Overheard at the Almeida house

There has been some conspiracy afoot at our house regarding 4-H animal projects for this coming year. Now that the Cumberland and Fryeburg fairs (the kids both spent a day showing animals at Fryeburg with friends for the first time this year) are over the girls are making animal plans for this year.

"If I don't raise pigs next year I will have time to raise goats mom. I really want a goat." (L)

Back story: L and I went to a seminar two years ago about raising sheep and goats when we were considering getting sheep. It was there she found out about the Kids for Kids free Boer goat program for Maine children. She has begged to do that (get-a-free-goat) program for these past two years. The request has been consistently asked since then.

"Rebecca said she'd sell me some baby goats." (L)

"We love Rebecca's goat milk!" (G & L in unison)

I have referred to Rebecca, my kids' adult friend who raises dairy goats, as our "goat milk crack dealer." She's given the kids goat milk on two different occasions and they fight over it because they like it so much.

"Daddy you gotta try this milk. It's awesome!"

Wisely, the girls saved just enough goat milk for Fino to try to convince him that raising dairy goats is a fabulous idea for our family.

After the crack, err goat milk, Fino had this to say...

"I think we can build a goat shelter next to the sheep and they can share a pen. That would be do-able."

On another livestock subject...

"David is picking me up today to get that Romney ram. He's going to pick up Minnie (L's yearling sheep) on the way home." (L)

"Minnie is going to be at David's farm for 5 weeks and then I get her back. I can't wait for Minnie to have baby lambs!" (L)

"L., do you think we have to make the sheep pen bigger for the new lambs?" (Fino)

"Yes dad, we should. We can make it bigger and make the goat shelter then too." (L)

And because L. is an excellent strategist, she knows how to strike when the iron is hot. Or in this case, when dad is agreeing with her.

"You know dad, I saw this really cute llama when we were picking up the ram..." (L)

Here is the text I received while L. was picking up the ram with her adult sheep farmer friend David.

 
The picture is small but L. is standing in front of a llama.

"We are not going to get a llama this year L." (Fino)
 
"No freakin' way L!" (Me)

"OK maybe we need a year with the goats first before we get a llama." (L)

"Mom the llama would be pretty funny." (G)

"When are we going to Florida to visit Grandma?" (Me)

The Florida trip is coming up at the end of the month and it will be (mostly) animal-free. I need to recharge before another interesting year of 4-H livestock projects because when 3 out of 4 Almeidas are on-board with an idea, it's a pretty good bet it's gonna happen.