Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Not exactly Wyoming but still...

Our neighbors have deer. Little ones. They're apparently confined to the yard. We've both seen them, so it's not the beer talking. No idea if they're for food (not at all unlikely) or for fun. The people up the street have a couple of really scruffy-looking sheep (they used to have three, but one disappeared right before Easter) and a goat. Almost everyone seems to have horses, both draft and riding, and there are lots of small herds of cattle and dairy cows scattered about. There are also lots of healthier sheep. This afternoon while we were eating dinner, a pheasant walked through the side yard then flew away into the woods. And on Easter I had to bury a cat that had died in our tool shed. Life is tough out here on the frontier.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Poor lambekins! A pet on the table -- I don't think so. "Annie -- get your gun!" I think I'll stick with the grocery store for my dinner.

DeeAnne

Anonymous said...

You didn't have to move to Belgium to see neighborhood farm animals! Our neighbors in Elkridge had goats in their yard for about a year. The goats lived in a dogloo (igloo-shaped dog house) and ate all the grass, bushes, and girdled a tree in their yard. We used to take all our visitors to see the goats (like going to the zoo, but closer). One day the goats disappeare - not sure if they became dinner, or the authorities found out and shipped them away. - Kerry

Anonymous said...

Beware European farmers. Unlike America where farmers are generally ignored by politicians, the European variety have a lot of clout and tend to get what they want out of the government. There's probably a Milkmaid Mafia surveilling you right now to determine if you are a threat.
-- Gene H.

Anonymous said...

you should have borrowed the goat instead of buying the mower! It's not too late; take the mower back. Tell them environmentally you just could not use it. I just thought of another option!(refer to previous e-mails) Put goats and sheep in the yard and gain acceptance in your neighborhood AND gain clout. All men need clout...THE donald

David and Rita said...

Kerry

I'm thinking seriously about the sheep. Believe me! I spent my teenage years in Durham, home of American Tobacco, and they did just that: rather than mow the grass around their warehouse complex every week, they just kept a small flock of sheep. The goat, though, would eat too many of the landlord's plantings.

David

Anonymous said...

Regardless of what THE Donald advises, don't take the mower back. Think how pleasant it is to watch Rita walk to and fro behind a mower whilst you sit in the shade and sip a beer. Do you encourage her to have a brew herself when she brings you one? There are some advantages to living in a rural area.

David, the tobacco warehouses in Durham that were trimmed by the sheep and goats were demolished several years ago because the animals couldn't eat grass and weeds fast enough to stay ahead of the growth. Your landlord really might not like that possibility.

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