famous again (almost)

So, we get a call yesterday morning from our neighbor Dusty, who is a professional photographer. She is often asked by magazines and the like to take pictures of horses and other animals to go along with their articles. Dusty knows we love to model for her, and often our animals "fit the bill" for the shoot she needs to create. Today, it's Duke turn. Dusty needs to have "a food aggressive horse" to go with an article on clicker training and good manners. Now, actually Duke is very good around his food... he has to be, because he's too big to have bad manners...so truthfully, it took us a little while to get the shot that Dusty needed.... here she goes over how it "needs to look" and after a few takes, we finally convinced Duke that we wanted him to behave this way... he couldn't believe his luck when we allowed him to drag Sadie over to the bucket which had carrots and grain in it. But Dusty got her shot!!!!

She also needed a "sick" horse, so Ol' Silver got picked for that one... Dusty even created "snots" for his nose!!! Which was kind of "icky", but really fun...

After our modeling session, we got to work on the chores. Abbie came up to the barn to supervise. She loves the chickens (and can make a great chicken sound when you ask her to). I think she likes them because they are small and will run when she goes towards them. But she did want Sadie to hold one for her so she could pet it.

Then, she wanted to help with chores. So, we gave her a little fork and let her spread the shavings. She thought this was a great idea, and so do I.... might as well get her started on chores early... I might end up with a barn fairy afterall....

Guineas!!!! well, there's a story all to itself. Sunday I opened the coop to water and feed the birds, and they had plotted against me... and made a great escape. Now, I don't blame them for wanting out..it's been a long winter, so I thought - fine, go out. Well, Mr. G. had other ideas and when the rooster stepped outside of the coop, we had a massive bird fight. Now, I know how to handle dogs.. and I have even broken up a few horse squabble... but birds... they are serious!!!! I had to use the rake between them and did manage to get the rooster back into the coop... Mr. G was having a complete fit!!!! Course, getting the rooster in, meant the guineas were out, and I can't get the guinea in without opening the coop, and then worried about the rooster. So, for the past couple of days, the guineas have been out. Now, they are talking about a storm coming in on Friday, so somehow, between now and then, we have to come up with a game plan to get the guineas back inside..... drama on the farm for sure....

"What do you think Abbie.... can we wrestle those guineas?????"