(Yeah.
Yeah. Go ahead and make your jokes….But to be clear …)
No…I’m not the mother of teenage
girls.
No… I’m not at a bachelorette
party.
No… I am not referring to my own
anatomy (Not even digressing…Not even
going there…)
"Lockin' up my girls" is the last thought I’m having as I come in after my final check o' my
goats on this fine (full moon) evening…Ya see, one of my girls (Gabrielle, Gabs, Gabby-girl,
to be specific) Gabs is with child…Dear Lord, seems only yesterday that Vixie gave me Gabby (second goat
baby ever to be birthed here on the farm...)
So I’ve said my goodnights.
Getting ready for bed.
Temps are mild…a bit of rain
today, but no one will freeze to death when Gabs goes into labor, (i.e. breaking
water will not be met with 0 degree temperatures this night…so all is well in the grand scheme of things…)
To be clear, I have not had such
concerns since January’s arctic blast, and Rosey choosing to birth her pups under the porch (despite my white trash efforts to create a birthing room out of a refrigerator box propped under my dining room table). But
when I saw sweet Gabby doing that ever so familiar circle dance in the corner
of her stall tonight, trying to get her wide-load body comfy, hoping to be left alone if/when nature takes
over, well, I'm just about to say "Awww" when what do I spy, but goofy, lopping, Hiccapup chewing on his rawhide, with Rosebud,
his sister, jumping on his head, sending them both into a rough and tumbling, free-for-all in animated puppy play, worthy of a Disney film crew. As Rosebud attempts
to snatch the chew toy from Hicca’s jaws… Well, it’s in that very instant
that my “all-too-new-at-this/goat-mothering/maternal-thing” takes over…
It may not be sub freezing….
The puppies mean
no harm…
But one can never
be too careful.
In a split second it occurs to me
that while Pyrenees pups are bred to protect, these puppies have never
experienced a brand new baby goat being born (a goat baby that, BTW, comes out
looking like a wind-up extra in a Toy Story audition, walking and talking at all of 3 minutes after birth)
So to play it safe (Did I mention
tonight’s a full moon?), I decide this mama’s deserving of a maternal goat suite all her own…
With extra chow and red solo water bucket
now by her head, it’s room service, goat style for my girl~Gabs...
Those sweet puppy babies (now-turning
teenage pups), will have to move it outside …Ok guys, your guard duties just
shifted to the other side of the goat-door.
Tonight, Gabs is checking in to the Garth Brooks
/Baptist Hospital / VIP birthing suite for goats….Only
thing missing is the mint on her pillow...And I’d have added that, but lest her latch got accidentally lifted, well, puppies can’t have chocolate...
Everybody say a prayer…My Gabby is with child. Our manger scene is set….
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