MARLEY IN THE MEADOW

This season of spring has brought the husband and I many ups and downs, highs and lows to say the least. But then, life is normally a roller-coaster ride anyway, I suppose.

It came to my mind that Ma Ingalls wisely told her daughters, Mary and Laura, at one point, “This earthly life is a battle. If it isn’t one thing to contend with, it’s another. It always has been so, and it always will be. The sooner you make up your mind to that, the better off you are, and the more thankful for your pleasures.” It's comforting to know that we all go through turbulent times.

We had the usual burst of darling babies from our dairy goats this year - four boys and three girls, even a few flashy ones.

But then, Marley, our dear, sweet Marley, the matriarch of our little goat herd, quiet and gentle Marley, but always the leader of the pack, could not bounce back after her traumatic birthing of triplets. Even under the Vet’s care, she passed away four days later. This left a big hole in our hearts and I’m not over it still.

Of all of the more than 50 goats on our farm in the last 20 years or so, she was one of my three very favorites. I never thought she’d leave us. She is buried in the little meadow where she loved to graze the fence lines.

We have never kept a male goat on our place, but one of Marley’s triplets looks almost exactly like her - blond and white. The other two were black and white.

We decided to keep bottle-baby Marty and have him “fixed” which means in goat language that he will be called a wether instead of a buck. He will be safe around children and he is already a joy and lots of fun. He’s not Marley...but he will always remind us of her and a part of her will always remain with us.

~ Gwen of IRISH ACRES