"Old Guard"

"Old Guard"

Freya is a ten year old Anatolian Shepherd who has worked her whole life at High Meadows. She has borne and raised three litters of puppies, fought off black bears, cleared pastures of skunks, groundhogs and coyotes. She remains a loyal and steadfast friend. She loves to greet the evening shadows with a mournful "bark...bark...it's getting dark" sung from a special place high on the ridge so her song rolls down thru the gulley with the cooling temperatures. Age has brought a slight tremor to her hind leg if she stands to long and she is missing a front canine tooth from a groundhog fight.When it is time to change fields she is the first to get on the trailer and loves to run the perimeter of a new field. High Meadows has never lost a goat to predators even though the Cherokee National Forest is our boundary on the back of the farm. Freya has in the past shown a fairly strong desire to guard more than the pasture she is in. All in all she has been a very good guardian along with her full sister, Heidi. Still keeping her nose lifted to the wind....ever alert to danger...guard on old gal.

"Halcyon Days"

"Uncle Sparky Hangs Out With His Girls"

 There is a sense of calm these days at High Meadows. The trying days of weaning are past. No more crying in the night. Moms have gone to far away pastures to recuperate from the rigors of kidding and nursing.The doelings have bonded into a new little herd under the watchful eye of "Uncle Sparky." Their days are filled with browsing... and drowsing in the sun. They know nothing of bucks or breeding.

 The long summer days are filled with the humming of bees and bubbling bluebird songs. Late afternoons bring nap time and chewing cud in the shade.
There is one yearling  mixed in with this years doelings. Her name is Isabella and she will be going to the Appalachian Kiko sale in September. Having a big sister around is handy since she is taller and can bring down the branches for her little sisters. All of the bucklings are in a field across the ridge far away from the girls.

"Walk It Down Big Sister"