Category Archives: random thoughts

Yesterday I looked out on the deck and saw the duck having a dream. His bill was tucked into his wing, his eyes were closed, he was fast asleep but he was shaking his tail, his wing tips quivered. I watched him for a few minutes, trying to figure out if it was a good dream. Or was it a re-enactment of the dog attack that left him the sole survivor of his flock? It was hard to tell. I went into the duck’s mind, and figured he might be dreaming of swimming, something he only got to do for a few months before the dog attack. His orange foot kicked a little.
Later I saw that Bill took a bath and left the water in the tub, which we do so we can use the water to flush the toilet. So I got ducky and stuck him in the water, then sat down to watch him. At first he quacked and quacked, and I thought I should get him out, but then he bobbed his head under, tasted some water, and paddled around. I’ve never seen him so happy. He took a long bath, flapped his wings, got his feathers clean. Then I carried him back out to the deck, where he lives with the rabbits and an occasional baby chicken.

I thought one day he would recover and perhaps I’d sneak him down to Lake Merritt to live out the rest of his days in a bird wildlife refuge. Thing is, he never really got better. Now when I look at Sir Duckerton I just feel sorry for him. His gimpy leg, his dreams. I mean, is this the proper life for a duck? Or is this a metaphor for life on this earth–a few joys, sadness, and dreams that seem so real.

When I was little, I told my mom I was going to be a cowgirl on a dog ranch. I liked dogs, but I loved cowboy boots….My first existential crisis arrived when I was told I couldn’t have a pony in downtown Shelton, WA. I remember standing at my bedroom window, cursing my pony-lessness, looking out into the maze of walnut tree branches, and I knew it for the first time: I was alone in this world…The smell of alfalfa, is intoxicating to me, if I could make a perfume, it would contain that citrus grass smell that I love so much….This year I decided I’m going to move slowly, take my time, chew on the end of a piece of grass, ask everyone how they are doing before I launch into what I need from them…Somehow this all relates to the goats.

They’ve changed my life. Suddenly, I have occasion to buy alfalfa. I went to Alamo Feed and Grain and got two bales of a mix of alfalfa and grass. The clerk, a man with an amazing waxed moustache (he was about 25 years old) and I chatted a spell before I bought my items. My car reeks of the stuff now.

Once home, I unloaded the bales and realized I need a pair of hay hooks. That’s just my reality. The goats love the grass and alfalfa, they chewed thoughtfully while I crammed the bales into the “hay loft.” Then I sat in the sawdust with Bilbo and Bebe and read the newspaper (Bilbo tried to eat it), and drank some coffee. The turkeys strutted over to investigate. A chicken came, laid an egg, then headed out again. A bunny on the loose came out of nowhere, installed himself in a sunny corner, and fell asleep, ears flat against his body. Alfalfa from the hay rack fell onto my hair made me sneeze a little, drifted into my cowboy boots that didn’t seem quite so ridiculous in downtown Oakland anymore. Everything was so calm and peaceful. Bebe made a little bah-bah noise to me. I don’t speak goat, but I assumed it was a request for some sunflower seeds, which I dug up from the shed. Bilbo came over for a scratching, like a dog. Bunny, chicken, turkey, goat, human. Was this the dog ranch I had pined for so long ago?

The goats are here! The goats are here!
I spent all day yesterday in Lake and Mendocino county picking up and learning about Bebe (left) and Bilbo (right). They are Nigerian Dwarf goats and stand 23 inches from the shoulder. Both of them fit in the back of the station wagon with no problem. I went to Ukiah and got all their diet needs (and a cowgirl shirt for moi) at a groovy farm store. Bebe is pregnant, and will be kidding in a month. Bilbo is her wether buddy, so Bebe will transition better into our new place. She’s very shy, but so cute with her pale blond face. The chickens seem to be looking at the goats and thinking, now that’s a big chicken.

My friend Margaret has been coming over to show me how to build things. She’s an apprentice carpenter and knows how to use a leveler and a circular saw.
Which is mighty useful when I need to build me a tidy, draft-free, rain-proof goat palace. We’ve spent the last few days putting the thing together, and it’s finally starting to look like a proper place for an expectant mommy goat. There are three walls, a beamed roof, and, well, that’s about it. I had no idea how time consuming it is to build something properly. Tomorrow I’m getting the plywood and more beams from Re-Use, this groovy recycled building supply place in East Oakland. I’ll take photos when we’re done but know that this is function over form–it ain’t going to be pretty, but sure will be cozy.

There’s so much turbulence out there right now. Things are changing so fast, it’s spring about to hit, I guess. Even though I’m trying to finish my manuscript, I have to share this good news:
Today I went to this salvage yard to get materials for the goat shed–yes, I put a deposit down on a sweet little dwarf Nigerian goat named Bebe, I’m picking her up next Sunday! Work party this Saturday to build her a shed and kidding area (yes, she’s pregnant). After we unloaded the building supplies, this tiny woman came by and asked about the garden. I said, oh, you should talk to me. She said, I just bought the lot! I gave her a little tour, and told her I’ve always thought that the lot would one day not be mine anymore. For the past five years we’ve been squatting on the garden, always fearful that they’ll bulldoze the garden and build condos right next to our house.
And she said–her name is Shirley–oh no, I’m not going to build for a long time. Can we just have an agreement that you take care of it and I’ll let you know when it’s time for me to build? She wants me to officially take care of her lot! Before she left, I asked her if I could plant anything for her–she said she loves roses and tiger lilies, and she gave me a delighted little grin that is the cutest thing ever. Thank god the former owner, with his fabulous dreams of 10-unit condos, is no longer in my life!
In other news–Archie and Edith have been, um, humping. It’s very interesting how turkeys do it. I’ll take photos next chance I get.

Sorry for my absence as of late. Here’s the quick farm report:
The turkeys are very big and happy. I can’t wait til they start breeding. I’ve made a special big nest for Edith when she’s ready to lay eggs.
The little chickens just started laying! One, a Maran, lays eggs with dark chocolate colored shells. I read that E.B. White used to put the first egg of spring on his mantle–he was obsessed with eggs. I might just do the same. Our housemate Noesuke is going to build them some special nesting boxes. Watch for photos soon.
The rabbits are very happy and getting plump. Riana sent me a pair of shears from France–heirloom tools from my niece’s great grandmother!
The cover crops are coming in–peas, fava beans. There’s a ton of lettuce that will be ready soon. We’re eating peas and greens everyday. I need some wood chips, bad, to mulch the pathways of the garden. Glad it’s tree trimming season.
The bees are cold! I hope they’re okay, but I’ve noticed they go out during the day and collect white pollen.
The biggest news: we might be getting a dwarf milker soon. Marg and I are going to build them a shelter–we’ve been doing research on three-sided goat sheds. We’ll use the metal shed to milk her. I’ll keep you posted.
Oh, and here’s an article I wrote for SFGate.com