Solstice Kidding

     Solstice Weekend at Hillspring was filled with Drama, Delightful guests and Delicious food. Let's start with the "Drama"--

    Our very pregnant yearling doe, Bella,  did not return to the barn on Friday night with the other goats.... which meant only one thing.... she had kidded in the woods. Instinct would keep her there because newborns would not be ready for the long walk to the barn. Husband Mark, weekend guests Katie & Alisha, and I each spent various segments of the weekend calling and searching for Bella on Saturday and Sunday.... all to no result. There was much thunder, lighting and rain during this time.... and we worried about whether kids could survive it or if coyotes had gotten them.... Or worse...did Bella die in "kid birth"?  Or was mother nature taking care of them in a protected thicket?

Proud Mama, Bella and little Bebop

      Late Sunday evening, Mark went to the barn to shut up the milk does for morning milking and there was Bella laying on the hay with her healthy beautiful boy kid beside her, 2 days old.  In keeping with our music theme, we settled on the name "Bebop".  He is a "looker".... a spotting pattern we have never had in our 5 years of raising goats. He is the first offspring of Ruben, a young Spanish/Nubian buck we got late last fall... so we are very pleased and looking forward to more of Ruben's "kids".

Papa, Ruben

Bebop, 2 days old

     On to the Delightful guests.... Alisha and Katie from Chicago overnighted on the hay in the barn and reported that the "accommodations were great". They both tried their hand at goat milking and took home 3 qts. of milk to make cheese. Also wonderful to have their hands in the garden where our abundant rains produce weeds as fast as they can be plucked. Weeding strawberries is a bit tedious, but the reward is obvious.... luscious mouthwatering berries.... from plant to mouth in seconds !



 
     Guests, Peter and Sarah, from Appleton joined us just in time for an evening garden tour, followed by  a Saturday night outdoor picnic with Hillspring lamb/beef sausages in tomato sauce, Chicago cold bean salad, sourdough bread with raw goat milk cheese and Rhubarb-Strawberry Pie. Delicious !