Goat Fund Us: Update #53

Hello everyone,

The farm has now been open for over a month, we had a really good start to this season. To get this little but special place ready to open up to visitors again, we did a lot of clean up, renovation and improvements and what feels like endless hours of last minute chores. And then, just a few days before our opening date, 2 of our momma goats Cookies&Cream and Snowdrift went into labour and delivered a total of 7 (!) precious babies. Cookies is the proud mum of 3 strong boys named Bean, Java and JoeJoe, and Snowdrift has her hands or hooves full in raising quadruplets: 3 girls named Spring, Summer and Autumn and a little “cowboy” called Winter. We had a busy spring break with many animal lovers coming by the farm. It always feels great after the winter to welcome many of our regulars again, catch up on what happened over the last few months and introduce them to our new arrivals and also to have the opportunity to greet many new faces around the farm. We are happy to have our team reinforced by new staff members as well as many new volunteers who are now all learning the ropes around the farm. It’s really great how the farm family grows and diversifies every year.

Now I’d like to give a look into Rosie’s life again. Another year has gone by, we’ve just celebrated this unique, loving, smart and head strong goat turning 5 years – she is a real grownup even though for me she will always be this lost little kid that just needed warmth, food and love – just really needed a mum.

I’d like to say Thank You for all of you being here and following Rosie’s journey – be it through these updates or visits by the farm. Lately I came to realize how many people Rosie has touched, how many know her story and take an honest interest in her life. It’s heartwarming how often people inquire about her and I’m just amazed that you all know her, her challenges and little quirks. Thank you.

I think Rosie had a good year, she is getting to be out often, roaming around the farm yard which she really enjoys – she is very independent and needs this little bit of “extra freedom.” I’m keeping a close eye on her ability to move and if the injury to her leg is still bothering her, and I’m so grateful that she is walking quite well – unfortunately she still holds her troubled leg up when standing, but when she is exploring the farm or bouncing along in a burst of “goat joy” she shows no sign of her past injury. She enjoys all her little adventures, exploring new things around the farm is one of her favourite things and she is mostly well behaved when meeting new people. Rosie is very good at communicating her needs and wishes and especially her likes and dislikes. I really like observing her interacting with different people, be it my coworkers and volunteers or visitors as they get shown by Rosie if she prefers petting or quiet time. It’s always a good opportunity in the goat petting area to explain to the human kids that animals have a way to say “No thank you” and that we have to listen to their desires as well.

After all these years together I’m still touched each time by the way she greets me – she always knows when I’m approaching even if my coworkers can’t see me yet. Rosie will welcome me with a gentle voice and often a tail wag (which is how the baby goats approach their mums when they like to nurse; it warms my heart and is an honour beyond words that Rosie continues to hold this place in her heart for me). Her clear intelligent eyes are lighting up as she watches me, the look in these eyes communicate her mood and desires – often she is hoping that it’s time for taking a break together, to enjoy one-on-one time and have a little freedom.

If I have been away for a couple of days, she sometimes holds a small grudge. While she is still always happy to see me (that never changes), she either won’t talk to me at all or use her deep throaty complaining voice “Where have you been for so long?” She is always more mischievous on my first day back to work and chooses not to listen as well (even though she knows what she is allowed and what not) – Rosie and her attitude – but I still love her for that as well.

Rosie growing one year older also means that our bond has grown one year stronger. Having Rosie in my life and experiencing this unique connection that we share is simply a blessing. I enjoy spending time with her and watching her explore. Rosie is so curious and not as wary as the other goats. This is something we can all learn from Rosie: she approaches every new thing as a chance to learn and every new encounter as an adventure – that curiosity is so valuable. And she gives me the energy to always keep going, to work hard in always doing my best for the animals – she even brings me through the not so good days and always makes me smile. When I come home at the end of my farm day, my stories start with “do you know what Rosie did today?”

Every year Rosie’s birthday (and the memory of Alexis, her mum having serious complications bringing Rosie into this world) is followed two days later by the day that I “adopted” Rosie. All this didn’t happen by choice, but by necessity. It might seem to many that this would be a day just filled with joy – and don’t get me wrong I’m grateful beyond words that Rosie is doing so well and living a happy life – but on that day Rosie lost her mum and her life changed forever. That night I took on the responsibility for her, I promised her mum before she passed that I would raise Rosie in her place as best as a human possibly can. I will forever remember that first night Rosie came home with me, how small and lost she looked in our kitchen, how trusting she was, she needed warmth and love, she really needed her mum – but Alexis was forever gone. What followed wasn’t an easy time – for neither of us. But luckily Rosie is a fighter – giving up is not in her nature and so she managed her difficult start into life and overcame so much more in the years to follow. Looking at her now and seeing the great independent strong and joyous creature she has grown into, makes me very very proud of her.

That adoption day – while Rosie is my biggest blessing now and I can’t imagine my life without her – makes me sad at the same time as it also represents my biggest failure – a loss for which I will always feel responsible. 

I’ve learned a lot in the years since, gained knowledge, built experience to fall back on and learned to trust my instincts in what the animals need (and there will always be so much more to learn). I’m grateful to many different people who helped Rosie and me along the way, taught and supported us, listened to and reassured us with every kind word and smile. 

But I also learned that sometimes what I can do has limits, that regardless how well I planned and how hard I work for a good outcome, life can have different plans – and life isn’t always kind. I will always do my best, give it all I have and continuously keep learning and growing.

Life is fragile and often takes unexpected turns – so don’t forget to hug your loved ones everyday.

Thank You again for following Rosie’s story and her different unique way to experience the world – she will tell you her personal views in the video.

We are going through life together, growing and learning, sometimes managing great while other times failing – but we always keep going. 

Enjoy the sunshine, always carry a smile in your heart and a bounce in your step.

Claudia & Rosie