Time Is Relative To The Heart
It’s been a pretty quiet week. The summer vacation at the playground is over, so I’ve had some time in the greens with the goats again. Always nice. Even though it’s hard work keeping them out of trouble. Running up and down hills. There are newly planted apple trees around, and of course the goats inevitably gravitate to them. I’m trying my best to protect the newly growns! At least I know I’ve earned my rest when I lay back against the grassy hill and close my eyes and feel the sunshine while listening to the goats around me.
Herman continues improving his people skills. As you’ll be able to see in the video below, I can now stand and scratch his back for a good long time. Without him panicking and running away. He’ll either try to sniff my face to get a treat. Or just realise that being scratched feels good and just enjoy it. He’s still a little on guard, compared to the other goats. He’ll still jump away if you take him too much by surprise. But doing so much better than when he first came here.
Unfortunately he seems to have had an accident with his ear. He had that little hole from the missing eartag. And it must have gotten hooked on something. The lower part of his ear is literally torn in two. It looked pretty gruesome dangling like that when I came on Thursday. But it didn’t seem to be bothering him. He was sniffing at the ladies’ rears and trying to hump Palle and ramming into them from the side like he often does (sneaky devil, you’re supposed to go horn against horn!). And enjoying my scratchies. So hopefully it hasn’t been too bad on him.
Other than that, nothing new. Enjoying the sun. Exercising. August shall be my month. I don’t think I’ll be able to quite live up to the lofty ambitions I had for the summer. Due to lack of discipline in some areas. Cough pizza cough. I didn’t get enough out of June and July. But I’m determined to make the most of August. Really. I can do it. Go go me.
And go go goat photos.
The goats in the greens.
Herman trying to pull a Kamelface. Before the ear injury.
Kamel enjoying her freedom in the green. She’s often the one who starts going astray. And then Palle and Herman will see and start following her.
Miiiia.
Paaalle.
Company of goats.
Another superbly choreographed photo. Well done, me!
Goat siesta after a day in the sun.
Mia the ninja, hiding in the shadows.
Mia the real estate agent, selling condos.
What’s that over there?
Blue skies bring Mia.
I was looking at old videos the other day. One of them was the first one of Mio. I can’t believe I’ve only known her 3½ years. And she’s the one who’s been here the longest now. Kamel must have been here 3 years. Mia is turning 2 soon. It’s a short time compared to the 10 years I’ve been going to the playground. But seems like forever. Time is relative to the heart.
Mio skillfully avoiding Per as he comes with the leash. You’d think by now she understood that being put on a leash means she’ll be taken out to the yummy green food place. But she still resists. The other day she jumped in through the hatch as he approached and looked out at him with a smug “I win this round, human” look on her face. Mia does a lot better usually. Sometimes she even comes over when she sees the leash, as if she knows she’ll be taken out to the greens. They usually all rush up to the slope above when we let them out. Unfortunately we usually want to take them left, out to the hills where there’s more greens. It’s really hard getting Mio to come along. She’s strong as an ox and extremely stubborn. She digs her heels in. If she’s decided to go straight then it’s hard work getting her to go left. I think it’s because the slope is in the line of sight when they go out of the gate. So they’re just all focused on going in that direction. The ones not on a leash just sprint there immediately. Again, you’d think by now they understood that we’re taking them left because there’s better eating in that direction. But oh, the will of goats is a strong will.
Got something for us?
Singalong Palle.
No really, got something for us?
And a goatlog. With kids feeding the goats, siesta time and Herman’s better handling.
And that’s all for this week, folks. See you in the next one.
August 4th, 2014 at 0:08
Poor Herman’s ear! The vet says to put Vaseline (petroleum jelly) on our animals’ wounds – he says it keeps the flies off and helps keep the animals from licking it.
I know they have to put tags on their ears when they are sold or the goats are shown at the fairs where we live. Our boys don’t have tags and never did.
Frankie originally had a tag, but it was removed before we had him. He had just a very tiny hole in his ear way up high and it never bothered him. He could have had a diamond stud earring put in there! Hee, hee
Herman certainly has calmed down for you. He even likes scratches now! He is a very handsome guy.
That’s the way to lead a goat – carry a branch of yummy leaves just out of their reach and they will follow you anywhere.
Those five are just like furry lawn mowers as fast as they were eating that grass. Nom, nom – I think Mia even had a bit of a “green grass stain” on her lower jaw.
Our boys get that green grass stain and then their tongue turns pink when they get to licking their fruit-flavored mineral block. They aren’t spoiled, no sir, not one bit!
August 6th, 2014 at 21:07
Be looking for the postman to come to your door. I sent you a package out today on 8/6/14. It’s not for any particular reason, just thought you’d like it.
It’s smaller than a goat (hee, hee), but larger than a mouse, and it’s not alive! (The post office sort of frowns on sending live things anymore).
That will give you something to think about in the next few days! Let me know when it arrives – I hope your apartment is big enough for it.
August 8th, 2014 at 23:25
Poor Herman yes! But he seems to be doing fine, thankfully. I remember when I was diagnosed with diabetes and they had to measure my blood levels they’d usually use my ear lobe because that was the place that hurt the least. Maybe those big goat ears don’t hurt too much. Hopefull.
All the goats here have to have tags, but the goats born at the playground don’t have them in the ears. They actually have the tags in a drawer inside the office! I think that’s better than having to put them in the ears, although I’m not sure if the ‘system’ would approve. Mum’s the word.
Ooh a package! What could it be, what could it be?! I hope it shall arrive soon so I don’t have to wonder! Smaller than a goat but bigger than a mouse? Two mice? Three mice? How many mice before it gets bigger than a goat.. hmm.. Haha. Well, we shall see!
August 9th, 2014 at 23:29
I was reading your reply and I wondered where a “drawer” was located on a goat? Hee, hee. Then I read it again and realized the tag was in the drawer in the office.
They would have to be non-living mice as I have enough trouble with the post office as it is. I couldn’t send you a goat anyway, I would want to keep it!
We visited our local apple orchard and they have a petting zoo. They have some very friendly goats this year. They are Boer goats and some dairy goats. And there is a small sheep in with the goats, too. I think it thinks it’s a wooly goat.
August 10th, 2014 at 21:51
SEND MORE GOATS! Haha.
HAve you seen the geep? It’s a cross between a goat and a sheep and it’s quite adorable. I’m sure googling for it will turn it up. We haven’t had sheep in a long time at the playground. I miss lambs!
August 11th, 2014 at 2:48
Treat mysterious packages with the utmost care-you never know what might be inside!
(Easy now! It might be whisky!)
August 12th, 2014 at 0:50
I did see the geep. What a little cutie!