Returning to the Earth

I lived that "other" life and now, in my retirement years, have returned to farming. There's nothing in that other world that compares to a ripe tomato just picked, still warm from the sun. Or fresh goat milk, only as old as the time it took to cool it. Every morning is like Christmas when I go to the chicken coop with a basket to see what presents the girls have left for me today. I get my weather forecast by observing animal behavior and can trust that the dogs will give me all the warning and protection I'll ever need. I enjoy the bounty of the harvest all winter when I enjoy vegetables I've put up - corn that tastes like it was just picked, green beans and asparagus so full of flavor my mouth begins watering by the mere sight and smell of them; potatoes, beets, squash and carrots stored in the root cellar that taste like they've just been dug from the earth. I've heard it said that the trick to happiness is to make a life that you never need to take a vacation from. Returning to the earth is just that.

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Visitors

They're not mine. Only visiting for the summer to mow a pasture that the goats won't eat. It's a fallacy that goats will eat anything. They're actually rather picky, especially when it comes to grazing. They're browsers by nature but will graze grass if there's no trees to destroy. This particular pasture has what we call swamp grass, which has fairly sharp edges when it matures. Horses don't seem to care - "if it's green, it's keen" is their motto. They do make lovely ornaments, don't they?

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Spring

Ah, spring is in the air. Grass is starting to turn green here in the north country, trees are budding, birds are singing, robins have been back for weeks searching the warming earth for worms, geese and ducks can be seen on the ponds and rivers. Spring rains give that wonderfully earthy smell to the air. Goats have kidded, new chicks are growing fast. Yes, spring is in the air. So what's up with what I woke up to this morning? OK, Mother Nature, this is not funny. I've long since tired of taking pictures of the beautiful snow. So enough already!

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As Much Fun As A Puppy!

What's as much fun as a puppy? Vern is!

Vern's mama rejected him so he's come to live with us. I know, who could reject that face, right? Since he's only 2 weeks old, has no mama to protect him and keep him warm, he's a house goat till he gets bigger and the weather gets warmer. Meanwhile, he's making himself at home in the rooms with no rugs, making friends with the dogs, nibbling everything in sight, and being a kid (the goat kind). Yup, just as much fun as a puppy!

Vern is a Boer goat and will be next year's baby daddy. I know, hard to believe he'll be old enough to breed next fall. But they do grow up fast.

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The Shooting Tree

You've heard of The Giving Tree, well, we have a shooting tree - or at least had one. There's been one particular tree that everyone has stapled targets to for shooting practice. It made a nice gun range since it was a lone tree in a small field with nothing but woods behind it. Over the years it must have stopped thousands of bullets. But even a big tree has its limits. A wind storm came up and blew it over. Since this was the only tree to topple, I can only assume it wasn't a big wind, but just enough to finally do in a weakened trunk.

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