Shock at Apifera

Slideshow to accompany this post>

The day began normally. There was not a clue I'd be digging two graves in twenty four hours.

Granny speaks

Granny was born with missing and crooked teeth, so her tongue always sticks out of her mouth. While this could have led to low self esteem, Granny has never let it bother her, as this short movie will demonstrate.

She also sings, which I was lucky enough to catch in these pictures. It was off key, with a lisp, but I've never heard a more heartfelt version of "Oklahoma" in my life and I saw it performed live in Cavalier, North Dakota.

May September romance

Granny and her much younger man, Wilbur the Acrobat Goat lounge together in their favorite spot. They care little for naysayers saying such a union will never last.

Wilbur and Granny: the young and the old

Wilbur and Granny are settling in to their new world at Apifera. Whether it be Mr. Bradshaw or Chicken Jack, they seem to be easy going barnyard mates.

I think they should have called Granny "The Little Old Lady from Pasadena". She is small and frail looking, but look out, she can head butt with the best of them. I have to crate her during feedings because she knocks Old Guinnias over for his food. She is a cookie monster, and her one long front fang - which I am attempting to photograph and not having much luck at- must be watched during cookie giving.The space between her wonky front teeth make her tongue stick out, quite amusing.

And then there's Wilbur. Wilbur, Wilbur, Wilbur. I have a goat named Wilbur but he is not a goat. He is Lassie the dog. Wilbur follows me around, and when I move two feet, he is right by my side doing the same thing. And most charming of all, loves to be hugged and kissed...a lot. He is not as much of a trouble maker as I had imagined...so far. Although it is funny having a younger goat...er, I mean dog...around to watch him leap off hay bales and run up and down just for fun. Since everyone else is in a walker or wheelchair, I love having the younger fellow around, it is a nice balance with all the geriatric duties.

Wilbur and Granny [as well as Old Man Guinnias and our dearly departed Gertie and Georgie, were adopted from New Moon Farm Goat Rescue. Donations and art sales helps me bring them home, and a kind volunteer made the 10 hour round trip. You can sponsor a goat too if you'd like.

Old lady and sassy lad arrive

They arrived late yesterday afternoon, just in time to experience their first evening call from Boone. While the chaos of the world continues and always will, the fact that two strangers offered to drive two needy goats to Apifera, a five and a half hour trip, is something to smile about. They asked for nothing in return, and I'm afraid the apple pie I made as a token of my appreciation was not my best, but it was warm.

We got Wilbur out of the crate first, and I noticed his scur [horn] area was bloody. I had failed to understand that he had recently had a stray scur cauterized while he was at New Moon Farm and Goat Rescue , and even though I assumed it was related to a scur and not serious, I treated it with some iodine just to make sure. Unfortunately, I didn't use my syringe, and Wilbur's lovely face is now a bit of a mess. Many apologies were presented to him, and by this morning, he seemed happy to see me.

Granny has missing front teeth, and what teeth she has are wobbly and crooked. Her tongue sticks out most of the time and she drools a bit. She is very gentle and loving, very friendly. Compared to Old Guinias, and Gertie and Georgie who came before her, she seems like a spring chicken...oh excuse me, I promised the hens I would not use that term.....what I meant was that she seems spry for her old age.

This morning Wilbur wandered the barnyard examining things, not very interested in me. But when he heard the donkeys bray, he came running for my side. It was quite charming, and from that moment on, I became his safe spot. As usual, Frankie is not the best welcoming committee, but Old Man Guinnias has been a gentleman.

Today's activities will be Barnyard Bonding, which will continue through the week. I have the hens in charge of barn tours. Cookies will be served at breakfast and dinner, as well as post nap time.

I want to thank everyone who donated for the adoption fees. You can still sign on to be a goat sponsor to help pay for feed, hay and miscellaneous meds.

More old goats for the old goat

1/22/11: A sad update: The old goat we had already opened our hearts to, died sometime in the night soon after we posted this. New Moon is heart broken, so are we, but we all know he died snuggled up to Granny, warm, and not alone. He was just tired, I think, and was ready to go and knew he was in a safe place. We still plan to adopt Granny, and hopefully maybe one more. Granny needs a week or so to get out of quarntine since she was being treating for lice. SO stay tuned. And we have one pron who thinks she can make the volunteer delivery for us!. Forest, rest in peace sweet man.

Now, I haven't told Old Man Guinnias, and only one chicken knows- because chickens really have a hard time keeping secrets. That's a whole 'nother post. But to keep Guinny healthy in mind and heart we will be adopting 2 more old goats from New Moon Farm Goat Rescue .
Update: thank you to Lisa and Ophelia for volunteering to drive the goats to Apifera!

As some of you know, Apifera recently lost two of our senior goat friends, Gertie and Georgie to old age. Gertie and Georgie were also adopted from New Moon, as was Guinnias, and now that I've had some time to lick my heart strings, I knew there was only one right thing to do. All animal loss takes its toll, and some really leave a visible dent. One has to take time to remember the one who was lost, giving the heart time to beat slower and then fill up with those memories, remembering it still has room for more love. There is always room for more love.

So two more short statured goats will come to Apifera and partake in afternoon cookie gatherings.

The goat seen here is currently named Forest, since he was found wandering in a national forest in Northern Washington state this winter. Noone came to claim him, and New Moon brought him to their rescue [bleats, hoof stomps, cud burping]. This fine gentleman was pretty rough, with a badly torn lip - a possible dog attack- lice, foot rot, very thin and not much zip. While his teeth seem to be that of about an 8+ year old, he appears much older and his age is unclear.

Granny [below] has no middle front teeth, so her tongue sticks out. Her feet are in bad shape from lack of care. So I'll have to work on that over time.

They will come here and live forever and ever , or until they melt into the sky. Georgie and Gertie were only with us 1+ years, but it was a year I can't imagine having had without them. While the older creatures might leave us sooner, they are the ones that have gone before us, done their time, and they need our care and comfort. We can all find ways to help one old creature, be it hoofed, winged or people toed, to live out their life knowing someone cares, is there for them always, and will be there to hold their hand or hoof when they are called by the wind.

You can sponsor the adopted old animals of Apifera if you like, at various gift levels.