I don't believe that anything that happens is a coincidence. I'm not sure that I think our destinies are preordained, either. After all, there is free will and all that to consider. My beliefs fall between all things happen for a reason, and we control our destiny. In the past few years, I have felt that someone, somewhere, is listening to me and answering my heart. These events prove to me that there is indeed goodness in the world and a great power at work. I call it answered prayers.
A situation on the farm has been weighing heavy on my heart. I have not verbalized my concerns; I have merely kept quiet, but the weight of the situation is there, and I feel helpless. My bib overall-wearing wonder buns handles the milking of the goats. I step in if needed, but my bib overall-wearing buddy does 99% of the milking. With my 1% participation, I don't have a vote on what happens in the barn. Currently, we have fifty-five goats. Fifty-five is a high number, even for us. After years of our herd numbers going up and down, I am resolved that not everyone born here can stay. I would love to be able to keep everyone, but herd health, provisions, and space make it impossible.
My bib overall-wearing buddy has decided that we will maintain a dairy-only herd. This means that our Boer goats will all be sold. Along with the Boers, he has decided that Cindy Crawford, our Nubian girl, must go. Sigh. The Boer goats have very little personality, aren't friendly, and don't seek us out for attention. I am not distraught over the Boers being sold. However, I am upset at the thought of Cindy Crawford being sold. Cindy is a sweet, gentle girl. She is an incredible mother and a decent milk producer, although not one of the strongest milk producers, and she holds a solid position in the herd hierarchy. Cindy Crawford holds the highest pedigree in our herd lineage. However, The Bibbed Wonder has decided that Cindy must go because she is a stinker on the tall milk stand, which is the stand we use most often.
We utilize a milk stand in the barn for daily milking unless the girls are in the pasture across the driveway. The milk stand in the barn is shoulder height because Eric did not want to bend down to milk. I'm not sure what it is about the tall stand that upsets Cindy, but she does not behave well when she is up there. She fusses, jumps at everything, and tries to get down when she decides she is done. One might think that it is simply bad behavior and a good reason to sell her, but when Cindy is on the low milk stand across the way, she behaves perfectly. For months, the Bibbed Wonder has lamented Cindy's bad behavior on the tall stand. Each time he complains about her, I point out that she is as good as gold on the lower stand, and perhaps she doesn't like the height of the taller stand. The Bibbed Wonder says everyone else is okay with the tall stand, and she is just a "pain in the ass." However, like people, goats have different triggers, quirks, personalities, and preferences. The Bibbed Wonder does not listen to my rationale for Cindy's behavior on the tall stand.
Eric has made it clear that as soon as we finish The Shaker Woods Festival, he will sell all the Boer goats and Cindy. He has a buyer for most of the Boers, but a small group, including Cindy, will be sent to auction. I hate livestock auctions. I hate the atmosphere of fear, inconsideration, roughness, and callousness toward living creatures. If it were up to me, I would ban all livestock auctions. That's my personal opinion. I shared my traumatic experience at the auction barn when I was a child, and after forty years, that experience stayed with me. It turns my stomach to think about our goats going there, especially Cindy.
I have been giving the situation much thought and worry because we are in the last week of The Shaker Woods Festival. I have voiced my concerns to Eric about Cindy but have been blown off. Yesterday, the phone rang as I sat on the couch, nursing a cold. It was a Virginia phone number, and I almost didn't answer it, but something told me to pick it up. I was greeted by a pleasant voice explaining that she had spoken to me at Ligonier about purchasing goats on two occasions and that I had advised her to reach out to us at the end of the summer. I remembered exactly who this lovely young woman was and asked her what she was looking for: babies or adults. She answered adults, and I immediately told her about our sweet Cindy. At the end of the conversation, Abigail expressed serious interest in Cindy and asked me to please not take her to the auction, and we planned for her and her husband to come out and meet Cindy and the little ones.
When I got off the phone with Abigail, I thanked the powers that be for this answered prayer. It doesn't escape me that when I am heavy with concern, often things work out for the best. This phone call, at this time, is no coincidence. Someone, somewhere, is looking out not only for me but also for my sweet Cindy. I am grateful for answered prayers. Cindy will move on to a new herd with a good home and a good goat mama to care for her. Abigail has a low milk stand, so Cindy and her nervousness should not be an issue. Cindy deserves a good home with someone who will appreciate her sweet personality. I am eternally grateful for answered prayers and blessings.
On this lovely Wednesday, stay safe, be smart, recognize when you are blessed, be grateful for all blessings, believe that things will work out no matter what, and keep washing your hands.
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