I have been BUSY! I have to take the goats out every single day to browse. I can't just let them out right now as it is HUNTING SEASON and my doe Brownie looks enough like a deer to be mistaken and shot so it is ultra caution time. Even though they all have bright collars and bells. They are getting nice a fit, though. And they are really working together as a herd. Every day we go down the drive to a new place and they follow along nicely as a group. Angel the Husky takes the lead followed by Jelly Bean, and Perl prancing along. Then Ian leads the bigger goats. Brownie follows Ian with her babies right behind. I Hyeon and Hyeon Seo follow Brownie, then Mama follows behind. Trump Card wanders along behind and then WAY in the back, Houdini wanders slowly behind the crowd. Eventually he trots up to catch up so he doesn't miss his morsels of food.
It's quite the parade.
If I holler "Hyeop, Hyeop" they all form up and move to where ever I take them. "Hya" gets them to move off the road so cars can pass. "OK, time to go home" and they head right home.. If I say, "OK Boys, in the pen" The bucks go into the buck pen. Then it's "Come on girls" and all the does and doelings go into the doe pen. "Babies" gets the doelings into the kid pen. If the dog gives them a warning bark they all run over to her and stand behind her.
I have also been going to visit my DBF which is a bit of travel time.Of course, it is worth every second.
AND my washing machine broke so I have had to spend considerable time taking it apart and hunting down some parts.
I have been taking a disabled friend to the VA Hosptial for his health care and driving him to the store and helping with chores. Unfortunately when I went to his house the other day to talk to him about my having a boyfriend, he had apparently found out from someone else and he was very hurt and angry. He said he doesn't want me to help him anymore. He tried to say it was because of some other thing but the excuse he used didn't make any sense.
I feel really bad because I know he had a crush on me and I wanted to break the news to him gently and assure him that we would still be friends and I would still be there for him. Now he doesn't have anyone to help him out as his family does not do any of his care and he really needs a lot of help. Also I really enjoyed his company. We always had fun when we got together and even though he is a bit of a curmudgeon, he is a sweet old curmudgeon and we laughed and talked alot together. I am going to miss our time together.
I am also volunteering to help with a benefit for someone at my church who has overwhelming bills from cancer treatment.
PLUS, I have joined a group for the Cooperative extension service in my area. That is a lot of fun. We do community service projects and various crafty sorts of things. It is right up my alley. My first project was to help set up the exhibits for the county fair this year. I have volunteered to teach 4-H kids about dairy goats and cheese making.
I have joined a knitting group and am learning to knit. I'm going to be making hats for soldiers on deployment.
Volunteering for the VA has become a passion for me. I went to visit a friend at the VA Hospital and while there I saw a huge need for volunteers. Some of those guys are in the hospital for extended periods of time. They need help with errands and shopping. Many of them have family that have to come from long distances to visit. Recreation is sparse. The rec rooms are staffed by volunteers who come in on their own time and so the rooms are only open at certain times of the day. This is something that limits how often the vets can have some fun while they are stuck in the hospital for their routine care.
SO, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!