We learn resilience having animals, who grace our lives briefly, and move on. Animals, and the natural world, are good for what ails us, a balm for sadness, and a blessing here, where we are surrounded by creatures and the flourishing Spring.
May has blown in with sunshine and blue skies, but we are enduring fierce winds, continuing for four days as April blew away. Catching up on the blog will not be possible. So, I will start with today, and try to get back to some of the highlights over the past few weeks. The last weekend in April will get a blog of its own tomorrow.
Today, Harry, Weedy and I drove north to Pike County to visit Bunny and Holly and the goats at Rockford Farms.
Holly fixed a delicious lunch, and we had a grand time reminiscing with Bunny. Having seen plenty of goats, Bunny elected to stay home, while we ventured out with Holly to see the increasing herd. There have been many kids since our last visit at the end of January, when we celebrated the arrival of Winston, the first kid of the year.
I love goats! This is a very happy and friendly herd. Pictures do not do justice to the experience of being surrounded by goats of all sizes and colors. It was a very special day. The wind was relentless, but we could actually appreciate the beauty of it turning the nearby field of winter wheat into a tossing sea. Those green waves will soon be amber waves of grain.
And then, there were the eight bottle babies at the barn! Rescued from misfortune and near death, these kids are now about a month old, and thriving thanks to Holly’s dedicated bottle feeding. Every one of them is treasured. Zest, the accomplished actress goat from last year’s Tennessee Williams Festival, left the herd to join us at the barnyard.
I’m afraid we were a hindrance to Holly, who has just arrived back from a trip, but she was, as ever, gracious and generous, sharing her happy herd with us.
Back home, our little herd of horses has switched over to night turnout. It’s always a bit of an adjustment in the routine, but they much prefer to be in the barn away from flies during the day. Flies are biting, along with ticks, alas.
French lilacs are blooming, the rose breasted grosbeak has returned, as has the summer tanager, and I have heard the catbird. It really is an uncommonly beautiful Spring.
Weedy is tired after a day of adventure. His old lady partners, Nettie and Cedar, didn’t miss us much. They like sleeping more than adventures these days.
I will leave you with this beautiful picture Nancy took, of Steve’s anvil outside their house in Montana. Steve’s spirit is there in the mountains.
Be safe, be well. Slava Ukraini! Peace.
Bunny looks great!
Those goats look soooo happy there. Over on this side they are pretty tightly contained in acre pastures. That place is so spacious. Holly and Bunny both look wonderful. What a grreat visit. No horses anymore?.
Yes, there are still two horses but they were not fraternizing with goats!
Goodness, what a lot of goats! What fun. And work! Bunny’s dress fabric is from somewhere foreign…Indonesia. She wears it well.
That last photograph is so beautiful.
Steel and flesh coexist for only a short while. The grace, simplicity and strength of that anvil, reflecting a small piece of the souls who molded it, speaks to me.
Love the photos! My thoughts are with Nancy, a gorgeous view indeed with the anvil.