Well, whaddaya know. We’ve actually had sunshine this week. It feels like everything has been grey and wet for ages. But the sun is still there, I have seen it. At least one really nice, sunny day. And spotty sunshine for the rest. So that’s not too bad. The weather forecast says temperatures above zero for the next couple of weeks. That would be most welcome. Although I already miss the snow a little. What’s left is dirty and icy and not much fun. But you can’t have it both ways, I guess!

No babies yet. I’ve been saying it must be any day now. But then the other day I was talking to Nina about it and she said “well her udders don’t seem big yet”. This is the kind of thing you can miss when you’re almost blind. But after closer inspection, I must admit they seem barely enlarged. So. I don’t know. Judging from that it might take some time yet. I just can’t get that to match up with my calculations. But we’ll see. As long as everything goes well then it doesn’t matter so much I guess.

Per came by the playground too. I haven’t seen him in months. It was nice to say hello to him again. I asked how he was doing, and he said he was getting better. I still don’t know exactly what happened, but he said that he wouldn’t be back working there. So that’s really too bad. One of my best memories from the early days of the playground is that one day when Per told me, about Magnethe’s mother Mathilde, “she doesn’t trust anyone else like she trusts you”. I had worked up a bond with her even though she seemed scared of most humans. Or at least not comfortable with them. That was one of the first times I really thought “maybe there’s something special there. Me and goats”. Yeah. Seems like forever ago now.

But let’s go to some goat photos from the present day.

Sweet Kamel.

Nomnomnom.

Mia on the wooden staircase.

Eating branches.

Hah, funny shot of Mia.

Mia and me.

Mia and Palle at the fence.

Hugging Palle.

Feeding at the fence. Notice the toppled water bucket. That’s what happens when they get excited.

Kamel getting hay.

And chewing the tree.

Kamel and Palle both wanting some time with me.

Sweet Mia.

Mmm hay.

That sweet face.

Mio time.

More Mio time.

Aw look at Palle. Still got those skinny legs.

Trying to take a picture of the goats at the fence, and of course Palle pops up. Always wants to be in the shot!

And a goatlog. With the sun back. The goats still fun. One especially fun play sequence with Mia and Palle. While Bodil and Sif watched. I love when they get all excited like that.

And that’s all for this week, folks. See you in the next one.

A very winter week. We are out of January now. And no goat babies. Unless they’ve come during the weekend. Which is not impossible at all. My calculations said end of January, but that turned out not to be correct. I would expect them any day now. Next week, really. Surely. Although, as I amused on Facebook, I almost wouldn’t be surprised if Mio kept it going till April 1st and revealed it was just a big prank. What a brilliant scheme it would be. “No really, I’m pregnant. I’m eating for two. Or three. Or four. So clearly I need more food!”. Only a goat would be so devious.

But we’ll see. As long as it goes without problems then I guess it doesn’t matter as much when they come. I had hoped for this week so Sigrid could see them before she left. I think that would have been nice for her and good for the babies. But no such luck. Friday was her last day. I normally don’t go to the playground on Fridays. But I decided to make an exception. Hoping for goat babies and a chance to say goodbye. There were no babies of course. And I couldn’t see Sigrid anywhere either. I thought maybe she’d come later or not at all. When I was getting ready to leave I figured I had missed her. But then at the last moment she came out. I don’t know if she’d just been inside all the time or met later or whatever. And I don’t know if she saw me leaving and came out to talk to me or if it was just by chance. But in any case I was glad I got to say goodbye to her. She has meant really a lot to me over the last few years. Much more than she realises I am sure. Since talking isn’t my strong point I thought it would be nice to have a card made just to thank her and wish her all the best for the future and so on. From uncle Lasse and the goats. I used this photo:

I’m glad I got to give the card to her. I’m just horrible at social interaction. But we talked a little. And hugged. It’s not many people I hug that aren’t family. I can count them on two. Fingers, not hands. But she has always been so nice and welcoming to me, and that means a lot. She’s the kind of person who makes a place a better place. And for someone with my kinds of phobias her kindness can really brighten your day. I’m sad to see her go. On the plus side, I added her on Facebook. And got to see the page of the vegan place they’re making. Even supported it with a donation, because they’ve run into some unforeseen expenses. Looks like it will be a really nice palce. I hope it will be a big succes and that I can overcome my phobias enough for a visit some time. Hopefully we’ll meet again.

In other news, today was soup day. Mama made soup. Soup, there it is! There are less leftovers than usual, but I should still have enough for a couple of days. Snow outside, soup inside. That’s the way to live. Looks like temperatures will go above freezing now, though. That will be nice. I really love spending time with the goats in the snow. But I’m looking forward to not walking around like a blimp in 53 layers of clothes. I met Sigrid’s sister Ida the other day. I think Sigrid was showing her around at the playground. She lives in Portugal. So I’m sure she was delighted with the weather we’re having. I wouldn’t mind living in Portugal. I bet it’s warm there. Come, come summergeddon!

And, due to the snowfall especially, we have a plentitude of pictures. A portemonnaie of photos. A mass of medias. So let’s get to it.

Fernando covered in snow.

Kamel looking up.

Mia getting footrubs.

Mio with the belly.

And the belly.

Palle in the snow.

I do love the white snow on the black fur. A lot. There’s less snow on half of him because I was just hugging him!

And now a smattering of snow photos.

Okay, back to goats.

Mia.

Mia.

Mio spent a lot of time in the playhouse on Tuesday. It almost seemed like she was nesting in there. I had to check to see if she had “layed” her babies in there while I wasn’t checking!

Mio.

Palle.

Kamel with snow on her back.

And Kamel with snow on her face. I love that look.

Mia and Palle in the snow.

Aw Mia with snow on her face too.

Mio.

Mio and Mia.

Nina taking photos of Palle and Mia. The playground updated their Facebook page with some new winter photos. You can even see me in the background of a couple of them, wrapped in 96 layers of clothes.

Palle.

Palle.

Mia holding down the bucket.

Aw love the goat yawn!

Sweet face.

Aw Mia.

Mia.

Mio, Mia and Palle. The three generations.

And the winter playground.

And that’s it. Phew. But there’s also a goatlog of course. Lots of fun in the snow

And that is all, I promise, for this week folks. See you in the next one.