The Goat said to the Tooth, you are "Baaaaad"

An exposed nerve, a sore mouth, with mounting pressure and pain. Such things have kept me from writing and I am sorry for my readers. On last Friday, said tooth began to pain me at every bite of hot or cold food, worse for drink. A long story short, the tooth has been pulled; antibiotics and pain kills dispensed. Now numbed up beyond belief, I know something of relief.

Its good timing too because in little less than fifteen days is the International Kiko Goat Association 11th annual KikoFest 2014. I am making big plans to head out Friday morning with notebook in hand to learn all that I can. When it comes to our homestead, we of the Clan believe that preparation is one of the best tools you can give to yourself. We are a forged family of scholars, each with a passion for books and learning. When I learned about Kikofest from Goat Rancher magazine, September 2014 edition, I was excited.

"Hey," I exclaimed while in Tractor Supply Company, picking out a flannel shirt and a fifteen pound bag of Taste of the Wild for the cats.

"Kikofest. I have that Friday off! Crossville is only an hour or so from here. Want to go?!"

We agreed and we purchased the magazine, along with shirt, cat food and a few other things. I am very much looking forward to it. I think Kiko goats are amazing creatures, with their beautiful horns and silky beards. It is easy to look at them and see where we get unicorns but it is not the resemblance to that mythical creature that draws me to them. It is their robust nature, their ability to rest parasites and forage on a wild variety of natural terrain. Goats that put on weight quickly and are reportedly easy to work with. I could see them on my future farm and they fit into the picture of the Heart of Home perfectly. Creamy white bucks or sable chased does, kids bounding with their ears flying in the pasture.

Its what I want.

Today I put in an order for two Jenna Woginrich novels,

*One Woman Farm: My life shared with Sheep, Pigs, Chickens, Goats and a Fine Fiddle 

And

*Cold Antler Farm: A memoir of growing food and celebrating life on a scrappy six-acre homestead.

The first novel I mentioned, One Woman Farm, I checked out while at the Blount County Library some months ago. After happening upon it again, I decided it was time to own it.  One Woman Farm tells the story of Jenna, unhappy in her cubicle enclosed office job, strikes out to find her homestead after discussing the matter with a fellow employee. She weaves a delightful tapestry of color and experience in her story, of her joys and challenges finding her own Heart of Home. As she searches for a more authentic life, so to does her writing through fuel upon my own fire for a homestead. The lovely way the hardback novel is illustrated also adds a rustic warmth to the entire work, making it near and dear to my heart.

I will be taking pictures at Kikofest 2014 and will be looking forward to posting them. Until then, I must thank my readers for continuing to follow me down this game trail of hope to find what my heart longs for.