we did it! Let Caroline and the (little) ones out. Gathered self together and let go of Tay's leash. All are Free. No one but me seemed to notice. Tay went to get a good stick, the young ones did their running/climbing/ social interaction things. Caroline wandered eating windfall oak leaves. It was as if it had always been this way. This was only day 1. we will continue, practice like this a few days. But if there is no commotion, it's Done. After about a half hour just here, near the house, they set out over the hill above Campsite B. Disappeared from view. Gone. Tay and i were just here. After about 20 minutes there was the crylostcalling of one of the little ones...it went on and just as i was getting ready to go find him, it was quiet. About a half hour later, they all ambled up the road, Caroline et al in Lead. It will be interesting to watch the hierarchy occur. Tho she has no interest, she may be just Given Lead. She has two body guards. We have never kept wethers as part of the Doe contingent. They have been given away or sold or put in as companion for an intact buck. What will they be like?...as part of a free range herd? We all look....they on facebook pages, me utube....we find nothing so far. It was in the 90's. The little ones were panting when they returned, Goats don't pant. They were panting...i brought them a bowl of water, Black drank long, Minion just a sip. The three went back to the Curry House with no urging and were quiet the rest of the day. The heat is hard on the little ones.
Fear. Fear isn't healthy. There is such a difference, this evening... we accomplished what i was afraid of. It could have gone very differently. Tay could have easily been different....aggressively interested in the baby's business. They are so fast and exciting...i wouldn't have been able to hold it against her, but it would have made so many things impossible. and Hard for her. The complexity being that i all along identified these kid Goats as belonging to Emrie and Julian. So it was a set up. Their well being HERE on this HILL became so much of a uhhhh, requirement? Commitment? it could have been a.... well, we'll see kind of thing, meaning if it worked, ok. If it didn't seem to be able to work, ie Tay not being able to leave them alone, we would find good homes for them...OR keep them in with Nogal. But no Free Range for anyone was possible. To limit Tay's freedom at this point for me would have been a heartbreak. She takes her "job" of Security of the Hill so to heart....and needs to be able to run.
Do not be attached to outcome. I can't learn that. I try.
Maybe Love is powerful.
