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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Goat Proof. And other Oxymorons.

Technical Assistance and Government/Military Intelligence come to mind.

After completing all my usual Saturday errands (Ellie to Adoption Clinic - where she was adopted!  I am equal parts happy/sad), I came back to start chipping away at the list that was too large for my weekend.  The rest of my day went like this:

Shovel composted llama beans into wheelbarrow.  Half way full when....screaming from Sage.  Chick had discovered I did not hook the bottom latch of the sheep/goat gate.  He was being pummeled by Juno.  Drop everything, go rescue Chick, resume shoveling.

Wheelbarrow two-thirds full.  Screaming from Sage.  Chick and Juno are now beating up the fence trying to butt heads and generally do each other in.  I go get the hose and spray both of them.

Repeat the above ten times.  If someone had come looking for Nigerian Dwarf goats, they could have gotten all four for a dollar.

The LLG (Lithuanian Lawn Guy) and I managed to free the bottom of the hoop house and heave it on its side.  This cleared the way for easy access to the brown gold of the foot-thick composted llama bean pile.

I did manage to get a load of laundry up - although the weather was iffy.  It was an intensive all-gardening weekend.  While I generally gave up and spent a good amount of time snorgling goat kids on Saturday, Sunday was all business.  I got out the door at 9A to take trash and recycling to the transfer station, came home, put on my gloves, got my gear, and - with the exception of a couple water/potty breaks - didn't stop until 5P.  The forecast sounded great - overcast, warm, with a slight chance of an occasional shower.  What actually occurred was a steady drizzly, chilly rain from 9A until Monday.  I told myself that I would stop once the water wicking up my pant legs got above the knee.  That was just around 5P.  I managed to get both strawberry beds weeded and mulched, the currant patch mulched, the tomato/pepper/cuke bed filled with compost, hoed and planted.  I also shoveled 12 buckets of compost, planted Jerusalem artichokes, hoed, composted and planted the potato tires, and dug, sawed and hacked my way through the overgrown hydrangea by the front deck.  Then I cleaned everything up, fed everyone, did chores, and came in and had a very large and wonderful G&T.

Yesterday was a day off, so that I could spend two and a half hours in various garages getting work done on the car, then I drove to Marianne's where we planted tomatoes and weeded her entire greenhouse.  The weather forecast was perfect for that - overcast, cool, slight breeze.  The actual weather?  Hot, bright sun, humid, no breeze.  Are you seeing a pattern here?  Do you think that any of us, being so consistently bad at our jobs, would still have our jobs?  I think not.

Everyone's settling down at home, although I do miss Ellie.  There's something about having a puppy around that just livens things up.  Then, again, if we are too livened up, we may all collapse in a heap.  We are keeping fingers, toes and paws crossed that this new adventure will be the perfect forever home for her.  It sounds promising.  If not?  I happen to know of a home that would love to have her.  Well, at least one of the inhabitants would...

11 comments:

Carolyn said...

Soooooo glad that Ellie was adopted. You should foster more often....it's kind'a like grandkids (or so I hear); you get to enjoy them for a while & then when they get annoying, ship them back off to their parents.

Carolyn said...

Oh, and what's up with the goat / sheep wars? Is it just a personal thing, a male thing or a species thing?

Susan said...

Carolyn - So am I. I think it actually was a good experience for us. My dogs are not exactly dog-socialized, so it's good to teach them manners. And, while it was so great to have peace in the house again, I do miss the little bugger.

Susan said...

It's more a battle of the egos. Chick is full of himself and a regular bossy-pants. Juno is the grande dame of the sheep. They have a mutual dislike going on.

Candy C. said...

I could just see you squirting them with the hose and I'm sure that put them right in their places, for a minute or two! LOL!!
I'm glad Ellie got adopted and I hope it's for Forever for her. Good job getting all that gardening work done, it spite of the wildly inaccurate weather forcast! :)

Susan said...

Candy - You do know your goats! Yes, even after multiple squirts, they were still at it. I finally had to stop shoveling and let the sheep into the second fenced area - out of reach of the dreaded goatie.

Michelle said...

I am beginning to think all animals hate water. I have a water bottle that I use for when my cats fight. All I have to do is point it at them and they run. But like the goats as soon as I turn my back they at it again.
That was one busy weekend. I am tired just reading it.

Susan said...

Michelle - The funny thing is, I'd do it all over again! Without the goat drama, that is. I'll have to remember the water bottle next time my cats get carried away!

thecrazysheeplady said...

Oh, I have been there!

Susan said...

CSL - There's always drama, isn't there?

Akannie said...

You're my hero !
I wish I could have goats, and am always saying to anyione who'll listen..."I've always wanted fainting goats !!"

A lot of work though, and honestly, it's all I can do to keep up with my chickens and dogs and cats. Oh well--maybe in my next life. Thanks for stopping by my blog !