Yesterday was a wonderful day on the Kitchens Garden Farm blog. We all stepped over the divide from the written word to Barn Yard Sound Bites! . That is actually a big step you know. Ground breaking. We cannot go back. You have HEARD the farm now. And we loved it. People were playing the barn animals screeching and cackling and grunting at each other all over the place, all over the world and in some interesting locations as well. (Hope you remembered to flush darling – after scaring the other guests in the restaurant bathroom with those piggie grunts and chook screeches!).
The goats attracted a feast of children yesterday. I had no idea they would be so delightful and so popular. And the wee things just kept coming out to play every single time a visitor came to poke her head around the barn door for a look. You were right. The Kids are delightful. 
And at Prairie Orchard and Creamery where we bought the La Mancha goats, the adult girls were all coming over for a scratch and a pat too. Long scratches and pats. So this sweetness will last. These goats really are tactile. I love that.
The Cadet RAN through her work yesterday so she could spend more time with The Kids. 
Boo gets a wee bit frantic when visitors play with his babies, so he is trained to wait quietly on the chain at times like these, otherwise things get a bit confused. He likes his chain because he always gets extra attention when being clipped on and when released. The chains are placed right where the action is so he is not out of sight. The chain is treated as a reward. (Though if I give him a treat when I put him ON the chain he will ignore it until he is let off again – this is his little protest). But I maintain that it is the Owners responsibility to protect the dog from DOING harm. And Boo always reacts overtly to the little yelps, trills and skips of delighted children (who he does not know) by trying to protect the most vulnerable ones in his care. So Boo waits quietly where he is safe. 
Lady Astor has presented with an ulcer in her left eye. The Lady Vet prescribed the necessary eye drops and so far if I hold a piece of apple stretched out to my left – in my left hand, holding the eye drops at the ready in my right hand, she turns to her right (Stage Right) and while extricating the apple from my hand with her tongue I can put the drops in her left eye.
She does not even flinch. And her appetite is still hearty.
Godot in full swoop. One day I will get this shot. One thing I do not do – is give up easily.
We are back in the routine of turning the incubating eggs. (They are in a safe space now).
And the first batch of Accident Chicks are just waiting for the weather to warm up again so they can go out to Kim’s Half Way house by the barn. By then they will have some fine feathers. But the nights have turned below freezing again. Yes, Yes, I know. It is still only March! So the Goat Kids have a light and the Chicks are still inside. And I am Moaning my sorry arse off about it going cold again.. AND it is not even cold!
I hope you have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farm
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
58 responses to “Kids Love Kids”
My kids certainly love kids!!!! And your kids are adorable!!!!!!
I played yesterday twice on the iPad then for maximum thrill on the desktop. As everyone has said we hope you’ll do it soon again. Especially can’t wait to hear Sheila.
I listened to the barn noises before I went to bed last night. So soothing. That is one noisy chicken though! x
yes – she had something to say! c
I kept thinking that she must be advertising a double-yolker (or whatever it’s called correctly)…
P.S. Boo and his Safe Chain and your thoughts/explanation = you do speak and understand the language-beyond-words that I call Animal Soul! You are fluent in this language. No doubt in my mind that, despite BooNanny’s obligatory token protest, Boo himself feels better this way. Knowing “the ropes”, and knowing where his responsibility rests while you are in charge. Everyone benefits. More power to you!
He gets anxious when strangers play with his babies.. And yes he settles on the chain, (as long as no-one starts playing fetch with Ton! ).. c
We used to have pay feeders in the contact yard at the zoo. People could pay a quarter to dispense a small amount of food. This practice was discontinued because the silly goats kept jumping up on visitors like dogs looking for a biscuit. With no actual food in sight, they tend to keep all four on the floor, though they do have a taste for paper name tags. Goats are so sociable!
that is a terrible and funny story.. I can just imagine it.. adult goats too I bet! c
Always the adults. If we’re lucky, we’ll have some baby goats this year. A buck has been brought in to do the job. We haven’t had babies born in about 8 years.
I hope you do get some babies.. I am sure all the babies are a great hit at the zoo.. c
Fabulous post Celi! I played the audio in the office yesterday! So good! Those kids are delightful .. They sounded so very cute too. I think that is such a good idea to tie Boo up .. Not worth the stress is it! 🙂
When there are visitors he does not know who to play with first, and gets all in a dither.. you are right – less stressful for everyone.
The tiny-eared goats could be pixie-face aliens from the planet Cute! But Hazel is like a fashion model, glossy and posing just so! And handsome Boo, minding the kids & kids proceedings so seriously, in thought if not actual body.
They certainly have a mischievous alien-ness don’t they! c
Love the photo of The Cadet with goat nibbling at her neck. Couldn’t agree more that you must be the one to know what is best for Boo and everyone else and keep control.
Well, besides being hardworking the Cadet surely is a very pretty girl: all of half-face there is on view 🙂 ! When you make the next sound clip perhaps she can tell us a little about the goats so we can hear her voice . . . . remember English is spoken by us in so many different ways . . . .!!
I am dying to get these goats out into the field.. not long now and they will be hooning about! The Cadet will build them a playground! c
Love begets love! Both will so enjoy!! Wonderful that the Cadet has so quickly become such an integral part of the farmy setup!!
I surely join you in whining ‘my sorry arse’ off! Sat. & Sun. should only hit the upper 30’s, bah. When I got the first two goats two of my grandsons were 12 or 13 and they would go out there and sit on the stump by the goats for the longest time. They thought the goats were so ‘cool’. They’re both 18 now and still like visiting the goats! We, too, keep the dogs away, at least at the beginning. Eli doesn’t realize his size and Mac gets a bit too exuberent, there wouldn’t be a dirty face within reach of his tongue!
As I am so behind in both my reading and writing due to incredibly stressful work hours, I listened to yesterday’s audio while reading today’s post. And now I am happy and content as I head off to bed. There are crocuses blooming and jonquils, and tulips greening and my strange stubby tree has it’s red cones on, so I am confident in the promise of spring. Though I’m sure we’ll send you off one or two more cold snaps. Thank you, miss c, for your dedication to the farmy and to the Fellowship. You always make me smile.
It has been bright and sunny here but this morning it is bitterly cold outside..brrr. Boo is such a good dog and I fully understand and support your reason for the chain and restriction..dogs can get very protective to people and animals and it would be terrible if there was an ‘accident’…..Eggs on the way again..let us hope that all goes well this time.
The wee goats are fantastic, and Godot is looking fine in his white plumage….. and all is right with the world..
You are absolutely brilliant at what you do and whatever you do…I am sure like us you do make mistakes but somehow you learn to rise above and get things sorted.
The Cadet is doing a great job, she certainly loves and understands animals just as you do….Sort of Like Dr Doolittle’s farm..Have a great day and stay warm
Love those little goat kids and the sounds they make!
~Lee
Once we’ve had a taste of spring, it’s so hard to go back to cooler temps.