Glorious Summer

Despite the dry spring and early summer

the meadow flowers have been spectacular.

Even the end of last year's potatoes that neighbors Tom & Gretchen left in our root cellar

are pretty colorful.

The goats take time to smell the flowers
and then nibble on them
and on unprotected trees
branches
and the hammock (Dodger here)
(and Tammy Waynette -- like mother, like daughter).
Tammy is under the delusion that she's still a six-pound doeling,
as she hops up onto Barb's lap.
The goats have entertained a succession of visitors
including friends Barb has made through the MPR Radio Heartland blog
the Adams-Serunian clan
and Barb's cousin Claudia.
Dream's triplets are thriving apace and keeping her well milked.
Disbudding went well -- Barb is getting to be quite the artist with a dehorning iron.
On their daily outings, the triplets like to check out Dad
and tempt fate by badgering Alba.
Here the kids get a stern talking-to from Mom.
They spend much of their time cavorting like mad
occasionally hitting the dirt.
Opie takes an occasional rest
and checks his email via Elizabeth's phone.

A running joke around the Farm involves the query, "Where's Opie?"

because he's usually attached to Mom

even when she's busy fighting with Alba (photo courtesy of John Serunian).

Baby red squirrels continue to infest the pole barn and blatantly steal goat food.

Even the Gentleman's Club is not immune to invaders.

What's that above the hay feeder?

It's a barn swallow nest

with five hungry residents

not all of whom may be gentlemen.

Mom and dad are never far away.
When asked to comment on the intruders, Niblet opined

"Pthbbbbbbbbffffpt!"