Ch-ch-changes

The transition from spring to summer might be the most enjoyable time at MeadowWild. 

The kids require relatively low maintenance after the hectic birthing and bottle-feeding season

and they’ve reached their peak cuteness.

They’re playful, energetic, entertaining.

This year’s class turned out amazingly healthy despite their rough starts, growing into strapping teens.

Now it’s full summer and they’re moving on to colleges, careers and new homes.

The meteorological roller coaster careens along.

From unseasonable frosts in late May 

we jumped to a record hot June, which was also unusually dry.  

Parked in the garage, Lightning Bolt feels forlorn and neglected because the grass has needed mowing only twice this year.

Tzest and Charon got treated to some fresh ear ink – the herd tattoos required for the May 29th MDGA Best in the Midwest Show.

They hopped aboard the Goatmobile for the trip to Sauk Centre, MN 

where Charon won second place in both rings.

Tzest didn’t do as well

but she would have been voted Miss Congeniality had there been such a designation at the show.

Approaching maturity, the bucklings Ultima and Tzat's Amore moved to the Gentlemen’s Club where they could access the back pasture to browse, 

play on the furniture,

and trim trees like little lumberjacks.

On June 21st they were rousted from the Club, hopped aboard the Goatmobile,

and set off for their new home at Poplar Hill Dairy Goat Farm, where they will enjoy much more female company than they saw at MeadowWild.

(photo courtesy of Sarah)

 

In their place, Tzest and Charon moved to the Gentlemen’s Club for weaning

(we should probably change the sign).

Charon heads off to her new home in Ohio on July 1.

Tzest will then rejoin the older ladies 

and the (momma’s boyz) Niñeos,

Asgard and Mongo, will move to the Club as the last babies to be weaned

Nine enjoyed a summer haircut in preparation 

for the trip to Linear Appraisal in Hinckley

(both she and Kuiper scored well)

and for relief during the record hot weather that persisted throughout June.

To beat the heat, the goats park in front of the fans

and dig beds in the sand to cool their tummies.

Barb spiffed up the Farm with flowers.

A serpentine resident left its winter coat outside the entrance to its condo in Mount Compost.

The 34" skin probably belongs to one of the black mambas or Australian death adders that hang out in the compost pile and snack on other residents. 

Other wildlife abounds, including the usual deer who peek in on 

Dustin snoozing in the study window

the usual inescapable skunks,

and an invasion of turtles up from the pond to lay eggs in the sandy soil of our front lawn.

A notification from USPS indicated that we received a delivery of coffee from Norte Café, but next day the mailbox proved open and empty.  

About 30' away, we discovered an unusual mess.

Some caffeine-addicted critter (probably a bear or raccoon) had snatched the delivery for a midnight snack.

On the avian front, we keep hoping for an osprey nest by the pond like the one near the Munger Trail

but have plenty of other birds instead.

Momma and Poppa Robin set up housekeeping just outside our back door

and have a nest full of young ‘uns

they keep well supplied with baby food.

The location is inconvenient for us, since we can’t use the back door till the kids have fledged, but it’s a better choice than kingbirds have made in the past 

including our rain gutter in 2012, when their nest was washed away in the Great June Flood

and our internet satellite dish in other years, where the family baked away in the full sun.

The Farmers enjoyed some non-goat-related travel on a visit to Barb’s cousin Lila in South Haven, MN 

where she and Lyle built a gorgeous home 

on Clearwater Lake. 

Back in grade school Steve spent many enjoyable and instructive months on Clearwater, where Boy Scout Troop 190 had its weekend and summer camping site

and where he learned to smoke and swear.

(Thanks, Boy Scouts!)

The Farm felines are enjoying another lazy summer.  Momma Kitty spends a lot of time on the picnic table

and playing on the driveway in front of the house.

She will roll around in front of us, which is apparently a sign of trust

but still won't let us get near enough for petting or a much needed brushing.

Dustin surveys his realm from the front window

bats at videos on the computer

and has rediscovered an old catnip mouse (which he leaves around all spitty for us to step on with bare feet).

But most of the time he remains deep in Zen meditation.