Gatherings of Goat Girls

Dining amid January's "spring" sogginess.

Perhaps it's the weather, I'm not sure. Whatever the reason, our "goat girls" have been gathered along the lower fence-line frequently of late. Usually they gather in hopes of being fed, or to eat when grain has been served. When they come pouring down the hill, especially after a new-fallen snow, they make a colorful show. Sometimes the Tennessee fainting goats' myotonic tendencies kick in, and they're left behind--struggling stiff-legged when they can move, or simply toppled over--momentarily helpless.

Here are the goat girls gathering after a recent snowfall. January 2011.

We thinned the herd earlier this month, and now the largest "goat girls" have new homes. Without their personalities, the tenor of the herd has changed. Now the Nigerian Dwarf does are the pushiest, trying to hold sway over a feed pan without competition. This used to be the large, horned fainter Caitlyn's role.

Now the only peach-and-white offspring left in the herd is the studly Brad Pitt. It's amazing how well Caitlyn's coloring holds through the generations. We've seen three generations, now, and her relatives are always easy to spot.

We do enjoy our "goat girls." Whether they're slipping through the fence--two of the winter kids can still accomplish this trick--or gathering along it, their eager faces are a pleasure to see.