Last week, Summer had twins. They are as cute as anything you have ever seen. Healthy and already bouncing about within hours and trying to get into trouble within days. Summer is a goat by the way. Our one foal due this summer has not arrived yet but the mare is rather large and this point. Here are some pictures so you can see how adorable baby goats are. These are Nigerian Dwarfs so they are small. The female weighed about 2 pounds and the male, born second, was about 1 1/2 pounds when they were born.
There is something wonderful about new life on the farm. I think that part of the beauty is the balance of birth and loss. As a farm kid, you are exposed to more loss than most other kids. A weasel gets 15 of your birds in one night and you never forget and you have to bury them. You have to learn about the kindness of letting your favorite horse (or dog, or donkey or goat or…) go and letting them no longer suffer. I often tell people that are so devastated by the loss of a pet how lucky they are to have had the pets in their lives because it is true. We feel the pain of loss because they brought such joy to our lives
. Of course this applies to humans, too. Although the grief is real and can be really difficult, I would not give up the joy of animals in my life to avoid the pain.
Sometimes I feel sorry for my kids’ exposure to loss but then I see them react to the new goats or foals and clearly they get it. They celebrate the arrivals. They are lucky to be farm kids and it has been a real blessing during Covid.
The farm also teaches responsibility. While I may not be the best at making them pick up in the house, watering or feeding the animals is something that has real consequences. Now that they are bigger, it is safer for them to be involved with more chores. They grow muscles and confidence as they navigate the farm.
This summer is flying by. We await another goat’s delivery and the foal. One home horse show has been held and another home show is planned for August 15. A group is soon to head to a multi-day show so the preparations are underway. The summer and fall are always the busiest in terms of people due to more horse shows and better weather for riding. I always love to see the kids that return for the summers. We miss them during the school year. I think that often by not being here all the time, they have a better understanding of what the farm offers. It is a safe place. The animals bring quiet comfort. Kids and adults find a place to laugh and be free. There is something magical. I have not been able to define what I mean by magic, but I do appreciate the beauty that comes with a lot of hard work on the farm.