On our homestead, just like any other homestead, we have death as well as new life. After years of breeding goats, this spring we finally got a beautiful doeling from our best doe that was wonderfully colored. Gremlin was black with gray and white “hail spots” and long Nubian ears. We were so excited to have her and turned several people down who offered to buy her. Yesterday morning I found her dead. She was fine the evening before. I was so stricken I could not even think. Don’t feel much better today.

It happens. But we sure don’t like it! Just like when my late husband, Bob, died suddenly. The pain will ease away, but I’ll be many days before I go out to take care of the goats and not look for bouncy Gremlin.

When you have animals, you’re going to lose some once in awhile. That’s a fact of life. We don’t know what happened with Gremlin and will never know. The rest of the goats are fine. Was she fatally injured during playing? It’s only a guess.

But this morning, our watermelons that we planted in the old hoop house sprung up lustily, heralding new birth. And I planted the second new hoop house with muskmelons. Life goes on, as it must. We’re late planting, but we hope that the extra heat and protection will still give us a nice crop of melons. The peppers are simply awesome, with several plants having peppers set on them already.

6 COMMENTS

  1. Oh my goodness!! I have been ‘offline’ for a while due to my move… but several people from our fabulous seminar emailed me to tell me about poor Gremlin :( I am so sorry for your loss – I am mourning her as well. Hugs to you both, Katie

  2. Oh, Jackie – I’m so sad to hear this news. My heart goes out to you and Will. Gremlin was a dear and I feel lucky to have met her. Blessings to you all.

  5. I’m so sorry about Grimlin. I raise Nubian goats, too, and I know how much it hurts to lose one of them, especially a special one. I lost a doe this spring, and still after all this time, I still miss her waiting for me at milking time.

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