Minerva has two kids!

This is Minerva!

You might actually recognize her as the face of Caromont.

I was lucky enough to witness the birth of her two kids this year.

She's an old pro in the birthing department and, I must say, a great Mother.

Attentive, careful, protective, nurturing.

This was kid number one.  

(Julia didn't want me to share the really graphic pictures, but it was a truly amazing, crazy thing to witness!)

Bear checking out her new charge.

Amazing to see these HUGE Great Pyrenees being so tender with the wee ones.

She would give her life for any one of these babies if it came down to it!

Kid number two!

And by the time he arrived, his big brother was already trying to stand up!

So sweet!

I can't wait to see how big these little La Mancha/Nubian kids are now!

Wishing I was still there...

Baby Goat Bonanza!

Okay, I'll admit it, I'm a total city girl, born and raised, so what's with all the fantasies of farm life I've been having lately?? What is going on here? All I can do is think about what a great time I had at Caromont last week and dream about when I can go back for another visit! It was such an amazing trip! I really had no idea what to expect going down to the farm for kidding season - I mean I knew I would have a great time and that I would probably work pretty hard - but other than that - I was really in the dark. I even tried to do some research online but that quickly turned into just watching silly goat videos on youtube, which, for the most part, just reinforced the fact that baby goats are super cute! Ha. So, what did I learn after spending 3 days with several dozen 3-week old kids? I learned that "super cute" doesn't even begin to describe the rambunctious, head-butting, jumping, joy that is baby goats. In fact, "super cute" might just be the understatement of the year. It was impossible not to get caught up in the click clack of their little hooves as they romped around, sidestepping and leaping on and off things with such reckless abandon! These little, stocky, curious, loud-mouthed, boot-nibblers were hilarious, playful and gorgeous and they were EVERYWHERE. And when hungry? Forget about it - they became a blurry swarm of land-piranhas needing milk 3 times a day! I have never seen cuteness of this magnitude ever before in my life!

Coolest farm cat, EVER.

This is Boudin - at least I think he was named after the sausage - and he is, by far, one of the coolest cats I have ever met. He has no fear, tons of attitude, a purr as loud as a train and I think he will make a stellar goatherd one day! I know, I know, I've never heard of a cat herding goats before either, but this cat has mad skills, folks, mad skills on the field. You just have to see it to believe it. And who are we to say that a cat can't herd goats anyways? Just because one never has? Hee. Well, this crazy feline is certainly breaking down the notion that herding is just a dog's job, and I, for one, am all for it! And he's young yet - give him a bit of time and some training - I think we'll see great things from him.