Surprise! I actually made it back today. Today's update concerns our small goat herd. We lost our old buck last year to old age. It was time honestly because we really need some fresh genetics in our herd. He was a good boy, very gentle and loving. He is desperately missed. He did leave us with a full crop of babies this spring. We recently sold all but 2 of them, Bambi and Thumper. Both girls and both pretty skittish, but they are beautiful young does. Then we have Tickle and her first baby Pickle. Tickle is Lily's first baby. Lily was actually terrified of Tickle and ran away every time Tickle tried to get close to her. We wound up bottle feeding Tickle, so she is super friendly. In fact if you don't scratch her head when you are out there with the goats, she will follow you around butting you gently in the behind. Thumper is Lilly's second baby and by this time she was ready to try this mama gig. She actually turned into a really nice mama. She is also a really nice milker. Honestly, I can milk her anywhere as long as I have a pan of food. I don't even have to tie her up. Then there is Speckles, our old girl. If I am remembering correctly she is going on 8 years old. I don't expect to get many more babies from her. She is a great mama, a good milker and a strong producer. She has strong Kastdemur lines and it shows in her milk. So we are currently looking for a new buck. It's not a frantic look even though breeding season is coming up quickly. I am giving the girls some rest as we softly look. I need different genetics and so far everything I have seen is Kastdemur. I need something else. We are trying to keep our herd small, but it is so hard. Just like Bambi and Thumper....I never really expected to keep them. However, as I watched them growing the better they looked and I convinced myself that they would produce some really nice offspring and Speckles was getting old. You know....the old goats are like potato chips deal...All in all, the herd is doing well and they have really helped to improve our property. Even though I may retire from milking in the future, I will never get rid of all of my goats. They are really great for improving property and keeping fence lines clean. TaTa for now. More tomorrow!. Can't let this writing streak end so soon!