It’s no secret that, of all the Homestead animal residents, the goats are just that little bit more…special.
Prior to the arrival of our first goatgirl, we were simply a little eccentric and slightly odd with our backyard chickens and cabbages in the flower border. The arrival of Nessie, then Leia and her kids, and finally Geraldine, made the whole Homesteading dream a reality and suddenly we were making feta, eyeing up overgrown ivy hedges as potential goat suppers, and rescheduling appointments because they “clashed with milking”. The goats were what put the “homestead” into Union Homestead.
Which makes it all the more odd that, since our relocation, the goatie’s lifes have been a little less than centre of Homestead happenings. Due mostly to their homebase locale in the previous owners vegetable garden (the only fully goat-proof fencing on the property), the girls have been living their days tucked around the back of a windbreak and out of house sightlines; Not the ideal situation for our curious caprine cuties.
Today we recified that.
But first, a little update and it is fair to say fortunes in that hidden away goat paddock have been mixed. While Leia, with her Star Wars horns and Ronald McDonald gait (caused by grossly misshapen hooves that no amount of trimming will ever rectify),
still firmly holds onto her 2IC position in the paddock there has been a change in Chief Executive. Our beautiful, bossy, Eagles-loving Geraldine, who ran the paddock with an iron hoof and a disapproving eye, had been getting progressively thinner and more frail. Tests were run, tonics administered, and a beautiful coat to keep the cold out was tailormade by a fellow goat-groupie
but in the end it wasn’t enough. Geraldine’s quiet, unceremonious death brought to end a hell fortnight for us. Juliet’s death a week or so earlier had been the polar opposite as she succumbed to the effects of the tiny rhododendron plant we had missed on the shared house/paddock fence line.
This leaves the bolshy, highly-strung, scatter-brained Marilyn as paddock matriarch, a job that she is just a little too young for.
Hopefully the kids both she and Leia are incubating (any day now) will bring out her softer side and we will be able to cease with the “Cover me!” Starsky and Hutch routine (I’m talking the Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul version here) each morning.
Any day now, the new goat residence with drive outlook and repurposed playground, in clear view and easy-listening of the house, will be filled with the happy sounds and joy that is goat kids.
It’s that whole circle of life thing; so horribly bleak on moment and so wonderfully joyous the next. And in that vein we leave you with a little bit of Homestead joy – albeit from the sheep paddock
Union Homestead 
Nobody tells goat stories like you do, glad some of the news was positive. Look forward to the next instalment.
You are too kind. I think the pool of goat story tellers is relatively small and everyone gets a Participation Certificate. Glad you enjoy them, though 😊
Do you still make feta? That sounds very worthwhile.
We didnt end up milking last year as Marilyn was too stroppy, our set up wasnt quite right, and I just didnt have the time. Last night, however, we came home to 3 Leia babies in the paddock so milking willdedinitely be happening…and feta making too. It is ridiculously easy.
Oh my goodness Qwyneesha is adorable. I too am glad that the circle of life thing had some positives for you in this latest go round. I am sorry to hear about Geraldine – such a character. Leia looks enormous – presumably she’s popped by now. I have spent a rainy Saturday playing far too much on Youtube and getting all interested in farmy things again. Which I do not have time or strength for. Cute goat and lamb pictures are not helping. Send me pictures of mud and broken fences. Tell me about middle of the night emergency barn visits or running out of feed on a long weekend. 🙂
Oh and now I read that Leia had TRIPLETS! Wow – poor mama – no wonder she was enormous! Congratulations. Hopefully milking goes better now – and I don’t want to hear about the feta – some among us are being dairy free just now and I’m trying to be supportive. Talking about cheese will be unhelpful.
Leia is a fantastic Mum who has it all under total control.
Babies sleep in one beautiful pile of cuteness and she is wearing an expression of utter smugness. Sorry…its just all to wonderful right now…but you know us, hang around for a while and it’ll turn to custard…non-dairy stuff, made with almond milk 🤣🤣
I’ll do my best; there’s usually something falling apart or failing to thrive 🤣
I am sorry to hear that you had such a dismal fortnight with two goat deaths. I shall miss hearing about Geraldine 🙂 I hope the triplets are thriving and Leia is enjoying being a mama. Marilyn sounds a handful – I hope she calms down once she too, has given birth.
What a cute little lamb!
Marilyn had had a definite mood shift. Were not sure whether this is down to a change in homebase or the kids arrival, but she has calmed down hugely. Long may the peace last!
Wonderful news!
The ups & downs & ups of a goats world. So glad they are settling for you all. Love Marilyn we had an Emma although she didn’t have horns was the best fence wrecking escapee we had. Love the personalities. Thanks for sharing.
Marilyn certainly keeps us on our toes…but we love her all the same 😊