i can't possibly describe this day.  if i tried, it would seem flat on the "page", so i won't.  but just to say, i WORKED on how to make a space for moving Onday and little Mercy back into the Bitchy Girl Pen.  And yes.  that's the new little doeling's name…Mercy.   and soon after i'd just begun making headway, i began to notice Snowbunny making all the textbook moves a laboring goat would make.  Oh, La.  so i shifted gears and got the birthing pen ready and moved her in there in hopes i was right.  and i WAS!  this was the first birth that didn't take place on dirt or sticks.  TaDa!  i am improving!!!.  So after i got her settled in, i went back to the original plan of creating shelter in the Bitch Pen.  the only remaining one of those, Ona, and her two bad boys.  They were very happy to have me working there and paid very close attention, inspecting everything.  So, that  was nice, to make them happy.   Snowbunny labored long and i wanted to photo document every step but that somehow felt funny so, i only have these.  Her, in her very uncomfortable LARGE state and then the rest.002f

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i didn't yet get a pic of the second ~buckling~.    he is mostly white with grey markings.  one grey hind leg, one white.  very nice.  This one spent an enormous time with just his head born.  his legs were positioned wrong and had to be born against his chest.  ordinarily front legs come out with head.  She WORKED, HARD.  many vocalizations.  Which seemed to inspire the first born buck, Sunny Ray who was careening around the large pen doing very adult buckly things and it was really terrible.  he can impregnate.  Fortunately, no one there was able to be impregnated but that didn't stop his zeal at trying.  it was awfull. 

SO after the first baby was born, during the breather, i  moved him.  He is now among those of his kind.  With the bucks.  Tenzen and Gideon pretty much thought it was Ho Hum but Buckwheat was all into it…someone "below" him on the pecking order and so the remainder of the afternoon was pretty much pandemonium and there was a great Wind Storm to add to the celebration of it all.  Sunny Ray, the amature debaucher CRIED to his mother across the way. (he still nurses) and she CRIED back.  which made every one else put in their 2 cents.  OH JEEZZ.

But now, it's heading toward dusk.  the marble is rolling.  it's pretty quiet out there.  If we were breeding bucks, we would be GREAT.  ALL of them are beautiful and ALL of them different in their patterns and colors except for Los Dados.  They are Stunning little beings.  But a herd of 20 milking does really only needs one buck.  and there are no lions around here.  so.

i think one more doe to go.  Barbara.  maybe two, Arctica.  and then, knock on wood, we will be DONE!  daughter Jenny has ordered a MaggieDan milker for me till i figure it all out.  These freshened does can be milked maybe a year before re~breeding.  Cross Your fingers!  enough is enough.   we have, so far:

Bucks:  Sunny Ray, Darth Vader, Inky, Dado, Dado, Nogal and the two today = 8

Does: Cinderella, Magic, Just Going and Mercy = 4

ok AND A WONDERFUL, REALLY SURPRISINGLY AMAZING THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nelia noticed, out front of one of the restraurants (sp)  in town….oh….EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE a WALNUT TREE.

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Walnuts.  More than enough there.  AND among them, the tree outside the Old Folks Home…guess what?  an almond tree.  these are the pale green husks.  So, into a pot they will go.

 

 

 

 

 

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34 responses to “marble is still rolling”

  1. grace Forrest Avatar
    grace Forrest

    this is a TEST…
    Michelle emailed me that the comments were on the blink. They
    said my something was corrupted but they fixed it…, so,
    Testing…………….

    Like

  2. grace Forrest Avatar
    grace Forrest

    WooHoo. El Fixo! typepad RULES!

    Like

  3. Nancy Avatar

    What breathless and beautiful days are bursting over there. The images in my mind’s eye created by your writing are so wonderful. I had to laugh at Sunny Ray, typical of a young man (buck), yes?!!! And “Ona, and her two bad boys”, sounds like a rock band to me 🙂 That’s what comes of living with a musician!
    Here’s to a calmer rest of the weekend!

    Like

  4. grace Forrest Avatar
    grace Forrest

    you are right, it’s like music. like songs. i taken up
    singing to them regularly. sometimes real songs, sometimes just silly sounds. they like it.
    i’m writing this on the next day, Saturday, and things
    calmed some. it takes goats 3 days and then stuff is
    as it were never any other way.
    I LOOK FORWARD to the day…soon…when all the spaces
    are ok and right. where they are safe. where if it
    storms and great hail falls they can be safe. and then
    beyond safe, that new fenced in back yard where it will
    be Interesting. Where they can RUN and not have to stop.
    Today i saw a big wooden steps thing at the house on the
    corner. it was sitting on two tires in their front yard.
    i stopped and asked about it, left my phone #. it would
    make a GREAT hut in the buck pen for colder weather. it’s
    got wide steps for lounging on. they can go “under the
    steps” for shelter.
    Shelter.
    yes. Shelter. Shelter from the storm. Shelter from
    the SUN/HEAT Shelter when you just want your world to become a little smaller.
    I forgot that word. Shelter. Rolling Stones…Gimme Shelter.

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  5. grace Forrest Avatar
    grace Forrest

    UTube Mary Gauthier Mercy Now

    Like

  6. Sandy Avatar

    Oh Grace…… hat’s off to you….. my goodness, do you have your hands full. I just saw this video and had to share. xo Sandy
    http://screen.yahoo.com/baby-goat-loves-jumping-30156722.html

    Like

  7. Nancy Avatar

    You are right, ‘shelter’ is a very good word. I forgot to say how beautiful the markings are on this little one, amazing really! 1/2 & 1/2, salt & pepper – just great 🙂 And yay for the nuts!!!

    Like

  8. elizabeth fortes Avatar
    elizabeth fortes

    Great to have this site fixed, huh?
    The video posted above, is fabulous, funtastic! . I’ve watched it several times thinking I’ve been watching your dear goats, Grace… They are all dear to me too….
    Do find a minute to rest once in a while… or rest while watching everything coming into full bloom… You are an inspiration! Love, e.

    Like

  9. saskia Avatar

    again, hats off to you!
    every time I come here, you have been so busy taking care of all these goats: I am in awe and become inspired to get on with the many chores over here!! no complaining, just do it.
    and also, your love and enjoyment shines through it all

    Like

  10. Jennie Avatar
    Jennie

    you are remotely located…where will the milk go? next i picture you driving a huge long distance goatmilk delivery truck.
    it is amazing that one person can do all of this work.
    mercy and oh la!
    J

    Like

  11. elizabeth fortes Avatar
    elizabeth fortes

    Question and just imagining….
    Did Lucky Star have 3 babies all at once? Los Dados and Just going? oh my ! how could she handle it?
    Please reassure me! unbelievable…. e.

    Like

  12. grace Forrest Avatar
    grace Forrest

    She DID. and in the past, Snowbunny had 3 twice. when there are
    triplets, they usually are smaller. as were Lucky Star’s. This
    also was her first time. She did just Great!. As with the
    twins too, the first one takes work but whoever comes next kind
    of just slides out with a few contractions.
    Except for this one of Snowbunny’s, whose head was all that was
    born for a while, it has been so smooth. Knock on Wood. Two
    more to go. Barbara should be pretty soon. Artica not for a
    little while. then…..FINIS! and on to learning a milking
    routine!

    Like

  13. grace Forrest Avatar
    grace Forrest

    Sandy…it’s a really great video. They love nothing
    more than jumping and spinning….thanks for linking.
    xoxo

    Like

  14. grace Forrest Avatar
    grace Forrest

    i am resting, yes. A GREAT thing about them is that they
    go to sleep at dark. Unless something special going on…
    which works for me. i do the same. and also, i got
    up now two mornings very early before dawn and have sat
    on the steps looking out into the New space and have
    done my morning meditation there. it is WonderFull.

    Like

  15. grace Forrest Avatar
    grace Forrest

    it is being quite a Teacher, these moments/days. Some
    times when i think of all i’d like to accomplish in a
    day it seems like a LOT, but once i get moving, one
    single thing into the next, there is a nice easy momentum.
    I think now about how much time i have spent in the past
    “deciding” what to do…it’s funny.

    Like

  16. grace Forrest Avatar
    grace Forrest

    oh, that made me laugh! i could see myself, yes! Town
    is not so far and there are people there who really want
    it. also people at my daughter’s work. it’s CHEESE, tho
    that i’m going to learn. the soft goat cheese, with herbs.
    then feta and even Cheddar. i will make it first just
    for people who want to be my testers. but, first to get
    a good routine. That’s next.
    Thanks so much for the delivery truck image.

    Like

  17. elizabeth fortes Avatar
    elizabeth fortes

    Thank you for the explanation….it is an amazing event indeed to give birth to one, imagine to 2’s and 3’s…I find it impossible to even imagine!
    Wishing you a great milking routine….soon. Besides all the cheeses, etc, as you mentioned above try making a little Kefir, also! It is delicious and wonderful for everyone’s health….uhmmm. I come here, to your site very once in a while and it feels like “i’m coming home….” Much love and thanks again! e

    Like

  18. ali Avatar

    bucks, does, walnuts, almonds..and a milking machine! your life is rich and beyond full. I’m tired just reading about it all–but in a wonderful way. You made me remember a summer long ago when I climbed my aunt’s pecan tree in Texas–amazing nut fruits! (and a bad case of poison ivy from holding on to that strong vine wrapped around the tree. I learned!

    Like

  19. yvette Avatar

    hoi sweetie…back again….thank the goats for hearing about my misery
    all morning I was reading here and feeling home.
    It must be pearls of moments with the goats, the magic, the cloth, the sun, rain, storm, birth and yeyeye walnuts
    dagdag
    love you
    and again thanks for being there for me

    Like

  20. dee Avatar

    so much compelling narrative… How do you keep the beasties straight? birth, wind, bleating, mating, nursing… gosh, the life that is happenin’ there keeps me hungry for more (already, I think: will you be SHIPPING that cheese, even as my local-local-local mind knows, “No”…) I really like that thought, though – eating cheese made there in your square of the desert.
    many thanks and hats off from me, too!

    Like

  21. wholly jeanne Avatar

    oh what work, oh what fun, oh what a find!

    Like

  22. Deb G Avatar

    I’m so glad you are sharing your goat stories…

    Like

  23. Suzanna Avatar

    I’ve returned often to the top photo of Snowbunny…her expression is so
    Deep. Also, I wish I could sign up to be one of the Cheese Testers, which I suppose isn’t practical since I live rather far away…maybe when you start doing mail order…they are such beautiful, happy animals, I anticipate they will produce very delicious milk/cheese…

    Like

  24. grace Forrest~Maestas Avatar

    for me, the Aunt had cherry trees….thanks for That
    rememberance!

    Like

  25. grace Forrest~Maestas Avatar

    the goats love you, they say dag dag

    Like

  26. grace Forrest~Maestas Avatar

    it’s easy to keep them straight, really. they are all different. And today, while sitting with the re~entered
    Onday and little Mercy, i got bold. Having only one
    kid and having an already lopsided udder, with a low
    swinging teat, i dared to see what happened when i did
    the milking mudra..and VOILA!!!!! Easy!!!!! oh TaDa.
    So, anytime she’s near, i milk a little. Hopefully tomorrow i can get her on the milk stand and milk her
    out on that side. it’s possible to even them off with
    perseverance.

    Like

  27. grace Forrest~Maestas Avatar

    jeanne…thank you! and i LOVE Nancy’s drawings, love
    what you are doing with them. Will think more and say
    more at some point…but how very very GOOD.

    Like

  28. grace Forrest~Maestas Avatar

    i’m glad you’re glad

    Like

  29. grace Forrest~Maestas Avatar

    isn’t she just so excellent…her eyes closed, her neck
    turned. it was really difficult for her to lie down. She is one of the very first two goats daughter began with.
    and she is the one who tried her best to fend off the dog attack that took the life of one of the babies. her neck, her chest were torn open. it took daughter months to
    heal her. and here she is. looking so Beauty Full. and
    the intention was that she not freshen again. so, this
    is her last. She was valiant. it was a difficult birth.
    Today, she is just very Fine. I’ll put her and her two
    little boys out tomorrow, back in the bitchy girl pen.
    All Will Be Well.

    Like

  30. ali Avatar

    how wonderful! my mom had avocado and lemon in her california house — what riches! now she’s a desert dweller (tucson) like you. gotta love that cactus jelly! : )

    Like

  31. ali Avatar

    at her house, not in–in her yard, of course

    Like

  32. Suzanna Avatar

    I think your picture shows the inwardness of enduring pain or difficulty. It is so graphic, one can feel it…I’m glad all is well with her now…

    Like

  33. grace Forrest~Maestas Avatar

    and i’m realizing that i have begun to be able to
    identify their voices. as in this moment, when light
    is rising, they begin talking, which in a short time turns into CALLING for their food, and as i sit here and type this, i can tell who it is.

    Like

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