My poor goats are so miserable in the snow--they are desert animals, after all.  Even though I'm feeding them hay now, they still wander out in the pasture to dig out grass under the snow.  Then they get these massive snowballs around their faces and chin whiskers.  They look so funny!

I helped prune the garden at church today and was tickled to get all of the pruned lavendar, roses, and other plants to feed the goats.  Folks are always amazed that they love roses so much, and say that they always heard goats will eat anything.  Well, that is a myth and goats are actually very picky eaters; they just eat different things than grazers who eat only grass.  They love herbs and weeds because they have a higher mineral content than grass.  Well, some of the people from church came to help me give the goats the prunings, and I let Valentine and a few other goats out to visit wtih my friends.  Well, Valentine butted into everyone's conversation to get a head rub and just generally showed off his swaggering personality.  He is such a memorable character.  He really looked just like he was visiting and socializing with us!

The buck came back from earning his stud fee and he looks a lot happier and more peaceful.  He still pees on his face, though.  I put him in the dog kennel for now because I want to store him out of sight and sound of the does so he doesn't go into a crazy rut again.  I just have to get a couple more range panels to fence off a cozy corner in the hedgerow for him.  He and Wild Bill like keeping each other company and the burros will be near them, too, all in the hedgerow where there are lots of trees and shrubs and tall grass.  I just love getting my animals all comfortable and safe for the winter!

Aren't they cute?  That's my Mom and Dad.  They are such good friends to me, as well as towers of strength helping me out around the farm.  They have such sweet faces!