Meet Bilbo Part 2

Continuation from previous post Meet Bilbo Part 1.

Bilbo takes a minute for a hug and a pose.

I regained my composure and then realized my kids (human not goat) were just as bewildered as me.  We processed in like a mother duck with her ducklings and somehow managed to find some seats. They were amongst the rows of folding chairs toward the back of the auction. A man with a homemade, electronic, smoking pipe smiled. I smiled back trying not to stare at the strange contraption he held in his lips. Our seats beheld a wonderful view of the kid goats.

Just than a big man, with a loud voice began to yell. He sat up high, on a high desk, just like a judge. He made jokes, tossing items about while adding the occasional, mild cuss word. I thought he was crazy, I thought he was rude and hilarious. I liked him. He had a bunch of guys running items around to people as he shouted numbers and people raised their hands. Some how I ended up with items surrounding me; some tie raps, Little Debbie cakes, some nasty not real juice jugs, paint trays and rollers and some animal cages. Wait a minute, didn't I come here for a goat!?!

Baby Bilbo looking for some love.

"The animals come after intermission" the electronic, pipe-wielding gentlemen remarked to me. He must of sensed my anticipation. "You can go to their pen and have a closer look at them".  I walked over to the pen that had a small group of men around it. One old timer spoke to the goats "turn around little goats so we can see if your a buckling or a doe." As he said this I found myself too curious to wait. All of a sudden I found myself reaching behind the baby goat and up between it's legs, and then again on the second one. "Their both boys," I yelled with excitement. Proud of my farm like action I turned to see the small group of men. Some seemed shocked, others chuckled and others smitten. I must have one of these long-eared cuties. The goats not the men.

Charlotte giving lovin' to baby Bilbo.

The electronic pipe guy then followed me back to my seats. He than proceeded to give me advice on the best way to win my little goat prize. My excitement grew as the time got closer. Chickens and small animals got tossed about and sold. The occasional rake and hoe. Finally, the goats, "going once, going twice sold to the young lady in the bandana". "You want both?" "No thanks, just one . . ." I yelled.  . . . the tan and white one". A runner came up took my money and plunked a little baby goat into my arms. "It's okay, little buddy your coming home with us now."

The man with the electronic pipe was excited for me. He told me how he had lots of goats he won at different auctions. "Okay, I gotta go, thanks for all the advice." I spoke and walked quickly to the Suburban, praying he wouldn't follow us. "Do we have all our stuff? I asked the children "Do we have room for the goat?" "He will sit with us" squealed my daughters.

Gigi laughs as baby Bilbo does a little pose for the camera.

We began to drive home. "What should we name him?" "Bilbo of course" my kids replied in unison. "Just like the Hobbit".  It was just then that I realized I wasn't prepared for a baby goat. Didn't he need a bottle and goat formula. Where was I going to get bottles and goat milk at 9:30p.m.? Walmart was open, but Tractor Supply closed at 8:00pm. Oh, Mickie, like usual, you have gotten yourself into a pickle.

Good thing, God has blessed me with great friends that are just as crazy as me. I dialed.

"Hello, sorry I'm calling so late, do you happen to have some formula or milk from your goats?" "You see I have this baby goat I just picked up at an auction." "Thanks your the best!" (and they are). We went to their house and got some frozen goat milk. "This should be good for tonight until you get to Tractor Supply in the morning."  I then proceeded to Walmart for some baby bottles.

It was late and surely I could not put this baby goat in the barn with the other goats. Who knew how the other goats would react to him. Besides he needed a bottle and he might need me in during the night. We set up a cage with hay in the kitchen.   It was just for the night. He slurped his bottle down and was just getting settled when Rob called from California. "Yeah, he's cute, he's great, he's a Nubian" I said excitedly. "Wait, Rob interjected, isn't a Nubian a standard size goat? I thought you wanted to a goat for mating?" "I did, but he was cute, and I always wanted a Nubian, remember I always wanted a Nubian." I replied. "Yeah, yeah I remember . . .So now what?" Rob asked. "I guess we will just have to get a standard sized baby doe".!!!!!!!

Bilbo gives me a kiss! 

And so that is how Bilbo came to be here on Sanctae Familiae Villa. He now is a year and a half old and spends his days munching on grass and brush. He loves sunbathing and head-butting his barn-mate Butch. When I yell his name he yells back MAAAAA just like that little kid in the pen. Even though he is now the proud Daddy to some of his own kids, he'll always be my little buckling.

Meet Bilbo Part 1

Bilbo Baggins
being played by Martin Freeman

Hey you, Hobbit fans, relax, I know you already think you know him. I am not talking about the great character in everyone's favorite Tolkien book. I am talking about Bilbo, our fun-loving, long-eared, Nubian buck. Now, I know it seems every scary story begins While my husband was away . . . this is the story about how this great, floppy-eared buck found his way to Sanctae Familiae Villa and into our hearts.

Bilbo smiles for his photo shoot with Kolbe.

It was spring. Rob was away in California for work. We already had three mini doe goats that a friend had given to us. We had kept them alive through the winter; surely,  we were ready to find a mate for them. I called around, I looked on Craigslist. There seemed to be no buck to fit the bill. Lord, please give me patience and a buck, I prayed. I then found an ad for a livestock auction. Oh, livestock auctions are bad aren't they . . . they must be. I thought long and hard about this option. Well, I reasoned with myself, somebody had to go there and rescue any needy animal and give it a good home. Why not us?

"Rob, I'm gonna go to an auction to find a male goat. Do you think that's okay?" I spoke cautiously over the phone. "I guess" he replied. "Be careful." Just to boost my own confidence level my reply was "I'm a smart girl you know . . .I'll be okay."

The kids and I piled into our beat-up Suburban and we were off. We were filled with a sense of excitement, adventure and nervousness. What wonders would await us at an auction. I had only been to one auction with Rob, in PA, and it was an Amish one. New England didn't seem to have any safe Amish auctions. Oh, well, here goes . . ."Hey kids isn't this going to be so much fun?!"

We arrive to a dusty parking lot, next to a warehouse/barn looking building. I was wearing one of my many jean skirts, muck boots, Carhartt jacket and lets not forget the bandana. Surely, I looked like a seasoned farmer.  I even had my money separated into different pockets, to look as if I didn't have much (I remember reading that somewhere). I was prepared.

Gigi and baby Bilbo snuggling. 

We walked into the dusty building (well once we actually found the correct door) to quite an amazement. There were chickens and other small animals in crates, Ho Ho's and Little Debbie cakes stacked on tables. Next to all the delectable treats of my youth there were stacks and piles of farm hoes, rakes and man farmer gadgets galore. Lots of old and young men stood and sat around, under a cloud of smoke that seemed to just linger above them.

Amongst the tables, stuff and crates stood a pen with two little floppy-eared kid goats. They screamed MAAAAAA at the top of their little voices. I stood there mouth-dropped, wide-eyed trying to absorb the whole scene. My first thought: I know baby goats I want my mom about now too!

To Be Continued . . . Read Meet Bilbo Part 2 next Friday

Note: For all you goat breeders: I know you should never breed a larger breed male with a smaller female. You will know what actually happened in the continued story. If you have any questions or concerns you can privately contact me.