You likely recall my story about Gary
and me tugging and pulling trying to get a very resistant pregnant goat
transferred from my brother’s barnyard to ours.
Hoping to beat the arrival of her babies, I've worked diligently to get her
trained to get on the stanchion to eat. I’ll
tell you, she’s not a stupid cookie! She
maneuvered every which way trying to get to the treat waiting for her without
having to get up on that stanchion! We
nailed a sheet of metal to the side of the stanchion so that she wouldn't go
around it for the treat. We nailed another sheet of metal to the front of
the stanchion so that she had to put
her head through the proper opening in order to get to the snack. Little by little she learned that if she
really wanted that treat, she’d have to find a way to get those wide horns
through the narrow head-stall. One day
she’d do it. The next day she’d
balk. As she came to understand that I
had no intention of hurting her, she did it more and more without hesitation. At first I allowed her to eat without locking
her in. Then I began to lock her in
extending the time period each day. Once
she was used to the head-stall, I began to touch, rub and tug on her utter
until she was willing to allow me to do it without resistance. As the days went by she and I became friends.
I had read that goats like to eat Marigolds and here at
Marigold Meadows we have lots of them. So I gathered up some dried flower heads one
day and took them to her as a gift. I
explained to her that she and I would soon spend time together milking every day
and that she would be providing a very important need for us at Marigold
Meadows. I asked her if she would mind if
I called her “Marigold”. While she obviously didn't verbally respond, twice a day Marigold hears me coming and makes sure
that she is in the barnyard to greet me with her gentle bleating.
As the days went by Marigold’s tummy got so big that I swore
she had a truck-load of goaties in there.
Her udder got so full that she could barely walk, but she was always
there to greet me. Until one day, not
only didn't I see her when I came across the meadow, I didn't hear her either. My heart leaped with anticipation.
I came around the corner of the barn
and there she was with twins
that were still moist from the
delivery!
I must have just
missed it because shortly after I arrived, she delivered the placenta. I was so excited I could hardly talk. I went into the barn where they were and
asked Marigold if I could see her babies.
She had no problem with my presence.
In fact, as I picked her babies up into my arms to welcome them to our
farm, Marigold looked at me as if to say, “ Aren't they just precious?” I couldn't agree more.
Whole-Heartedly,
Bonnie
P.S. Please
feel free to contact me with questions, thoughts, topics you’d like to ponder
or to read past articles at: http://whole-heartedlife.blogspot.com/. You may also contact me at:
Bonnie Jaeckle
In Search
of the Whole-Hearted Life
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