A neighborly visit

I just did a quick search through past posts on our blog. How have we NOT mentioned the wildlife that visits our yard?

Because we live outside of the city in a farm community, we have had our share of animals wander onto the lawn. This has included (I swear!):

• cats
• dogs
• squirrels
• all sorts of birds
• pigs the size of Shetland ponies
• cows
• goats
• chickens
• ducks
• turkeys
• a pheasant
• a fish (while irrigating our lawn)

(The title of my post would be a lot funnier if we had had a horse or two in our yard.)

Bet you're jealous! Now, keep in mind that we do not own--nor ever have we ever owned--any animals ourselves. Not even a goldfish. But why spend money on shots, food and shelter when the animals visit free of charge? Of course, a goldfish wouldn't munch on your legs like those pigs would, given the chance.

Anyway, when Bekah called to me from the living room to say that the neighbors' goats were in our backyard, I wasn't surprised. But when I came up the stairs and saw them staring in through the back door from our porch, I was at least amused. The girls have often fed the goats clover and alfalfa during the summer, so they wanted to go outside and play with their friends.

Being a sucker, I obliged. At least goats aren't omnivores.

Ana sliding down the icy mound that is our back porch while the goat stands by.

It's hard to tell what's actually going on in the photo (I shot these through the window; I'm WAY too lazy to get dressed up in snow pants and boots just to take a few pictures), but Bekah is about to peg that goat on the right with a snowball.

Ana discovers that lawn chairs are meant to sit on the grass, not the squishy snow.