And right now? Definitely was the best decision to fill up her little princess pool with the cold water from the hose, for at this moment I am watching our sweet Delight run in and out of that pool, completely naked. Some moments she's in, holding her breath because of the chills and then at other moments, I have cold buns and wet arms wrapped around my body. Sweet glimpses of summer: sunscreen and water, golden hair and freckles. All covered in squeals of pure joy. Like the sunshine.
Well Saturday morning began with a stop to Blue Heron Bakery, getting our treats to carry us through the hour and a half road trip to get our goats. And so the road trip complete we pull into the driveway, 15 passenger car and children's toys strewn all about. With a family of 12 children and one more on the way, it seemed like there was a new face to meet at every turn! They were still in the process of eating breakfast: fresh scrambled eggs, for their 28 hens produce 29 to 42 eggs a day, and tall cold glasses of fresh goats milk. They consume 3 gallons of milk a day! There was so much to take in with all the children, all 23 goats, and all the information!!
It was there we tried our first sip of this fresh dairy and it was... Delightfully creamy! We loved it! Now we had never tried goats milk before, we decided we just needed to dive in and learn to love it. But there will not be much learning involved: we are really enjoying it! And I have heard that goats milk from the store is completely different... So come and visit and try some fresh here!
The sweet family led us down to the barn where the children took turns bringing each goat to us and telling us its name and history. Another of the older children showed us how to milk and how to trim the hooves. Yet another was taking pictures and working on her photography business. Tirzah found little Naomi and precious Abigail to befriend and the three of them ran around the place all morn: I felt as if I had not seen my daughter the whole day!
The moment came for our departure: Lillybelle, or Mama, or Mamabelle, was placed in the back of our Subaru, with some fresh hay and alfalfa pellets. And Rudy was tucked into a blanket and spent the whole of the ride on my lap. What looks we received when people saw a goats head looking at them through the back window! How sweet and bonding those first moments were, all together in the car.
And now, these goats are our pets, more so than any other of our animals. They are so sweet and docile, with no need to worry of them hurting or disliking Tirzah since they are used to so many children running around! The only thing is that they need us and long for us so much: they call for us when we leave and only venture out into their pasture when we are close beside. Our hope is for them to grow in comfort and love of their new home.
That evening, with the animals tended to and fresh goats milk chilling in the fridge in mason jars, the three of us sat outside around our fire pit, roasting marshmallows and munching on graham crackers and we told ourselves again and again: yes! This was the very best decision and we would have it no other way.
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