Long Afternoon Sun

The Red Heads

This has been the week of the long afternoon sun. After cool mornings breaking ice from the animals ponds the sunlight creeps in in the late afternoon. Long, sweeping rays of warmth that we all bask in. Chicken, goat, or human we all enjoy the gift of the sun. I lay down and take a break with my goaty girls for they have given me a gift. A reason to sit down and take a break. I breath in the farmy smell of their fur and imagine this is what goathearders have done for hundreds of years. I trade off and spend time with each of my ladies. Butters goes first. She doesn't really want to let us know how much she enjoys affection and a good rumen rub, but she's getting better. Each day I scratch her a little more. After Buttercup I move onto Ginger and the chickens settle in next to Butters to soak in the rays. Ging is my girl. I can just cuddle up with her and relax. She sits there in the sunshine chewing on big wads of cud. As I give her a nice rumen rub she begins to nod off her head starts to slowly keel over. Now is time to win over the new girls. I join Marigold and Dahlia. Dahlia currently likes short sessions of rumen rubs and scratches, but most of all she just likes to smell and taste you. Getting right up to my nose Dahlia gives me a good whiff. I guess I smell okay because she then proceeds to try and nibble on my finger, 

Milo basking in the sun

nose, or ear. After I insist that she not eat me Dahlia moves on and Marigold moves in. Marigold will sit on my lap and if I was obliging she would let me pet her all day long. The warm rays of the sun hit us as I untangle her long golden locks. I look at her and look forward to the time when I can milk her. She too, like Dahlia, likes to get in your face and give you a good sniff. Sometimes she too likes to give a little nibble. I look out at my herd and my flock. Everyone is taking a nap and enjoying the warmth of the rays. As I move to the other side of the house the dogs and cats are all outside too. Milo is soaking up those warm beams which match the color of his fur. Jasper lays out on the porch step letting his black fur work for him. As I lay in the hammock with Milo and Lukiss jumping on me I realize, be it fowl or ruminate or humanoid we can all appreciate these days and lazy afternoons.