i guess we raise hams????

i have come to the realization that my animals possess a sixth sense when it comes to paparazzi. i whip out a camera and they instinctively turn their heads and pose.

lady dinky

the boot

choppy cheese

"weddy for my cwose up"

even the goats do it!

the goat stork came back...

guess who else is gonna be a daddy?... patrik, our little angora buckling! i've noticed that he and gretta have been sweet on each other for some time. yesterday, when jason & i were having our evening cocktail on the veranda, the goats joined us. and we noticed a sizable milk bag on gretta! i'm thrilled.

patrik, proud father-to-be

we decided to take a peek at the other female goats and guess who else has a bag? 842! yes, our crazy salt and pepper pygmy-mix! herschel can take credit for that one.

a coy 842 lounging under the van

and there is a possibility that violet, one of the twins, is with kid as well. no bag yet. but she is starting to put on considerable weight. too soon to tell though. a goat's weight can fool you. but her and patrik were seen romping around a month or so back.

mother violet?

raspberries redux.

gretta doing her best ruth buzzi impersonation

now playing on goat tv...

and yes, there are two dogs piled in with the goats.

sorry the picture ain't the greatest. i didn't subscribe to the new fangled digitial transfer. i'm a rebel. and a hippie. and a borderline hermit.

monkey goats and talladega donkeys.

guido has been braving his way over to the fence to pow-wow with the pups. he's still a bit shy and takes to mad dashes away. but then again, he takes to mad dashes just for the hell of it. he has a little racetrack up and down the fence line.

shake & bake!

we introduced the newest flock member, refugee and future goat-milk maker.... gretta to the rest of the gang. she came to us with a lump on her neck. many times goats will be culled for such deformities. but on our farm, she has refugee status so culling is not an option. however, we were worried the growth might be CL (Caseous Lymphadenitis) which is a very contagious & fatal goat disease. we separated her from the flock and aspirated the growth with a needle. (yes, being a farmer requires learning basic veterinary skills). thankfully, it was only filled with clear fluid and not thick greenish pus (eww!!!) which would signify CL. the growth is just a goiter! probably due to iodine deficiency which should clear up after a few weeks on pasture. it might also be an infection from an immunization site or even from a splinter or brush. either way, it is not life threatening! i am so relieved!

gretta is an alpine/oberhasli mix. she is very sweet and is fitting in well but tends to startle everyone with her unique voice. sounds like a monkey. no kidding. audio post forthcoming.

gretta, goat or monkey?