Happy Fri-Yay, peeps. Welcome to this week’s addition of Nature Friday where we join the pups from Adventures of the LLB Gang for their weekly blog hop.
We try to share nature’s beauty here every Friday but there’s nothing that says we can’t share nature’s cute aspects, right? Well, this week get ready for some serious cute. Long story short, a former neighbor and friend who made a stop at a nearby farm for fresh eggs (Amanda is a professor of geography and environmental sciences) and ended by buying the farm which sat in a conservation easement within the city limits of Wheat Ridge (a nearby Denver suburb) in 2010 which continues the legacy of former owner Louise Turner, whose family was not interested in continuing to farm. Amanda Weaver took over the egg and dairy business and uses the 13 acre farm to provide community resources and educational opportunities for the community as well as her students (you can read more about Amanda and her journey to being a farmer here). Recently she mentioned in her newsletter that the farm had new baby goats and after a series of postponements, I went to the farm yesterday to see the now almost teenaged goats.
Amanda raises LaMancha dairy goats, the only breed developed in the U.S. LaMancha are noted for high milk production, relatively high butterfat content and their people loving personalities. They also are known for their distinctive ‘gopher ears’ which are minuscule compared to other goat breeds. Gopher ears are practically nonexistent with very little or no cartilage.
The above pic is the surrogate mama for one of the babies (whose own mama passed away suddenly shortly following the birth of a pair of twins). Alas, one of the babies did not survive so this little cutie pie took a double loss in life but she’s making up for it with her cuteness factor running clear off the charts.
She’s a mix from her LaMancha mama and a Nigerian Dwarf buck. She seemed to inherit her daddy’s ears and her mama’s love of people.
While my friend was feeding the two mama’s, this little miss jumped up in my lap! I learned however that whenever you exit your seat, it is likely to be immediately occupied by another goat who will quickly jump up in your place.
Gah…that face! I was completely smitten. Here’s is the other mama goat keeping an eye on me while the little one contentedly sat in my lap being petted.
Her baby liked to prance around me but wasn’t interested in getting into my lap. She did however seem to enjoy delivering very soft nibbles on my hand and watchband and gave me a raspberry when I invited her over for an ear scratch.
These goats are so expressive and you definitely understand why they are so popular among animal lovers everywhere. LaManchas are a lot like dogs, wagging their tails to show their excitement. They reminded me of Sam’s Swiffer tail action.
It was way too much fun watching the kids run and prance around. Just watching their energy level wore me out and they seem to resemble wind up toys going full throttle when wound up and then a brief respite while they recharged their batteries.
Whenever needed, that little buzz saw would slow down by rubbing the fence-almost taunting me. I had to laugh at that behavior-Elsa does the same thing every morning against my bed. I’m convinced she does it to get me up and adam.
While both kids are eating grain, they were both vigorous nursers. The surrogate mama will now only allow the nursing of the tiny kid when she’s in the feeding stall. The little one’s nursing made me wince.
It was the kind of morning that made me smile inside and out despite the upper 90º temps. Both kids have new homes awaiting them once they are fully weaned over the next couple of weeks and have no doubt my friend will miss these precious sweeties but she knows they’ll provide much happiness (and milk) for their new owner.
I hope you enjoyed seeing the cuter side of Mother Nature, especially since temperature wise, she hasn’t been cute or adorable much this summer. She did provide quite the gully washer of a storm last weekend (several motorists had to be rescued-see story and video here). Pretty wild but since then, nature turned up the broiler and will do so for the next few more days, then maybe (if we’re real lucky) a slight cool-down to the mid-to-upper 80’s next week. We’re down to 41 days until autumn’s official arrival. At this point Indian Summer will likely be a welcomed relief. While the days will remain warm, the nighttime temps will cool down. We hope.
Here’s wishing you and yours a great weekend and hope any plans you have may include some time scoping out the beautiful as well as the cute side of Mother Nature.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Oh,MY!! Cuteness to the max for sure!!
Our neighbors at times have had goats, but yours are totally way over the top…a couple of theirs were huge…and the others were miniature, and wanted to eat all they could get their lips around…my clothes included, LOL!
That little lap kid seemed very fascinated with my metal watch band and one sleeve. But she was ever so gentle and no damage occurred.
Those goats are too too cute!
If only there was a way to bottle up all that cuteness-there’d never be any need for antidepressants!
Beautiful photos of the farm animals.
Thank you. It was a fun couple of hours hanging with goats, chickens, turkeys and an adorable bull terrier named Eva Perone who is the sweetest thing.
You let me smile big today, Monika, now I know why Granny called me goatey sometimes😸 They’re awwdorably cute and I love that momma with the can’t-see-the-ears picture and yours and Amanda’s picture with the little cutie…now I know whre that big smile came from😸 Pawkisses from Heaven for all of you🐾😽✨
So glad this gave you a smile, sweet Binky. 💙
Guud Greef Miss Monika an Sweet Norman an Elsa…..wee sorry wee late to vissit youss’.
Poor BellaSita iss down with Sinusitis an fevurr an feelin suppurr UCKY….
How efurr yore post cheered her up an had her *giggellin* alot!! An mee iss meowinn out loud two!!
Those goatss are heelareeus!!! An so spunky!
Miss Monika yore smile iss like warm sunshine on a chilly day; so warm an innvitin….
An you look so ADOORABELL with a goat on yore lap….
Lap goatss? Who mew? 😉
***nose kissess*** BellaDharma an {{hugss}} BellaSita Sistur
Glad the goats made you smile. Please feel better soon!
Omygosh are they cute! Those ears, though… LOL!
Such a lovely post!
They are totally beyond cute. They bleated, I squealed. It was AMAZING. 😍
I have zero doubt and how cool you got to hang with them!
We want goats, Mom. Will you get us some goats? Are they good to eat? XOX Xena and Lucy and Chia
They’d give you a run for your money, Chia. 😉
Run! Yep, I could chase them! XOXOX Chia
Charlee: “Hello goats! One of our Dada’s cousins has goats out in Moreno Valley!”
Chaplin: “Yes they brought a few of them down here one time and there were little goats bouncing all around the backyard.”
Java Bean: “That sounds fascinating. I’m sorry I didn’t see it.”
Charlee: “Well it was before our time, so we didn’t see it either, but man did Dennis like to talk about it.”
Chaplin: “Yeah, he watched the whole thing from a safe distance, because he was afraid of the goats.”
Java Bean: “What?! He was afraid of baby goats?”
Charlee: “Well you know, Dennis was afraid of most things …”
Bouncing goats in the backyard?! Whoa…now that I’d have loved to witness.
Wow, Monika! l love the goat photos and stories. Geoff’s sister and her husband used to breed milking goats and had a milk run selling the milk largely to people with allergies to cow’s milk. They parted with the goats something like 15 years ago but there’s a tourist farm down the road and we’ve always seen the goats there. They’re gorgeous!
We’re heading out to the country next weekend which will be goo. We’re really looking forward to it. Miss has made it into Nationals on the Gold Coast for cheer both in teams and individual events. We did consider driving up and back but there wasn’t enough time.
Hope you and the pups are keeping well.
Best wishes,
Ro
It was one of those days that just makes you feel giddy and super joyful!
Oh my goodness how could you stand so much cute! I wanted to reach through the pictures and pet them! Adorable!
Best overdose ever!
This post really got my goat. Tom Brady aint got nothing on these peeps!
You’re too funny. They were leaps and bounds better than Tom Brady.
WAY better.
when I had a farm I had two Nubian goats. (Floppy ears) They were like oversized dogs and were so loving. Their kids were a handful for all of us. Thanks Monikafor sharing the goat story today
Amanda started out with Nubians; those floppy ears really make they adorably cute. And you’re right, they can be a handful.
We had a fence that we had to top with electric wire to keep them in. Every morning they would lay their whiskers on the wire to feel the hum. No hum over they would go. and into the neighbor’s flower garden. We had to be real alert about making sure the electric fence was working
They can be ever so clever as well as crafty!
I hated barbed wire so electric was the only cruelty free way to keep them in. (Wasn’t cruelty free to me sometimes.)
You had a farm? Just how many lives have you led, anyway?
I’m on my fourth major. Each has had some subchapters. During my first life I had a ten acre farm in Middlebury Indiana. I built a one cow milker and raised all our food. We had chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, lambs, and beef cattle. Our Jersey cow supplied all the milk, cream, and butter. Farmers came from all around to see the milking process as well as how my 1946 Ford tractor worked. I learned to do about everything from plowing, sowing, and harvesting to rebuilding rear axels and animal husbandry. We hired the Amish to build the barn and fence the entire property. The only thing we needed at the store was beer, toilet tissue, and aluminum foil. I was working on the first two when I got transfered. Probably too much information but yes I have had the life.
Very impressive!
Ha ha ha. I was under forty and only required five hours sleep.
🤣
😁
John, I am constantly awed by you. 🤗
Me too!
🙂
Shucks Ma’am ‘tait nothin’.
‘Tis too!
Super adorable! I love watching baby goat videos when I need cheering up… works every time!
It a guarantee to feeling better quickly.
Gosh those goats sound like they are wonderfully suited to being around people – fun and funny both. I have always loved goats although I’ve never “gotten to know” one. Something about their sweet faces I think. Also Amanda’s story is amazing!
Hugs, Pam
Amanda is one of the smartest, most accomplished young women I know. And yeah…goat faces are a surefire way to smile. Have a terrific weekend.
So adorable. They are all so adorable. I would love on all those faces. So precious.
Have a fabulous day and weekend. Scritches to the pups, a smooch to Norman and a big hug to you. ♥
They are a surefire way to get full grown adults squealing like little kids! You have a great weekend, Sandee-stay cool. Hugs and tail wags from me and the Ranch Hands.
Oh, what a wonderful day! I love goats…we raised a few when I was younger, and one even ate my homework! I don’t think my teacher believed me! LOL These babies are so cute! Thanks for sharing your day with us!
Thanks, Dorothy. I sure had the time of my life, but then I kind of figured I would. Just never knew there were lap goats though!
What little darlings! How come you didn’t come away with one!
Ha! I already have Norman & Elsa who will eat just about anything not nailed down. Besides, my yard would not accommodate a year round Bovidae resident, even ones as cute as Amanda’s.
“Bought the farm” has other connotations.
You know I thought about that syntex and figured someone might refer to the other connotation. Thanks for meeting my expectation. 😉
Oh my goodness, cute is an understatement!!
The monsoon season has hit here too, with warm temps in the day and rain(or threat of rain) in the evenings!
Come on Fall!!
We had a glitch with Nature Fridays post today, but it’s live now 🙂
Yeah, ‘cute’ barely begins to describe these guys. I saw you had some issues with today’s post but I’ll definitely hook up to it now. Have a lovely weekend.
So cute! I’ve never seen goats with that type of ear before. Must have been awesome to cuddle with such affectionate little guys!
Thank you. It truly was. I had no idea, but that little one was one special cuddler. I had not been exposed to LaManchas before either. In the early days, Amanda has Nubians (the goats with super long Cocker Spaniel type ears). These guys produce more a lot more milk.
So cool, all the different breeds. Goats seem to have such great personalities.
They’re more like dogs than one would think!
Ooh Cuteness overload! I want to hold one. 🙂 How cool that you were able to go and enjoy them! Love your smile!
Thank you. It was a day I won’t be forgetting any time soon. Hard to believe this oasis is just 7 minutes away from me.
Wow! Yes, you can go more often! 😉
Let’s hope. Amanda is one busy lady, but hopefully we’ll make an effort to see one another more often.
😊 Good for the soul!
Truly.
Love goats! If I were in the country, I’d have some! You know, to eat the grass…. 🙂
And these guys do a great job. In fact, Amanda sends them out for various Front Range municipalities to ‘mow’ weeds along waterways and other areas. They are amazing.
Very cool!
Those goats are absolutely all kinds of cute. Great pictures of a memorable visit to a very special location. Once again we are faring better than most weather wise. Highs early next week in the 70’s and needed rain is expected…hopefully not all at once like it rained in your area. Wishing for a great weekend for all on the Ranch!
Thanks, Bruce. Those goats are a sure guarantee for loads of smiles. I love their racing around antics and the smiling faces.
What w wonderful endeavour!
It was so much fun. Farming isn’t easy work but to spend a couple of hours with the goats makes it all worthwhile.
Oh! My! Goats!!! How precious!! What a way to start a day – seeing these pix just put a smile on my face from one side to the other!! ❤️
They did the same for me. I nearly overdosed on the cuteness factor! 🙂
love them… the mama said they have the same eyes like da phenny LOL
Does that mean they’re up to mischief? Bwahahaha!
oooooo how fun !!!
It was truly an outing I shan’t forget any time soon!
OMG CUTENESS OVERLOAD!!! Those crazy “kids”!!!! What a sweetheart Amanda is! Thanks for this “Feel Good Friday” post! Too adorable!
Aren’t they just beyond adorable?! Amanda is one of the most talented and accomplished young women I know. Have a great weekend.