Farm Happenings

We have a new schedule here on the farm, dear reader. My bib overall-wearing buddy does most of the barn chores. He milks, cleans up, feeds, and makes sure everyone is healthy and doing well. I volunteer to do the barn chores, but most often am met with the response, "I got it." I know he does this because he worries that I overdo it, but I miss being in the barn with only the girls. This week, that has all changed. We have a bit of a mystery going on here. Our basement has begun to flood with heavy rainfall. We have never had flooding issues before, but now, all of a sudden, every time it rains, our basement floods at least six inches. The flooding is a pain, for sure, but even worse, it takes out our air conditioner. The Bibbed Wonder has been digging ditches to try to identify the issue, but to date has only successfully uncovered a lot of water. 

With his focus on the water issue, I volunteered to cover the barn chores, and he agreed. It has been so nice to have the barn and the girls all to myself. I am genuinely enjoying my mornings and evenings. Each morning, I take a bit of time and clean something that needs a bit of attention. I swept the milk room, threw out a bunch of garbage, organized our brushes and tools, and swept the feed room. It's a feeling of accomplishment to do little things like that and make the day run more smoothly. I am enjoying my routine, but most of all, I am enjoying the girls. 

Since Jessica, aka Horns, moved in with our friends Nathan and Chloe, the barn has a whole new vibe. No one is running in fear. No one is afraid to move from one section to another for fear of being hit. My geriatric girls come willingly into the stall to eat their special feed of soaked beet pulp shreds, alfalfa timothy pellets, and senior horse feed. I soak it in hot water for fifteen minutes, and it is the consistency of oatmeal. The girls love it and eat a feeder full. My poor, dear Red is just skin and bones. I am happy to see her eating and enjoying this easy-to-chew feed. 

Being in the barn allows me to spend time with the new babies, the nannies, and of course, Lester, Teddy, and Sebastian. Sebastian is very stinky, so my time with him is limited. However, I brush the girls while they are on the milk stand and get to spend uninterrupted quality time with them. It's a really nice way to start and end the day. We have decided that, among the three of us, each of us will take a week of barn chores. This way, everyone gets a break and gets to spend quality time with our herd. We all enjoy our goats, and it doesn't feel like work to take care of them. I appreciate Eric being so considerate of my health, but sometimes he takes the coddling too far. It does me more good to get up and move than to sit and rest. However, I know he cares, and I am grateful. 

Hopefully, my bib overall, wearing Superman, will soon solve the mystery of the flooded basement. One thing is for certain: there is no shortage of water on this farm. He has uncovered springs, old terracotta pipes, and enough groundwater to fill a ditch that runs the length of our house in just a few hours. Now, we are awaiting a delivery of stone and pipe. Fingers crossed, this will be fixed soon. With the upcoming temperatures, this farmer is too old and pudgy to go without air conditioning. Sigh. 

On this lovely summer day, stay safe, be smart, keep moving, enjoy what you are blessed with, and keep washing those hands.