The Goatherd Experience

Okay, I only have a couple minutes to post because I have to get ready and go to band. But... I took the goats over to the fair and got them settled in then we came back home and got the cart (Me, Grandpa, Grandma and Aleta) took that over to the fair and worked both the boys for a little bit. Lewis did really well and Clark did okay but only after he acted up. That's about all for now. I may be posting again this week or I may not post again until after the fair. We'll have to see.

That's right, We start moving stuff to the fair in three days (That would be Sunday right?) So today was dedicated to shaving and hoof trimming. Clover went first. I did all of the shaving on her myself. (okay tiny little help from Mom) She took the longest and when I got done with her, she looked completly different. She went from being brown, black and a little white to being mostly black with a little brown and white. I should really take a picture. I don't think I like her that color. The reason she is black by the way is because the top of her hair was brown and the bottom was black.

Next was Lewis who seemed to go really fast. Mom helped shave him and we had trouble doing his face and head because he doesn't like being touched there. This is due to the fact that we keep having to cut horns off him and pull out scurs.

Clark went last and seemed to take the longest. Though he really was pretty short. Mom did all of the shaving on him and once more we had trouble with his face, head and neck. The same reason as his brother. Lewis and Clark both look a little patchy but it's okay because they don't have to look as good as Clover because they aren't dairy goats.

Later my cousin person who isn't really my cousin unless you count marriage because he was married to one of Mom's cousins back a long time ago and...Well you get the idea. From here on out, he will be refered to as Jim. So Jim came to the house to tatto Lewis because he was never tatooed. *Point* We had asked Jim to tatoo Lewis when he tattoed Clark last year, but he wouldn't do it.*End Point* I'm not real sure how that went because I was in the house getting the goat hair off me. Which I don't think was too successful because I still feel itchy. Mom however said that it went real well and that Lewis seemed to handle it well. I hope so because if he is not happy at the fair I'll blame Jim and Mom. I didn't want Lewis tattoed this close to the fair but NO...no one listens to me even though it's MY GOAT!!

Okay, I'm done now. Tomorrow, I'll be working the boys and then I'll probably be doing some cleaning of buckets and feed pans. Oh and I forgot one more thing. After the shaving was done, I let all three of the 'kids' out to graze. It was pretty fun because Clover would leap around and then I would leap around and give chase and then the boys would leap and cavort. It was all great fun. After that, We went back to the barnyard for some "quality scratch time." By scratch time I mean: I scratch Lewis and Clover while Clark rubs his head on me. I love my goats!

So I'm having some trouble. Lewis and Clark too keep randomly stopping when I drive them. Mom suggested we use a switch and tickle their back legs and tail. That didn't work very well at all. The boys just kept on stopping and started again when they chose. So we devised a plan that is more sinister. Everytime they would stop, mom would go up behind them and pull their tail upwards while I gave the command. I promise, this isn't as cruel as it sounds. Let me tell you too, it works. Mom and I also decided that Clark wasn't cut out to be a harness goat. He's just not big enough. When we work him, He starts to pant and pant. Mom got real worried about him. Lewis though is somewhat larger and so when he pulls, he pants but not as hard.

One more thing. Then I have to go to band practice. On Thursday, my cousin person who I don't think I'm even really related to, is coming to tatto Lewis' ear. We wanted him to do it last year when he came to tatto Clark but he wouldn't then and so it has to be done now.

So yesterday dad helped me load up the cart and Lewis into our cousin's truck and proceeded to drive the 10 minutes to their house. It was an interesting experiance. When I started to hook Lewis up to the harness and cart, all the little kids wanted to be first and they wanted to know if they got to ride on the goat. It was really funny. One little girl kept calling Lewis a sheep and my one cousin Aleta who helps me with the boys sometimes explained that it was a goat. One woman said Lewis was the biggest goat she'd ever seen. The reason for that is because most people don't see wethers that are three years old. Most of them are used for market.

Well all the little kids got a turn riding and even some adults. I think that everyone had a good time. It was fun and it was really good practice for Lewis though he was really stressed out. I felt bad for him but he survived and he got good experiance with staying calm in all situations. He had a little kid toddle up to him, an electric scooter driven at him and a volleyball hit him. He was tired today so I gave him the day off. I did work Clark however and that was rather interesting. As you may already know, Clark is my 'problem child' he absolutly hates to be on the cart. Therefore I had an interesting time trying to get him to drive in a straight line. He did okay. Not great, just okay. Oh, I forgot. Lewis needs his ears tattoed before the fair. My one cousin person I'm not exactly sure how I'm related to him or even if I am, but he's coming to put the tatto in Lewis' ear. I hope he does it in the next couple of days. I don't want Lewis to feel bad during the fair.

I know, I know, I haven't been writing. What will my faithful readers do? *snorts and mumbles about having no faithful readers* Anyway, the fair is coming!!! look!

Fair Countdown: 1 week 2 days

The goats aren's ready. Just thought I'd tell you that now, maybe it'll save some time later. I've been working with them. Clark, well he's kind of interesting. You see, he hardly pulls at all. I haven't even been riding in the cart with him. He just doesn't seem to want to pull. Mom said last night after 4-H that if he doesn't shape up, I may have to sell him. That would make me sad because I'm kind of attached to him. He's such a big baby. Always wanting to be scratched and petted. Lewis, on the other hand, he pulls really well and when he actually pulls and doesn't decide to just stop and stand there looking stupid it's really fun and we look really good. (yes I am back to riding with him pulling me since our little accident) But yeah, it's actually pretty fun to ride. I had some of my out of state cousins come over last sunday afternoon and they rode in the cart while I walked behind them and drove. Lewis pulled of course.

I'm going to be doing that again tomorrow. Our church is having a pig roast tomorrow afternoon and I'm taking the boys and the cart to their house. It's going to be interesting, not the fact that I'll be giving the little kids rides, but the fact that I'll probably be giving rides to the kids in the youth group too. We're an interesting group of kids too. Let me tell you!

I'm not the only one in the county doing harness at the fair this year. Another girl named Sara is doing it too. Her dad called a couple of days ago. He wanted to know if we had a harness for sale. No offense to them, but I found it funny. They have a cart already and it's like two weeks before the fair when they call and ask about a harness. Mom took the call (I wasn't home) and gave him the name of Hoegger goat supply. It should be interesting to see what they've done when we get to the fair. AHHHH I'm Soooo excited. We live at the fair all week long. Sadly that means no access to a computer so I'll have to talk about my adventures when I get back. Though I'll most likely make at least one more post before then. We have to shave goats this week and we also have that thing on saturday. Therefore I'll probably get in two posts at least. I may be puttin up more pictures on the the site this weekend too. I'll see if dad brings home the digital camera from work this weekend. If you've read all of this, I thank you much. I'm gonna sign off for now. Ciao!