Sun break in winter

It's been a long, wet winter in the Seattle area. In fact, it's been the wettest winter in recorded history. Fortunately, the mama goats and their young kids have been content to stay in their barn and lounging yard thus far. Today, we had a nice sun break (this is Pacific Northwest terminology for a time when the sun briefly comes out from hiding behind our persistent cloud cover). When we do get a sun break, we all rush outside to enjoy it. Hailey's kids (Murugaraj, Vidhya, and Ice Cream) are too small to go out yet, as they could easily get picked up by a bald eagle. And, Vivek has a tummy ache. So, those babies stayed inside the barn by the heat lamp. All the other kids and their moms had a wonderful time romping and chomping on green grass. Here are some pictures. (Note: I took these with a Sigma DC 18-125 on my Pentax K-10.)

Aru couldn't wait to get out to pasture.

With Mansa right behind him. Mansa and Aru are out of PayDay and Mikado.

Bunnies enjoy sun breaks too. Here is mama Diamond, whose kits are sleeping in their cage while she gets a break.

Racing out to pasture. L-R: Maggie (with Mansa behind), Arumugam, Parthiban, and Hopeful.

Diamond and Ruby (who is a boy) having some grass.

Aru, Ashoka, and Mansa. This is why we haven't done much out to pasture yet, look at those wet, muddy hooves! The ground is soaking wet here.

Twister (the hen) and Mansa

Limerick, the light-colored goat in front, is due to have her kids any moment, certainly by Wednesday. This will be her ninth freshening! Poem is the black/white buckskin on right. Chanson and Mikado are the mahogany buckskins in center (Chanson has blue collar).

Pretty Mansa with Hailey and Parthiban in background

L-R: Hailey, Mikado, (Ashoka behind), Poem, Mansa, (Chanson behind), and Limerick

Hopeful. She was born last June and is out of Mac and Hailey.

Arumugam

Hopeful

Parthiban, who is out of Mac and Poem. I am very pleased that Parthiban with be going to live with his grandmother Reverie at owner Julie's farm.

Parthiban and Aru

Our 2-yr-old buck Dusty (Dust Storm), who is out of Oasis Storm and Poem. He is polled and very sweet. His great-grandfather is Xlnt Storm.

A bit of meet-n-greet at the buck fence with Maggie and Hopeful.

Aru with Ashoka to his right

The boys: Dusty, PayDay, and Mac.

Parthiban with Hopeful in background

Ashoka, Maggie, and Mansa. Ashoka is out of PayDay and Chanson. Maggie (Magnificent) was born last June and is out of Mac and Lyric.