I got a big surprise when I got to the playground yesterday. See if you can spot what it was:

That’s right. The goat boys were back. All five of them were there. So that made me very happy. And made me feel just a little silly. After declaring that four of them had left on Monday. I guess they were just on a little vacation.

Actually, Alice tells me that they hadn’t gone anywhere. She didn’t know what I was talking about. So I guess when I said that Magnethe sounded like she was expecting her boys to come running over the hills in the distance that’s because… she was expecting them to come. I have to say in all the years I have spent with goats, I have never before seen anything like this. Four goat kids running off and staying away for hours. And one kid being left behind with the adults and not complaining about it at all. He was acting like nothing was wrong. Weird. I am puzzled. But that’s what I get for not going over and talking to the staff. They could have told me that the boys were somewhere on the grounds. Hah.

Well, it buys me a little extra time with them all. And that is of course very nice. Although it means I’ll have to be sad about it all over again when it does become time for the four to leave. But I won’t worry about that right now. I’ll just enjoy the time I have been given with them.

Alice also told me that the black one has already been castrated. So it’s still the plan that he will be the one who stays. I’m happy about that. I couldn’t tell any difference in him, he still seemed very confident and strong. He’s going to make a fine leader.

It was a beautiful day too. Very warm. And after spending time with the goats I went and had dinner with the parents. Very nice all in all.

I got bad news at the playground yesterday. After having stayed home last week to wait for my computer and the holiday on Thursday and then actually receiving the computer on Friday, I’d been gone for a while. And I was a little worried that the goat kids might be gone when I got back. And unfortunately they were. Four of them gone. One left. And somewhat surprisingly it was not Magnethe’s dark boy who had remained at the playground. Per had told me they’d be keeping him. But instead it turns out they have kept one of Snow White’s boys. Bandit’s brother. I have to admit I’m a little surprised about that. Partially because I’d been told otherwise and partially because that while he’s a really sweet and cute little boy he also struck me as the most timid of them all. But I didn’t really get a chance to talk to any staffers, so I don’t know if something unforeseen happened or if they just changed their mind about who to keep. I also must admit that it’s not the choice I would have made. I’m going to really miss Bandit, such a little sweet trooper. And the dark boy who was such a confident and beautiful guy. And the brown-headed one who was so affectionate. And the dark-headed one who was sick at first and not so outgoing but grew out of it. I will miss them all and I just wish we could have kept them, every one. If only. But Bandit’s brother is a little darling too and I’m sure we’ll have good times together. I’m not sure if they have named him yet. I was thinking of Champagne, don’t know why. I guess it’s more of a girl’s name. Maybe some future kid can be called that.

Magnethe was NOT in a good mood. Not surprisingly either. It’s just a little heartbreaking to think that she’s had another batch of babies taken away. She was complaining a lot, like she was expecting them to come running back from around the little hills in the distance. Poor girl. I don’t now when the boys left but it didn’t seem like she’s gotten used to it yet… she was butting me around a bit too, obviously not happy. Can’t blame her. Snow White was in a better mood of course. She still has one boy. And now that he’s on his own he won’t go adventuring as much while the adults are tied down. He would come over to me while I was sitting up against a tree at Magnethe’s spot. And when Magnethe noticed him she’d come charging and chase hime away. She was not in a mood to tolerate other goat’s babies.

So that has naturally put a damper on my mood. The warm weather and the new computer had me quite happy. And I still am. I can feel that I have tried this before. I knew I’d be saying goodbye to these guys and life does go on. I really hope they found some good new homes for them. Maybe Magnethe’s dark boy can get to spread his good genes around now that he won’t have to be castrated. Let’s hope so. See you on the other side, boys.

At least my new computer is a great tool for distracting myself from various things that I do not wish to think about. Shiny things grab my attention.