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so yesterday.   i am winding down at B Garden.   something says look to the right and i look up and over the house foundation up the hill to the back fence and the Goats are up there as they often are but  ….   Something Is Wrong With This Picture….. and i think,  some of them look awfully "close"….and they were.   Oona, Artica, Minion, Wendy who is really Grace and one other were INSIDE the fence,  mouths into all the luscious rattlesnake grass there and beginning to look toward all the low hanging branches of LEAVES to the side…..I jumped up and yelled   OUT!   Get OUT of here!  and they scattered in all directions and i took off to go up there,  find where they came in and fix it so i could get them out.  I will spare the details.  But what it ended up was somewhere around 15 or 20 minutes of me running after them,  trying to get them to go out the front gate while running back and forth to that fence line to figure out how i could let them out that way without letting all the others in  and they would run when i chased them but immediately out of my range begin EATING and as they ran by all the Garden Plantings,  taking a quick bite of anything green,  like the chard etc.   Tay,  for some reason just stood there.  Watching.  a stick in her mouth.  Usually when i yell at them like this she chases them.  NOT.   just stood there.

long story short,  i did get them UNDER the fencing,  which is how they got in,  Oona being an opportunist  and deft at that and pounded in the big "staples" i got for the tomato cages every 3 inches or so and it is secure.   the little ditch that the PVC water pipe runs through i stuffed with the mesh fencing that has "wires" sticking out that will prick their noses i am hoping.  

and if someone would have asked me if i thought i could run up and down and in circles around that whole area for 15 or 20 minutes…me,  who  needs to sit and take a break between things,  could I?   i would have for sure said no.   The terrain is totally uneven,  rock filled ,  holes unseen     But i did it.    Somewhere in the middle i thought….this is not good, grace.   this is too much.  Just quit.   I don't know at what point i would have.  just quit.   Let it go.   ???   But we didn't get there this time.  And i think today…this is how life is.   Particularly,  how it's going to be from now on.   There's no way to know.    

But this time…i DID it.   Ok then.  Yay for us.  We go.

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6 responses to “a surprise”

  1. Marti Avatar
    Marti

    Tasty greens just too much to resist…if I understand this, they wanted more than grass? What a workout you got…no disrespect here because there is no way I could have run on your terrain for even 5 minutes…
    I am responding to this post on the morning of Earth Day and why do we only have one day, “officially” to celebrate earth day…
    I left this comment on Margery’s blog a while ago and I wanted to bring it here:
    One small thing but it has stayed with me for over 65 years: when my Dad taught me to garden, he told me to always use my hands, “manos en la tierra “(hands in dirt in Spanish). Do not put on gloves, to plant seedlings, to weed, to care for what you have planted because it is important to feel the earth, to feel how the sun warms it. To carefully use your fingers to spread good compost, carefully applied. He always said that touch is one of the most important senses. If the earth senses your caring hand, it will respond in kind…I have never forgotten this simple truth.

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  2. Tina Avatar
    Tina

    Oh Grace again and again .. seems every day is a challenge!! Not always in a bad way .. that’s not what I’m saying. You are amazing how you stand up to all the challenges that come your way .. you stand taller than most. I wanted to say than anyone I know but then I think of all the brave souls fighting for a country and way of life they love .. and I think Grace you are not alone with your fighting spirit protection your home and those you love.

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  3. jaime Avatar
    jaime

    Shaking my head up and down, yup, goats do that. Shaking my head some more. Yup. Goat herders do that too. Good for you, Grace. Good job. Smiles. The moments life is made of.

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  4. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    OMG, Grace. You sure are being tested lately. I give you an A+ in Life Arts and Science!
    XO

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  5. Peggy McG Avatar
    Peggy McG

    Glad to know your stamina can be summoned when needed! You are a great Goat Caretaker, and land steward , always vigil to all needs on the hill.

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  6. Nancy Avatar

    Oh Grace! The visual of this! I had to read it to J. the other night – sharing your world and amazing you!

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