in order.
Hmmmm... Mini pepperoni pizzas on tortillas with homemade mozzarella? Italian pasta with homemade ricotta and homemade spicy sausage? Shredded hand-raised pork on basmati rice? Venison stew? I have a Muskovy duck in the freezer that I want to roast soon... I also want to make some Pumpkin whoopie pies (from the Jarradale pumpkins I grew last year) in the next day or so... And make some coffee syrup for mocha. And make some chocolate syrup for chocolate milk... I made some goat butter the other day and was very happy with it. Wow. I must be hungry!