Open Thread - Thurs 16 Mar 2023 - Miss McKenzi and Florence
(Miss) McKenzi and her daughter, Florence:
I've not been able to pay much attention to current news this week (hoping that changes with the comments in this Open Thread and reading the short backlog I've got here), so I'm gonna talk about McKenzi, one of the first five goats we raised, and her daughter, Florence.
Miss Mack when she was about 6 months old
We got the goats as kids from a breeder who named one of them, a doe, McKenzi. McKenzi was a pure-bred Nigerian Dwarf goat. She was about 3 months old when we got her and the others. We knew nothing about goats, but McKenzi taught us over the years. She got the nickname 'Miss Mack' because she was like one of those beloved, kindly, understanding, very important teachers many of us were lucky to have at least once as a child.
The first thing Miss Mack did was teach the other four goats that we humans were going to be good and kind to them. Essentially, she allowed us to tame her first, and then she helped us tame the other goats.
Miss Mack taught me how to milk. Miss Mack showed me how to do it without trouble, without pain, for her and for me. She did her teaching kindly, no kicking, no bucking, just low sounds and a look from her pretty eyes. Miss Mack helped teach me how to attend birthing does, how to help them when a kid was stuck, when it was time to 'go in' and when it wasn't.
Miss Mack and her babies in 2008 just after they were born. Florence is the agouti (mottled brown, white, black) in front. Mack's looking to see if she needs to teach me anything more, but it's been 4 years or so that she'd been giving birth, so I had learned most of what I needed to know.
Miss Mack would learn from me. She would watch me walk around the farm, see what I was pruning or cutting back, and then she'd lead the other goats to that spot, and they'd eat the same plant I was working on. In fact, she, and her daughters, got so I could just touch a plant's leaves and she (and her daughters) would direct the other goats on what to eat. I got a lot of pruning done that way!
Florence was Miss Mack's daughter. Mack had a lot of kids which we sold or gave to others, but we kept Florence. And we were darned grateful we did. She was so like her mother! Flo was smart and sensitive. She took over her mother's place when Mack started to get really old. Flo led the goats, Flo told them which plants to eat, Flo kept them under control when I'd take them out to graze in the open fields, with a chair and a book for myself to relax with while they all ate around me. When Mack got really old, Flo would lead all the other goats back in to the inner pen when it was time for grazing to be over. Mack could not walk very fast, she was very, very fragile. Flo would, after leading the herd in, turn around and go back to accompany Mack, at Mack's glacial pace, back to the pen. If Mack was too tired and had to rest, Flo would stand over her and let her rest, guarding her just in case I wasn't around (I always was). This is unusual behavior, generally older goats seem to be 'put on the iceberg' and sacrificed to keep the younger ones safe from predators.
Florence when she was about 4 days old
I held Mack as she passed away. She was in a little goat shed by herself (we knew she was close to going on) which we now call 'Miss Mack's'. It was pouring rain. Goats hate rain. I went out in the rain to check on her, saw her in distress and moved her into the shed. Flo was in another lean-to, separated from her mother by a fence and about 50 feet of inner pen. I got down in the straw of the shed and Mack crawled into my arms. I cooed and cried and whispered love to her as she convulsed and trembled and then was still and silent. I looked up. Flo was out in the pouring rain, her head through the fence, watching me and Mack. I swear her eyes were filled with sorrow, crying in her goatie way as I was crying in my human way. I got up and let Flo into the enclosure. Flo went to her mother's body, nuzzled her a few times, said her goodbye and then indicated she'd go back to the big lean-to. She told all the other goats, and they came to the fence to say goodbye too, one by one.
So, thanks for reading this goatie tale. Here's the open thread - and remember, everything is interesting if you dive deep enough, so tell us about where you're diving! Please!
Comments
Hope everyone is having a great day!
Mine's gonna have a late start. Been out three times tonight (it's 3 am here now) because of coyote calling. They are not close, but I'm making sure they leave the goats and chickens alone. It's clear, cold (mid 20's) and 'nice'. The coyote calls are quite lyrical, in a coyote way. Maybe one more time out and I can go to bed as the coyotes seem to be wandering away. We'll see!
This is the open thread, so post whatever you want. I, we, wanna read it!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
That is such a beautiful story Sima,
and so life-giving. All all I can say is thank you.
Nice tune Janis
good way to start the day!
Hope all's good from your perch.
question everything
Hi Q
I'm still hanging in there. Lots to happen to ensure that it lasts. Time will tell.
Hope all is well with you
Thank YOU!
For the great tune, and for reading my little farm story
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
That song and musician
are among my favourites.It makes my heart sing, as did your experience.
This is a very touching story
Sounds like a whole lotta love with those two.
Thanks for sharing!
question everything
Thanks for reading!
I've found, after I let my preconceptions about how animals have no feelings fade away, that they do have feelings. It's just often very hard to recognize animal feelings, and, of course, it's easier to just say the animal is an automaton without any conception of self or of emotions or of their animal society, and therefore we'll eat it. I still eat animals, gotta admit. I just like to give them as good a life as possible before.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
your goats are so humane, I love them /nt
https://www.euronews.com/live
I'm pretty darn sure...
that they'd love you in return, Mimi! Thank you for stopping by and for commenting. I wish you could meet the goats!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Good morning...
Lovely story and memorial to Miss Mack.
We've been busy around the homestead. I'm pruning the muscadine arbor today...I've already done the trellised ones. Been chilly the last few mornings right about freezing. The Blueberries are in full bloom, and we've lost some fruit...but that's the way of it.
Take care and thanks for the OT!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Muscadine grapes???
Drooooolllll! Love them, love making jellies out of them and more. Can't really grow them here though. Our blueberries are not flowering, yet. It'll be another couple weeks or so. Everything is a bit delayed. Usually the daffodils are in full bloom by now. But they haven't even started yet, this year. Too cold!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
What a great memory!
Thunderstorms are coming this afternoon, staying around until Saturday. We got our outdoor chores done in anticipation of ass-deep mud, some cold winds, so this will be a weekend coming of mostly listening to some very loud music. We haven't reached the "If it's too loud, you're too old" age. Good thing we have no nearby neighbors.
Nothing much in the news besides WWIII looming. And the Nuclear Clock moving closer to midnight. Food prices are dropping a bit. We are destroying a pristine part of Alaska for Big Oil. (Biden forgot he is leading the party who is leading the charge to go green.) Russia is bad. China is bad. US and world financial institutions are bad, and need we 99% to pitch in and save them.
Good luck on your Coyote Watch, Sima!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Thunderstorms!
We don't usually get those here, but we've had some in the last few years. One lightning bolt took out my well house, house oven, and more. That was nuts. Last night we thought we heard a bolt hit the ground (the sky was clear, but who knows?) but it was a car going off the road down at the beginning of our driveway. Took out a bunch of mail boxes, and went into a 6 foot deep ditch. The driver was ok, drunk, of course.
Hope you don't get super deep mud. That sucks. But it's good the outside chores are done.
Also, thanks for the news roundup. Usual depressing stuff, it seems!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Good morning Sima, et. y'all. Wonderful and moving
story. Also a great lesson in the importance of letting others tell or show you what they want or need.
Not raining here today, 2 days in a row and allegedly 2 more to come before the next storm. Spent the whole week so far dealing with the medicos and more on line for today, sure eats up the week, but should then be mostly over until late April. Good thing too since we're both anxious to get out of here and the desert is calling.
We've had deer running amok in the court most nights for the last couple of weeks, which is entertaining but hard on the bird feeders which they somehow keep mangling.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Wonder if the deer are climbing the feeders?
It's strange here. We've deer all around the farm boundries, but they never, ever come out into the open on the farm. I think it's too open, they are used to having some trees around or something and there's nothing like that out in the fields.
We finally hit 60 today, for the first time this year. Usually that landmark temp comes a bit earlier. We've got a couple more days of nice weather, then the rain again. Bleh.
I hope dealing with the medicos goes a bit easier in the future. I've been dealing with financial stuff for my parents in the past few weeks. Gads, it's long, tedious, annoying and sad too. Bleh.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Macron just screwed
his people by signing the bill to increase the retirement age without having a legislature vote.
I guess the French will have to stop bragging to the people of the US about their superior retirement system. They are joining us in getting their old age ruined. Soon, their old folks will be working part time as greeters at Walmart stores.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Bend over Macron
Lemme kick you in your little wheezly posterior. I guess Finland and maybe Germany are the last hopes?
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
This story made me weep of course . . .
Thank you for it, Sima.
You have had your Nigerian Dwarf goats for almost 20 years? We got our first in 2020. We had Pygmy goats years ago, but this breed seems much more lovely. It is part of my routine every day to take them out to graze in the meadow. First the girls, and then the boys. Five girls and six boys. The boys are especially tame. We have so many billies because my daughter is interested in the breeding aspect. Among them are blue-eyed and poled (hornless) of different colors.
I don't know how it will all evolve here, as my daughter is back in college, though she is living at home. Sometime I might have to write an essay with just questions and asking for advice on these beautiful creatures. Since I know how to milk cows maybe I will milk them?
I am still sad to have lost my prematurely born sweet Josie, my lap goat. At least I got to have her for 10 months.
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
Thank YOU for reading my story!
I never thought about how long we've had goats until you asked your question. I think that shows how old I've gotten. We've had them 20 years, as you said. Got the first five in 2003.
I love the Nigerian Dwarf breed. I had a friend who had Pygmies, and those goats were good, but the Nigies are just... so smart! And they are little but not too little and they give huge amounts of really good milk for their size. If you ever have any questions, or want to talk goats, send me a message, or an email or whatever. I would love to help. In fact, we retired a few years ago, but I still welcome anyone to the farm if they want to learn about goats.
As for milking, the only hard thing about it is you should probably have a 'stand'. The doe climbs a ramp, jumps up, whatever, to get on. This makes it so you can easily stand and milk; no bending, no squatting. And after that it's easy! So maybe give it a go! Would love to talk to you more about it.
Ohh and we have two bucks (billies) still. They live separate from the does and wethers. They are really good, very tame, and very, very stinky!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Puppies….
.
The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists.
~Hannah Arendt
Those puppies and chicks/ducklings were so cute!
Thank you so much for posting these and for stopping by!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so