Got and itch? Scratch it!

Coyote Creek Ranch Holly shows how to use the downed trees as a tummy scratcher. -Pat

Walking with Purpose

I love this photo of Cameo and her daughter marching along. It reminds me of the cartoon based on the book "Madeline." All the little school girls with their uniforms and big hats with the long ribbons marching along the streets of Paris. -Pat

Silver Fox found some yummy forage out in the woods. -Pat

Burnt rolls??

New photos of the mushrooms after days of searing heat. -Pat

Grass is growing again..............

Things are starting to green up here and the goats are loving it! I just pray that that there will be more hay to cut soon. -Pat

Mushrooms................

We've had quite a bit of rain and high humidity over the past week or two. Mushrooms are popping up everywhere. These are rather strange looking. Ms Charlie said she thought they looked like dinner rolls. I think she is right. -Pat

Got Milk?

We have finally been getting some much needed rain. The yard goats as we call the ones free to roam the bulk of the property can also get up on my front porch. It is one of their favorite places to get when it rains. Cameo, my Alpine doe (yes, I know she is colored like a Toggenburg) apparently got separated from her doeling last night. This is the view I got when looking out the french doors in the kitchen.

Cameo is a wonderful milk goat.-Pat

Daydreaming..........

I couldn't pass up this photo of BTR Rachel, Boer/Myo cross doe. She was standing on a stump with her front feet gazing off as though deep in thought. I wonder what she is thinking about. -Pat

A Little More Trouble............

Standing around waiting on water tubs to fill on those hot, sultry days provides a lot of time for photo opportunities. That is if you want to lug around your bulky camera, and I usually do. This time Trouble is actually where she is supposed to be out in pasture 2. As you can see she is being a little naughty. -Pat

More Trouble...............

Yesterday Trouble decided that the feed room needed inspecting. She wasn't particularly hungry, she just wanted to snoop around. I went on about my business of feeding goats and when I came back to get more buckets this is what I found.

I had to coax her outside to take her photo. She acted as though nothing was out of the ordinary. Such a funny little goat! -Pat

Trudi's Trouble is a special little TexMaster doeling. Trudi, her dam has always marched to her own drum and her daughter, Trouble is much like her. Very independent and finding all kinds of ways to entertain herself. I remember when Trouble was about 3-4 days old and I found her while I was outside making my 1am baby check. Most of the yard goats were laying out behind the barn and right in the midst of them was a beautiful blue doe. I thought who in the world could that baby belong to ? No one in the yard was due yet. I scooped her up to check her navel (which was dried up) and thought hmmm........who is this? I headed out to pasture 2 first as it was closest and found Trudi laying in front of a shelter guarding.............an empty house. I asked Trudi if she was missing something and held the baby out to her. She looked at the baby, looked inside the shelter, looked at the baby again, looked inside the shelter one more time and gave me that she was in there when I went to sleep look.

I threaten to carry a small notebook in my pocket and keep a log of Trouble sightings throughout my day. She may be laying on the front porch of the house, out in pasture 1 visiting, in the hay barn, playing on the trailer out front, laying on the riding mower seat, exploring my buggy..........she is everywhere. If my small pocket camera was working I would snap photos of her throughout the day in her various places she is not supposed to be.

My favorite photo of Trudi and me. And of course a photo of Trudi's Trouble. -Pat

Philicia...........must look up for browse

With all the ground vegetation burnt up from the drought the goats are having to look up more and more to find any green stuff to eat. Philicia, the LaMancha is thankful for such a long neck that stretches out far enough to snag a bite of cedar. -Pat

Two of my favorite gals........

These two does have made some tremendous contributions to my TexMaster herd. I know I had this photo up on my old blog but ran across it again today and had to put it up here as well.
BTR Clementine and BTR Angel. -Pat

Anybody got a bottle out there?

Sally Jane wants to know where her bottle is and why it is taking so long.-Pat

Another great dog passes.............

Bolivar the Komondor livestock guardian dog came to us late in his life. He was a faithful guardian of his goats loving them all and woo-woo-whooing when someone was sick or needed assistance. We learned his different barks and cries and knew when we needed to go running or just to hollar "hello big guy" to him.

Bollie dropped in his tracks Tuesday morning out with the goats he loved so much. His presence is sorely missed.

Series of good-byes.............

The past couple of weeks have forced us to say "good-bye" to two of our faithful 4-legged friends. Mario, our Australian Shepherd began to fail and a visit to the vet confirmed the worst.......kidney failure. Mario was 13.5 yrs old, a faithful, loyal companion to the very end. A very sensitive dog as most Aussies are he knew when a gentle paw was needed or just to lend an ear. He had the softest, most luxurious coat, a wonderful coat to stroke or cry into. You rarely found him without a toy in his mouth when inside the house. Occasionally he would try to slip one out with him especially this past year as he became more confused.

Thank you Mario for filling such a special place in our hearts. Good Boy, Mario.........Good Boy!!