A Tale Of Two Bodils
It’s been a quite nice week. Very cold, though. I bought a new fleece undercoat thingie. It’s very warm and comfy. But even that is barely enough. I had an appointment at the eye doctor on Tuesday. My dad came with me. He always does because after I have had eyedrops my eyesight is so blurry that getting around is hard. But I couldn’t help noticing that my dad barely had buttoned up his shirt. Meanwhile I was in a huge winter coat with sweater and mittens and chemical hand warmers and so on. Yeah. I really have no tolerance for the cold anymore.
Nothing new about my eyes. Things are still stable, so that’s all I can ask for. I’ll be back for my next checkup in 6 months.
Fun times with the goats as well. Someone put a stack of tree chunks in the pen and I had a good, sweaty, time moving things around and building a little stairway for the goats to play on. It’s a good way to keep warm. I’ve been moving the big pile of branches from the big storm to the other side of the pen too, little by little.
Bodil came by too. And gave me a little present. It’s a little christmas tree that you can plug into your computer and it lights up and changes colour! Haha. So that’s very festive.
But Bodil was not the only Bodil who came by this week. We had another big storm. And it was named Bodil! So I found that quite amusing. Big Bad Bodil. I think it was a pretty big one, but no falling trees at the playground this time. It did bring snow, though. The first real snow of the season. I was watching the local weather forecast like a hawk. I wanted to make sure that I was there to see Palle’s first look at the snow. So it turned out to snow Thursday night. I got up really early on Friday. I was a little concerned that the playground might open at 8 in the morning. So I thought had to get up there before then just to be sure. Turned out they opened at 10 like normal. Oh well! It wasn’t the nicest morning, walking in the snow in the dark in the bad neighbourhood. But it turned out to be a good thing because I got to spend some time inside with the goats while it was still dark. I felt like I got a little glimpse of how they must be at night. I was happy to see all four of them sitting down together. I had sort of imagined that Kamel would be sitting alone in a corner at night. But I guess they get along better once all the food is eaten and it’s just time to relax! It was sweet to see them together like that.
Once it started getting lighter outside I let the goats out. Normally I don’t let them out when I’m on my own at the playground. But this was a special occasion. And at that point there was only about half an hour until opening time anyway. So I unlocked the hatch door, but left it closed. Then I went out and into the pen and opened the hatch door from that side. So I could watch Palle go outside in the snow for the first time. It was lovely to watch. He sniffed around at the snow and did a quick round trip, checking to see that there was snow everywhere. And then he jumped right back inside! Haha. I’m not sure he liked all that cold, wet stuff. But he quickly came back out to play. And eat. And took it pretty much in his stride after the first curiosity. And all the goats went about their usual business. Nibbling at the branches and hay leftover from the day before. And I enjoyed watching them while the sun rose beyond the trees. A lovely, cold morning. It was a good time and I was happy that I got to see Palle’s first steps in the snow. He’s a big boy now. I look forward to seeing him in a snowfall. Snowflakes on his black fur. That will be nice.
On with the pictures.
The USB christmas tree from Bodil! Not quite big enough to ance around, but very jolly.
All four goats sitting together in the dark. I love this.
Mia looking out on the snow.
Palle’s eye.
Classic Kamel, with the slightly parted mouth.
Mia’s eye.
More Mia in the snow.
Mia and Palle snuggling up sweetly.
Mia and Palle out in the snow. Palle on the treechunkstairway I made.
Mio in the sun in the snow.
Palle and the rising sun.
And one more Palle.
And videos. First the snowday. Inside with the goats in the dark and then Palle’s first steps in the snow.
And a goatlog from Monday+Tuesday+Thursday, before the storm. The usual fun goat stuff. Headbutting and hay eating and climbing on branches and so on.
And that’s all for this week, folks. See you in the next one.
December 9th, 2013 at 17:14
The Christmas tree from Bodil is really pretty. I’ll bet it looks nice at night, too.
Palle was surprised at all that white stuff on the ground. I don’t think he was ready to come out of the barn except there were some pushy goats behind him.
He was carefully walking in the snow like a cat walks when its feet are wet. Then when he went over to the gate and stuck his head through it just to make sure it was white outside the pen as well as inside.
When he went back inside the barn and stuck his head out, I could just see him puzzling it out in his goatzie brain.
“I went to bed last night and the ground was brown and green and dry. Now this morning it’s a different color and it’s wet. And none of the other goats seem to be too concerned. What’s going on?”
Then he comes out again and goes over to the tree branch pile and I think eats some snow along with the tree bark. Evidently he didn’t read the inter-office goat memo about snow – what it is and how it works!
Great video of Palle’s first snow adventure. Eight years ago, our boys wouldn’t come out of the barn the first time we had snow. We had to go inside and chase, pull, and push them out to eat hay and drink water. I think they would still be inside the barn if we hadn’t persisted in getting them out.
John Boy and Billy were not happy about the snow either. They sunk into 3 to 4 inches of snow and just stood there unhappily. I had to start playing “gonna get a goat” where I sneak up on them, touch them, and then run off all the while saying: I’m gonna get a goat!
Once they were over the shock of the snow, they started playing in it and chasing me around the pen. They are so funny in the snow. They don’t seem to mind it too much now.
December 11th, 2013 at 16:59
I was successful in mailing off a package and card to you on Monday the 9th. Sure was difficult to get those 6 baby goats in the box! Hee, hee.
If I had 6 baby goats, I wouldn’t be sending them to you. I’d keep them for myself.
December 12th, 2013 at 8:55
I was really happy I got to see Palle’s first time in the snow! It’s always sweet to get to see moments like that. The snow was gone again by Monday and they all seemed just as surprised that it was gone as they were when it was there!
Haha I wanna play Gonna Get a Goat now! I will have to try that. I wonder how we reacted the first time we saw snow? Now that I’d like to see a video of. It’s too cold for me these days, but still looks as lovely. The goats are getting woollier now. And I’m wearing 17 layers. It’s winter alright!
December 12th, 2013 at 16:06
oh and yeah for package! Thank you kindly. I’m expecting to get baby goats from Mio, so no sweat! I think I still owe you amazong things, so if you want something this christmas just make a wishlist!