12/30/08

A New Arrival

Winter arrives in earnest
with frequent snowfalls
making this one of the snowiest Decembers on record.
Even as the snow mounts
Vigilant Cat keeps an eye out for a possible invasion from Canada.

One advantage of a metal roof is that the snow slides off, obviating the need for shoveling up there.
One disadvantage is the pile of concrete-heavy snow-ice that comes thundering down and needs cleaning up.
Crazy folk start fishing on nearby Spring Lake.

Crazy goats go out for their daily walks

and treats of corn cobs.
Temperatures have also been unseasonably cold, especially on clear days, dropping into the minus-20s, with even more horrendous wind chills.
By the time the photographer managed the nerve to venture out to the goat barn, it had warmed up to a balmy 16 below.
The goats don't seem fazed by the intense coldeven as rime builds up on their snouts.
The spoiled indoor cats, on the other hand, put aside their differences to snuggle together for warmth
and hop into the laundry as soon as it comes from the dryer
and disappear beneath the quilts on the daybed.
A brief thaw and sleet turn the driveway into a skating rink.
Between feeding and watering trips to the animals, Barb makes over 180 bars of goats' milk soap

which prove to be a very popular Christmas gift item. Here they're curing on every flat surface in the house.

On Dec 29 the Farmers head to Poplar Hill Dairy Goat Farm to admire Sarah's operation
and the cute baby goats
but mainly to pick up the newest addition to their own herd -- Majority. Despite earlier visits to bucks at the Langhorst farm, Dodger, Dream and Alba were showing no signs of pregnancy.
A resident buck seemed like a good idea, so Majority joins the team.
Sarah shows off Majority's mom, Much
and Barb chats with his dad, Creation. If Majority grows anywhere near that big, he'll be calling all the shots on the Farm.
He didn't mind the trip north in the Rav Goatmobile

but was a little hesitant to disembark
and had to be dragged into the barn.
A welcoming committee looks the newbie over.

For the moment, Majority is bunking with Alba and getting along fine with her.

He still needs encouragement to go anywhere
but will soon realize that he's fortunate to be part of the most pampered goat herd in the world.