Apparently my life is all about animals. I’ve never been an animal lover. I doubt I will be. But I enjoy watching them and it is a wonder to me that I now enjoy visiting and petting our new goats. They’re very sweet. The eight of them left the rest of the herd with their previous owner (and their lead doe) so they’re doing alot of butting heads to establish who will be the dominant female. They’re all especially hard on Annie. She’s not allowed near any of them. I feel for her, although she probably doesn’t experience emotions herself.
The kids’ days are full of shepherding our flock around and taking care of the neighbors’ place while she’s out of town. They get to play with her dogs and bring them over here, which Naomi especially loves. She’s longing for a dog or two (all in good time).
We haven’t done any milking of the mama goats, and we won’t for awhile. A couple of them are experiencing an outbreak of viral abcesses, so we shouldn’t drink their milk. The reading we’ve done has said to boost their immune systems, so we’ve been feeding them garlic. I mix it up with rolled oats and coat it with molasses and I add goldenseal to the mix. They’re having it daily and enjoying it more than I thought they would. The garlic taste is strong!
Now if only the goats would head out to pasture on their own! They are going farther and farther themselves, but I am amazed how often they’re around the house. Aren’t they hungry? The food is all gone around here and must be sought farther out.
The peacocks haven’t been here since Sunday. Have they moved on? We’re seeing some incredible bucks, though. One in particular has quite a rack.
My camera is old and doesn’t zoom far, so I had to crop these pictures and sharpen them in GIMP, which is why they’re so grainy.
Mikah and I have been miserable with seasonal allergies. Mikah was wheezing yesterday because his airway is inflamed and he’s coughing and coughing. I’m doing better because I decided to use antihistamines, which I haven’t done for years. The first few days, those made me sick the other way (dizzy and feeling medicated) but I think I’ve balanced out. It was a hard choice to make, but the kind of seasonal allergies I have are debilitating, like I’m just plain allergic to living. I’ve tried nettle tea, which helps some, I take local raw honey daily, and now I’m drinking Kombucha. Jeff is praying for us to find a food cure for these allergies. I hope his prayer is answered. Mikah is only drinking nettle tea and using a homeopathic treatment, both of which help some. He’s a trooper.
Today is our errand day. We have no piano lessons as the teacher is out of town. So we’ll pick up our eggs from the egg lady, go to the library, pick up our Azure order from friends and go to a couple other places, hopefully thrift stores, before heading home.
So no other asthma meds for Mikah? How’s he feeling?
I do feel for you and Mikah, I suffer with allergies like crazy. And I don’t like taking antihistamines, either, but sometimes I do. Then I feel just out of it.
I’m glad you are learning to enjoy yours. Goats are just like that, they need a shepherd to reassure them that they are going where they will be safe. If you keep taking them away from the house to graze, they will learn to feel safe away on their own.
Mark and I had goats for many years, before we even had children we had goats
Love
Sylvia
Staci –
No, nothing for asthma. It is not that kind of wheezing. It is the kind he always gets with a cold or allergies that is more like croupy breathing. He is better today. The nettle tea really helps him and we got some cough drops yesterday to keep the coughing down which was a continual irritation to his tissues.
How are you and your family doing?
Sylvia –
You know, I am seeing that our goats are a smidge more comfortable every day because they are wandering, though not as fast as I would like! This has been such a life-changing thing to have animals here. And yesterday, when we came home from town, it was a total fiasco — the goats are now comfortable enough not to back down when they’re curious. They were ALL over us when unpacking the truck with our food haul!
Love, Wardeh
Like Marian’s comment on another post, I was surprised at your musing about animal emotions. But, I can see where you’re coming from, if you haven’t spent a lot of daily time with animals (did you not have a dog growing up? Alas!), it may take you time to start noticing their emotional state (such as it is, I’m sure it’s different from ours, but it varies all the same). Especially with subtler animals like goats.
Dogs, I think, are much more evident. My Border Collies are all very dramatic- INSANE joy over a ball, herding, or going swimming; all the way to theatrical upset over toenail trimming or mandatory baths. But, that is what I so enjoy about them, their very transparent emotions and they way they live right in the moment. They are such fun.
Just wait, when Naomi gets her pup(s), you’ll see!
Michelle,
No I have not spent much time with animals. I know my comment was silly, but I didn’t mean that they have NO emotions. What I meant was that where I would totally fall apart at being shunned, Annie doesn’t experience the loneliness in the human way I feel on her behalf, when I am watching her being shunned.
I do keep watching the goats, their eyes, their heads, their ears. I’m trying to figure out what they’re feeling, but right now, I’m definitely NOT the expert.
I can read the baby goats more easily, and I get such a kick out of watching them cavort around. Their playfulness is enticing and I can tell they’re happy.
I think you’re right that the goats are more subtle, definitely compared to what you’re saying about your collies. You’re blessed in your collies! They do sound like fun. I have no doubt that Naomi will love that!
Love, Wardeh
I don’t think your comment was “silly”- after all, this is a subject of much research and scientific speculation. Nobody really knows what is going on inside the little (and big) heads of animals, but it is sure interesting to wonder! They never cease to amaze me with both their simpleness and complexity.
michelle