A Glorious Shabbat Morning

I really needed a video camera this morning.  The animals seem very aware that it is a special day of the week.  When I went out to do chores, Hank met me at the steps, "talking up a storm."  Even the UPS driver claims this dog talks!  Hank doesn't "speak" as in a command to bark, he is actually quite expressive.  He greets me, then it's as if he gives a morning report of the nightly happenings of the Homestead.  He is a guardian dog, rather than a guard dog; and simply amazing at his job.  Our Creator, literally, hardwired it into the breed.   This morning he let me know, all had been quiet.

The calves were particularly spunky this morning after a few overcast days.  I don't think they know about Shabbat yet, but they have this bottle routine down pat.  The minute they hear the door, they start calling.  Yesterday afternoon, I went out for something, long before bottle time and they both admonished me for appearing empty handed.  This morning they were ready for the cover to be raised and enjoy the sunshine.

The goats are definitely aware of Shabbat, at least the older ones are.  They seem to be able to count the days, as the milkers are well aware, they stay with their babies today.  Since I began homesteading and understood a single goat is not a good idea, as they are herd animals, I quickly determined the best way to handle babies and Shabbat, was to milk two goats once a day, rather than one goat twice a day.  This way, I don't bottle feed the babies and I don't milk on Shabbat.  WIN/WIN for all!  I know I've written about this before, but separating the mamas and babies in the morning, milking in the evening, and reuniting the family after that makes for warm, well protected babies through the night, and good strong goat characteristics to be instilled.  I know opinions differ on this, but I think babies raised with their mamas become better mamas than hand raised bottle babies.  I've done both . . .

Azalea receives special billing in this article.  She's the little Sicilian miniature donkey.  I call her my "burro-meter."  Last Sunday evening, the behavior of one of the new milkers and Azalea were just "out of sorts."  They acted like a weather change was coming.  There was nothing in the forecast until later in the week, so I thought perhaps, they were just "showing out."  But that wasn't the case.  Monday afternoon, it began to sprinkle.  We didn't get much rain in this area, but the temperature dropped rather dramatically as the wind increased.

After a bit of every kind of weather this past week, this Shabbat gives every indication spring has actually arrived.  The pastures are greening, the wind is brisk, but warming, and even if there is another cold snap, it won't last long.  This is probably my last mention of ice for this year.  One prayer of seeking an answer in December, through a particularly cold winter, was answered with no ice on the stock tanks, every Shabbat!  The prayers of thanksgiving have been many!