The Goats are Out!

As winter progressed, the solid blanket of snow stayed for one month, two, three, four - and then entering into March, finally began to thaw on warmer days. So now it was mud season. While it was wonderful to see a different color other than the absence of color, the deep brown/black squishy sticky substance presented new challenges in our driveway expeditions. But as the snow receded, there were signs of grasses, yucca plant and other plant life that had made it through the winter. As we had run out of hay in early March, we decided to take the goats for a walk to give them the opportunity to find some roughage for their diet.

So off we went down the driveway in a warm, sunny, snow-melting afternoon, with five goats, two dogs and the cat traipsing in tow. We stopped at plowed and cleared out areas to let the goats graze and gallop around. Jack and I tossed the stick for Maya, while Kharma and Machka chased and tackled each other in the soft slush. We saw a few trucks pass by and waved, but evidently one driver only noted the herd of goats.

When we returned to the house and the goats raced into their corral, Jack received a phone call from the ski area where he worked. “Your goats are out,” his co-worker said anxiously. “Amber, a friend of yours who owns the Villa Grove Trade (General Store) called and said that someone called her to report seeing your goats out on your land.” Jack laughed and reassured her that all was OK; we had just got back from a walk with them. After hanging up, we heard a truck coming up the driveway and Neighbor Dave knocked on the door.

After inquiring where the goats were, he relaxed and said that he had come by to check because Amber had called him to see if he could herd them back in. Never having herded goats (an East Coast city boy), he was curious to learn how – and was game to try. Dave also shared with us that there had been mountain lion activity right above us on another neighbor’s property – that was why he rushed over. We thanked him profusely and marveled at the effectiveness of the Villa Groovy Help/Crisis Line Network.

This is an excerpt from my book-in-progress - "Little House On the Modern Prairie".