Summer Solstice

June 21 is the first official day of summer. It is also known as Litha. I remember two years ago what big event happened here. Madilyn finally had her twin girls. She had her first babies three years before. Rocky and Alvin were her first babies. Rocky earned his name be being born dead (vet pulled him like a licorice stick and in and out because he was backwards and both babies were trying to come at the same time). After a few minutes he took his first breath and after a couple of days you'd have never known he had such a Rocky start. Maddie would not take him back, however, because she was sure he was dead when the human took him to the house. She just couldn't take him back. Her heart broke the first time she lost him, and she would not lose him again. Rocky went to a new forever farm, and she was a great mom to Alvin.

Madilyn May Saanen

The next year, she got all nervous about giving birth again. Heck, who wouldn't after her first experience. Well, it was better the second year. A little bit. She only had one baby. The human had to pull it. I happened to be nearby and heard her talking to the vet about how all she could feel were huge feet, face and no space. After several efforts, she finally got him out. He was christened Goliath, and Maddie was retired from having babies. She had some unknown udder issues, and the human helped feed Goliath sometimes. Retirement was a welcome relief for her. She played and cavorted like she was a kid again.

Goliath James Osboer

The next year, when everyone else had babies, Maddie was jealous. She was very upset that she wasn't going to have another baby. She even tried to steal my daughter, Pebbles. I was distracted, giving birth to Bam Bam, and Maddie had Pebbles, washing her and encouraging her to nurse. Thankfully, the human came in and rescued my baby. She threatened that Maddie could get locked up for kidnapping. Instead, my kids and I went into protective custody until they were old enough to know who their mama was. After her emotional tirade and attempted kidnapping, the human relented and told her she could have babies again. That fall, when she came into heat, I thought she was going to climb the fence to get to Grover. The human finally convinced her to at least wait until June to have her kids. That way, if she needed help taking care of them, the human would be here for her.

That brings us to two years ago. June 21, Litha. Maddie went into labor. She tried having the kids on her own, but it did not happen. The human went in and found what appeared to be a headless kid, at least that's what she told her mom. There was a fold in Maddie's uterus that the baby was stuck behind. Once she got the head pulled around, the baby came easily. The second one was also no problem.

She finally had her daughters, two of them. One was named Litha in honor of the day.

Litha May Street

The other was going to be named Rain because of the gentle rain that was falling, but right after she was born, all hail broke loose. She was instead named Stormy.

Stormy Sue Street

Madilyn May Saanen had always been sickly, nearly dying as a baby, and having these girls seemed to be the beginning of her demise. She raised her daughters all on her own, and she was very proud of that. She was proud of giving the human two beautiful daughters. It's what she wanted, and she got to watch her girls grow up. They were such doting daughters, staying with her rather than running and playing in pasture with the other kids. She left this world in December, right around the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.

Maddie with daughters Stormy (top) and Litha.

Today, we celebrate the fullness and richness of life. The longest day of the year. The height of the growing season. The sunlight blessing us and allowing all things to grow. We look to the shortening days and know that the cycle of life continues. Soon the nights will be longer and the days shorter. We know also, that certainly this pattern will continue endlessly. On the farm, Litha and Stormy now have their own kids. This year, Litha has a daughter and she has been named Madilyn May.

Madilyn May Blackboer

And we wish Stormy and Litha a very happy birthday.

Sally

Sallie (with her Mom Annie) isn't feeling well. She has a fever and is losing weight. You can see from this picture in May that she is a nice looking lady (even if she isn't one of my descendants).

The human gave her some medicine to help her get better. She might even get a visit from the vet in the morning. Please send her happy healthy thoughts because we do like our little Sally Ally Blackboer.

What I Saw Today

Do these kids look like they're stuck?

No, they can crawl out from behind the gate. Do Bekka (little one) and Maggie (big one) look like they're stuck behind the gate?

No, Bekka is little and can fit just about anywhere. Maggie is smart enough to know how to push the gate and get herself out. Does Helen look like she's stuck?

Yep. There's no way for that goat to get out except walking in reverse and going around a sharp curve where she would barely fit. The human had to move the gate. We still aren't sure what possessed her to go back there in the first place.

The bee balm is blooming. It smells so sweet and lemony. I just love it's feathery flowers.

The rooster takes his job of Guardian of the Kids quite seriously. He's always keeping an eye on them. I would hate to be the one who tries to be mean to them because I think the rooster would attack.

Leo is quite the silly kitty. He's really enjoying getting to come outside. He used to be a stray living in the barn. Then he became a house cat (allergies). Now, he's a wherever he wants to be cat like the other ones.

It's Litha's daughter Maddie. For some reason, Litha can't keep track of her kids. They're not naughty like Pistol. They're being good, but she can never find them.

These three goslings are enjoying the pool. I don't think I'd like to play in green water, but they don't seem to mind. The human says there's already too much mud to just dump all that water. Besides we have clean water to drink. Personally, I think she's just too lazy to put clean water in there.

They're starting to get wings! Maybe that means they are growing up and then their parents won't attack anyone who comes within fifty feet of their precious little babies.

Udderly Ridiculous

Do you remember these two?

They are Flower and Bud, Mabel's two kids. The human just bought milk replacer for them. Is that not just udderly ridiculous with all the nannies we have here. Obviously I have to have my milk to feed my babies (and any friend they drag home). Minnie is standing in line to be milked. The human just tells her, "You're not even lactating. I can't milk you."

She is milking Dolly, but she's just one little goat. Does it look like she can keep up with those two growing kids? I don't think so.

Pam is super stressed from being weaned and moved. She's drying up. Meg has allergies and the human told her to work on building her own strength up instead of making milk. I do think Meg could handle it if she weren't trying to breathe through the allergies.

Pebbles still has her daughters with her, so she'd never get any milk from her. That leaves Lily. Don't you think Lily would be the perfect milking nanny? Look at that full udder. Look at those perfectly milkable teats.

Well, she won't have anything to do with it. I don't get it. All you have to do is stand there and eat corn. No other goats around to mess with you. Just stand there and let the human milk. When she's done, your udder feels better. How ridiculous that she's buying milk replacer.

My Grandkids and Other Things

Well, I was on maternity leave for a while, so other things have happened. This might be my blog, but I do try to talk about all the events around the barnyard, not just ME. But here's another cute picture of my kids. Is that too much? Look at Bambi go; she's just a blur.

Probably the most exciting thing while I was on leave was that my daughter Joe had her kids. It was another rainy night, and the human brought Joe into my nice private room. I know I didn't holler that loudly when I was in labor. I guess, since her boy was as big as Beau, and had his leg bent back (the human went in after it), I can understand all the racket. While she was washing him off, her daughter fell out. Seriously, you'd think she would lay down when the contractions started again, but I guess after such a big boy, she just didn't even notice her daughter. I'm going to have to have a chat with that girl. Here they are, Flash on the left and Bekka on the right.

Are we practicing for the goose ballet? Look at that extension! Perfect lines.

Betty Lou tried to hold out and beat my record five days overdue, but she gave birth on Monday. That was only three days past her due date. She had two boys. They still don't have names. Any suggestions?

The red one is polled and photogenic. The black one is not very good at posing for pictures, and he has horns. That's Betty Lou peeking in the manger to make sure her boys are getting along.

Finally, we are into a new flower season. Lilies.

Do you suppose it tastes good?

How Did This Happen?

I'm back. If only the weather would be nicer, life would be perfect. I did finally bring my kids out to see the barnyard.

I pride myself on being one of the milking nannies here at Eden Hills. Do you see why the human likes to milk me? I certainly can feed my kids.

Beau met Peanut, Litha's little boy. They seemed to get along really well.

I'm not one of those moms that think their kids shouldn't play with others (Scarlet, Mabel). I like that my boy was having fun and playing.

Finally, it was dinner time, and I called to Beau and Bambi to come eat. I like to stand still to make sure they get all they want. Do you notice something wrong with this picture?

I did not know Beau had invited his new friend over for dinner.

He certainly was a greedy little dinner guest. Finally, I did notice that my little girl was not the one nursing.

He did not take my hints very well about finishing his dinner with his mom.

Seriously, I am not running an open milk bar here. Litha needs to get her butt up out of pasture and feed her kids.

Maternity Leave

I will be taking a few days off to enjoy time with my new kids. They arrived around seven this morning.

Meet my little boy Beau

and my little girl Bambi.

I hope you don't miss me too much. Hopefully, nobody else hijacks my blog. They better keep their hooves off.