The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Some of you may remember my 'horrible day' three weeks ago when I lost two dairy goats to overeating disease. I've been looking and dithering for a while and finally found my three new girls in a nearby burg (well, 82 miles is nearby around here).
They are Nubian dairy goats, real big with these immense hound dog ears and lovely, high butterfat milk. This makes the best cheese, and I can hardly wait to start!
One goat still had a little daughter on her and she's covered with spots! The previous owner said "She'll take a bottle, you don't have to buy her if you don't want to." AS IF!! A little black goat with giant frosted ears and covered with white spots??? Puleez!
The irony is my AH had a helpful, loving moment on Saturday and found the ad for these goats, called on them, and was going to "surprise me". Unfortunately, he is a very sick alcoholic/addict and on his way he disappeared. I was able to "salvage" the deal (I need the goats dammit) and brought them home yesterday.
Just this has made me feel more hopeful in general. Mainly because I decided this was a perfect Alanon moment. AH ran off in the truck we've used to transport animals (of course), and my other car is an Isuzu Amigo. So I just rented a UHaul, swore on my firstborn I'd clean it out perfectly, and off we went.
I can imagine giving up and just sitting there in pain and misery. Truthfully, I've done that plenty and considered it this time. But that's ridiculous and I'm going to have my goats whether or not AH is out there killing himself.
And no more buying store milk for $4.26 a gallon to feed the orphaned babies.
Anyone want to join me for a cup of hot goat milk cocoa?? :D
I sure love telling you guys about this stuff! Thanks for listening!
What a wonderful story! Made me smile the whole way through. And you're right -- it's a perfect example of Al-Anon at work. It's so easy for me in those situations to just want to curl up and watch TV, go numb in some way. This sure beats doing that! Wish I could reach through this computer and pet your sweeties!!
Now I want a baby goat!!!!!! Love to hear about your farm adventures. In a different life, I had 26 acres and had my menagerie. Mostly noisy peacocks but boy were they gorgeous.
I am so happy you are no longer putting out funds for that very expensive milk. Keep us posted on the progress of your "babies"
lilms
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Two things: 1. Recovery is a process, not an event.....and.... 2. You only get to go around once. Leave em laughing and make it worth your while
Please do send pictures when you get her in! I do love your pictures! I also love hearing from you about the ups and downs of your farm life. I think it's important for me to remember that al anon was given to me for the purpose of not simply recovering from alcholism. Recovery is defined as finding again--al anon has helped me find again the life I knew before I became so firmly enmeshed in saving my father from himself that I stopped living within my own skin. I know today that if al anon had not interviened on my own behalf, I'd probably still be trying to save a disease from itself. Not that I would have been sucessful, but I would continue to be trying.
Kim, Way to step up and Git-R-Done!!! Doing stuff like that not only shows the A that he can't stop/sabatoge/manipulate you, but shows you that you can do it! You can do anything when you set your mind to it. :)
I remember your post when your A vanished and left his friend at the gas station. Did he ever explain? Just curious as to what someone says when they pull that kind of stunt and desert a friend so many miles from home.
BTW, We recently took a trip to Grant's Farm (Ulysis Grant) where they now keep the Clydesdale Horses. There's lots of animals on the farm including an elephant, Texas Long Horns and other types of steers/cows, Buffalo, Parrots etc. It's a mini zoo and the animal are as close to free roaming as they can get. In one large area though there are little pygmy goats. OMG, they are sooooo cute. They allow people to buy bottles of milk and feed them. I had about 15 goats run toward me and 2 bottles..lol I'm sure glad they weren't bigger! (sorry, didn't mean to threadjack)
Anyway, I'm so glad to hear you got what you needed and made it happen. Good job girl!!
P.S. Your post isn't OT at all. That's some great ESH
Christy
-- Edited by Christy at 10:52, 2007-06-13
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If we think that miracles are normal, we will expect them. And expecting a miracle is the surest way to get one.
You make me smile Doing what it takes to do what is best for you...awesome. What a way to say "hey, I'm not going to just sit around and just let this happen to me." Alanon is about thinking outside the box. (loved the U-haul)
Way to go for choosing not be be a victim of circumstance!