Many of you were curious as to how Jack received the "grandpa" name of Muppy. That story has its origins 10 years ago, when Tyler was just learning to talk.
For his first year and a half, Tyler and his Mommy lived here at the farm in our little log guest house - across the driveway from our log home.
One of the first (and for a long time only) sounds that Tyler made was "mup".
Eventually "Mup" was what he called Jack... which quickly morphed into "Muppy."
Now, all of the grandchildren call him Muppy. No one thinks twice about it. I am sure that they are the only children in the world who have a Muppy... they are so very lucky, as he is definitely one-of-a-kind in all the best ways!
A quick story: when Tyler was just a little tyke and beginning to play soccer, Jack and I would meet at his soccer games after work.
One day, Jack arrived while Tyler was sitting on the bench. Jack walked over to the bench to greet Tyler, and Tyler's coach asked, "Is that your grandfather?"
"No, that's my Muppy," he answered, "He lives at my Grammie's house!"
We've chuckled over that one for years!
Everyone loves Muppy... everyone, that is, except our donkey Chloe. Jack makes no bones about it... "She hates me," he says, at least daily.
She will not allow him to put on her fly mask, or to take it off at the end of the day. No, she would rather be blind all night long than suffer having to have him touch her. He's tried everything to get Chloe to like him - feeding her, speaking gently, gifting with treats (she won't even take a treat from him.). He has even taken a chair and a book into the donkey yard and sat there to read just to get her used to him. And still, when he walks into the donkey yard, she turns on her heels and walks as far away from him as she can get.
I have no explanation for this behavior. She is the only one of our farm animals that feels this way. Otherwise, everyone loves Muppy!
Yesterday morning, however, he had an amazing breakthrough. After getting to bed way too late the previous night, he had given me yesterday morning "off" so that I could get an extra hour of sleep - going out to do the morning chores by himself. When faced with the dilemma of how to get Chloe's fly mask on her before letting her out to graze, he summoned his very best Julia Childs impression, and in that particular voice went into the donkey yard to speak to Chloe. Low, and behold, she allowed him to place her fly mask on her face.
Eureka! He found the secret. From now on, when near the donkeys, Jack will speak as Julia Childs. I'll let you know if this continues to do the trick! You've gotta love a man who will talk like Julia, just to get a donkey to like him!
Yesterday was another spectacular day - a gift, for sure.
Another quick story for you...
Apparently, Friday's rising dough had exploded, leaving doughy stalactites hanging from beneath my kitchen counter.... an area that I would not have seen unless I had bent way down to take a look there. It had dried there, so it took a bit of scraping to get the explosive residue off of the bottom of my cabinet. Thank goodness for Mackenzie. Who knows how long it might have taken for me to find that!
Comments
I'm so sorry about Sammie.
It's funny that Chloe isn't fond of Jack. When we had goats, our head goat hated my hubby. They were milking goats so they needed milking twice a day. Trouble came when I came down with H1N1 There as no way she would let him milk her. So I had to crawl out of bed in my delirium to go milk her twice a day.
Animals can be so funny.
Loved the story about Muppy and Tyler's coach. Too funny.
Oh, Sammie. You are such a sweetie. I'm hoping for the best, knowing that he will be loved until the last, whenever that day comes.
Blessings...daisy
As usual the flowers are bright and beautiful!
I always think an animal detects smells about a person that might turn them off ... but Chloe must be more of a "voice oriented" girl and definitely partial to Julie Child! Trial and error! What to go, Jack!! LOL
And then there is dear Sammy ... well, when you send him off [or he takes himself across the bridge] ... I'll be sitting here boo-hooing my fool head off over another furbaby!!
Hugs from S. CO ...
I’m glad Chloe finally came to her senses. She couldn’t have a better friend than jack..Evidenced by all the trouble he went to to get close to her.
Enjoy the last of our wonderful Fall like days
Hugs
Loved the "Muppy" story! And Chloe's decision to relent--wouldn't you love to be able to listen to that? I hope Red continues to heal completely.
I have to have one more conversation with our vet. Old kitty has encilopedic gastroenteritis. She has had issues for most of her life (she's 15) but lately she is crying out more often and trying to pass gas. I want to see if we could try a steroid. I have found a local mobile vet if we have to make the final decision so she won't have to be so terrified. They are all so loved and add so much to life but losing them is as bad & sad to me as a human death. Thanks for listening.
You have a big hearted (and animal lover) husband! You both work so hard on behalf of all critters - how wonderful. I have been with my husband for 52 years (since we were fifteen:) and he was a huge animal lover way back then - and continues to be. Well sure he is - at one time we had nine rescue dogs - now we are down to just one (the house feels so empty). I don't think there isn't anything he wouldn't do for an animal - I am thankful for him every single day - as you are with 'Trail Boss' Jack!
EDGAR C. BEARD
Liking that the “Julie voice” is doing its magic with Chloe . . .
And Sammie . . . oh my heart . . .
I am caring about you and “Muppy” . . .
I am sure this is a tender time.