“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

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Woefully Behind And A Really BIG Mistake.

Well, goat grief.  Here I am.  Finally.  Oy is me.  I am so far behind I don't know whether I have found a new Peanut or forgotten to eat an old one.  No matter.  Still tastes just as good either way.  Well,  unless you count those that have Alpine spit.  Anyway, I have no excuse.  It is, in fact, all the Goatmother's fault.  She's been gone so much I haven't been able to get into the house and no one has bothered to give me a key.  And, of COURSE, no one will give me my own computer in the barn.  Come to think of it, Ella would probably eat it anyway, so maybe it's a good thing.  Who can tell? 

Nonetheless, I am behind.  That is not, by the way, to be taken as a commentary on my looks.  Can I help it if my metabolism is a bit on the slow side?  Though I suppose I could go to Weight Watchers with the Goatmother.  I mean she's managed to lose five more pounds.  Woo and Hoo.  They probably wouldn't consider letting a goat in anyway.

Now then.  Since I obviously have access to the computer, I shall regale you with a tale of woe.  Although, from my perspective I don't really see it as all that woesome since one of my least favorite Alpines (did I say that?) got into trouble over it.  To be sure it certainly wasn't something I'd ever consider doing though.

So here's what happened.  The Goatmother came out to the barn.  She cleaned up the boys' side and gave them some Peanuts before letting us out because, let's face it, that's practically the only way either of them is going to even get near a Peanut.  Watson, the brown-noser, went about his usual 'follow-the-Goatmother-around-look-cute-and-stick-your-nose-in-her-pocket routine, and Peanut stood on the trimming stand stealthily awaiting the off chance that Watson would walk by so he could butt him.

The Goatmother finished up with the boys and then opened the gate to our side.  Being the most attentive and on the ball of the group, I was first to dash out.  Besides there are two gates and I'm the only one of the girls short enough to fit under the top.  So when the Goatmother walked in, Ella was standing on the wooden spool.  Now Ella isn't normally standing on the wooden spool in the morning, but this particular morning I think her nose may have been more out of joint than usual, which wouldnt' have had anything to do with me.  At least if it did, I'm not admitting it. 

So the Goatmother went about her business of tidying up the premises, making sure the mineral feeder had minerals in it, getting new water, and generally just performing all the morning maid duties.  No chocolate on the pillows though, but I digress.  The last thing on the list is to hand out Peanuts to us.  The girls.  The most deserving.  Well, at least some of us are deserving.  And the line up goes like this.  Ella marches in and butts Peanut off the stand so she can take it over, thus placing herself higher than anyone else and more likely (she thinks) to get the most Peanuts.  Boo stands to the outside lifting her head in anticipation.  She only lifts her head because everything else on Boo is pretty much stationary.  And me, I say 'the hay' with all that pussyfooting around and jostling for position, and go straight for the middle with my feet on the gate that goes into the holiest of holies, the inner sanctum of the barn, from whence the Goatmother will administer the goods.  My mama didn't raise no fool.

Anyway, this morning went much like every morning.  The Goatmother offered Ella a Peanut and Ella, because her nose was already out of joint from 'whatever', got an attack of the Picky Snits and spit it out on the floor.  She gave one to me, and I can tell you, I took it.  Remember that thing about my mama?  I'm just sayin'...  Then she offered one to Boo who took it after clamping on with only her lips because if you are Nubian you have to determine, first, that anything entering your mouth is, in fact, not a fly or something equally objectionable even though it smells like a Peanut.  One never knows.  Flies can be tricksy. 

When it was all said and done, Ella was told 'you have one more chance', which she, unwisely did not take, and literally spit on that chance.  Boo had decided tricksy flies were at work and refused to take anymore.  I got ALL the rest of the Peanuts.  Perseverance and unscrupulousness wins out over picayunishness and feeble-mindedness every time. 

Of course no one with any sense will pick up a Peanut that has spit on it.  Not even Watson.  So the Goatmother opened the gate, stepped in, and bent down to pick up the remnants of the wasteful Picky Snit.  That's when it happened.  'What happened?', you ask.  Geeze. Did you get so caught up in the inner workings of the barn you forgot?  Remember the really BIG mistake?  Yeah.  That.  The Goatmother bent down and Ella, still on the stand, bent down and went head to head with the Goatmother.  Wham.  You could have heard a pin drop.  The Goatmother raised her head, shook it, and that's when the yelling and finger shaking began.  Trust me, the rest of us left.  Chuckling under our breath, mind you, but we left.  I would not want to have been on the receiving end of that lecture.  But I have to admit, it couldn't have happened to a more deserving goat.    I suppose perhaps there is some justice in life after all.

So there you have it.  I know you were all probably thinking something had happened to the Goatmother since I hadn't been on here in so long.  Not to worry.   She's one tough broad.  Especially her head.

20 comments:

Millie said...

Glad to hear your goatmother didn't suffer any permanent damage from the head butting. We've learned here that, even though our human is stubborn, she does not have as hard a head as a goat.

Marigold said...

Dear Millie,
I will accept what you say as I can assure you I will not be the one to test it. Remember what I said about my mama? :)

Tyche's Minder said...

Woo and Hoo. Today is a very good blog day. Some of my favorites have posted. Thank you Marigold!

Marigold said...

Dear Tyche's Minder,
Is that name like the martial arts exercise thingy? Oh, wait. I guess that's T'ai Chi. ALthough it sounds kind of the same. Do horses do T'ai Chi?

Hindustanka said...

I'm glad you kept your promise you were coming back :) The Peanut theme is so funny in your lines, to tell the truth, sometimes I get confused in all that "Peanuttery" events, but enjoy reading :)hehe

Candy C. said...

OWWWW!! Goats have very hard heads indeed! I'm glad the Goatmother gave that Ella a very stern lecture (like that's really gonna help) and didn't suffer any permanent damage. :)

Marigold said...

Dear Hindustanka,
A goat ALWAYS keeps their promises. As for the Peanuts...didn't you know they are the 'staff of life'. Everyone else thinks it is bread, but we know ... the truth is out there.

Marigold said...

Dear Candy,
Trouble is how will we actually tell if the Goatmother suffered any damage. I mean she acts pretty weird normally. I'm just sayin' ...

Snowcatcher said...

I thought your big mistake would be that you ate the spitty peanut!!!

Goatmother is one tough lady. And I can just picture her delivering that lecture. That vision will keep me entertained all night!

Marigold said...

Dear SnowCatcher,
It kept us entertained. :)

Lisa said...

The THING is, I mean really the thing is...that you goats just don't seem to get your feelings hurt when we chastise you. We can call you really bad names with swears and everything and you'll just stand there chewing-chewing-chewing and looking at us with one eyebrow raised as if to say, "You mad bro?"

Jerks.

Marigold said...

Dear Lisa,
Well, yeah, there is that. Although I have to tell you. In THIS case, Ella absolutely got it. There was no question. I guess even an Alpine has sense enough not to go up against a Goatmother scorned... uh ... err ... loved.

Mrs. Micawber said...

What kind of goat would spit out a Peanut? That's like a human spitting out chocolate ... inconceivable!

"I am behind" - yes, that would be a good way of describing oneself if one were, say, endowed with a JLo or Beyonce style bootay. One could give it a sort of Zen twist to encourage others ... "You are Behind. Become Behind. BE the Behind."

(I am behind too by the way, in both senses.) :)

Hope the Goatmother didn't end up with a headache from all that butting and Behinding.

Marigold said...

Dear Mrs. Micawber,
Are you honestly trying to tell me that you would pick up chocolate that someone else had spit out and actually eat it????? Okay. I am now officially worried about the human race. Or at least part of it. However, I do like your view on the whole 'behind' thing. (View of the behind. Ha! I kill me!) I think I shall make it my new slogan. "Own the behind. BE the behind." I like it. A lot actually. Certainly more than any spitty Peanut.

Claire MW said...

Ouch! I wouldn't want to go head-to-head with Ella. Come to think of it, I don't think I'd go head-to-head with the Goatmother either, especially seeing as she's a tough one! I'd stand back and gracefully accept my peanut. Now, as to the goatmother who may wish to find herself some onesie pajamas (related to her comment on my blog), she could get some here with free shipping today or tomorrow, for that heartsy-day promotion thing...you know. http://snugasabug.com/onesies/onesies-for-adults?zenid=bt6u5qs59bsacdf69c4eogbea7

And for reference, I prefer my chocolate, and peanuts, spit-free.

Marigold said...

Dear Claire,
Yeah, that Goatmother is one tough old GOA...uh...errr...she's such a nice person. How could I think of going head to head with her. :) The Goatmother says thank you for the Onsie's link. She may have to get some of those for next New Year's Pajama Brunch at their favorite restaurant in Port Townsend! Drop drawer, I think. :)

Ginnie said...

Phew! Didn't know it was Ella we shoulda been worrying about and not the Goatmother. Good news.

Marigold said...

Dear Ginnie,
You must be a saintly woman if you worried about an Alpine. :)

* said...

Bleeuugh, I would not be eating any chocolate that had been spat out.

Do you only get one peanut at a time? Or is it one handful? I bought some peanuts today for the birds, if the goatmother rations you to a couple each, I could always smuggle you a bag or two?

Marigold said...

Dear Faith,
We get the Peanuts one at a time, but there are usually several one-at-a-times during each offering. So it's all good. The Goatmother is actually pretty generous. Who knew? Thank you so much for the offer, however. I can't really believe that you waste them on birds, though. Don't you know any deserving goats? I am glad you 'get it' about the whole spit thing. I think you need to have a talk with Mrs Micawber. :)