It all started in 2020… the days were becoming longer and longer and the sunsets ever-more breathtaking. 

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I recall light summer winds blowing tumble weeds as the critters foraged the prairie hillsides.

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As I was putting my horse  up for the evening, it dawned on me…

“.. It would be fun to have ‘Milking Goats’ on this ranch…”

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 But I also knew…if I were going to do something… I had to do it right.

I did my research… I contacted the vets, spoke with breeder and attending several trade shows that featured the ideal Milking Goats I was looking for…

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​Barn construction was finished and off to the breeder we went…

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Let me say.. I was grateful to find this lovely breeder that specialized in goats…

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She helped me pick out the two most perfect little Nubian goats with the name of Nacona and Maybel… for some reason Nacona make me think of coffee and Maybel reminds me of my nana… an old radio show when (dad and dave went to town and found mabel ) Mabel was an odd lady  with a cardigan and a knee height skirt with one shoe on and one shoe and sock off

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Our first milking was Saturday morning… I thought, this is going to be breeze… I had my milking stand, pail, sterilized equipment and gloves.

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Nacona was the first to pop her head up and walked into the halter to be led to the milking stand.

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Maybel… she wasn’t going to have any part of this.. with a snobby look, she snorted and took off fully expecting me to chase her down. 

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She was right…  and   off.. She went You should have seen me chasing this silly goat.  I finally had to bribe her with treats and with some convincing, I was finally able to lead her to the milk stand where Nacona was tethered beside  the stand with her grain

 

The funny thing is.. Maybel just  seem to grin at me as if to say "we got this "the milking process was rather quick and easy with her. Nacona on the otherhand was slightly more challenging.. she fidgeted, tried to eat my hoodie strings as i walked past and even stuck her foot in the milk bucket.  But, eventually, we finished our first of many adventures to come.

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​​(Sigh) looks like the barn kitties will do well tonight.

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As time went by; the family work dogs would join us on our daily walks to get the goats.  Nacona and Storm, one of the family workdogs struck up a friendship and would sit together.  Delta the other family canine, liked to keep eye out and watch ever so closely, what was going on at the ranch.

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As I gained more confidence in what I was doing, I purchased a danisha hand milking machine. Boy did that help. Can’t believe no one told me about that contraption sooner. 

Before long, I joined some classes and eventually starting a soap and cosmetic hobby.

With the support of friends and family… my hobby is now a thriving business.

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MAD MABEL LOTIONS 'N' POTIONS LLC