Finally, 2020 limps to a close,
not a moment too soon.
We’re still sheltering in place
and feel fortunate to be able to do so. We’re grateful to those folks who risk their own health to stock the shelves and check us out at grocery store visits every two weeks or so
and pack and deliver what we need from mail-order venues
and to the Elmwood Inn for the occasional take-out treat.
We miss social occasions such as our annual Orphans' Thanksgiving Dinner
but plan to continue laying low as long as it takes.
We hope that everyone can get vaccinated soon and return to what was considered “normal” all those long months ago.
Weird weather continued as November started off unusually warm,
with record-breaking highs (including a summery 77 degrees on the 7th)
2.5 inches of rain on the 9th (a record for that date) and then 7.5 inches of snow on the 10th (record for the date).
After many years of hard work, the electric Toro migrated to snow thrower heaven,
and was replaced by an Ego 56-volt lithium-ion cordless snow blower.
No more tripping over a long extension cord or dragging it from outlet to outlet!
That acquisition seemed to put a jinx on precipitation for the rest of the winter.
Temperatures turned more seasonal for Nov and Dec, but it remained very dry, with the snow gradually disappearing and threatening the possibility of a brown Christmas.
Pepé Le Pew and accomplices took advantage of the bare ground to wreak more havoc in the yard, digging up shrubs as fast as we could repair the damage.
We stopped putting Momma Kitty’s food and goat milk in the garage to discourage the skunks, but they regularly visit her heated water dish
even in broad daylight. They also manage to shred plastic liners in an effort to raid the garbage can:
Turkeys occasionally wandered through the yard,
scratching beneath the apple trees and picking frozen fruit off the boughs.
We bade a fond but reluctant farewell to big Chill,
who moved to his new home at Echolight Farm.
(photos courtesy of his new goat-mom Kirsten)
Shortly thereafter, Bhindi
hopped aboard the Goatmobile for the return to her home in New Auburn , WI.
She joins many other MeadowWild alumnae in McKinsey’s dairy herd.
Before leaving, Chill performed his buckly duties like a trooper.
Had he been part of Elvis's crew, he would have earned his Taking Care of Business ring. Thanks to Chill, the remaining ladies of the barn are incubating oodles of cute little goat babies.
Cheeky is due on February 18
Kuiper on February 25
and Planet Nine – after successful fertility treatments – on April 13.
They have all tested negative for CAE, Johne’s and other worrisome goat ailments.
To stimulate the ladies in the barn, Barb suspended a cabbage for them to play with. They seem to be ignoring it.
Steve’s photo of our neighbor’s barn was selected for the 2021 Carlton County Barn Calendar
and featured on the cover of The Senior Reporter.
We certainly miss the picturesque barn,
which was dismantled in 2017.
Santa’s Busiest Elf
crafted a record number of goats’ milk soaps
and mailed them off during a very busy holiday season.
When he’s not sheltering in place himself, moving from one cozy bed to the next,
Dustin enjoys Zoom sessions with his friends, including Morty Pine Martin.
Even on the coldest mornings, Momma Kitty shows up at our front door for her breakfast
and then enjoys sunning herself on hay bales in the garage.
The threat of a brown Christmas ended on Dec 23
when a blizzard hit most of the state, featuring “significant blowing snow, with northwest wind gusts of 35-50 miles per hour.”
We luckily avoided the power outages that were widespread in our area, but of course our internet service vanished for almost a week.
Another 5 inches fell on Dec 30
this time without the wind and sub-zero temperatures,
making for a gorgeous end to an ugly year.
Baby New Year Nine joins us in wishing everyone a
