Goats, Rats, Eric & More

Good Evening!

I am super excited to let you know that Chino and Tulips are not only tolerating each other, but really seem to be enjoying each others company. The very day after I last wrote, we spent putting up a gate in their barn. It was clear that they needed to be together and sleep in the same space, but it would take some time before I would feel comfortable leaving them alone. So, Eric and I did some measuring, I dug a post hole, and we headed down to our local farm store to purchase a gate. Just like it was meant to be, the kind woman checking us out mentioned they would have metal gates at the store’s sidewalk sale the next day and asked if we would be interested. Well, of course! Sure enough she did some checking and there was a 6ft. metal gate, just what we were purchasing, and they would even let us buy it that day, a day early! She ended up saving us $30, just because she was a thoughtful woman! I was pretty excited and also felt reassured, that yep, this is the right thing to be doing! J So, that night Chino and Tulips slept in the barn together. Chino especially likes it because he gets lots of peanuts for being a good boy and going to bed. He only gave one or two good headbutts to the gate, but otherwise seemed to settle in quite well. Tulips seemed to be a bit nervous at first that he was in there, but then relieved that she wasn’t alone. I stood quietly outside the barn for a while to listen closely and see if they would settle in once I was gone. There was a bleet or two from Chino and you could hear Tulips up on the edge looking out the window, but without too long they were settled in for the night. I was up early the next morning excited to get back down to the barn and see how they did their first night. I snuck up to the window to catch them both just rising from a laying position. My heart felt full and was so happy they had a restful night. After I opened the barn door, there was a bit of running around and possible play happening – but hard to tell….I still sensed some tension in the air. The next night they already had an idea of the new routine and Chino played it off a bit, most likely to get a few extra peanuts, but they went to bed fairly easily. And that following morning is when I took the video. Over 3 minutes of head butting, tail wagging, and running around. No doubt this morning they were having a good time and now buds. Chino was such a sweet boy, head butting nice and gentle to Tulips. It was so rewarding to watch, knowing that they were happy and this is going to work out after all! What a relief. Since then, all has been well. They seem to enjoy the barn and their new sleeping arrangement. Every morning there is play time and snuggles, then they wander through the pasture to find something to browse on. Another Fun Fact: Goats are browsers – more like deer, not grazers – as are sheep. They like woody things, branches, trees, stems, leaves, as well as grass. Today I was lucky enough to see the two of them snuggling. Chino lowers his head and Tulips fits her face right in between his horns, with her nose pointed down touching his forehead. I didn’t have a camera with me either time, but it is adorable. A goat hug?!
All the other critters are doing well. Maya has taken to rat hunting. We’ve known she is a hunter, but her newest thing is rats, which is fine by us. We have had two now in the back shop where we keep all the feed. The feed is in air tight containers and they can’t get into it, but you can see the droppings on top of the containers that they leave for evidence. Maya has already “taken care” of one and the last couple days and as I write this she is trying for the second. Rats are not good for farm animals. They will eat a bird, feast on wounds, they can do a lot of damage, so that is the one, and only, animal we prefer not to be living here. Moth balls may be the way to go to prevent future inhabiting.
I am also grateful to report that Eric is doing well. He has come such a long way in a short period of time. He works so hard at Physical Therapy and does exercises twice daily at home working to get full flexibility with his leg and building its strength back as well. Today I noticed he barely even had a limp. The last Dr.’s appt. he received a bit of a lecture because the surgeon didn’t feel his leg was as straight as it could/needs to be, so he has been working really diligently on the straightening of the leg and our next follow-up appt is Friday. Fingers crossed the surgeon finds it sufficient and we can keep moving forward. Eric’s newest project is building a new set of stairs from the upper part of our driveway down to the bird yard and goat pasture and where his shop is. There is currently a version of stairs, but it is pure luck and good kharma that you survive them in the winter months with snow and ice and they are far from being able to call them safe the rest of the year. Most visitors we’ve had that have experienced them once, decide to take the driveway…it’s the long route, but they feel its worth the extra mileage not to have to conquer the current stairs. He does things so quickly and beautifully. They are already half way done and will be such a nice addition, especially since we use them multiple times a day.

I have been back flying on weekends for the last few weeks. Now that Eric is healthy and mobile and the goats are situated, it makes it easier for me to leave for a few days at a time. Eric holds down the fort while I am gone and takes over all the animal duties. Tulips is particularly fond of him and likes to rub up on him anytime she sees him. It has been nice to be back in the air and flying around the beautiful Pacific Northwest, but its always hard to leave my wonderful family and I’m always eager to get back home, even just after a couple days. I feel very fortunate to feel that way and am grateful to have a family and home I love so much. 
This afternoon I picked vegetables from our garden, blackberries from our bushes and then Eric and I went down to a local watering hole and took a dip in the river. All while I was thinking how lucky I was to be able to do that, and how fun it would be to invite others to do it with me, whom otherwise may not have the opportunity to do so. So, if any of you want to come visit, please do! 
I’m sitting at our picnic table in the goat yard with a glass of wine as I write this. It is so peaceful with a nice breeze, the crickets chirping and the rustle in the bushes of Chino and Tulips browsing around eating shrubbery. But, it is dusk, and dark is quickly approaching, so I better be getting to tucking the animals in for bed. 

I wish you all a peaceful evening. 

~ Namaste