Latest count, the herd is 13 Nigerian Dwarf Goats. Thor, Mott, & baby Cep are the bucks.
Onyx is herd Queen who I swear ( if I were a swearing woman ) have heard her singing " I'm the queen of everything" which she took from a tune by The New Orleans Vipers, changing the words to suit her. I'm not sure who second in command is; maybe a shared position by DotC & Onyx's daughter, Oona. Then there are the rest of the does and doelings: Kelsie Sue, Gigi, JanisAnn, Pearl, Coco, Sunshine & Casseopeia.
As if that weren't enough...there are also 13 hens & two very busy roosters. Mr. Henry Brown & Pretty Boy Floyd. The head hen is Barbara Jean & the other ladies are,by status, Pricilla, Kate, Lucy Brown,Lotte Linda, Goldie Hen ,Lily, Flora, Raymonde, , Rosie, BonBon, Emma, & Siobhan. Only the 3 old ladies are laying, but the young ones should start any day now- giving me more eggs to try my macron trials! ( More on that later...)
Next, but of course, he thought he should have been mentioned 1st, is my Tibetan Spaniel, Scampi. A sensative, sweet dog if ever there was. A bit quirky too, but as the Tibetan Buddhist lamas are said to have proclaimed they are " part human, part monkey& part cat " ,also that they are the reincarnation of naughty monks! I think that may be so!!!!
Mustn't forget the 5 "katz"! To be sure there would be revenge should I be so remiss. There is first ,our tuxedo fellow, Mr. Chip, and then Madame Chocolate, her son, Naughty Pierre, daughters, Gwyneviere, & OuiB. I'm to tell you they earn their kibble in the barn and around the compost & garden.
There is my DH & myself. We have been together 42 yrs! Perhaps we can put up with each other another 42? We decided to start this little 1 1/2 acre petite ferme, instead of wishing for the 40 acres someday. I wanted to make cheese! I looked into dairy sheep first. Linda Coffey at SARE ( Sustainable Agriculture Research Education ) put me in touch with a woman in VA who had received a grant from them to breed a cross between a hair sheep & dairy sheep with the hopes of developing a sheep that would be more adapted to our hot, humid summers. After she asked me how much property we have, she suggested Nigerian Dwarf Goats ( will refer to as NDGs here in out). Why, no, I had not!!! I did research for 2 yrs , got everything I needed before getting our first 4 goats. The goats saved my life! Seriously, I have RA & Fibromyaliga, the chronic pain was so hard to endure, the side effects from meds, & the depression really had me down, in every way. I had gained weight over the years too. In the last 4 years I have lost a lot of the weight, I feel great! I tote 50 lb bags of feed, hay bales, & water buckets. Feed, water, milk twice a day in all kinds of weather. Oh, yes, I do make cheese, & yogurt & kefir! My doctor is pretty amazed. I laugh & tell him he should prescribe goats to all his patients. Or at least goat milk!
In addition I am a textile artist, primarily silk painting. I work in other mediums too. We are remodeling & redecorationg our house as well. I love all things French, so I am influenced in my decor. I love color and surround myself with it. I love antiques & odd objects. I collect Temple dogs,too. Must admit it is only one of many collections...
I hope to share some of the things I find so joyful in life with anyone who may find an interest.