Mostly about Heidi (update to post, pictures added)

More black and white photos from another dull dreary wet rainy snowy day...oh, and icy. 

and here's looking out the little kitchen window, Thursday morning...

and looking out the little pantry window, also Thursday morning...

very little of this melted throughout the day on Friday but on Saturday the roads were clear enough for me and Poppy to strike out to the grocery store. 

You know how we Carolina folks are...a few snow flakes and some of us go crazy; stocking up on groceries and water and such. :)

One more picture. The wispy little tree right behind the old dog house was covered in dots of snow that looked almost like white flower buds. Doesn't show up so good here, but something about the picture I liked; could it be the touch of color?

Oh friends, I feel like the most awful mama. Let me tell you a bit about Heidi goat...

You know, I thought all along that I was taking good care of Heidi and Rosie. They get plenty of feed; goat pellets, minerals, hay, and we worm them, occasionally.

I keep their little barn swept clean and always keep two buckets of fresh cold water in their lot. Oh, and I couldn't love them any more than I do...but all that was not enough.

Heidi is completely down and doesn't have the strength to stand. Friday, Poppy helped me get her loaded in the large pet carrier and into the back of the truck. 

It took the vet only minutes to determine that Heidi has three types of internal worms and also external blood sucking parasites. I read online that goats are so sensitive to blood loss that even the amount of blood that parasites ingest, whether internal or external, can lead to amnesia and even death. 

The vet treated her for both the internal and external parasites and also sent medication home for Rosie. He told us to add alfalfa nuggets and black oil sunflower seeds to their diet.

It may take weeks or even months for Heidi to recover...if she does recover. We are very hopeful, and I plan to do everything I can possibly do to help her...which includes reading and learning more about caring for goats.

  

Speaking of animal feed, have I ever shown you the opposite side of our little pantry/laundry room? :) Well, it's the feed bucket side...

There's four on bottom, four on top.

had to pour some half buckets together to make room for the new alfalfa pellets and additional sunflower seeds. I do hope little Heidi pulls through. She's just got to.

Through my blog, I've met a new friend whose name is Gwen. Meeting her could not have happened at a better time...for me anyhow. Gwen and her husband have a small farm and lucky for me, they raise goats. Gwen has been such a help, giving me lots of good information and advice she learned first hand, tending her goats.  Thank you Gwen.

Didn't quite finish this post last night...how quickly Monday has arrived! 

Just got to share this bit of good news...when I got to the goat barn with a bucket of feed this morning, Heidi was standing! Her back legs were straight and she was walking on her front knees. That is a BIG improvement! 

We are keeping Heidi inside the enclosed part of the little barn. I've moved the benches and added lots of hay to make her comfortable. Besides, she needed a little space of her own because of Noisy Rosie. Rosie thinks it's cute to push Heidi around.

Okay, I will end this here. Thank you for visiting, and thank you for all the nice comments regarding little Heidi. Will keep you posted.

Love,

Henny

Oh, what lucky goats, to live here on Gwen's farm...

I had asked Gwen for a few pictures of her farm and goats and look what arrived! Such pretty healthy looking animals, and look at that green grass, and blue skies, and happy grandchildren. Thank you Gwen! 

Thank you, dearest friends! I appreciate you all so much!