Home

There is no place I'd rather be. I have to make myself go out when I have errands to do. Like today. Just get up and go.

I had to take my vacuum in  to get serviced. It wasn't picking anything up. Then while I was out there, I went to Fresh Market and Hobby Lobby. Just wandered around. I did get bread at FM. Then to Costco for a few things. Wandered around in there awhile. I even went to a cute little fabric-yarn store but didn't see anything I had to have. Then paid a few bills and went to Aldi's. My mom wanted me to get something at Costco, so stopped by and visited a few minutes. Then on to the herb doctor to get more of my happy juice. Then home.

I love my drive home. It was around 5:30 so there was a little traffic on the way out. Then the last 8 miles or so, I'm usually the only one on the road. Then I get to my driveway and I am so happy to be home, like I can breathe again.  All my animals are happy to see me, the one who feeds them. They're all ready for some hay and grain and cat food and dog treats. I rush in the house, change shoes, run around feeding animals. Tonight, I brought the bucks back to the back yard so I could move the sheep over there for shelter. Brought Sandy and Zeeboo back with the rest of the does for the night. It's supposed to be really messy tonight, with sleet and ice and snow mix. A lot of schools are already closed. But haven't heard anything about Walker Co. yet. Every school around is closed but us.

Anyway, it's so good to be at home. I just want to stay here. I really don't need anything. I have all I need right here. And out there in the world, people are rushing around, trying to get here and there as fast as they possibly can. No one hardly even smiles or says hello anymore. Out here, it's a totally different world. I like being at home.

Abby and her (devil) daughters

Last night I put Abby and Iris Josie, who is laying next to her, in a stall. Iris Josie was outside with the rest of the goats this morning, over next door in the field. Yes, I have bad goats. So I put John Henry and Arlo Guthrie the bucks, up front so I could put all the bad does in the back yard so they won't go out. All but Zarah Belle came in. As you can see, she is STILL on the OTHER side of the fence, all by herself. It must run in the family, wanting to be alone. Well, except for the youngest bad baby, who is a momma's girl. Most of the time. They both love their momma.

But Zarah has always been a little skittish. She broke her back right leg when she was just a few months old and ever since she's been this way. She's so beautiful and very pregnant. I so hope she's a good milker like Abby. But she's just so bad.

Then her little sister, Iris Josie, is a devil goat for sure. She is just plain ole BAD. But sometimes she can be so sweet and let me pet her. She's the one I named after my mother. Never do that.

Abby seems to be doing ok today. I'll give her some molasses water. I hope she'll get over this. I think I'll put Zeeboo and Sandy up front with the bucks. I don't think anything will happen. But John is still a stinky boy.

Older goats

I don't know if you can see her, but Abby is in this picture. (She's a little to the right in the middle. You can see a little white on her rear.) All alone. She was gone all night alone actually. And it was in the low 20's too.  I was worried sick. Crying, worrying, praying for her. Imagining all kinds of horrible things again.

Yesterday, I saw all the goats out in the filed, where they are not supposed to be. I got them all back in. Then about an hour later, it was time to milk and feed the goats. They were all there, except Abby. It's always Sandy, Abby and Trudy first. Then Penelope, Zarah and Zeeboo next. I only have 3 stanchions. And they all know the order, We do this every day.

So I didn't think anything about her not being there. Just thought she's gone back out. Later on I went out to the barn to see if she'd come in and gone to bed. No Abby. So I got the dogs and we went out back. It was pitch black dark out there. We went way out back. I called and called her. Nothing. I didn't even hear anything. I went all through the tangled mess of blackberry and honeysuckle vines, thinking she's gotten stuck and couldn't get out. Or had stepped in a hole and broke her leg and couldn't walk. I had cuts all over my legs from all the blackberry vines. But no Abby.

I just cried. I missed her already. I have had this goat for almost 8 years now. My first ever milk goat. She's aggravating as crap and can be such a bully, but I love her. She's the best goat to milk too. I am not very sure if she is bred or not. Sometimes she's really big and others she's bony and I can see all her bones. But her udder seems to be getting bigger.

I did get those 2 new does about a month ago. The black one, Zeeboo, can be a real pest. She's all over the place, picking on everyone. I was thinking Abby has seemed a little quieter since they've been here. Maybe she just wants to get away from Zeeboo? She seems to be fine.

So has anyone had an older goat that would go off by their selves and stay gone awhile? She's always been with the other goats. My goats don't like being alone. Do older goats go off to be alone to die like dogs do? I have no idea what to do with her. I don't want some wild animals to get her. And I don't like that she's out there alone at night, unprotected.

 I know I have got to get that electric fence fixed and working fast. But I need money, which is short right now. So any advice and suggestions would be great.

I just completely forgot to say that I went out first thing this morning to look again and found her. She was way over on the other side by the goat barn in that pasture, eating grass. Just fine and dandy, the old stinker. I was SO glad to see her. And so happy that she was ok. I guess she must of been sleeping in the old shed in that pasture. I hope so. I let her stay out there. She seemed to be fine. And she acted like she wanted to stay out there. She's behind the house now. And so are the others.