Cold Goats

(Ps. the last few posts, since Tim's birthday, have been posted a little out of order with some back-dating to get it all in there.)

Last week we had our first big wind storm of the season - the storm that knocks down all the lose trees and branches that in Juneau would have fallen months before. The first big wind on Whidbey is a bit like brushing your hair after having it in braids for a week - so much comes out that should have come bit by bit but instead saved up and came all at once. On South Whidbey nearly all the roads were obstructed by fallen trees, all the schools were closed for the week, and power was out for days all over. 

After being last on the repair list last fall, we assumed we would be out for another week. Some how, even with a giant tree across our road and clearly on the power lines, we kept power for all but the half-day it took for the county to cut up the tree and repair the lines after the storm was over. 

One tree is looking better after the wind than before. Remember back in August when I swore to avenge my tree friends against the evil tyrant of invasive ivy? The big tree at the top of the hill is looking rather ivy-free after my hard work of removing a foot-wide swath of two-inch-thick ivy vines. I feel this impressive feat deserves a little gloating. 

Back in the bus, Tim and Tilly have decided they are not going to be cold any more. I left Tim and Tilly home alone for a few hours and came back to the small bus filled with enough presto logs for the rest of the year. It is nice to be warm, particularly as the frost has begun to creep across the grass in early morning. When I wake up in the night after the fire has gone out, I tuck Tilly in with a blanket to get some cozy sleep. Now that Joe and Roni and Dad and Mum have gone, Grandpa is back to only heating his bedroom. November is a chilly, dark time of year. 

Look who's home! Tonight, two pairs of big floppy ears were separated from their herd, led through a pack of energetic dogs, jumped in the back of the truck and off we went. Stopping at the feed store for a bale of straw on the way home, a crowd gathered around the truck to coo at and snuggle the goats. Tilly was rather jealous. It's good to have out farm reunited and hopefully now growing. For the first 100 days of their pregnancies, we are supposed to try not to fatten them up too much. That's a hard one when they are so adorable and eager for goodies, and everyone gets fat over the holidays! What's Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years without a few yams thrown over the railings?

It is getting dark at 4:30p these days it seems.