Little Lester

After a virus getting us down here at the homestead I think things are slowly getting back to normal. There were a couple of days where I dragged myself outta bed to feed and care for the animals and then turn around and go back to bed. Mother Nature sure has a sense of humor. The last few weeks of winter were 20 to 30 degrees warmer than spring so far. We have had freeze warnings, days of 30 and 40 degree weather and lots and lots of rain. The herb garden isn't finished. The veggies gardens aren't even started. Pens and cages need cleaning. Stalls need mucking. With spring arriving like a wet winter and bringing me a virus with it I am more behind than ever.  The good thing is the dogwoods are in full bloom and beautiful! I thought for sure the freeze would get them but they survived. The oak trees have tiny leaves covering their branches. Everything may be wet, cold, and muddy but the green is showing through. Next week is suppose to be in the 70's and 80's with no rain so I am looking forward to getting all those outside chores done. Lester (the baby goat) is so wanting to go outside but with all the rain and cold weather I won't let him. Next week he can nap and play in the sunshine while I work. His mom and brother have gone back to their own farm. Lester's home will always be Hidden Haven. His mom's owner saw Lester wasn't going to be as big and strong as his brother Earl and also saw how he and I have bonded and decided I could keep him. I am so happy as I didn't know how I would handle letting him go. He is kinda spoiled. He won't go to sleep at night unless he is tucked in his doggie bed and covered with a blanket. No blankie, no laying down. William thinks I should stop with the blankie and teach him to be a normal goat. Lester is still very small for his age. Very fragile and catches colds easy so I am very careful with him. I honestly don't think he will live to be very old since he got sick when he was a day old. I think it affected his lungs. But for as long as I am blessed to have him he will be spoiled. He eats his oat or rice cereal each morning from a baby spoon. The only thing he will eat from a bowl is small pieces of alfalfa and he will drink water from his water bowl. Anything else he will only take in a bottle or being fed to him from a spoon. He does open his mouth when he sees the spoon and smacks his lips while waiting on the next bite. He still uses his pee pee pads for potty. I know to stand him on it when he first gets up and right after he eats. During the night he will cry if he needs to potty and I get him out of his bed and take him to the pad. He does his business and goes right back to bed and sleep. I always have to wake him up each morning as he loves to sleep in. He also worships the woodstove. With all the cold weather we have had a fire. Lester stands in front of the stove watching the flames thru the glass doors or he goes behind the stove and lays down for a nap. If I get out of his sight he runs (his running is like a fast walk for other baby goats) through the house crying Maaaa until he finds me. He will stand near me until I go back in the diningroom or kitchen and then he will go back to worshipping his stove king. When I go out to feed he waits by the back door for a few minutes crying and then goes back to the stove until I come back in.  Gotta love my Lester!