Incoming

As a person of tribal heritage, I grew up learning about signs in nature to determine direction, weather, edible vs. toxic, etc.  I enjoy some modern comfort and convenience, but I'm a pretty good scout in the great outdoors, as well.  Obviously YHWH was preparing me for this lifestyle, from childhood.  I know I've made mention of the homestead beginnings when He told me in regard to weather, watch the animals.

With a nearly all new herd, I wasn't sure what to expect.  The first time there was a bit of a raucous, I asked our very own weather man, Gerry, if storms were coming or the girls were just being ornery.  He said, "Ornery, no storms til later in the week."  It was then, that I realized, with all the new herd building, that raucous had to do with establishing their herd hierarchy.  The girls were letting their herd status be known to each other, and the milk parlor door was the "finish line."  The problem appeared to be, once they were in, they were momentarily afraid they might lose their status on the other side of the door, in their brief "confinement."

I've really enjoyed getting acquainted with these new girls, and I'm glad we had a couple more days before I actually witnessed their behavior in forecasting rain.  Tuesday evening, milking time was down right entertaining.  When the rain and storms came through in April, I was only dealing with two goats, while the third was still in her getting acquainted pen.  This last Tuesday, there were five at evening milking.   In all honesty, I don't know Della well enough to know if she has weather symptoms or not, but the others definitely do.

Eloise is first in the evening, so ordinarily she begins bellering right in front of the milking parlor door, about ten minutes before milking time.  She's a Nubian, so her whiny bellering is relentless.  But not Tuesday.  By the time I had the bucket and headed out, it was quiet and she was nowhere to be seen.  Gentle, passive Gert became a steamrolling wildebeest.  Jackie was hilarious.  She jumped up on the stanchion backward, then did quite the balancing act trying to get turned around.  Eloise finally showed back up and was completely disgusted that we'd started without her.  I had to tether her to the feed box to get her to stand still.  As for Anastasia, I recommend no names of royalty for a goat who already thinks she's "all that and a bag of chips!"

Upon completing the circus of chores Tuesday evening, there was a message from Gerry, "Rain within 48 hours."  It rained all day, Thursday . . .  These girls are amazing!