Help for Samuelle Noel and surprise yourself with art!

Five years ago he showed up at the barn, scared, tired and wounded. For a stray, he was pretty tame, but still he was a stray and hard to doctor. But with effort, I trapped him, vetted him and neutered him. I brought him back to Apifera and he never left. He is extremely close to Hazel, one of the original ferals.

I named him Samuelle Noel because it was Christmas time.

A month ago, he looked horrible, almost overnight. He always maintained a good weight. I wormed him, deliced him, but to no avail. Within a week he looked thinner, and had a horrible rasp in his throat - which the clip above documents. I had to vet him, and we put him on a 7 day med course - after testing him for Feline AIDS and leukemia [both were negative, thank goodness].

Well, that regime did not help. And he would not eat anything - or it seemed he wasn't - even tuna, salmon, fish oil did not entice him. Today I had him back at the vet and we X-rayed him, his lungs are clear which is good, so we hope it is a stubborn bacteria. We have him on different meds and he will stay in the vet's care for 2.5 days, getting sustenance since he went from 10# to 8# in 8 days - not good! He will also get a daily nebulizer to try to suck out the fluid in his nasal area.

He was so good at the vet and I really hope we get get him back in form.

Of course, this all costs money. $150 last week, and $280 minimum coming up. I did get a $50 donation - GRATEFUL! - but I decided to do a print sale to rev up some dollars. I also have an option below for a simple donation without print or gift.

Here's how it works: Scroll below for buying options...

I have piles of wonderful prints. These are all printed by me, with the color image usually in the 5-6" range, sitting on a white piece of paper. They can be framed. I will sign each one.

When you pay $15, you get 2 prints, $4 shipping [USA orders]. You will receive your prints within 2-4 weeks.

For every $15 you pay, you get 2 prints. SO you can enter as many multiples as you'd like.

NOTE: You do not get to choose your prints! Isn't that exciting? They will be a surprise. Each print you get will be different - dare to live!

Options

2 prints/$15 $15.00 USD 4 prints/$30 $30.00 USD 6 prints/$45 $45.00 USD

Slide Show of Pino Pie Day

I decided that the You Tube video did not do the beautiful photos Jan Harris took any justice - so have created this downloadable slideshow for you.

Enjoy!

Pino Pie Day 2013

Post Pie Day Love

I think this photo is the one of so many that got me at my throat this year, and others have concurred. This little guy has such emotion in that face.

What a wonderful day we had yesterday! The weather was perfect, the crowd was well behaved and appreciative, lots of little human creatures this year which always makes it fun.

I had many wonderful encounters. Many people who have read my blog for a long time came and there also were many that had read my "Quiet Little Sack of Sadness" and were so kind in their comments. One person brought me a book on grieving which was so nice.

But, back to the real event. The donkeys were in perfect form as were the Misfits. this year I did it a bit different and put all The Misfits, including The Pig, into the adjacent paddock next to the Donkey Hug area. This worked out great. And even Boone partook over the fence and I was so glad, as he never gets to partake and he had so much fun getting lots of attention being the only horse.

Goose and Moose were a big hit, I knew they would be. Goose was unphased and I think I have a new superstar on my hands. Little Moose got a bit overwhelmed at times with all the attention and would escape through the gate to rest, but always came back. It was good for him. Old Rudy got a special shaded grassy area by the donkeys and got to nap and eat without bother - as it was a hot day.

The Pig! I was not sure if she would make it through a whole day, but she did. She napped a lot, but was not a problem in the day, which I was glad for. She is grumpy you know! But she took it in stride and the guests seemed to love visiting the hut while she was snoring away in her pig nap.Our volunteer goat handler, Amy, did an excellent job keeping people and ittle ones in line - and safe - and also she took time to explain the stories of the adopted animals. So appreciate that.

Of all the goats, I think Professor Otis Littleberry had the best time. Goose did too - but Professor seemed especially happy getting all the brushing and attention.

And of course of all the cats, Peach, aka Kitty Slut, was everywhere getting love.

And if I may so myself - and it was agreed to by many - my pie, especially the crust, was perfect this year. Perfect.

I want to thank the volunteers so much - Jan Harris for taking wonderful photos, Lisa Kaser and friend for helping in the studio, Cece Hall for being Pie Girl Extraodinaire, Carolyn Holman for again coming out with her fab Girl Bands [I took three, Martyn took one] Stacey Shellington of SkyRanch for giving up a Saturday on a busy farm to come to my farm and help, Amy Mathis for being an exceptional Goat Handler, Annie, Joanne and Cathy for helping in the Donkey Hug area, and all the people who sent aprons or donated. Thank you.

Full speed ahead for Pino Pie Day

It's full speed ahead now for me and Pino to get all the pies baked and everything all set up nice for our guests. If you can't make it Saturday, June 15th for our big day - with apron and art sales helping me to maintain our Barnyard of Misfits - you can always chip in a couple of ways.

The Pino Pie Day page has all the info of the day - like please don't bring your pets - and directions.

So, the next time I write here I will be full of pie and Pino love. Until next week - with lots of photos!

Little Moose on the loose: First kiss

Who better for a little fellow to have a first kiss with than Peach?

Now that's a sign!

To keep our guests all going the right direction on Pino Pie Day, I created another Apifera sign.

What?! Can't come to Pie Day but want to help our Barnyard of Misfits? Visit this page for more information.

Old Rudy ready for guests

Old Rudy is ready for his very first Pino Pie Day.

I think I will have him in one of the front mini paddocks by the donkeys where he can lay around in the shade and partake without having to be in the rush of things. Sometimes I look at Rudy and my heart skips, as he can look and act so much like Old Man Guinnias who died last year at age 20+. He is always missed. But Rudy is so charming and kind. He has similar traits to Guinny but also has his own unique persona. His daily pain meds have been helping as I see him cruising around longer grazing in between old man naps and the vitamin shots have helped get pink back in his lower lid showing us the anemia is lessening. I can tell he is more himself too, so am grateful I had the vet out when I did.

Rudy is not a loner, but I think because he has lost a lot of mates in the past year, including his life long mate Tasha Teats died this January, I think he has become a bit more reclusive. He bonded a bit with Lofa who died suddenly this spring. Rudy comes and goes into the goat barn, often sleeps near The Pig, takes walks with Little Moose and Goose following him like he's the cat's pajamas, and then he likes to retreat to his favorite napping spot - the wood shed. Oddly, this was Old Man Guinnias' favorite nap spot too. Rudy always calls out to me when he hears the gate open, as do many of the animals in the morning. But I always sense Rudy is saying, "Good Morning, I'm over here, can you see me?" versus, "Feed me first!" like some of the goats - I won't mention any names. Rudy is also the best role model for getting injections and meds - he even sucks the syringe after getting doused with wormer.

So if you come to Pino Pie Day, be sure to greet Old Rudy - he's the gentleman with the long beard and sweet smile - you can't miss him.

Read more about all The Misfits adopted by Apifera.

Pino's Porta Potty Movie 2013!

IT"S HERE! Pino's Porta Potty Movie 2013! This year, Stella the goat and Olive Oil the sheep help out and - WARNING - the potty talk abounds. For those of you new to Apifera, every year The Puppet gets very excited for the arrival of the porta potty for his Pie Day. He takes to it like a long lost friend, and each year he makes a special movie to honor its arrival.

Pino Pie Day - the annual event that raises money for Apifera's barnyard of Misfits is Saturday June 15 from 11 to 4. Art and lavender are for sale, as are the many aprons donated by Pino's fans. This year we'll again be lucky to have Carolyn Holman here with her "Girl Bands" head wear too - I personally have about 6 of them!

If you can't make it to Pie Day and want to donate to the Misfits that is just wonderful.

Now sit back and enjoy the puppet potty humor!

Oh Pig!

She roams the barnyard like a small statured hippo from neolithic years, emitting small grunts, a step to the right, a shift of her mass to the left, all the while her tail is swishing. It is the best time of day in the barnyard, when the sun is setting, the flies have lessened, the heat is past and the distant coastal range is lit up.

But it is the tail - the tail! - that brings such delight to me, the pig watcher.