July 6, 2008

Goats Take over Clarkston

It is not as ominous as it sounds… we were there by invitation. Or should I say “registration” since we were there for the 4^th of July parade. Mom said several times that she was so glad that we decided not to take them to the local 4^Hcounty fair next week. Which of course is the premier event for “local yokels” who are few and far between here in Oakland County. But that was just one of the things we realized as the day went on. See complete list below:

Do not bring goats 2 hours early to stay on leashes and stand in line on an asphalt parking lot while you decorate a float (or in our case multiple donkey carts even though they were very well behaved - honest, everyone said so).
Do not bring grain in a gallon ziplock bag that can be chewed open.
Goats have a strong dislike of marching bands particularly drum sections – even though the Clarkston High School band has declared Toby to be their unofficial mascot.
Bring a familiar water bucket from home as they will not drink from a new one.
We didn’t need to bring a pooper scooper as the city does this for us – is this too much information for our delicate blog readers?
Even several months later our housebreaking has still stuck as our goats would only “go potty” on the grass however we can’t say the same for the mini donkeys.
Toby was afraid of the flying candy where as Zoe thought that every piece on the ground was for her to eat which made for an uncomfortable dragging and carrying through town.
Windy looks adorable in patriotic dress.
Donkeys don’t like to walk down hills with carts as they were like tippy toeing!
Policemen do not make any exceptions for animals with teeny legs or otherwise holding up the parade.

When all was said and done the goats were fine and their mommas were cranky from worry. Of course we think it was the goats that won us first place for 4H in the parade - maybe the chickens and donkeys helped a little. And again, phew are we glad that we aren’t taking them to the fair this week – maybe next year.

June 23, 2008

Mini Barn Update

The new mini barn is working well. Dad put it all together in one night by himself! We knew that it was going to be large because of the dimensions that were listed online but actually seeing it and standing inside of it was another story.

At first the goats weren’t too sure about the strange white box in the pasture. They would walk into for a minute and then walk right back outside. There was no lounging around or napping inside.

Even now after a couple of weeks they still don’t love it quite as much as they loved hanging out inside the barn (which may have more to do with the placement of food and water as anything thing else) and they seem to like to sleep outside and nap in the pile of hay that has fallen to the ground.

However it only has to barely sprinkle and they run to the mini barn! Are they related to the Wicked Witch of the West? Will they melt if they get wet? If you could see them in action – you would think so!

May 22, 2008

Our Boys' New Mini Barn

So we are so excited about our new “some assembly required” mini barn. We have been so busy with all of this year’s kids that we haven’t had much time to write so I will fill you in…

It was always our intention to add on to our existing barn for the goats. The plans have been drawn and the list of materials needed has been made. Now we just have to build it. This will of course make the barn’s owner (dear father) very happy as he will be able to fit both the boat and motor home back inside.

We realized though that we might not want to keep our herd sires inside our ‘goat wing’ due to their potent fragrance in the spring and fall. To be equally fair to all of our goat children we decided that they too should have a barn for shelter in their pasture. We had several ideas for a shelter from tool sheds to calf igloos but eventually we found something just perfect for them. Online, we found what is called a ‘group calf hutch’. It looks just like a white colored miniature barn.

We figured that if it was 9’x8’x6’ and could house 4 to 6 growing cows it should be great for our pygora bucks and wethers. Also, since it had a 10 year warranty, we thought it may withstand our already rambunctious bucklings and wethers. So we ordered it and it arrived by today by freight in four pieces.

We requested that it be delivered on Friday (tomorrow) because Dad would be home and they said it would take several men to get it off of the truck. There was no reason to fear the mini barn’s early arrival though because SuperGirl powers always prevail at Fuzzy Fiber Farm!

The freight truck couldn’t fit into our driveway- which was okay because we were just happy that it made back the 4 miles of dirt road to get there. There was no need to worry about this little setback though because Olivia, age 15, hooked up the flatbed trailer and backed it down our long driveway to the freight truck. This is impressive! Your jaw should be open right now. Mom and Olivia unloaded the boxes onto the trailer and there it waits until the pieces can be assembled over the long holiday weekend.

We were told that it would take 2 men approximately 4 hours to assemble it. This seems like an exorbitant amount of time for assembly however I guess that means it won’t come apart easily either. Let’s just hope that they underestimated our SuperGirl powers for the assembly time also!

February 24, 2008

Our First Shearing

Boy, did we not know what we were in for! We thought that we were really smart... we researched the clippers, found the best ones, did our research and thought that it would easy sailing. We ordered them on-line and then waited two weeks wondering when they were going to come. Finally we found out that they were going to be on back order until mid-March. Mid-March would not work as they needed to be sheared- like yesterday!

Plan B: Found a new supplier and had them overnighted. They looked simple enough coming out of the box, pretty cool even, but loud. So we put them together and played with the knobs until they suddenly did not move back. We figured they were good then. I mean you want them to be screwed together tightly, right? Wrong. We (or rather Amy) was tightening the tension knob. Which is a no-no. Because you are only supposed to tighten them when the blades get dull and then you have to take them to a service center. Too bad we found this information in the instruction manual when we were troubleshooting to find out why it wouldn't work.

Long story short we tightened the tension knob so tight that we are now afraid we could have damaged the clippers as after approximately 4 seconds it overheats and turns off the motor. Great safety feature eh? Our new expensive, top 'o the line clippers barely touched a goat and were placed back into their storage box which we sat on while we sheared the goats with scissors!

Fiskars is a really good brand for goat scissors. Especially if you get the ones with the spring loaded handle. <smile> Four goats later they are still as sharp as when we started. We however, do not feel so sharp.

December 25, 2007

Rudolph's Night Off

By: Baxter Black, DVM (copyrighted)

"Twas the night before Christmas and Rudolph was lame!
The vet from the North Pole said, "Footrot's to blame.
I'll give him some sulfa - it's the best I can do,
But stall rest is needed the next week or two.

"Great Scott," cried old Santa; he truned with a jerk,
"I won't get through Pierre if my headlight don't work!
On Interstate 40 I'll surely get fined
And lost in Montana if I'm flyin' blind!"

"No cop in his right mind would give any clout
To a geezer who claimed that his reindeer went out!"
He gathered the others, ole' Donner and Blitzen,
Were any among 'em whose nose was transmittin'?

They grunted and strained and sure made a mess
But no noses glowed or ears luminesced.
"It's bad luck in bunches," cried Santa distressed,
"But we'll fly Continental - the Red Eye Express."

"I'll look at the schedule" he put on his glasses,
When up walked 'ole Billy, the goat from Lampasas.
He shivered and shook like a mouse on the Ark,
But his horns were a beacon...they glowed in the dark!

Santa went crazy - he asked "Why?" with a smile.
"I just ate a watch with a radium dial.
Where I'm from in Texas, we don't have thick hide -
My skin is so thin it shines through from inside!"

"If that's true, then let's feed him!" cried Santa with glee.
"Gather everything burnin' and bring it to me!"
So Billy ate flashbulbs and solar collectors,
Electric eels and road sign reflectors.

Firecrackers, sparklers, a Lady Shick shaver
And lots of Lifesavers - all of 'em wintergreen flavor.
Jelly from phosphorescellous fish
Day-Glo pizza in a glittering dish.

Billy had fireflies and candles and stuff that ignites,
Then had a big bowl of the Northerin' Lights.
He danced on the rug and petted the cat
And after he'd finished and done all of that...

To store up the static electricity better,
They forced him to eat two balloons and a sweater.
When he opened his mouth, light fell on the floor
Like the fridge light comes on when you open the door.

His Halloween smile couldn't be better drawn
When he burped accidentally, his high beams kicked on!
"Hitch 'im up," cried old Santa, and they went on their way -
I remember that Christmas to this very day.

The sky was ablaze with the stars shinin' bright,
They were shootin' and fallin' all through the night.
And I realize now, through my fingers are crossed,
What I really was seein' was 'ole Billy's exhaust!

December 24, 2007

"The Gift of the Old One"

By: Eunice Day, Washington, ME

The young couple had made their usual hurried, pre-Christmas visit to the little farm where dwelt their elderly parents with their small herd of goats. The farm had been named Lone Pine Farm because of the huge pine which topped the hill behind the farm, and through the years had become a talisman to the old man and his wife, and a landmark in the countryside. The old folks no longer showed their goats, for the years had taken their toll, but they sold a little milk, and a few kids each year, and the goats were their reason for joy in the morning and contentment at day's end.

Crossly, as they prepared to leave, the young couple confronted the old folks. "Why do you not at least dispose of "The Old One"? She is no longer of use to you. It's been years since you've had either kids or milk from her. You should cut corners and save where you can. Why do you keep her anyway?" The old man looked down at his worn boot, scuffed at the barn floor and his arm stole defensively about The Old One's neck as he drew her to him and rubbed her gently behind the ears. He replied softly, "We keep her because of love - Only because of love". Baffled and irritated, the young folks wished the old man and his wife a Merry Christmas and headed back toward the city as darkness stole through the valley.

So it was, that because of the leave-taking, no one noticed the insulation smoldering on the frayed wires in the old barn. No one saw the first spark fall. No one but The Old One. In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry flames were licking at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror and despair, the old man shouted to his wife to call for help as he raced to the barn to save their beloved goats. But, the flames were roaring now, and the blazing heat drove him back. He sank sobbing to the ground, helpless before the fire's fury.

By the time the fire department arrived, only smoking, glowing ruins were left and the old man and his wife. They thanked those who had come to their aid, and the old man turned to his wife, resting her white head upon his shoulders as he clumsily dried her tears with a grayed red bandanna. Brokenly, he whispered, "We have lost much, but God has spared our home on this eve of Christmas. Let us, therefore, climb the hill to the old pine where we have sought comfort in times of despair. We will look down upon our home and give thanks to God that it has been spared." And so, he took her by the hand and helped her up the snowy hill as he brushed aside his own tears with the back of his hand.

As they stepped over the little knoll at the crest of the hill, they looked up and gasped in amazement at the incredible beauty before them. Seemingly, every glorious, brilliant star in the heavens was caught up in the glittering, snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine, and it was aglow with heavenly candles. And poised on its top most bough, a crystal crescent moon glistened like spun glass. Never had a mere mortal created a Christmas tree such as this.

Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder and incredible joy as he pulled his wife forward. There beneath the tree...was their Christmas gift! Bedded down about "The Old One" close to the trunk of the tree, was the entire herd - safe. At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed the door ajar with her muzzle (who she, in her wisdom, knew how to do) and had led the goats through it. Slowly and with great dignity, never looking back, she had led them up the hill, stepping daintily through the snow. The kids were frightened and dashed about. The skittish yearlings looked back at the crackling, hungry flames, and tucked their tails under them as they licked their lips and hopped about like rabbits. The milkers pressed uneasily against "The Old One" as she moved calmly up the hill and to safety beneath the pine. And now, she lay among them and gazed at the faces of those she loved. Her body was brittle with years, but the golden eyes filled with devotion as she offered her gift - because of love.

Only because of love.

For this time of year - Happy Holidays

November 20, 2007

The Caprine Classic

After we were done walking around and visiting the goats we decided to sit in on one of the talks. But after a two hour talk about the Ontario Dairy Goat Co-op, we decided to head back to the hotel.

The next morning we headed over early to go see the goat judging competition. There were a lot more goats there by then. We walked around a little bit more before we sat down and watched the judging. Judging was very neat. There were goats of all sizes shapes and colors being handled by people even more diverse. One of the goats was even led by a little girl who looked like she was about five. It was so cute watching her try to get this Dairy goat to do what she wanted it to!