Goat Roundup

Time for the annual goat roundup here at the farm.  Vaccinations, de-worming and hoof-trims.  It is not the goat's favorite activity.  But we take our goat wellness program seriously! So here's the drill:

Start with a nice bucket of feed

Open gate and walk around the Guard Cat

Holler for Goats, rattle feed bucket, and wait for them to come running

Corral goats in makeshift chute

Draw up Vaccine

Inject Vaccine.  Ouch!

Deworm and trim hooves.

No pictures, sorry :), my hands were needed for goat-handling!

Job Done...

Reward everyone with Sweet Feed

Mama's are happy.  All's forgiven. 

Papa Buck doesn't trust us. Go figure...

Working with the goats reminds me of how easy it would be to neglect our own health.  Sometimes it's a real hassle dealing with those annual physicals and doctor visits.  Just like it's a hassle working the goats, knowing we're going to get hot, sweaty and dirty ensuring that they are healthy and vaccinated.  And I for one dislike injections of any kind.   But vaccinations are necessary and save lives every year (for goats and people!).   Just like the new pancreatic cancer vaccine could save lives every year.  We can hope and pray that it comes out of trials with a Big Yes!

For now, we sigh with relief.  Goat Roundup was a success.  Mama's are due to kid around mid-February, and then the real fun begins!  Can't wait...

If today you are facing a Roundup of sorts, whether it is medically, emotionally or spiritually related, just know that you are not alone.  This cancer journey will bring us all occasional days of  delightful green pastures with quiet waters, and also nights of shadowy valleys filled with paths to dark to walk. May the struggles we wrestle with now, lead to that sweet place of peace, where fear has no place and cancer has no hold.

Only in Grace, Jane