If you have read our “About Us” section you know that we have several fur-babies on the homestead. They are the ones people are excited to visit, and make our lives more fun, so I thought it only right to dedicate a page to them. Unlike most farm pets, our guys really don’t have any jobs besides acting as designated recipients of snuggles, treats, and shouts of, “NO! Stop that!”
Without further adieu, in order of their introduction to our family, I present our fuzzy freeloaders:
Romeo. Age 13 years. Breed Maltipoo. Nickname “Romie/Romie Bean”. RIP August 2019.
Romeo was my first puppy as an adult. When we moved into our old house Matt brought “our” Dalmatian with him, but I really wanted a small cuddly dog that was *mine*. So, in true Lauren fashion, as soon as we installed laminate flooring and the idea that a puppy peeing everywhere wouldn’t cause so much trouble – I went and got one. He was a teeny tiny ball of cotton fluff that Matt insisted was not a real live animal (he could fit in our hands). Romeo has gotten older and his vision is no longer very good so he gets startled by the puppy (and doors, and stairs, and lots of other things), but he is a loyal little guy who follows us everywhere and loves belly rubs and snuggling on the couch. He is in great shape for a senior dog and does well with eye drops to keep him comfy.
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Romeo crossed the Rainbow Bridge in August of 2019. He is buried under a stand of trees here on the homestead with the ashes of his BFF, Rescue, our dalmatian we said goodbye to in 2014.
Rio. Age (approximately) 15. Breed “Grade” Quarter Horse. Nickname “Old Man”, “Lazy”.
Rio had a rough start. He was bailed out of a kill-pen by a rescue group here in Texas before he could be shipped to Mexico for slaughter. We do not know much about his history before he arrived at the kill-pen, but he was suffering from a respiratory infection and had to have several rounds of antibiotics before he fully recovered. The rescue group, Crossfire Equine Rescue, sent him to live with his foster family where I went to meet him in late January 2016. Rio is a short little sorrel who is in no rush to go anywhere (unless he is frolicking in the pasture, or I am making him workout). Matt rides him when we ride together because he is usually calm and easy going. (He does have an iron will of his own sometimes though.) It took a while for Rio to fully trust us because it is clear someone was very rough with him and likely hit him with various things, as he was fearful of several items around the barn. Rio used to really run things in the pasture, but Bella is not as easy to push around as Ransom used to be.
Dublin. Age 1 year. Breed Toy Australian Shepherd. Nickname “Dubs/Dubsy”, “Sir Dublin”.
Little Dublin was a surprise birthday gift from Matt to me this year (2017). I saw a mini Aussie on an off-grid TV show last year and have wanted one ever since. I have discovered that if I send enough photos and mention things over and over (to the point of harassment) that Matt will comply with my wishes – so I sent Aussie puppy pictures to him for months (don’t be jealous that you do not have a Lauren in your life 🙂 ). Dublin is as frisky and lively as the city he was named for and enjoys bully sticks, running at breakneck speeds through the house and yard, driving Romeo absolutely nuts, and eating horse manure. 😐 Since we brought Bella home he really loves stealing any hair of hers from the curry comb to bury in the pasture for “later”. (What a peach, huh?) He is a constant source of amusement and is a friendly bouncy little clown.
Bella (AQHA Registered Name “Texess Honey”). Age 11 years. Breed American Quarter Horse. Nickname “Bella-Boo” and “Bells”
Bella is our newest addition who joined the homestead in February 2018. She is a dainty bay roan mare who descends from foundation Quarter Horses through “Watch Joe Jack” and “Zippo Pine Bar” (to name a few). She is calm and ladylike and her favorite things are Mrs. Pasture’s treats (she won’t eat anything else treat-wise) and having her face and neck scratched and groomed. She took the place of Ransom when I decided he was just too much horse for me and has been a dreamy little unicorn with few vices. We do not know much about her past, but she was bred by the Atkins Ranch here in Texas and has their brands. She has been excellent on trail rides and doesn’t spook easily. Isn’t she a beauty?!
Our furbabies all bring us joy (and sometimes headaches and messes) – even though they don’t earn their keep we love them anyway.
