forgot i had this blog

glad i found it, tells me when Reggie and Coco came into my life

can't believe it's been 9 years

a lot has happened

August 2021, 14th, had a fire

Destroyed everything

ALL my time has been spent rebuilding what i had

maybe i shouldn't have anything, may not be worth the time.

Where does the time and life go?

Well, if you happen to be bipolar like me, it just disappears.

It disappears under the black cloud of depression and self isolation.

But through all of the blackness for the last 4 years, Reggie and Coco, where there.
Training hasn't progressed far, but we have become good friends.

I'm actively working with both daily now.
I'm rebuilding/repairing the darkroom also.
Issues with the state and my truck registration has been solved.

All of these lead me to a place of happiness, donkeys, and large format photography.

I HAVE BEEN REMISS....

I have been remiss in not posting or doing a great deal of training with Reggie and Coco.  But, my wife found this today, and it speaks volumes about how I feel about two of the most gentle animals I have ever known:

Where does the time go, but the bonding continues...

Ok, here is the issue: Where does the time go?  It has been over 2 weeks since I posted anything about Reggie or photography.  I can't tell if it is overwhelming depression keeping me from doing what I said I was going to do, or being retired.  Being retired sends a false message to the brain.  Not much is demanding on my time.  Sure, there is the "Emergency of the Day," and on a horse ranch it's usually a broken water line or fence.  That gets my attention, but all my desires and hopes seem to fall by the way side.

I am glad to report that the bonding has continued the last 2 weeks. Reggie is enjoying being rubbed, patted and tolerates a halter.  Coco is still very cautious.  She stands off and thinks about me and why I want to pat her.  But, if I have the Reggie snacks they are right in my pocket.

I need to get new halters that fit better.  I didn't know it, a donkey's head is a different shape than a horse.  Of course the local feed and tack stores do not sell donkey halters, just all sizes of horse ones.  I have been reading and reading about donkeys.  Just got an Ebook from Amazon written by Jackass Jill from New Mexico about her walking companions which are donkeys.  She has hiked and camped for months at a time with hers.  Wow.  That is a strong brave woman.

Ron 

Gaining trust and making friends with treats.

Coco has settled in after coming here on Monday.  She enjoys being rubbed and patted.

This week I have been gaining Reggie's and Coco's friendship with snacks.

I got this recipe from  Morning Bray Farm, a farm that has six donkeys.  Their web site is :morningbrayfarm.com.  It is 1 cup of bran cereal, 1 cup of shredded carrot, 1 cup of molasses, and 1 1/2 cups of flour.  Baked for 16 minutes.

Reggie and Coco love them.  Witness:

They obviously like the snacks.  Next week will be working with halters.

Reggie has a new friend!

I could not resist the opportunity to bring home the cutest jenny.   After all, Reggie needed a donkey friend.  It's not easy being the only one with long ears.

Now I have double the fun, double the pleasure.

Her name is Coco.

She is slightly larger than Reggie and has a sweet, sweet face and personality.

God sent me Reggie.

Reggie is a gift from God.

Simple as that.

I have chronic depression. Somedays it is difficult to get off the couch. Thank God I have to get out and feed the horses twice a day. I love photography and have struggled since retirment to get out and do any. I thought retiring would help my depression, but it has not. But God saw to it that my prayers would be answered.

God sent me Reggie.

I had been wondering how I could do large format photography away from the car and as I stated in my first post I had been thinking about a pack animal. And as you now know, God sent me Reggie.

Ron