I woke up early on the morning of December 13 - told Alan I would feed the donkeys and he should sleep in. It was the first cold snap, raining, 31 degrees. When I got out to the stall Violet was there but no Poppy. Of course I started calling for her. Have you tried calling a donkey? I walked to the South pasture and wondered why Poppy had cornered a goat! As I got closer I realized it was a baby donkey and Poppy hadn't corned it but was rejecting it. So I picked up the baby, called the family and we got to work!

Not gonna lie - it had been a stressful 3 days after Milo was born. And we were barely functioning. Why is grampa yelling that there is another one coming? Another what? Sure enough - Just three days after Milo was born, on December 16, 2020, Holly, a little girl, is born! Did we have a clue that Violet was pregnant? Even after the 3 days we just went through with Poppy and Milo? Did it even cross our mind? Not. At. All.

Surely this would be easier! Surely Violet wouldn't act like Poppy!

I think this picture was taken right before Poppy kicked Violet. For two mommas that didn't want these babies they took to mothering just fine and were quite protective.

I don't think Poppy and Violet are sisters - while jerks as new mommas they have very different styles. Poppy and Milo are so much alike. They both have this coarse almost curly hair, they both have a sway back, and they both are on watch at all times - except when Milo gets distracted. And they bray all the damn time. Poppy when she's hungry. And she is LOUD. Milo when he can't find the others. Violet and Holly are also so much alike. They both do this nudging thing with their nose. Violet is a much stronger nudger and doesn't mind where she nudges. They both have a very smooth gait and are fun to watch when they run. Violet and Holly aren't going to be bothered by being on watch because they know Poppy (and sometimes Milo) has it covered. Violet can open the truck bed and Holly likes to chase trucks. And they bray quietly - very ladylike.

Real quickly after the vet got us through getting the babies on their feet, she also talked to us about needing to make sure we didn't find ourselves in that situation again. Here's Milo at his vet appointment taking care of that! And yes, the operation took place right on the grass at the vet hospital. No need for fancy operating rooms...and Milo didn't seem to mind.