Wonderful Gifts

Hey There !

Dave from McElhoes Family Farm/Belmont here.

It happens every year. We struggle with getting enough grass to graze. We move the flock from paddock to paddock trying to get enough feed without damaging the root systems. Then suddenly BAM! we simply cannot move the animals quickly enough to keep ahead. What a joyous problem to have! My happiest, most content moment of the year - "June Grass."

"Then followed that beautiful season... Summer.... Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood." ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Our orchard grass is quickly following the fescues into seed. Already it is nearly waist deep, and nearly hides the sheep as they enjoy the abundance.

On Friday, as we were trying to get the Farm Stand ready, Katie paused and called down from the roof for me to stop sawing and listen. In a moment, she was off the roof and jumping the fence. A few quick strides and she emerged triumphantly with a freshly born baby goat!

"It's a doe too," she hollered!

It is especially exciting because we had largely quit milking goats a few years ago, and had kept only a few pets that were not really production keepers.

I was staying with my Mom in the hospital last year, when I got a frantic phone call from Katie. One of our goats was in labor and in trouble. In desperation Katie had pull a tiny baby from an expiring doe.

While I was gone, Kelly and Katie turned our kitchen into a makeshift goat nursery, and "Betty" became a favorite. Although she was healthy, she had always stayed smaller, and we really never thought she would breed. Further, bottle fed babies usually make poor mothers as they had no real example of a goat mother. Apparently, goat mother Katie did something right, because Betty is being a great mom to "Bitsy." Further, despite her tiny size, she seems to have a great supply of milk, certainly enough for Bitsy, and probably enough to share with us.

What a treat it will be to have fresh goat milk again! By (draconian) law, we cannot sell or even give the milk away. But it does bring the dairying bug back. In the meantime, Bitsy will probably be getting spoiled and will soon be playing the lambs in the June Grass!

What a joyous time of year!

Dave

"Mine is the Month of Roses; yes, and mine
The Month of Marriages! All pleasant sights
And scents, the fragrance of the blossoming vine,
The foliage of the valleys and the heights.
Mine are the longest days, the loveliest nights;
The mower's scythe makes music to my ear;
I am the mother of all dear delights;
I am the fairest daughter of the year."

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow