Goat Camp

Meet "Chase!"

A 2 yo  LaMancha goat registered as "Joppa's Friendship Chase."

Yes that breed has no ears.

Yes, it takes some getting used to.

But now I think of her a lot like E.T.

And last week I could well imagine her saying "Chase phone home?"

Our generous friends VOLUNTEERED to take Chase to their farm to keep her milked while we were gone. They have velvety Jersey cows and don't quite "get" milking for fun. But they also have a gorgeous daughter who loves Chase. (That farm girl is also a ballerina/pony rider who loves high fashion and wears it everywhere. I know she'll be National Dairy Princess one year!)

So Chase went to camp while we went on vacation.

It was very hard to walk away from her sweet face and calls.

But I knew she was in expert, loving hands.

And had adorable new friends n neighbors.

I told you Bert n Wilma would be our test goats...

WE LOVE GOATS!

Especially milk goats!

Chase came from a super nice lady who was finding her a quieter life after Chase had recovered from parasites that left her spine damaged.

Chase is fine but walks with a little limp.

Only a real problem in the show ring. I understand that Chase did very well showing prior to this episode. 

Sad for the breeders, a BIG blessing for us!

We're very happy to have her back home.
 But it did take two to push n pull her away from camp...

Where she just might have converted a hardened cow girl to try goats...

And I know she left behind many new friends

Joining Amy and friends over at her homestead blog hop!

and also at the lovely Dandelion House

Also linking to Barn Charm

Fun Family Fourth

I'm ba aack!

How was your holiday?

Mine was a real treat.

Gorgeous views, great conversations and lots of fun.

In addition to all this I bought a new camera to record it all!
It's a Canon EOS Rebel T3.

I'm giddy!!!!

So now I apologize if I bore you with my *many* travel pics...

At least you might prefer them to the last 6 months of phone pics?  ;-)

There was boating of all sorts

And of course watermelon eating contests

Cousins jumped off the dock once again...

And acted silly with their Uncle!!!

We hiked up to see the lake from a different view

And wore some ice cream to cool off afterwards,

And just plain hung out.

Sometimes "upside over" as dear Jack likes to say!

My baby brother and his sweet fiance even snuck some alone time!

We enjoyed bonfires, s'mores, fireworks and sparklers... 

Lotsa games and

memorable cakes of all kinds.

Like Casey's perfectly patriotic one

and the "pro's" crooked, near catastrophe, that kept us giggling!

The birthday girl was extra special and sparkling
as she celebrated the big 7 0 !

I swear I watched my little girl grow up right before my eyes.

She really liked the boys...

Luckily I was distracted by lots n lots of pretty places to practice with my new camera....

 Now I think I get what Billy Joel was singing...

I'm in a New York state of mind.

Hope your holiday was a happy one!

Ready ready ready. Ready to run.

Happy Fourth!!!

... "All I wanna do is have some fu u u un!"

(luv me some Dixie Chicks)

I am off for a family reunion in honor of my awesome Aunt's 70th birthday!

Will be driving 8+ hours into the Adirondack's to Schroon Lake.

To say I'm ready is a gross understatement.

I am exhausted and eager to DO NOTHING!

Except maybe read the Joel Salatin book I got The Farmer for Father's Day and enjoy a gluten free hard cider while dippin' my toes in the lake...

I think it's like the prenatal "nesting instinct."

The instinct to leave one's home clean n perfect...

Problem is, what if that home is 115 acres with

an old (messy) farmhouse containing;

5 cats 

2 dogs,

 2 dirty small people

 and two busy large people.

And the grounds house 

10 horses

1 stallion

4 ponies

3 goats

6 chickens

8 guineas

10 fish  and 

umpteen garden beds and pots of flowers.

(in case you're counting I have a backlog of news updates!)

In that case this instinct might kill.

Often it seems more relaxing to just stay home.  ;-)

 I do hope to make some memories and watch more of this -

Cousins jumping off the dock.  :-)

Wishing you all a RELAXING holiday!!!