The End of Cheap Milk

My posts have been kinda veggie (or even buggy) lately, so here’s some Goat Appreciation. … at a sad time for a number of reasons. I will miss milking, especially calm, biddable Trillium. But it’s breeding season, time to plan for next year’s kids. And I will miss the milk, especially on Frosted Flakes (my secret weakness). But on chilly mornings lately, I have walked to the barn thinking No, I don’t want to keep doing this thru Winter. I will miss pounds of creamy soft chevre every week, and friends and family will too. But this Summer I never did get to make Romano (the mold I needed didn’t arrive) or Mozzarella (the friend who was going to show me didn’t either).

And out at the barn or pasture, among the flock, there is always change:

No more morning treats?

Lily’s fine twins have gone to processing – “Rock”…

…and brother “Choc,” shown with cousin Zinnia awaiting her first offspring

Edie’s August twins, promising does, have a new home waiting early next year

Columbine, Aggie and Jonquil, just hoping for healthy, lively kids in early ’13.

Spock, proven fertile, sweetest and least aggressive buck goat of any I’ve known, has at least one more season with us.

To everyone this year who shared in milk, cheese, cajeta, milking or taking care of goats, and those who gathered for and helped with August’s Goat Roast, thank you very much and I hope you enjoyed it all as I did.

Goat Roast weather was hot and dry. The day after, it seems as if your friendship and fellowship brought one last blessing.

Rain, and memories…