the Intrepid Fiberwizard

adventures in spinning, knitting, gardening and life

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Auction Day

Life on the Farm, at times, involves difficult choices.


Last December (due to the antics of one male goat we named Houdini), we had an amazing number of baby goats born. Now, the lore amongst the farmers is that animals do not mate in the summer, as they are wise enough to know that birth in mid-winter is rugged. Or, so the stories go ....

We have a relatively small farm, about 5 acres. Suitable for a handful of goats and some sheep. Until Houdini made his mark, we had the perfect number.

Many hours of long talks, pensive times. We sold several animals to neighboring farms. Yet now, as the summer comes close, we had to decide. Out of kindness to these beings, we knew they must leave us. Some will go to new homes, some will be butchered.


Today was the day. Auction Day.



32 goats and 2 sheep have left our home.

I told myself that I wasn't going to cry - I took some final photos of these wonderful friends - I moved fences, while K encouraged them into the trailer. Dear neighbor friends came to help. and the tears streamed down my cheeks, unashamed.




My thoughts dift back to the 2 degree temperatures of last December, when a first time Mama goat had twins, and one was left in the middle of the field. We gathered up that small being, I held her under my coat and we rubbed her back to life with towels and blankets. This job was repeated a few times that month, as we had so many first time mama goats. We hung tarps on the barn, gave extra grain and tried to keep them warm. It was a successful month, and almost all lived through that startling birth time.

January came in with torrential rains here. One frantic morning, the river was flooding. The guards at the dam up river were opening the gates, and the river rose 12 feet within the twinkling of an eye. We quickly rellocated our animals from the pasture by the river where they had many acres, back to our farm on the hill.

Last February, one of our original flock, Una, had twins. She was a dear mama goat. Early in the morning, when she gave birth, we knew there was trouble. One of the twins didn't make it, and the other was struggling. We coaxed Una into the small shelter, trimmed back the long fiber around her teet and encouraged the baby to nurse. The little one survived and flourished.

This morning came, and it was time. We have kept only 3 of our goats. The originals of the flock who left today have been with us for six years. They have names - they have character, and we will miss them.

We promise ourselves that we can begin again, should we ever be able to aquire more acerage.


In three week's time, we will send off 10 of the shetland sheep, keeping only our original flock of 1 ram and 4 ewes. Today they all stood and watched as their friends left.

Fare-thee-well dear ones.



11 Comments:

At June 10, 2006 at 3:05 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dang it, Teyani, quit making me cry! I'm so sorry you had to part with your dear four-footers.

Lissa

 
At June 10, 2006 at 3:29 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Despite today's sadness, it sounds like you are having an amazing experience on your farm with your animals. I'd cry too.

 
At June 10, 2006 at 4:53 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

Sometimes I just wish that living in the world didn't demand so much practicalty.

 
At June 10, 2006 at 7:10 PM, Blogger Chris said...

Ouch. *hug*

 
At June 11, 2006 at 4:30 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

*sniff*

 
At June 11, 2006 at 4:55 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh Teyani, If I had been there I would have cried with you. I know that had to be hard. I'm with Jane damn all this required practicality. We should all have 100 acre farms and all the fences, food and wealth that is necessary to run them... Poo.... Hugs.

 
At June 11, 2006 at 5:18 AM, Blogger Carole Knits said...

Oh, now you've done it. You've gone and made me cry.

 
At June 11, 2006 at 9:06 AM, Blogger Fiberjoy said...

A moving tribute to the harsh realities of raising livestock... well tended and loved then reluctantly let go for the wellbeing and future of the farm.

Hope you have a peaceful, soul restoring day.

 
At June 12, 2006 at 7:15 AM, Blogger Karen said...

Aww I'm sorry that was so hard for you Teyani. :(

 
At June 12, 2006 at 9:21 AM, Blogger Miri Mack said...

Oh, so so sad. :sigh: I don't think I could be a farmer.

 
At June 13, 2006 at 8:35 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

Living on a farm with livestock I so totally understand where you are at; you really do bond with the animals and they are all individuals. It is the part of farm life where practicality has to rule and I too have such a soft heart - these are hard decisions to make. Thank goodness your animals have been so well loved and appreciated; not all fare so well. Lovely post Teyani.

 

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