Time-Out..

from a donkey ball game? Imagine that ...both teams stacked with very skilled "kickers"! 

My sister is still here visiting and we were trying to make the best of the weekend before she has to head home..Yesterday the studio tour, today a visit with her son and family who happen to live near a donkey sanctuary, and oh yes, a butter tart bakery!  

The Primrose Donkey Sanctuary currently has about 80 "rescued" donkeys in addition to a group of mules and hinnies, many cats and a goat. (extra) It is a charity founded by Sheila Burns and survives only by volunteers and donations. It is an amazing undertaking that all started with Sheila's first donkey, Primrose, who spent her best life with Sheila for 27 years. Primrose is gone now; she passed peacefully in her 47th year but lives on in the hearts of all those who knew her...and in the name of the sanctuary..

Each donkey at the farm has a name of course, and also a history - many of which are heart-breaking. Because of Sheila, they all have found a loving home and fellowship for the remainder of their lives...which, can be a very LONG time. Donkeys can live for up to 50 years!  I do wonder what the long-term plan is for the sanctuary. One would hope that there is a long line of folks who will take it over one day ..well into the future..

It was a special day for me; I have wanted to visit the sanctuary for a long time but the timing never worked out. For whatever reason, donkeys have always had a special place in my heart...along with wolves... perhaps it is because they both have been much maligned and/or mistreated..in different ways of course..but still mistreated or misunderstood? Not sure..but I am drawn to them. 

We had a lovely visit with my nephew and family and the sanctuary and finished off the afternoon with butter tarts and tea! My freezer is now holding, for special occasions, a dozen of those very sweet butter tarts..tarts that are not quite as good as the ones my mom used to make, but a very close second! Yum.