I'm new to goats & fiber critters, and 2 of my 3 goats (the young doe, Calypso, and her father, Kola) are 'blowing coat' (it's like shedding, but happens almost all at once!), so I'm learning just how therapeutic the long grooming sessions can be, for both me and my goats. It's even a deeply bonding activity, especially with the doe. Kola was antsy, and really just wanted to graze, but Cally settled in, and often looked up at me, with what really did seem to amount to deep gratitude, or affection, even licking my hands, and face. My heart melted...
The timing is good, as far as the weather, too - house breaking my puppy begins, tomorrow. Previously, it was too cold out, for her tiny body, so we've been using pine litter. Now, not only is it (finally) warm
enough, but because our outings are so limited, now I can devote all my attention, for some serious time, to get it done, and hopefully have her sorted in fairly short order.
We've set up an aquaponics dish tank in our bedroom (some folks watch TV, we watch the fish, and talk, before bed) so, we're thoroughly enjoying the fish and the rapidly growing lettuces & herbs, peeking a bit higher over the top, each night.
I'm expecting this to go longer than the initially prescribed 2weeks, lasting into three spring storm season, so next week, I'll begin pulling things from the freezers, and canning or dehydrating them, in case we lose power.
Hubby is planning to start up in his forge again, relearning & honing the skills he started, last year, and asking new ones.
We're getting ready to get the raised beds up and running, with some of the herbs from the fish tank, and getting microgreens going, so we don't have to wait, to have some fresh produce.
I've begun sewing for our puppies, refusing the squeaker from the store bought toys they've destroyed, and making fresh bed covers, so I can swap out the stinky ones, for laundering.
We've started TaiChi, to keep our bodies from atrophying, and I'm planning on some yoga, too - maybe even out with the goat kids, we're expecting in May.
When the cabin fever hits and we just can't stay on our own property, another minute, we got our fishing licenses, so we can head to a quiet spot at one of the seasonally abandoned public access points, and get dinner, the old fashioned way.
Our app time favorite way to escape the harsh realities of life, is to hop on our motorcycles and go for a ride - sometimes alone, most times together.
Being retired and living out in the woods, we've become very good at 'social distancing', and actually enjoy it. We're very blessed, and grateful, and we're trying to share what we have with others, too.
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