“Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge.”― Eckhart Tolle

Saturday, August 9, 2008

I Dig, Therefore I am

Perhaps it is an epidemic, this thing about 'holes'. However, we goats are certainly not to be outdone by a mere dog. Besides, you might remember from back here, that Ella has been an expert on holes for some time. Thus are we all simply by osmosis. As a matter 0f fact, after that first initial incident (please refer to the above link) Ella had begun a new 'hole' in the barn. This one was between the two 'stalls' which separate the girls from the boys at night. It was under the gate, and I truly believe Ella thought she might actually fit under in order to gain access to the boys' hay. I could have told her, of course, that she was never going to fit. Nonetheless, she kept trying and eventually the goatmother and the goatfather squelched her pursuit thanks to a handy supply of Quick-Crete and several rocks. At the very least it keeps her hooves in fine shape now.

So that was that. Or so we thought. It started out innocently enough. Ella pawing at the dirt near the old Douglas fir out in the pasture. Then Peanut got interested. I know, the 'beautiful' leading the 'buttiful'...

However, soon Ella's machinations began to bear fruit, and a new 'hole' began to emerge. Only this hole had aspirations of a much grander scale. Then Boo got interested. Now we add sheer mass to the equation.

Ella began to dig in earnest, spelled by Peanut and occasionally Boo. Watson could never really get the hang of things. He wasn't very helpful since every time he tried, something froze. He was really good at watching though.

Finally I couldn't stand it any more. I simply had to see what the fascination was. Each time before, Ella's plan had been to actually get somewhere. But where was she going this time? China???

Oy. I don't get it really, but I'm sure not going to let some little not-so-frou-frou dog or some long-legged pushy Alpine get all the glory here. There is philosophical meaning attached to the making of any HOLE, leading us to believe that there is a certain wisdom inherent in the act of digging. After all, an age-old Chinese proverb says, "Only he that has traveled the road knows where the holes are deep." And I, grasshopper, know where there is a very deep one.

3 comments:

Danni said...

Perhaps they are taking a lesson from chickens of the world, who, when holes such as these are dug, use them for the purposes of bathing - delicious, delightful dust bathing. It's perfect for dulling that shine on healthy feathers (or coats, as the case may be) and when one shakes off afterwards, it sends delightful particles of dirt and sand into the air like a beautiful fluffy cloud.

Kathryn and Ari said...

Rather like the emperor's new clothes, no? The caninaturalist loves the old interest-bait-and-switch ploy, particularly when it comes to staring at ABSOLUTELY NOTHING outside. And barking at it as loud as she can until the cats have been lured into the charade as well. Don't be fooled, philosopher goat!

Kathryn and Ari said...

Hi, Marigold et al-
Your title made our final list! Come stop by Out With Ari and vote for it now.