Clover
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Man has it been busy in the barn...........
Lots of stuff has happened since I last chatted with everyone. Goats in this barn are moving around.........I mean changing stalls. It must have something to do with the new baby goaties being born. At first Tiger Lily and I didnt get moved, we were in our stall, but Away, Cookie, Jasmine and Baby went somewhere else, and the 4 yearlings came in and were where Away and company had been. Then the next thing I know Cammie & Vitara get their own stalls and do not have to share with anyone and the other yearlings go into the back pen, which my human mommy calls the "gp" pen. Well then babies just started popping everywhere........Cammie had some and then Vitara had some , and now Charm had some...........WOW ..........babies everywhere.....then we got moved when Charm had babies. Human Daddy made two temp stalls in the "gp" pen and we are in one of those. I really do not like being back here because I am afraid that I will not get petted as much.......and I just thought of something......those babies that Charm had are my half sisters...............lol!!! I am now the big sister!!! But I feel like I have been that anyway all along. Mommy seems happy with all of the babies.......she comes and plays with everyone.........and she hasnt forgotten me either........I called to her and she answers me and come and rubs me. I was a little meany though after we first moved. I just didnt want to eat out of the same trough as Tiger Lily so I rammed her.....Mommy was not thrilled with me to say the least.......she made me go with her for a little while so that Tiger Lily could eat. Cant wait to see what happens when more babies come.....We have been getting to go and play even though it has been cold, it has been nice and sunny so we go for walks and hang out then go into the barn.......I will try a little harder to keep everyone updated......thanks for reading.!!!!!!!!!
Clover
Clover
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
A Country Christmas...............................
This is what a country Christmas is all about.......
I think that we all need to read about a real country Christmas every year around Christmas time. I hope you feel the same way after reading this. Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.
It was Christmas Eve. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible.
After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures, but Pa didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though, I was too busy wallowing in self-pity.
Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. "Come on Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight." I was really upset then, not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this one. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap,coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house, Something was up, but I didn't know what.
Outside I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed. "I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said. "Here help me." The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with the low sideboards on, but the whatever it was we were going to do would be a lit bigger with the high sideboards on.
After we had changed the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood- the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain and then all fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something. "Pa ," I asked, "what are you doing?"
"You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being about eight. Sure, I'd been by, but so what?
"Yeah," I said, "Why?" "I rode by just today", Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood Matt."
That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smokehouse and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand.
"What's in the little sack?" I asked.
"Shoes, they're out of shoes. Ltitle Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy."
We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we cold spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this?? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us, it shouldn't have been our concern.
We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who is it?"
"Lucas Miles ma'am and my son, Matt, could we come in for a bit?"
Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp.
"We brought you a few things ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children-sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out.
"We brought a load of wood too ma'am," Pa said. He turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up."
I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak. My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.
I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you,"she said. " I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us."
In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it, I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all of the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it.
Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes.
Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their pa and I was glad that I still had mine.
At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away.
Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you Brother Miles. I don't have to say, May the Lord bless you: I know for certain that He will."
Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone aways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't
have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that, but on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a candy for those children. I hope you understand."
I understood and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had giving me alot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children.
For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remember, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.
Don't be too busy today. Share this country Christmas message with someone.
GOD LOVES YOU!! HAVE A REAL COUNTRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Clover
I think that we all need to read about a real country Christmas every year around Christmas time. I hope you feel the same way after reading this. Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.
It was Christmas Eve. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible.
After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures, but Pa didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though, I was too busy wallowing in self-pity.
Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. "Come on Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight." I was really upset then, not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this one. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap,coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house, Something was up, but I didn't know what.
Outside I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed. "I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said. "Here help me." The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with the low sideboards on, but the whatever it was we were going to do would be a lit bigger with the high sideboards on.
After we had changed the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood- the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain and then all fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something. "Pa ," I asked, "what are you doing?"
"You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being about eight. Sure, I'd been by, but so what?
"Yeah," I said, "Why?" "I rode by just today", Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood Matt."
That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smokehouse and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand.
"What's in the little sack?" I asked.
"Shoes, they're out of shoes. Ltitle Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy."
We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we cold spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this?? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us, it shouldn't have been our concern.
We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who is it?"
"Lucas Miles ma'am and my son, Matt, could we come in for a bit?"
Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp.
"We brought you a few things ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children-sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out.
"We brought a load of wood too ma'am," Pa said. He turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up."
I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak. My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.
I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you,"she said. " I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us."
In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it, I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all of the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it.
Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes.
Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their pa and I was glad that I still had mine.
At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away.
Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you Brother Miles. I don't have to say, May the Lord bless you: I know for certain that He will."
Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone aways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't
have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that, but on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a candy for those children. I hope you understand."
I understood and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had giving me alot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children.
For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remember, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.
Don't be too busy today. Share this country Christmas message with someone.
GOD LOVES YOU!! HAVE A REAL COUNTRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Clover
Friday, December 17, 2010
Yawn.............bored.......
We have been in the barn for a long time. I really dont mind because it is so cold. We get lots of yummy alfalfa hay and fresh water in our new buckets with the rope thingys coming out of them. Sometimes when Mommy comes in to feed us, Tiger Lily and I sneak out and explore the barn a little...........hahaha........not a lot new here ........but happy little campers are we!! Heard Mommy saying that we are gonna get new roomates next to us. She said that one of the yearlings was getting close to having her babies and she wanted her inside of the barn with the lights and stuff. Not sure what that has to do with anything, but whatever works. Mommy gave me a very nice rubbing tonite, I was a very good girl and looked at her with my soulful eyes and she said "ok missy........I am gonna give you a good petting!!" And it was awesome.......no treats tonite.....but she will be back to turn out the lights and check our water again........well I am off to hang with Tiger Lily.......heard jingle bells...............
Clover
Clover
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tiger Lily was feeling funny today too............
Well Miss Tiger Lily is gonna be a grown up lady too!! She had funny feelings and Human Mommy took her over to her new boyfriend........so now she has babies growing in her belly too!! YIPPEEEEE!! We will be having our babies about the same time!! It will be fun having our babies so close together, they too will be BEST FRIENDS FOREVER TOO!! Some of the other girls were feeling funny too and I think they went to see their special boyfriends too. Cookie and Angel were gone for a day so I bet that is what they did too!! All of the us girls will be having babies........babies will be everywhere...........LOL!! It will be the best time.......
Clover
Clover
Monday, December 13, 2010
I have a Boyfriend!!!!!!
I am so happy.........Human Mommy got me a boyfriend!! I am so excited!!! And he is very handsome and he doesnt stink!! He came into the barn with Human Mommy and I yelled because I was really excited.......and Human Mommy let me out of my pen.........and I ran right over to check this dude out..........I liked him A LOT...........and he liked me. So now I am gonna have babies growing in my belly like the other girls..........LOL!! I will make a great mommy.......My babies should come right before the Big Show that Auntie Angie and Human Mommy talked about before Auntie Angie left....I still have been a little cranky with Tiger Lily, she didnt much like my boyfriend but that was ok with me because I LOVED HIM! Tiger Lily yelled a lot when I was with my boyfriend, then she yelled when he accidentally came into our pen...........I didnt mind, but she was really not happy about it. He came in and had a little dinner with me and I didnt mind at all. He hung out with me most of the evening. We ate some hay together, drank some water, I showed him around our barn and introduced him to the herd. No one but me thought that he was that attractive but that was ok with me...........HE WAS MY BOYFRIEND and no one elses.......and now I am all settled and content. Human Mommy came late into the evening and took him somewhere. I yelled for just a few moments then I was over it.
I am still a little cranky with Tiger Lily, she is just on my nerves today. We have been stuck inside of the barn because of the white fluffy stuff again......I am a little tired too....
Ok I am gonna go and try and relax some.......and rest...
Clover
I am still a little cranky with Tiger Lily, she is just on my nerves today. We have been stuck inside of the barn because of the white fluffy stuff again......I am a little tired too....
Ok I am gonna go and try and relax some.......and rest...
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Hhhmmmmmmm Strange Feelings...............
The last couple of days I have been feeling a little different.......not sure what is happening.....but it sure is strange. I wish that we could have went out yesterday because I think that I would like to go over and check out those boy goaties again. I got a whiff of them and it seems that they are not so stinky anymore, they actually are smelling pretty good and they are cuter than before. Not sure what they have done but it is an awesome transformation and I LIKE IT A LOT!!! Wish I was closer to them right now...".Bbbbbbaaaaaaaahhhhhhh...........Human Mommy PLEASE MOVE ME CLOSER TO THE BOY GOATIES.............bbbbbbbbaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!" I keep yelling at her to let me go over there and she just is not listening to me at all, but dont worry I am letting her know LOUDLY AND OFTEN that I am not a happy camper until I get to go over and see those boys......Human Mommy came over and asked me what my problem was, I am normally very vocal, but it seems that I am a lot more vocal right now. I told her that I NEED to go over there and see those boys.........and Tiger Lily is just not getting it either.......and she has been making me very mad so I been butting her a lot........I GOTTA GO SEE THOSE BOYS.....BBBBBBBAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!! Human Mommy said something about "heat" not sure but I am sure HOT for those boys.............
More later when I am able to focus........bbbbbbbbbbaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clover
More later when I am able to focus........bbbbbbbbbbaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clover
Thursday, December 9, 2010
New Goatie
The yearlings have a new room mate and I think that her name is Truly. I have not been introduced yet because she has to pass all of our herd tests first.......or so that is what I am told. Not all of the goaties are being very nice either. I guess it is all part of the tests. I kinda feel sorry for her, but think that in the end it will all work out. Even Jasmine is not being nice to her. Some of us younger girls dont mind her that much, but it is Venus thats gotta give the ok for everyone to like her and welcome her in. She has been yelling at everyone, maybe that is why they are not being nice. I got a FANTASTIC rubbing tonite from Human Mommy. She came in to check on us, she has been coming in everynite after we have been in the barn for a little while. She refreshes waters, and gives us more hay if we have chowed it all down. Anyway, she had COOKIE TREATS for us tonite and then after treats she came over to my pen and I stood up on the gate and gazed at her. She told me that I must really be the most petulant doeling in the barn........not sure what that means but I think it must be a WONDERFUL thing because she rubbed me on my neck, face, chest...................AND I LOVED IT!! It was so awesome.........mmmmmmm.........!! I am one lucky little goatie!!!! Human Mommy said that she was looking at pictures of me when I was younger......
I am sorta tired tonite........so goodnite all.........sweet goatie dreams............
Clover
I am sorta tired tonite........so goodnite all.........sweet goatie dreams............
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