Archive for the ‘Goat Love’ Category
GoatSpotting: How Much Is That Goat in the Window?
It’s been a while since I’ve posted a GoatSpotting, but I have quite a few darling goaties in the queue for you to enjoy in upcoming posts — remember if you have any goats or goat-related item you’ve spotted out and about, please do send along the photo!
I actually spotted this goat on my friend Paul’s Facebook page after he spotted her in a Wisconsin barn:
How Much Is That Goat in the Window?
What a cutie, eh?
Do you have another caption for this photo? Please share!
And thanks Paul!
Goat Adoptions Through Puget Sound Goat Rescue
For Christmas I donated to various goat and donkey-related charities in my family members’ names, and one of those charities was the Puget Sound Goat Rescue.
Becky and Barb of the Rescue sent a card to my brother and sister-in-law with notification of the donation — and also a thank you card to me, which I actually just received because it was sent to my mom’s address in the States and my mom forwarded it. Will you look at this cuteness?
Christmas Goat from Puget Sound Goat Rescue
And this is inside:
Christmas Goat from Puget Sound Goat Rescue
I was so happy to read that Puget Sound Goat Rescue was able to adopt out 109 goats in 2010 . . . *and* that they decided to name a “gorgeous spotted Nubian” after me (Fabio). How cute!
So I just had to give a shout-out here for Puget Sound Goat Rescue, which is doing a wonderful job rescuing, rehabilitating, and adopting out goats from slaughterhouses, auctions, and abusive situations. They also have a goat outreach program to better inform the public about goats. Of course, all these activities cost money, so even if you can’t adopt a goat right now, please do consider helping Becky and Barb continue their maaaaarvelous work with a donation.
Thanks so much for all you do for the goaties, ladies! Goat kisses to all!
Celebrating Two Years with Pasqualina
Pasqualina's baby bottle
Two years ago today, my heart changed forever.
We hadn’t planned on getting goats, so we had absolutely nothing prepared when one of P’s friends offered him a month-old kid*. You see, P had mentioned in passing several months prior that maybe someday we’d like to have a goat or two — and then as fate would have it, one of his friend’s does had triplets but only enough milk for two. Pasqualina was the runt, and his friend wasn’t much interested in bottle-feeding. P couldn’t say no.
Thank goodness.
After meeting Pasqualina, I ran to the pharmacy to buy a baby bottle, and that first day was one of the most challenging of my life. Pasqualina needed to eat, but she was terrified of me, and I ended up wearing *way* more milk than made it into Pasqualina’s kiddie tummy. I don’t think she drank any milk at all that first day — and barely any the second or third days either. I was so scared I’d show up one morning to find her collapsed in a heap.
Yes, she was a stubborn little thing, surely holding out for her biological ma’s udder, but I was her only choice — and she obviously wasn’t too happy about that. But then one magical day, she took the bottle.
I can’t describe how triumphant I felt when she finally stayed put in my lap and drank and drank and drank. And then fell asleep in my arms for cuteness effect.
I never imagined how intelligent, caring, cuddly, and downright fun goats could be — and I certainly never envisioned myself taking care of them. But life has a funny way of giving you what you need when you need it, and so I thank you, Pasqualina, for finding us and bringing us so much love and joy (and Pinta — last year at this time, Pasqualina was pregnant!).
Pasqualina and her birthday banana
I’ve always been an animal lover, but this kid? She’s something special.
*Since we don’t know her exact birthday, we celebrate today as if it were.
Southern Italian Goats (Not Mine) Star in Cannes Award-Winning Film
*The full post appears at Bleeding Espresso, but I thought my goat-loving friends would also enjoy so I’m mentioning it here as well.*
Le Quattro Volte courtesy of MUBI
Le Quattro Volte (The Four Times), a film set in Calabria by director Michelangelo Frammartino, won the 2010 Europa Cinemas Label as Best European Film in Cannes Directors’ Fortnight. From the trailer and clips I have seen, it beautifully captures the simplicity of life in this gorgeous land I’m proud to call home while effectively relating the universal idea that each of us has “four distinct lives [mineral, vegetable, animal, and man] and so we have to get to know ourselves four times” (my translation from the official trailer below).
The fact that the story revolves around a goatherd isn’t exactly lost on me either.
A description of the film from Tim Lloyd at AdelaideNow:
An old goatherd takes his flock to feed in the high pastures of Calabria then milks them at his stalls at a spectacular hilltop village, where the rhythm and ritual of life appears unchanged in centuries. His cure-all for his failing health is the blessed ash from ceremonies at the local church. He dies, and at his death a newborn goat takes its first breath. It suits the off-beat and curiously satisfying vision of the film, that the goatherd is resurrected as a goat, then as a tree, and eventually as a mineral.
Le Quattro Volte was also named one of the nine best films for 2011 by the Guardian. For more information, be sure to click over to Le Quattro Volte: Cannes Winner Beautifully Describes Calabrian (and Universal) Life — Without Words.
You Know You’re a Goat Ma When…
A while ago, I did a post at Bleeding Espresso called “You Know You’re in Italy When…” and readers had a great time with it, joining in and adding their own fabulous responses. I’m hoping some more of the same will happen with this post I like to call:
You Know You’re a Goat Maaaa When…
- You can’t find a piece of clothing without some piece of hay attached.
- You always go back for just a few more face scratches.
- You don’t even notice all the goat berries that surround you.
- You can carry on a full conversation while deftly swiping away your goat’s teeth from your shirt/shorts/pants/shoelaces/jacket.
- You scour the Internet for new ways to keep your goats entertained.
- You know all your goat’s favorite songs.
- You take special care that your banana peels touch as few surfaces as possible because you know otherwise your goat won’t touch them.
- You plan your meals around what the goats would more prefer the scraps from.
- Your kids come first, period.
Pinta and Pasqualina, my kids 4evah
So, what say you? How does one know when she’s a goat maaaa?
(Or goat paaaa; we’re equal opportunity here!)
The Goats Get Ready for World Nutella Day
In case you don’t know, I happen to be one of the co-hosts of World Nutella Day, a celebration of the wonderful chocolate hazelnut spread that goes great with just about everything. The festivities will take place all day tomorrow, so if you’re interested in participating, head over to NutellaDay.com for some ideas.
I’ve been busy baking (recipe tomorrow at Bleeding Espresso), but I couldn’t resist taking the empty jar out to the girls for a photo op:
The girls get ready for World Nutella Day
Don’t worry, I didn’t actually let them eat any Nutella as I doubt it would be very good for them (because it’s *so* good for us, right?!), but they did get some raisins and a banana as their rewards for being so darn photogenic.
Buon World Nutella Day!
Sponsor the Old Goats of Apifera!
GoatSpotting!
Goats that readers have spotted out and about. Send your photos to michelle(at)goatberries(dot)com!
