A Small Tribute
Though sunny and bright out today, our small farm seems to be in a bit of a shadow. Someone is missing down in the goat yard, and it has left an empty hole - both there, and in our hearts. Our sweet Lavender did her best to carry her last three kids to term, but Sunday night, March 4th, 2007 she lost that fight. Almost all the does in our small herd of purebred Nubians can claim Lavender as their mother, grandmother, great grandmother, etc. and for all the beautiful kids she has given us through the years, we will always be grateful. But mostly we are grateful for the happy memories she has left us with. Her gentle and sweet bleat coming from the goat yard always let you know you were loved. She willingly followed on adventurous walks through the woods and down to the creek, and she was always the first to ask for your leftover banana peel. The crooked little blaze on her face was a welcome sight in the mornings, and her willingness to milk was unrivaled in our herd. Many times. as we were driving in from church, we would see all the goats lying in the sun, and Lavender would be standing on the salt block with her front two feet, looking out over the other goats, and chewing her cud.....my husband always said she was "preachin' to the choir", and indeed, it looked like she was. This last Sunday ended as we gently lifted her into the wheelbarrow, and carried her over to the edge of the woods on the east end of our farm. There we dug a hole - wide and deep - and in the light of the full moon, and lovingly laid her to rest with her three kids - two beautiful doelings and one handsome buckling. Even in the midst of our grief I couldn't help but sense the beauty all around us - we were truly blessed to have gotten to have our sweet Lavender all these years. That night in my dreams I could see Lavender bouncing and bucking along that sandy bank at the edge of the wood, her shiny coat glowing in the moon light. We love you Lavender, and we will miss you always!
