Auntie Acorn babysits.

In the far corner of the cosy cedar goat nursery two little brown and white bundles sleep soundly. Little Bonny’s head resting on Buster’s back, Buster’s head buried under his sibling’s tummy. In the adjoining goat pen, the herd dynamics have unexpectedly changed. Miss Acorn, the nut brown LaManche doe is a goat with attitude. ( Mmmm….seems like attitude is becoming more prevalent around this ranch, Charm…Bran…Misty Moo…..ME ?????) and we fully expected trouble when the adorable little twins arrived and stole the limelight. Grumpy Acorn has had a persona transplant and has transformed into Auntie Acorn, babysitter extraordinaire. A sleepy grunt, a hungry bleat or an excited squeal brings a big brown goat running to investigate. Aggressive Acorn will sleepily watch eight little hooves bounce around her…bounce on her and play peek a boo under her chin. As Acorn’s trim LaManche body has expanded and her udder has swollen we are on baby watch again. Clearly Acorn was a little more resistant to Macho the buck’s attentions, “little Acorns” aren’t immanent but we are confident that it wont be long before the “wanna be” mom has her own little cuties to coddle.

In the chicken house, the ladies are back from their annual industrial action. Daily threats alluding to chicken soup and recriminations about eating and not producing are no longer necessary. In the nest boxes contented hens quietly sit and watch the world go by, beautiful brown eggs are plentiful and all is well.

Today is a short diary, the cuckoo clock has just reminded me that time is passing faster than my one finger can type and my ageing laptop takes forever to download.

Take care, keep safe, M