AHHHHHHH . . . WE’RE JUST KIDDING AROUND!

Will wonders never cease? Well, I certainly hope not! A once-in-MY-lifetime opportunity presented itself recently when we were picking up our weekly goat cheese and yoghurt/sour cream order from our friends Camille and Brian who own a ranchette down in Clarkdale. This hidden and idyllic secret area is a treasure of Mother Nature in more ways than one. Camille and Brian have amassed a menagerie comprised of turkeys, chickens, koi, and of course goats. This is that blossoming time of year as they had four females due to deliver their babes within just about a week of each other. One very pregnant first-time, ready-to-pop mama-to-be was roommate to another female who ‘kidded’ a bit prematurely to four youngsters, two of whom were stone cold and appeared dead.

Not Camille’s first rodeo in midwifery, she worked quickly to revive the kids with vigorous rubbing, warm water baths, and hair dryers. After several hours she succeeded with strong heart rates one and all and a very happy and calm mama – yay! She continued her expert veterinary care with substantial syringed doses of colostrum to both kids and mama and a molasses-infused bowl of water to boost and rehydrate the tired mother. She further installed a large heating pad and heat lamp overhead to ensure all remained toasty cozy.

Just watching these brand-new less than 24-hour old critters clearly wasn’t going to satisfy so we let the cuddling begin. All of Camille and Brian’s animals are completely acclimated to human interaction and touch, and they all respond to their names, coming when called.

Not everyone was so pleased with the extra attention and this little person just screamed and screamed in a plaintive bleat!

As beyond adorable as these guys were, we weren’t as wild about seeing this interloper stealing Jasper’s food.

More blooming newcomers with the pop of our diminutive magnolia and the portend of more to come with the planting of coveted zinnia seeds from MissymacK’s show-stopping zinnia garden. We can only hope that glorious part of her garden will so beautifully grace us this year.