Ramp Conniptions and Calmness

Galbraith has made so much progress, but he still has his nervous habits, including major indecision about whether or not he is brave enough to approach, even if it is me he is considering approaching. I get a lot of back of my leg nose bops.

It might be ok..........

No! No. It's not!

Come-no-closer-or-maybe-do-no-don't-or-do-or-no-don't!

And then this shocker-

he was both still and relaxed, even for picture taking,

in some place other than his chair.

And even in the chair he isn't still.

The discovery of warm sunny days can do that to you, I suppose.

Plus he was next to Fritha's dish and one from the goats.

Solid real estate right there, yall.

Solid.

Even got some tail-wagging in.

Ok, technically he was the whole time, but you can see it here.

and only a few suspicious looks.....

really, Galbraith, from your photos no one would ever know

how you concentrate your day around dancing for my attention.

Forsythia and Kid Games

Aww, little Helen and Sylvie,

such a quiet and peaceful pair.

Unless you saw them earlier, of course.

Their games can get quite rowdy:

Says Marion to Sylvie-

"Let's Depose her, quickly now-

you first!"

 Says Sylvie dear to our Marion-

"'Tis done, but here twixt me and you, 

I would prefer alone to rule!"

Too Late,

Long reign Queen Rose!

Hard luck, being last doelings in,

older kids so easily win.

Goat Update

Helen is fully on her feet now, playing and active, no signs of her early trouble with the birth canal. And after days of holding Chrysanthemum down- as in shoved against the fence two feet in the air- so Marion could nurse, Marion has finally been re-accepted. The game changer was sticking my fingers in Chrysanthemum's mouth and wiping the spit all over Marion (and thanking Heaven that Miss C. isn't a biter) so now Marion smells just right to her Mom. Funny no one I have seen mentioned that, although it is common knowledge the mothers can "loose" the scent of their kid. 

Helen and Sylvie

Helen loves leap frog.

Serious obsession. 

She is training for the Nationals already.

The doeling Trio

Miss Independent-

Marion doesn't believe in sharing personal space, 

even before Chrysanthemum "forgot" her smell.

Possibly contributing factor, so can't totally blame the Mom.

Marion just came out ready to rock and roll, no slowing her down.

Also Chrysanthemum is pretty depressed about the gloomy weather when I took this,

which is kinna funny. It was even worse in the other pics.

Whole crew minus Deirdre-

Anemone's kid(s) are included, just still in her tummy.

And Miss Fritha, happy with all the hustle and bustle.

Warm Days in the Garden

Paperwhites

Wood Hyacinth

Candy Stripe Hydrangea

Shady Bloodroot

Lilac

Soon this all will be shades of pink, red, yellow and lime, then green!

Somerville is Glad It is Over for Another Year

Again late posting, this was Wednesday morning.

This is the day before kidding after her belly dropped;

her girth was not record breaking but pretty huge before that.

Poor Somerville.

I really thought she might have more than two,

as she was so late while the twins jostled for position-

over a week, much of that with her ligaments fully lax and gone.

But you never know. 

Doeling One- Sylvie!

All black like her Momma,-

or her Momma in the summer 

and hopefully the winter if I can ever get her copper high enough.

Doeling two, Helen!

Helen had a rough start, she couldn't breathe by the time she got out,

but after a lot of swing and gunk cleaning and swinging and rubbing,

look at that face- head up and ready to face the day. 

Gotta admire that.

Goodness!

Preparing for the incoming licking!

They are so sweet together-

Somerville tends to like the firstborn best and whatever other kids less, er, significantly,

and this was compounded by Helen's birth and later quietness for the first couple days-

I did most of the cleaning when she was first born

(although I convinced Somerville to help some after she was ok)

 and Helen wasn't pushy enough to fight for much milk.

But Sylvie bonded with her, and didn't let Somerville forget there was another

until she finally decided Helen could stay on Friday.

Chrysanthemum Kids

Hello, Marion.

Just a few days late in posting-

she was actually born on Tuesday.

Group shot

Almost got it!

There you go, right as rain.

Fastest kid up, Miss Marion wastes no time getting what she wants.

She knows how to make friends, though, for all her independent ways-

her first trip away from the udder was straight to my lap.

And now these pictures are ironic as well as adorable, 

since Chrysanthemum seems to have rejected Marion after 3 days.

Who knows with goats. Always something.