I goat to be the "crazy Goat lady" for the first time to a potenital new goat Lady.

I was happily making cheese yesterday morning when I got a call. I took the call and some one asked if I was there, using my business name. I have sort of a split personality when it comes to working, I use my full given first name, sort of a way to remind my brain I am not being home me or artist me but working out as the public me. I know that is odd be somehow it has always worked for me. I ask who I was speaking to and it was a lady named Susan, kind of funny the third Susan I have had dealings with a the last week. She said she had spoken to me at the MADE Fair about goats.  I instantly recalled who I was talking to.  She asked if I had been serious about her and her girls coming to see my goats. I was so excited and told her "yes, anyone who wants to see my goats is always welcome". She was a little shocked that I had been serious and made arrangements to come out, from Zootown, to let her little girls see the goats. She was to arrive in about and hour, so I would have time to continue my cheese, she actually needed up being an hour and a half late. My cheese was done but I didn't have time to drain it so left it float in the whey when she arrived.

She had to lovely little girls one about my Ladies ages and one a little younger, she also had an Australian Shepard she had rescue three days prior.  She left him in the car at first but eventually he got out and made his acquaintance with my dogs. It went pretty well they are used to new dogs after all.  I showed her all my goaties,the peacocks, the lamb, the pig, the turkeys and of course the dogs.  She was so excited and had lots of questions.  I am sure I earned my status as the "crazy goat Lady" I was overjoyed to share whatever I knew, gave her advice on goats, advised her to read up on goats so she could make a choice of which would fit in with her needs the best. I told her if she decided on ones like mine I would have babies in the spring if she wanted some.  I also told her that Craigslist would have good options for her as well. The kids and mine sort of were awkward around one another and actually never played but sort of wanted to, like kids will do.  She was here around 2 hours. I let her try the milk, which she and her girls liked for a first try, goat milk has a little different taste than cow's milk.  They did like it though. I suggested that they use it on cereal for about two weeks and then start drinking it, it sort of acclimated you to it better. I showed them my cheese afloat in the whey.  They were truly stung by the goat bee when they left, she said she would keep in touch.  I plan to hear from her again as she proceeds down the goat path.  I did tell her that goats are addictive and that somehow we turn into crazy goat ladies, so she was warned fair and square. I finished straining out the whey and making my cheese into a ball when they left.

It was very hot yesterday, the girls both got a little burned in the sun, but had used their sunblock and both tan out over night so will be fine. Poppie weeded in his garden and showed me all he had gotten done in the greenhouse, it is so wonderful.  It is all planted and they are growing and looking beautiful. The girls and I picked up two white eggplants at the grocery store, in the get rid of it bin, so they will plant them this morning. Grandpa brought us a bunch of plants, from his greenhouse, that hadn't sold so we planted them here and there. Our garden is full, except for the corn patch, they came up hit and miss, I think actually better that Sons and Grandpas so that is ok.  We may plant a few cabbages, from Grandpa, in the holes or maybe some pumpkin or both, it is about the only space we have left to put his gifted plants.

Today is baking day.  We are making pies, we have a new to us frig, so will be able to make them today instead of tomorrow. We are making pumpkin pineapple bread, cinnamon rolls (they did well) no orange this time, maybe a bread pudding see how they sell, butterscotch and raisin. So the coffee is done and I have Ladies to awaken.... tomorrow.

Where does happiness come from, God, family, friends or from inside?

I sometimes find that when I have gone all out for a long time I crash, yesterday was a crash day. I think my ladies are done as well. They were pretty tired after school ended, Booboo had been sick for a week before the end of school and so wanted to attend the fun of the last week she pushed herself to return. Yogie is one of those people who seems to cycle from one extreme to another, it is hard to see but it is there if you look closely.  They were so done after the end of school I let them veg, I think Booboo slept for a couple weeks and Yogie just chilled. I didn't make, or let them, participate in the summer reading program I truly started to and they actually filled out a couple book reports but they had no joy in it, it just seemed like continuing homework and I decided that isn't how they should feel about it.  They should find joy and happiness in reading. I know I do. But where should the happiness in our lives really come from? I asked myself.

I often long for more closeness in my family, meaning my extended childhood family, my little family that includes my adult children has mostly been close knit. We have always been closer than my childhood family as a whole. I have experienced estrangement from Goofy for the better part of 3 years but it is not because we don't love her, it is because the choices in her life have been so devastating to her children that we couldn't take her side, she was an adult we had to take the side of the children.  Drama Queen has used her money and dysfunctional sense of self to make sure that Goofy stays anger at us. That is ok, Goofy is an adult, she can choose her path and we have come to terms with her choices. I digressed sorry, any way, other than that our family is very close. I can't really change the relationships with my family, oh I could, but somehow most of the relationships work, although dysfunctional, but there is a balance and I could make them worse so the status quo is all right for now.  So my happiness, in part, comes from family just not necessarily my extended family.

I find happiness in my friends but like me they all have families with family duties, obligations and regular family needs.  I think that as we age we realized that friends come and go but our families usually take priority, something as young people we don't always know. I see some people that don't spend anytime with their families looking for happiness in friends, and realize with age that family is the most important and that some friends become part of your family and some friends become acquaintances.  Friends can bring happiness.

Poppie is the love of my life, he pierced my heart the moment I meant him. I felt an instant need to protect him from the world, to make him safe and to love him.  I knew the moment I saw him he would be my destiny, I know that sounds corny but it is true.  It took him a month or so to start thinking like me but I knew it in a heartbeat.  I have never changed my hearts need for him in almost 32 years.  I am not saying he doesn't make me anger, sometimes, drive me nuts, makes me sad, but most of all he has always made me happy to the core of who I am. Poppie envelops me with happiness.

I find that happiness has to come from your inner being, oh, you can be loved and love with out being happy but how sad is that. People can increase your happiness but they can't make you happy in and of themselves. You have to find peace within yourself, you have to steer your life to happiness it won't come to you by itself or of itself.  You have to make an effort to be happy, happiness is not a free lunch.

I listened to a great Preacher this Sunday, I believe he is the current Chaplin for the United States congress, he was a wonderful speaker. He spoke of many things, was a well versed speaker and man of God. I took alot away from his sermon but in the end one of the things that stood out for me was that religion or a Church did not make you saved. Being saved came from your relationship with God. He spoke a long time and had many good messages. I find that my true happiness comes from my relationship with God. God gives me all I have, all I am and all I will be. He gave me my dysfunctional family, to love and test me, he gave me my family, He gave me Poppie, He gave me Jesus to believe in and come to him through Jesus. God is my happiness and all my happiness is of him. He increases my happiness in my family and friends. God is the great I AM..... tomorrow.

Slept in this morning, Nice fireworks, Nice food and Great company!

I am just waking up, Poppie is still sleep and snoring. He has earned his rest. We were both so tired when all left that we went to bed right away and the girls were sleep with in minutes. Poppie did a great job on the brisket, the ribs and the sirloin was lovely smoked meat, that I added au jus to for french dip, for those that chose it that way. There were lots of salads, later in the even some enjoyed the pineapple upside down cake, the only part that was pineapple was the rings, the rest was my good old zucinni pineapple, always yummy and total a surprise when I tell people, which I didn't.

I see from the door of my room that one of the dogs, has been very naughty and tore paper plates and napkins all across my kitchen floor. Work is definitely waiting for me, I have to wash the trays, and the rest of the dishes this morning, thank goodness for the new dishwasher. We ended up with 43 this year, I was glad it was about the normal number, I think with all the add ons that people requested they bring there could have been around 60, which had seemed over whelming, so I was glad it was around 45 whew.... I do enjoy all the company but have to rest up so it takes a whole year to have the energy to have it again. 

The pools was full of little people, one die hard was Belle's little boy, the other joined him but none of them stayed in as long as he did. Since some of the kids didn't bring suits we had to look through the laundry and some of the combinations we came up with were so funny, but they served the purpose, getting to go in the pool.  Buga, thank goodness, was still little enough to ware the onesy I found. Thank goodness as well for her, panies underneath. 

The fireworks were the best we have had, they lasted a long time and were very pretty, the little ones were totally enthralled. I like the purple ones and the ones that go up and explode in very big plooms. Sister, had a spell and passed out, scared some of the guests.  Brother in law, stopped lighting the fireworks, we revived her with ice and helped her to lay in her car.  DC was so worried and kind of thought we were callous, but it is something that happens and the routines work to help her. She gets to go to the specialist on Thursday.  DC was sure we needed to take her to the ER, but the reality is they couldn't do anything for her.  We are hoping they fix, the reopened hole in heart soon.  One of the neighbors, Teenager's mom, is a hospital tech, not sure  her exact position and she is newly graduating into a new degree, said the second surgery always fixes the problem.  I hope it is soon.

Well the kitchen floor is wait and we need to make coffee, I am hibernating until noon, for sure, after the dishes, then working on photos for the Internet and getting my stores full of listing of all the inventory I have in my studio.  I can't wait to finish in the studio and carve, I haven't gotten to for awhile. Life is good, nothing on my list that I have to do... no parties, no shows, no nothing, summer time here we come, camping next month, fire wood to get and all the fun of summer is waiting.... tomorrow.