What a motley day.........

This must be the motley crew. I had so much I needed to get done and alas, some of it's still sitting there undone. The day wasn't a total bust, but as I am no architectural genius, the new dwelling/patio/whatever-it-takes-to-keep-them-dry that I was going to build for the goats remains unbuilt. I did make an attempt, but it progress was greatly impeded by the fact that I didn't realize that you really shouldn't try to saw a 2x4 in half lengthwise with a Sawzall. (Tim, the tool man - please forgive my blasphemy if I spelled that wrong.) I decided to do a little more research - what a novel idea. I think I'm going to have to sit down and draw a plan for this. I'll be doing something a little different for the fourth of July

While I'm at it, I'm just going to go ahead and admit that I LOVE these cute glitter graphics - I just can't hep help myself. Than you, Dollie Crave for yet another obsession!

She's finally here!

Meet Pixie, the newest Van Goat doe and an expert little milker. Somewhat like the deal with the milking stand, I wasn't able to get a good picture of her, but I really wanted to go ahead and post a picture and a few words about her. She is a beautiful little girl with a sweet personality, if a bit shy. She was disbudded when she was a kid so she is the only Van Goat without horns, which caused me a great deal of concern initially, but she seems, for all her shyness and reserve to be able to hold her own. Twister, who considers herself the queen of the herd, has given her a rough time, but Pixie seems to be unfazed.Vanessa is very interested and follows her around frequently, with the Uncles , Trixie and Gus following right behind her. Vincent has checked her and then dismissed her as an acceptable non -threat. I think she is going to fit in beautifully.

Love my grill!

"Think I'm gonna throw a little hay on the barbie."

What a sweet boy......

At least he is in this picture. I decided to snap while the goats had their dinner. Some however, are just naturally drawn to the camera.

Vanessa Van Goat

Vanessa is a beautiful little girl and I have to say that she is maybe a little bit my favorite.Truly I love all our goats, but Vanessa was the first goat we got and she and I have a special bond. Of course, it couldn't have anything at all to do with the fact that I sat with her in the back yard off and on for three days after she had a very traumatic c-section and lost her baby. Or the fact that I cried with her when she was sad because she saw her twin sister's babies frolicking and didn't have one of her own. Oh I know, people think I'm a lunatic because I am insanely in love with my goats and I fancy that they have all these thoughts and feelings (and I KNOW that they do) but if that is lunacy then go ahead and check me in the nut hut because I am certifiably CRAZY about my goats. You know, there is a lot that people just don't know about goats. Most people don't know that they are loving, loyal,and hugely entertaining - they just think that they are lawn mowers and fertilizers.(One cannot deny the value of those qualities.) People think that they are extremely destructive (okay, I've made a few repairs.)But - there is just nothing like the miracle of goats. I love to watch them eat the goat feed and the hay that they love; I love to watch them romp on my daughter's play set and in her little playhouse ;and I love to watch them sleep - they all have their own particular sleeping configuration. I love the way Vanessa comes up and lays her head down on my arm when she wants some attention - Vincent comes up and pushes his head against my leg (some pushes are harder than others.). Twister will absolutely let you know when SHE wants your attention. Wallace and Gromit are the most shy of all, but they too let me know they enjoy life on the ranch. Trixie and Gus are Twister's babies and their joy in life is evident in every thing they do. That is a whole "nother" story. All of the goats have their own individual personalities and they all give love and receive it in their own way which just draws me to them more and more every day.

Wallace and Gromit.........the Uncles

Wallace and Gromit came to us from a farm on the mountain and I must say that the girl that I got them from is one of the neatest people I've ever met. If there is someone out there who is living the life that I would like to live, it is this girl. For her, it is all about her goats. Yet another story.

Anyway, the boys came from this fabulous herd of goats and just looking at the quizzical expressions on their faces is enough to make me feel the laughter bubbling up inside. They have so much to say, but mostly they say it to each other. They definitely have the twin thing going on. Wallace - the one on the left - is extremely shy, and wants so badly to eat out of my hand - he's tried, but he just can't quite make himself. One time I snuck up behind him when he was lying out on top of their little red barn and started scratching his butt and his back gently, and he just kept lying there, not for one second looking at me. He would sort of glance over his shoulder, but his whole countenance said " This is heaven, but I'm not looking...just in case......". It is very hard to catch him when I have to give him wormer or a shot, but once I am actually holding him, he likes to be petted and loved.

Gromit is more outgoing than his twin and he likes to loved on and fed and he will spar with any one of the other goats every chance he gets. I rarely see one of the boys without the other and they are fun to watch because they do all the things together that I mentioned before - eat, sleep and play. They scratch their chins on eachs others horns, they use each other for pillows when they sleep and they'll play king of the mountain with any thing onto which they can climb or jump. Wallace has gotten more outgoing , but he took things slowly, starting out occasionally attaching himself to Vanessa, who apparently was a mother figure. Now they butt heads and chase each other around like everybody else.

Even though these guys didn't start out as "original " Van Goat family members, they easily blended with the rest of the family and we affectionately refer to them as the "The Uncles." Everybody should have such cool uncles.

Siesta time!!!

The Van Goats resting in the shade. That's the life!

This has become one of their favorite spots - the one where they go to cool off because they have gotten it nice and smooth. The drawback - Vincent Van Goat is wearing about a pound of dirt in his coat. Vincent was our herd sire, but now even though he is no longer able to breed, he remains the king of the dirt pile. He is lying to the right of the tree, the larger goat. He too, knows who he is.