Well, its Wednesday. Its been raining for 2 days. Tucker smalls like a wet dog... because he is. The kids have a slight cold... not enough to put them down... just enough to make them cranky.
I know that technically we need the rain and all and thats fine but there's also a sign hanging over my head that says "Mojo canceled due to inclement weather". Ack! I mean, its dark enough in here that I had to flip on a light to find my shoes this morning.
Wanna know what I did last night? I delivered babies. 4 babies. Goat babies!
I won't get too much into the details but I stopped at a friend's dairy farm last night to pick up milk to feed my baby goat and lamb and just happened to get there while 2 mamas were going into labor. I've been around this sort of thing all my life but never get tired of it. Plus I had gone over all by myself and left the kids at home with Mac Daddy so why not?
The first one went quickly. I got to catch wet babies and dry them off and all that. The second one required the vet. Turns out her pelvis is small and she had 2 big babies in there. It was something out of James Herriot. I had to help the vet. Got to pull on the hooves that were sticking out while he guided the head. That is, of course, a huge understatement for what really happened but its early and I don't want to put you off your coffee with too many details.
Til it was all done both mamas were fine and we had 4 baby girls. I got to carry the whole bundle up to the house and give them their first feed. That's the way it works at a goat dairy.
Its been a long time since I came home after dark all messy from a farm like that. It was actually a great feeling. When I was younger I did that sort of thing on a pretty regular basis. I worked on a cow dairy at one time. I'm pretty sure I was switched at birth with a little farm girl baby. I've always lived around the farm sort of thing and though my parents never farmed anything I somehow managed to always find a way to be in the middle of some sort of livestock thing.
So anyway. I'm gonna go towel dry the dog again and try to find a little gumption to get moving toward something productive. I have a new pattern to post.. a little girls knit blouse. Hopefully tomorrow.
Oh... that little flower set up in the picture is Tater's first fist-full of posies this spring. She brought them in with a "Look what I picked for you Mama!" and put them in that little bowl as a centerpiece on the table. I guess she figured they needed a little bit of adornment so she fished out a few pine cones to put with them. Who needs Martha.
As soon as I read "goat babies" I immediately scrolled down to see pictures :-( Note to Marie: Must have camera with you at ALL times :-) Love the centerpiece!
Posted by: Lisa | April 18, 2009 at 12:01 AM
I tell you what, I give props to any ungulate that has to deliver all four of those gangly little legs!! Give me my big-headed boys any day!!!!
Hope you're enjoying better weather now!
Posted by: bezzie | April 17, 2009 at 06:53 AM
Babies! I love babies. All types of babies.
Lovely bouquet of flowers. Gotta love the good intentions... even when it's the daffodils (which get trampled and mangled by little people)
And you're right... who needs Martha with a sweet Tater in the house.
Posted by: Kara | April 15, 2009 at 10:01 AM
I am SO jealous!!!! Sweet little goat babies!
Posted by: Amy | April 15, 2009 at 09:34 AM