ANNUAL FALL MIGRATION -- 2011

A LATE-JULY FOREST MOZEY

The goats and I were kinda bummed-lonesome with Jane gone so we decided to cheer ourselves up with a walk in the woods and to high places.  It worked.  It sure cheers things up to wander around nibbling on Mother Nature's grass and Grandma Jane's sausage biscuits.

Custer with Bear Butte in Background

Saving the Good Stuff for Later

PACK GOATS CARRY THE BEER AND ICE

They wanted to go on a munch-mozey.  But it was blazing hot.  So we negotiated a deal.  They carried the beer and ice.  I carried the camera.

A SPECIAL VISIT WITH MOTHER NATURE AT CHRISTMAS SUNRISE

Last midnight the Black Hills Pack Goats, the chickens, dogs and Lee had enjoyed a special quiet Christmas eve in the forest, with the full moon's silver light glistening on the frosty snow and frozen fog on the pine needles.  (Kate and Mom were away with Paul Sr. in Gillette.)  We homebound forest beasts all promised to get up at the crack of Christmas dawn and walk again together in the forest as it wakes up.

The morning light tapped ever so lightly on the goats' front door. 

The goats were rising from bed just as I arrived.

"Hey, Lee.  Are we still going out for breakfast?" 

"We'll just nibble a few bites before we go." 

"Hey!  Don't forget us!" 

"Hmmm... Maybe we'll just stay here and clean up after the goats." 

Lee, we may nibble some free needles here and forego the hike.

Hey, Goats.  What's the holdup?  Let's go!

OK, Lee.  We're here as promised.  

Do we have to just stand around?

Let's go for a real hike, darn it.

OK, Lee.  You stand around and take pictures.

We'll be over here eating at the buffet. 

Click on photo's of scenery for larger images.

Did you want us goats in this one?

Here's a good one.  Get a picture of this one, Lee.

OK, I'm ready.  Take my picture with some needles in the foreground.

The forest makes a beautiful church to attend for Christmas,

and make sense of the real world.

THE GOATS CELEBRATE A SPECIAL KIND OF WHITE CHRISTMAS

The Black Hills Pack Guys were staring from the barn up at the white-frosted forest of pine needles on the high ridge.  Normally, luscious green pine needles are their favorite treat in winter, but during the wintry snow season, they go nuts for pine needles that are "seasoned" frosty white with frozen fog.  (For evidence, observe Harney's tongue, licking the tasty frost from his lips.)  First, though, before going out for such a special Christmas occasion they insisted on wearing their dress-up neck-muffs.

BLACK HILLS PACK GOATS HELP GATHER FIRE WOOD

The dogs wanted to lay around inside, "roasting by an open fire".

So we headed out on a sunny chilly day to gather kindling.

All the dogs came along to supervise.  

It takes a special kinda wood to toast a dog rump just right.

Kate says she knows where the best kindling is.

(Up past the high meadow, of course.

I just knew she'd get a brisk hike out of this, somehow.)

After loading every one up, Sturgis leads the way home.

Almost home.  Been here about 350 times. 

The dogs set a fast pace, anxious to get back to a warm fire.

Yup.  The pups seem to approve of the Yuletide fire...

"Roasting dog butts by an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose..."

BLACK HILLS PACK GOATS GO TO THE DOGS ON A WINTER HIKE

Just a short jaunt out of the barnyard on a whispycrispy day following our great old-west buffalo hunt.  (Kinda sorta).  The Boyz are agarb with hunting season fashion statements.  Dogz too.  Guess which of the svelte superhiker caprines weigh over 300 pounds.  (Hint:  There are no wrong answers.)