contrasts

[picklespickles]

okay. we've been talking about all our various ways of relating to our goats. some as livestock, some almost as family. (thinking here of post on crochet ). i was thinking that i'm an interesting contrast.

if i pick up a stick, my goats walk toward it for a back scratch not away as from a beating. that used to freak the heck out of one of my neighbors. i have one with old bones that i put old couch cushions out for and she loves to lay on them. but, i eat them. i would not take them to a vet as i would a dog. but, i would walk around the yard with them for ten minutes to find the best place they want to be: in the sun or out/near brush or away/with a view or out of the wind- if i need to tie them up so i can work on the fence.

does anyone else have any surprising contrasts about themselves? whether it surprises you or someone else? for me, i find this one of the most interesting things about people. our true characters are seldom black or white, good or bad. it's the seeming inconsistencies and daily melding of idealism with pragmatism that make us who we are.

i know once my neighbor was around when another neighbor was teasing the heck out of me because he'd seen me kiss my goat. the first guy said, yeah but you better watch it boy, cause she'll turn around and eat it and she'll do it herself, too. lol.

[DairyGoatSlave]

hmm...(this one weirds out my mom)the fact that i have a really bad gag reaflex, if i clean up cat barf, or eat something that shouldnt be in my food i gag badly. However i will walk barefoot through goat or cow poop. I hate snot, but it dosent bother me to wipe my goats nose with my hand. I cant stand anything slimy, but dont gag when i have to "go in" in a goat or cow.
thats about it i think :P

[Goat Servant]

Most of the time I would rather be out relating to them than humans. Even when my children & grandkids are here I have to get out to do pm chores before sunset. Im sure it annoys them.
There are a couple does that think Im only out there to bring hay & do massages & they usually sucker me into it.
They are livestock but they also tell me what they want & how they are doing.
I have finally gotten to the place of not shedding a tear when they go to a new home, but when someone cries for their sibling it just tears me up.
The first time we brought the boys to the processer I mourned for a few weeks before, lovin on em and even insisted on trimming their feet the day before they left. I wanted them looking their best.
The butcher asked me if I wanted to watch. For some reason this has never bothered me but it had been many many years. I figured if I helped care for them while they were here I should be with them at their demise. It all was
just my way of dealing with it.
Soon as the bullet hit the first one I was satisfied. Boom, Dango was gone. In less than as many minutes, all five boys were down & he started gutting & skinning, saying they were the best looking goats he'd ever seen, both live & hanging.
Bringing packages of meat out of the freezer was a game of guessing who it was. Oh this must be Stretch, look at that honkin leg roast. And this must be widdo Stuffy a whopping 41lbs not a month earlier.
Then those times out in the barnyard, when I brought my Nubian into the mix. I went out & sat in the barn. Much to my amazement she pawed through the straw next to me, laid down and put her head in my lap. She
made me feel like a Jane Goodall!!