20200418_164146

you can tell when it's around 4 oclock.   

Jenny and her man came…as they do,  on Saturday.   Brought pellets and a replacement hose for B.    We opened the Kidding House,  the Curry House door and Caroline and the 2 kids popped out.   Tay was on her leash….whinning and all beside herself.  i started to put her in the Box House,  but thought…no….she needs to learn.  and Jenny's man said….I'll do it.   He did.   as i transferred the leash to him,   and we began to set out,  i heard him say…behind me a ways….    I AM IN CHARGE HERE!   and so we went.   Him and Tay at the behind.   The babies zipping everywhere,  jumping on all the Goats backs with no regard.  Zipping ahead,  zipping over,  Black getting lost a little,  but figuring out how to find his way.   We walked through the forest again,  along the paths that are from the repetition of their hooves,  following Their Paths,  through and down again to the meadow,  stopping many times along the way.  Then….sitting.   in SUN and somehow the meadow smells like cucumber.  The Herd grazed,  babies moving confidently among them…no commotion….because of either them or Caroline,  no tension.  None.  How so great this is.   the little ones gravitate to Onday which is interesting…she is the Eldest,  the Boss. Snow Bunnys daughter.  it was She,  who watched them all slitty eyed from behind the tree.  She who has been known to have ZERO patience with kid goats,  her own or any other,  but with these….she just goes.   Nothing.   She just goes.  They like her.  Tay sat or layed next to Jenny's man and once,  the babies came zipping back from across the meadow and Black jumped and landed on Tay…..who didn't flinch,  just turned her head and looked.    At some point…Caroline decided and we began coming back,  she and the little ones directly to their door and in.  Everyone else just wherever,  Tay off her leash.   Practice.

I don't know if i've said this?   Jenny works at Enloe Hospital in Chico.   She is day supervisor of Central Supply….which now means gloves,  masks,  gowns,  gauze,  intubators,  respirators,   on and on.   They keep it coming to the patient units.  They are required to take their temperatures twice a day…by honor.   It's been a while since Alyssia  and the kids have been here on weekends when Jenny comes.   Somehow i'd thought it was just coincidence,  but i suddenly realized.  And asked.  Yes.   Alyssia is not bringing them.   Not coming.   Because Emrie wouldn't be able to understand    Social Distance  from her New Nana.  Which is true.  She would not.   She would insist on her New Nana's lap.   so they don't come.  We sat quietly after exchanging this reality.  We are sad.

Alyssia still brings the kids here.  Brings her  Self here.    It's been 2 weeks since i've left the Hill.  She brought groceries a few days ago.   i was suddenly aware of my position in all of this….remaining a Safe Person for the kids,  for Alyssia.   How critical my attention to protocol is      when i leave the Hill.   That it might change as this all wears on and on.

So many questions.  So much unknown.   In ….still……a world of Goats and Goodness.   ???????????????????????

 

 

 

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18 responses to “practice day”

  1. Mo Crow Avatar

    (((Grace))) Talkie is one sassy chook!

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  2. Nanette Avatar

    Love the faces gathered at the door…..what fun for you xx

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  3. Liz A from Texas Avatar

    That picture at your door … a family portrait for the ages
    And Alyssia is wise … we went to Meg’s the other day, tried to keep social distance … and P came too close so I gently warned her away … but not gently enough as she dissolved into tears … it was heart-rending

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  4. Peggy McG Avatar
    Peggy McG

    Family dynamics..animal families, human families.. World families..So interesting…Love that the fragrance of cucumber was present.
    Saturday was 14 days of self isolation for me within my daughters home after camping in the desert for 5 months. Lucky it is a large home and we can keep our distance, we wash hands often and disinfect often.. My son in law works outside the home keeping an empty office building maintenance dept running..we disinfect him as he arrives home.. I miss my grandchildren that live outside the home and my son, but time will pass and when again we can, we will still be diligent.. We do not want another wave of this to recur.

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  5. deb Avatar

    I am alarmed. Smelling cucumbers when none are present is a clear sign of copperhead snakes.

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  6. Irene Avatar
    Irene

    Love all the critters!

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  7. Tina Avatar
    Tina

    Grace read what Deb wrote .. sounds scary. Copperhead snakes .. why would they let off a cucumber smell??? I just love reading your posts and the comments that follow. It is like reading a fantastic novel and yet it is all true everyday occurrences. The picture is fantastic .. you are surrounded by so much love.
    Non of us know what the future holds .. but change will come in many forms .. more and more I’m finding it fascinating. Although still very scary .. and incredibly SAD 😢!!!

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  8. dee Avatar

    As much as there are worries articulated here, worries I share, that first picture was so head-shakingly delightful that I couldn’t quite take them in. I’m on day 42? 43? At least the weather is turning nice (not yesterday. It snowed). I am digging up the backyard. Splitting lots of perennials. Extending beds.

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  9. grace Forrest Avatar

    liz.
    this is yes. heart-rending. For you, for us, but for Parker? What can it possibly mean to an almost 3 year old? All that it can’t and won’t mean until she is years older and in the meantime she will carry the confusion, making of it whatever she can.
    This so so so hard to bear and i know it is multiplied X a zillion all over the Planet…the little ones. There’s no way to tell them.
    How Jenny and i just sat. Staring at the dirt….not looking into our faces. Alyssia is very gifted in knowing how to frame things for her kids. I don’t know what she and Emrie have talked about, i’ll ask her. She hasn’t mentioned it so i know it’s not an easy thing for her….not an easy thing…eeee, way much more than not an easy thing. Emrie is a fierce person. not easily put off.
    and it stressed, in Neon, how hard it must be for Alyssia to continue to come here, as she has. For things here to be like they always are….which at one point or another has Emrie climbing into my lap, talking into my face up close. Wanting to share food.
    it has been a deep and heavy thought…how much i need to be responsible to that hopeful trust….that i won’t come back from a trip to town with a virus clinging…which would for sure, do me in. There’s no illusion of outcome. I’d be toast. But what that would mean…the days before it would be evident…the days of Emrie in my lap, the days of being in Alyssia’s sphere.
    these are HARD THINGS to look at. And there’s no end game. Maybe the hardest part. How LONG do we need to do this?
    BIG and BIG LOVE to you, to Parker, to all of Us

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  10. grace Forrest Avatar

    Peggy!!!!!!!!!! oh…so so GOOD to hear. All this.
    and i think…how so beyond great you had those 5 months, how it will be as you experience all this There, in your daughter’s home…
    and look back at all you learned on the road. I am so
    happy for all this. Time will pass and whatever is next will be next.
    But you have this….all that you DID. What perfect
    timing. So great.
    Thank YOU so much for being here today…just BIG Love to
    you and i look forward to what happens now….
    oh, Love and Love

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  11. grace Forrest Avatar

    she is and i love that word
    sassy

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  12. grace Forrest Avatar

    sometimes fun
    sometimes not so much

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  13. grace Forrest Avatar

    we don’t have them here…it’s something else

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  14. grace Forrest Avatar

    i googled…they secrete an odor when threatened. But we don’t have them here.
    Such a combination…fascinating, scary, sad…all of it
    and we will find a way to just go.

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  15. grace Forrest Avatar

    digging. The Earth feels us and Responds. it’s very
    amazing, the response

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  16. Liz A from Texas Avatar

    love is all we have to give … any way we can … perhaps we can write letters to their older selves … of how we missed their sweet softness, this time we can never get back … how they might take from this how precious each moment is … to never take any moments in their lives for granted
    may you be well … may we be well … may all be well …

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