A talking donkey

I'm really hoping this donkey is a talking donkey because, well like Funder said, she's already got the Biblical coloring. Remember that story in the Bible?

Balaam starts punishing the donkey for refusing to move, it is miraculously given the power to speak to Balaam (Numbers 22:28), and it complains about Balaam's treatment. At this point, Balaam is allowed to see the angel, who informs him that the donkey is the only reason the angel did not kill Balaam. Balaam immediately repents, but is told to go on.

What I find so interesting about the story, now that I've re-read it, is that the guy doesn't say, "You're a talking donkey?" 

(Like in the Narnia books, "You can talk!?" Shasta exclaimed to Bree the warhorse.)

No, Balaam just argues back to the donkey. Miracles like this were common enough? Then, the part I like a lot, is that the angel doesn't say, "Why are you following your own ambitions instead of listening to the voice of God?" - no, the angel says, "Why'd you whip your donkey!!!!???" A donkey-loving angel. I also love the part about the donkey explaining, pedantically to the human, "Haven't I always been good for you?" Like, "You stupid human, don't you know there must be a good reason for my misbehavior!?"

And this is exactly what I read on that Donkey Sanctuary site. When they misbehave, there's usually a good reason, and it's up to us to find it. They're not stubborn - they have their reasons. The site also says that we should try to see things from their perspective. OK, well I'm not sure I'm capable, but I will try!

I wonder how Balaam treated that donkey afterwards. I hope she got lots of carrots.

When my man asked me what we'll do if the donkey doesn't work out, I said, "Well, I will have to sell her as a talking donkey. One who just won't shut up most of the time, until you try to sell her." I should make out!

SATURDAY is the day I get to meet my future donkey.

We have a lot of work to do around here preparing this place for a donkey. The fencing stuff is coming in the mail.

I found a really great website in the UK called Donkey Sanctuary with a lot of PDFs with donkey information. Like how their hooves are different, their nutritional needs, behavioral, etc. I'm not quite as ignorant as I was a month ago about donkeys: )

I am disappointed that I'll be paying more than I wanted to - she estimated the transport price way higher than I had calculated, but I don't want to argue, I just want this donkey, a horse loving donkey for Baasha who will adore her and never be separated until death parts them.

I wish I had another photo of Bellis, but I'll try to get some on Saturday. The owner wants to go for a walk with the donkey to show me how good she is.

Looking forward...

P.S. The photos are from this week, showing how dismal Winter can be even without sn*w.