My new handle from Katherine of Apifera. I love it! and will wear it proudly!
A couple of days before Doug and I left for Oregon to attend Pie Day, Katherine jokingly said "Bring Lightning with you" and I replied "Really? I will if you want me too". Saint Doug said OK and that was that. So I guess when you have hauled 3 goats you are upgraded to Goat Hauler!
Honey Boy just chillin' in the back of our car waiting for us to get the show on the road.
Honey Boy Edwards (formerly Lightning) was a delightful travel companion. Ellen of New Moon Goat Sanctuary helped tarp the back of the car and tether him in. He had to travel sans crate because he is a very large French Alpine pack goat and was too big to fit in one. But he was as good as gold.
Katherine and Honey Boy meet.
Granny and Wilbur...look at those smiles!
So we dropped Honey Boy off on Friday and got to say hello to our old friends, Granny and Wilbur. They were looking great and loving life at Apifera. (read their story here and here) All the goats follow Katherine around like puppy dogs. They love her!
This weekend was my awesome Goat Adventure. Ophelia and I picked up Wilbur and Granny at New Moon Goat Sanctuary on Sunday morning and headed south to Yamhill, Oregon.
We arrived at Apifera Farm at dusk and were greeted by braying donkeys, a herd of sheep and a 'ram'bunctious goat named Frankie. We said hello to Katherine and Martyn and got our charges unloaded and introduced to their new digs. Granny made herself right at home; Wilbur was a bit shy but made the rounds and was happy to have a 'welcome-to-your-new-home' cookie, or two. Katherine's pockets are filled with cookies at all times...part of the Apifera Farm magic, I suspect.
We got the grand farm tour and were pleased to meet the gentle Guinnias; the donkeys, Pino, Paco and Lucia; the big goats, Stella and Iris; and we waved at the sheep and the chickens. We watched the bats come out at dusk from the barn (our family LOVES bats) and hoped for an owl sighting.
Then we went into the warm and cosy farmhouse to get our pie and meet the indoor menagarie. I snuggle-bunnied Itty Bitty Etta too much, I presume, because the only photos I could get were blurry from her smoothing her ruffled fur! So I opted for a little video of her doing just that!
The One-eyed Pug kept close watch over his Etta but was very willing to be petted and ooh-ed and ahh-ed over. Big Tony 'allowed' us to give him a pet...we realize we can be a lot to take in all at once. Huck was exhuberent with his hello, to say the least. And Muddy was a fine host, as well.
Katherine sent us away with bundles and bundles of their beautiful lavender, some of her joyful postcards and the 'pie'...homemade apple with donkey cut-outs on top...Sweet!
My lavender in my sunshiny window!
I wish we would have gotten there sooner. I wish we could have stayed longer. I wish we didn't have to say good-bye to our wonderful goat travel companions. It was kinda lonely on the way home...Ha!
Shy, but oh so handsome, Wilbur.
Sweet Granny with her semi-toothless grin.
This old girl had a 3-pack a day Baaaaahh that cracked us up!
But a delightful traveler.
We have to say our Goat Adventure was a huge success all the way around. Thanks to Ellen and Katherine for all the beautiful work you do for these creatures.
I highly recommend you visit Katherine's blog for so many beautiful photos, stories and opportunities to help these wonderful animals of Apifera!
Today, my sister and I are off on an inter-state adventure with Granny and Wilber.
Let me start at the beginning. I don't remember who 'friended' who first on FaceBook, but Katherine Dunn of Apifera Farm had me at "Where art and animals collide", and then it just got better from there. She rescued Itty Bitty Etta, a rain-soaked itty bitty kitten around Halloween. And she has a one-eyed pug; and makes puppets; and raises weed-loving donkeys; and lives on a lavender farm; and makes pie....sigh....
A couple of weeks ago she announced on FaceBook that she is adopting some rescue goats from New Moon Farm Goat Rescue & Sanctuary in Arlington, Washington and wouldn't it be nice if someone will volunteer to get them to her in Yamhill, Oregon. So I did. I volunteered and have been looking forward to this road trip like I can't even explain. I am thinking there is some good medicine for the soul there...
So, Ophelia and I are bringing the goats to Apifera and like I said, are making an adventure of it. Once the goats are safely delivered, a pie is in our hands and Itty Bitty Etta is snuggle-bunnied, we are going to Portland to stay with our cousin and family. We will take in the sights, do a little shopping, eat some good food and laugh and giggle like the super, silly sisters we are.
I will post photos of our Goat Adventure and let you know how it went when we get back!
