Jennifer's Bucklings

After a warm night inside the garage, with a heater balanced on the metal shelving directly overhead and a heat lamp's red light bathing a good portion of one side, Jennifer's surviving bucklings seem to be doing well. While they are not yet large or plump, they have a bit of energy--enough to be shy when I loom over their crate.

We've named them. The littlest, the white with brown pinto buckling who appeared crippled yesterday but is standing better today, looked like a Theodore. Then the firstborn, the deer-colored buckling with white on his head and the largest and strongest of the three, was named Tony in honor of our very-helpful neighbor who is always willing to be on call for farm emergencies at a moment's notice. Logically, the second born black-and-white buckling became Todd, named for our friendly and competent realtor in Massachusetts. After all with his blue eyes the buckling could be of Swedish ancestry, and he's devoted to Jennifer, and the white pattern on his head makes me think of Todd's pale hair.

It took only a minute more for the trio to be known as Tony, Todd, and Ted. And if Tony and Todd are named for strong people we know, we'll let Ted be named for Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States. So Thumbelina had the two WP’s and now Jennifer has brought us the three T’s.

Tony, Todd, and Ted, welcome to our garage. May you grow and thrive, and may you enjoy your days on this farm.