Jesse the spoiled goat

This is Jesse. He is a love bug. Now you see Papa letting Jesse do something he shouldn't. We bought Jesse and Luke from Tranquility Acres and Sharon told us not to allow the goats to jump on us. Well Papa wasn't listening. Jesse likes hugs and back rides. Fortunately Luke is a little larger and hasn't learned this yet. He just likes to be loved. I think these goats are a little spoiled and Papa says I do that but I think these pictures prove otherwise, don't you?? :-)

Snow Snow beeeeautiful snow!!!

We had a great big snow and it complete shut down the town :-) Our town doesn't handle too much snow well but that's okay since it usually doesn't stay around long anyway. The dogs loved it. Rory danced and pranced and ran all around while Annie just tossed her ball in the snow then dig it up with both paws, snow flying all over the place. Papa decided to let them run in the pasture since the goats were in the barn, ha, Rory made a beeline for the pond and jumped in. Crazy dog. Rory has become our working dog. When we walk back from the barn to the house she insists on carrying something. I usually give her a scoop or bucket and she proudly carries it all the way to the house. Sometimes she doesn't want to let go.
The goats are staying in the barn during the snow. They have a little play area and we put them extra hay. They still expect a nice warm snack around lunch so I soak a little beet pulp in warm water topped with a little molasses and cut up oranges or tangerines. Jesse's not crazy about the beet pulp so I put a few peanut hulls on top for him. They are all happy campers.

The chickens took one look at their snow covered ramp and said "nope, not going out today." So they just stayed inside and of course I felt sorry for them so I made them some oatmeal with yogurt and raisins. They too are happy campers.

So all is running smoothly at our little pretend farm. We even have an official name "Midlife Crisis Farm." We decided this was our crazy time so we gave it a crazy name :-) I have come to realize though it's really not farming. Farming is hard hard work and it takes years to establish a farm as something really productive. What we do is a hobby. But that's okay we enjoy it. I have a hard time with the animals though. Since we don't raise them for meat and I get a lot of joy from them I don't see me ever getting to the point where their sickness or death is just part of the plan. I think that's one thing I will love about heaven, there will be no sign at all or even any hint of "death." No dead leaves, no dead trees or branches, no dead or "struggling to live" animals. An no mean people that are cruel to animals. Well I'm going out to walk in the mush now that the snow is melting. Gotta go see all the lovies!!