Sunday, May 6, 2012

The Sisterhood of the Goat


Hello everyone! It seems I have had trouble blogging these days. I just can't  make my self sit down and do it. So today I am doing a repost from waaayyy back in September 09 of how we got into raising goats. This is for  The Sisterhood of the Goat! If you have goats or love goats this is the place to find more folks just like you!


GAA or Goat Addicts Anonymous 


Hello,my name is Melodie, and I am an addict.A goat addict.I didn't mean for it to happen.I just tried one,a Pygmy.I didn't know Pygmy's were the "gateway" goats!

Really,it's Heidi's fault.Yep, that children's classic led us down this road of addiction.It got the boy in it's goatie clutches first.

You see,when we first moved down to the Houston area we rented a house in one of the many burbs.Hubby was in Norway,our stuff was in storage in Northeast Texas.Me and The Boy stayed in this house a week with nothing but a blow up air mattress,a few cooking items,a wooden pin ball game and a used copy of Heidi.We were waiting for Hubby to fly home so we could drive up and get our stuff.

I know,Heidi is not exactly military obsessed boy reading material.I read it out loud and he really enjoyed it.I found out soon why he liked it.Yep,you guessed it,the goats.From then on it was nonstop,"Can I get a goat?"

We told him he couldn't have one while we lived in town.Finally we moved to the farm and for Christmas he got a bottle baby Pygmy, Butter Bean.



He was soooo cute and sooo tiny.So when I learned they need a friend,I had no problem finding and buying another goat.
The Boy became a walking encyclopedia of goat knowledge.Actually,The Boy is a whole set of encyclopedias on various things,explosives,tanks, weapons,aircraft...you get the picture,but the new volume was goats.

This is a dangerous addiction,it gets a hold of a person before they even know what hit them!It starts out as a child's pet.You find yourself looking for excuses to go out in the goat pen.When you walk around you no longer see beautiful wild flowers.Instead you think," I wonder if the goats would like to eat that?"You start looking for things to entertain your goats,new toys for them.Before you know it you are no longer watching TV in the evening because you are out watching the goats play.

You can't go anywhere because,really,who will take good enough care of your goats!When you go out you realize your clothes are covered in goat hair or,even worse,you get to church and the front of your dress is hairy!
That is just the first stage of addiction.Then come the excuses.You find yourself making up excuses why you need to buy more goats.We could milk them and make soap,we can sell their babies to help pay for their room and board.Yeah,yeah,that's what we can do!!!I am at this stage.The Boy is far worse off,the only thing keeping his addiction under control is his lack of a job to support his habit!If he had a job every dime would go towards goats and goat accessories.Sigh..that is the life of a goat junkie.
Laugh if you want.Everyone says it won't happen to them.Trust me GAA is full of folks who thought that same thing!Hitting rock bottom won't help either,there really is no hope for the poor folks who succumb to the goat addiction.
Even if you are reduced to living in your truck,you will some how get a camper shell and fill it with your goats.You will sneak them into parks to graze.People will point and grab their children close when they see you pass by covered in hair and smelling like goat,"The crazy goat person!"

Like most addicts,we want everyone else to share in our addiction!So come on,it's just one baby Pygmy goat! I can hook you up.I promise nothing will happen,you'll love it......



25 comments:

Mimi Foxmorton said...

Simply beautiful!
(And yeah, goats will do that to you! Oh yeah, they will!)

*hugs*
from the Sisterhood
xo

Anonymous said...

This is just so accurate! LOL Love it!

Tombstone Livestock said...

And there are so many breeds to chose from. Angoras, Boers, Nubians here, have had Alpine, Oberhasli and Pygmys over the years. And had Pygoras and Kinders before they became a recognized breed, billy got in the wrong pen. Those are kinda like the designer dogs now days, that we used to think were just mutts.

Melodie said...

SO true! We started with a Pygmy but mostly we have Dwarf Nigerians and Pygoras.If I had the barns and fences I would have a few more types,lol!

TexWisGirl said...

so glad you reran this. made me laugh!

Jim said...

I can't think of a better addiction to have! Wish I had room to 'get hooked' myself! Your's and others will have to do, for now! lol

DebH said...

Too funny! Glad you re-posted and Yup, I got it!! You sure summed it up well. Hello, my name is Deb H and I am an addict.

Suzan said...

Thank you Melodie for sharing your goat addiction with everyone! I would love to one day get a couple of goats and a couple of chickens. Until that time - I have to visit you and others who have goats!
Glad you are back - have missed your postings :-}}

Lin said...

It's a good thing I live in suburbia or I'd be right there with you! Why do you think I have frogs? It's my version of the goats--minus all the nibbling and fur.

I'm glad you re-posted this today. I didn't know you back then and I enjoyed reading about how you started. :)

brokenteepee said...

Ain't it the truth. We were going to have "just two."
uh-huh

Jill said...

Now I know why I've never caved in and gotten 1 goat. Very sweet.

Chris said...

Your addiction is definately contagious Melodie! GIVE ME A GOAT!! I MUST HAVE ONE!!

small farm girl said...

That is SOOOOOO true!

Michaele said...

Gateway Goat - lol!!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Very cute pics! My husband and I have been talking about getting a goat for milk.

Doc said...

Thanks for reposting, it was a good read first thing in morning

GreyWolf said...

Oh Yeah, that's the way it works. I skipped the pygmy and went staight to the dairy goats.

Linda said...

Oh gee I have been thinking about a couple of goats for a while now...this post has me all wound up now!!! LOL I have a feeling I will be getting a couple this year...

They are adorable...:)

Leslie said...

I totally see why Butter Bean led you down this path. What a cutie!

Nancy said...

We've been bloggy friends for a long time, but I don't think I have ever read this, Melodie. Great post! :)

Marigold said...

Now what could possibly be wrong with smelling like a goat? :)

Lap Dog Knits said...

I love goats...haven't owned one in years but it was fun when I did

Sharon said...

Great repost! Love it and little Butterbean.

Anonymous said...

I'm a GA also, guess I better join the group...lol! Melodie, I am still laughing about mangled eggs...lol! I really loved and enjoyed this post! I hope we never recover...he he! <3

Texan said...

just seeing this ROFL... so true, so true :O)