My Darlin' Darla
My Sweet Bill laughing at Darla's goat dance!
Today I am very lucky...I smell of goat.
The phone rang early this morning and it was Farmer Lyle telling me to come on right over...the new goats were here! I tossed on my barn clothes and headed out the door.
I've been waiting for these wee ones since my adventure with Sweet Bill the Yule goat back in December. It's been a long wait.
I've known from the start of my goat borrowing that to borrow a goat usually means standing betwixt goat and fence, passing over some apple bread and getting a few much appreciated snuggles in return. It's always rather sad to have to leave the farm never really knowing the joy of true interaction with the herd.
But that all changed today as I spent the day feeding, snuzzling and loving the brand new kid who was ignored by his Ma. Sad, but I understand that these things happen and it's up to the humans to step in and make things right. I was ever so happy to be that human!
Two other kids were born as well but their mothers took charge and they are doing very well. They look so big and strong beside my wee goat. I feel so bad that she isn't accepted by the others and is rather bereft in the big barn. I was adopted from Heidelberg, Germany so I guess this must be how I was before my new family came for me. We make a fine pair then, eh?
At first I just wanted to take her home with me and let her gain strength in a pen in my house but Farmer Lyle said while that sounded like a good idea she would become acclimated to neither the barn climate nor, more importantly, become educated as a goat.
So I spent the day learning to feed and care for not only the wee one but also the others and then got a latches & lights tour of the barn. Farmer Lyle says that if I care for this goat and get her used to me that she will be the goat we use in our storytelling adventures! He has high hopes for this wee one to become our fairytale goat and learn to visit the children and teach them all about the goat world. With luck and love all will go well and she'll also be designated Yule Goat this coming year!
I also got to see my Sweet Bill who followed me everywhere and gave me many, many snuzzles and whispered a few goat secrets in my ear. It was good to see him again. He'll always be special to me.
I'm honored that Farmer Lyle would trust me, a mere goat borrower, with his barn and goats and am overwhelmed with joy at the prospect of taking on the care and feeding of this wee babe. An everyday occurrence for a great many people and a small miracle to be sure but to me a miracle nonetheless.
Farmer Lyle has 50 years of goat raising under his belt....I'm so blessed that he has agreed to teach me.
My wee charges name is Darla....Darlin' Darla...and she is, darling that is!
I love her so already. My heart is bursting at the thought of caring for her.
She's so frail yet, though spunky, and has already done a wee goat dance for me and Bill and she made us laugh and laugh!
You can be sure that I will do my best to keep her safe and healthy and I look forward to sharing the experience with you all. Millie, you were ever so right....goats ARE knocking on my door!
And like my dear wish-friend said to me today: "You never know how your day will end."
I have to run now...time to go back to the barn.......
~Mimi, The True Goat Borrower
;)
