Rainy Monday

Today we had some rain, but we needed it -- and though it rained hard and was windy as well, it wasn't a damaging rain.  By late mid-day it dried off and the sun came peeking through.  And with the sun came visitors.  In her first ever in her lifetime pair of overalls and a pink t-shirt is my sister by choice, Pam.  She and I raise Boer goats and keep our horses on her farm, about 15 miles from mine.  She never passes up an opportunity to help me, or to be around the animals.  From the right rear corner, you see the house, the tool shed, the garage, a white coop, the milk house, the bantam house, (shared by Reba and Fizzy), and one of the other chicken houses.  Both the milk house and the chicken house are lighted when necessary by solar lights.  The critters, again from background to foreground, are Ringo the Polish roo, Ginger, a Nubian doe, Bodacious Bev, an Oberhasli/LaMancha doe, FinnAgain, a Boer wether, Patience, a Naragansett/Royal Palm cross turkey hen, the two young Red Bourbon toms, and a Delaware hen.

Among the visitors were our friends, Chris and Tina Griffin from Griffin's Ark, who "co-farm" with us.  Tina got to meet Fizzbo, the tiny Nigerian Dwarf buckling who'll be 6 weeks old tomorrow.  Part of what I get to do is host some of the small goats when they are close to due.  The Nigerians are from Chris and Tina's herd, and so it's like meeting your grandbaby for the first time!  And they were kind enough to take the pictures, bring feed and farm news, and help with vaccinations for the goats.

Pictures don't do it justice, but we all had fun feeding ginger snaps, alfalfa cubes, and apples to the goats.  The turkeys love the apples, too, and if you hold it just right, one goat and 3 turkeys can all eat the same apple at the same time.  Words don't really do it justice either -- imagine a kindergarten circus with everyone in "Me first!" mode!

These are the days that remind us, when the work is hard and the hours are long, why we do it all.  The pleasure of the company of friends, the fellowship and companionship of the animals, and the way it feels to be at least in part self-sufficient and productive are the rewards.

After late feedings and putting the critters to bed,  and before a late milking, a bird friend and customer came, to pick up some mini-flocks of Silkies and Pendesencas and a group of laying hens with their rooster.  Then, milking, and a moment to visit with you.

Thanks for the pictures, Chris and Tina!  Come again, soon.