Goat Outing

Furry Husband's biggest account likes us to bring baby goats once a year to his store. We set up outside and about a GA-ZILLION children come through. The owner of the store promotes some wines with goats on the label (for the adults of course) and he has goat cheeses set up for people to try. We aren't paid to do it, we do it cuz we like the store owner and he seems to have this thing for baby goats. He just loves them!

We were there from noon to 3pm. When we got home, Furry Husband had a glazed look on his face and was suffering from serious post traumatic stress. He was on his Italy wine trip when he set this up to do for the first time last year. He didn't know how much work it would be. I got some good sympathy out of that.... he had no idea what I'd gone through while he was livin' it up in Italy!

People aren't savvy about the animals. They leave the gate open when they go in and out. You have to be aware of where the goats are at all times for this reason. The children want to pick up the kids. There are some children who are totally FREAKED out by the goats and are screaming and crying. There are children running after the goats. There are children putting handfuls of straw in the water for the goats. There are children putting their fingers into the goats mouths. The adults and children are asking ALL kinds of questions from every direction. And there a GA-ZILLION people coming by and coming into the little pen that is set up for the goats. It really is a lot of work. These pictures were taken during a lull in the action. I think at one point we had a dozen people/children in the pen with us to see the goat kids.

At the end we got the straw bales that made up the pen which we will use as bedding in our goat houses, and I got A LOT of my favorite microbrew beer in exchange for our time and energy. You drink enough beers and you forget how much work it all was! If liquor store owner was smart, he'd wait til we'd tapped into those beers and were feeling no pain to set up next year's goat outing!

Harmody Farms

Harmody Farms is owned by the most WONDERFUL family! We met them when we began our dairy goat quest and bought one of our first does from them. We keep in touch and visit regularly. They are the first people we go to if we have some goat questions, want to share a fun goat story, or need encouragement.

They have Alpines and are kidding with 21 does! Can you IMAGINE??? I can't. I think four does is two too many! Furry Husband and I have so much respect for farms that have that many does and kids. Wow.

Sunday, we loaded four of our kids into a kennel and took off down the highway for a goat kid play date/show and tell/visit.

I learned how to use THE ELASTRATOR! And I banded two of our boys. Oh, man. Ya just feel awful for them. They lay down and groan and the get up and hop around and try to get away from the constriction behind... poor fellas. We both felt pretty awful for causing them the pain they were feeling. However, two days later, they are up and running and jumping and playing just like before. Shew! We were so relieved. I know in my head they will be o.k., and you just can't help but fret over them!

Furry Husband does not think that he can help me with banding the rest of our boys. I think it's a little too close to home for him... s'ok, the divine Ms. K says she'll come over and help me this weekend. Fun times!

Anyway, Harmody Farms invited us to stay for dinner and we gladly accepted. We love talking goats with them and sharing in all the fun, love and laughter their family generates. Everyone is so genuine and friendly and full of warmth. There are eight people in their family including the parents. When Furry Husband made their son's water shoot out his nose from laughing so hard, we knew our mission had been accomplished and we could go home.