And On This Farm There Was a...

There was a Visitation and Porch Party

So they say all we have to do, as country folk, is watch the grass grow or paint dry. Harumph!

Although it is not every day, even in this “progressive life in the slow lane” one-traffic light county, that you look up from your book, of a sunny afternoon, and find a large, unfamliar, and very friendly dog casting shadows on your porch.

But he/she is not alone but traveling with company—a traveling band of animals, like…?? [WHAT was that story I remember as a child?]*

Turns out, this dog had only someone else but some thing else. Out of the blue, a tawny goat strolls across the porch and past the glass doors.

But wait: there’s more!

We thought we’d stick our head outside and SHOOO the vagabonds off and away and be done with it. And so, that’s what we did. But not only did it have exactly NO impact whatsoever as an aggressive invitation to scram, but behold—the Billygoats Gruff showed up in numbers. And by our gesticulations and yips the dog thought we were inviting him indoors!

The full-adult male had a bell on his collar (they all wore collars). Surely, he—or the dog—must be taking the lead here with this merry band of travelers, so if I could just encourage one or the other to guide this flock away, please, and I’ll get back to my book.

However, it turns out that there was a definite lack of leadership and authority, hence the younger goats did what they darn-well pleased as long as they pleased to, but they were such good entertainment (at least early on) that they will be forgiven for their leavings on the walkway, and also thanked for their nibbling down the tops of the Nandinas from the porch rails. I was going to get to that soon, so thanks.

As entertaining as this one-off road show turned out to be for two hours, we are hoping this performance is only an annual or bi-annual event. I had to rush out and close the garden gate, or our collard, turnip and mustard greens would have become Goat Spicy-Green Salad.

* SO what was that children’s story about the traveling animals?

I had to stare off into space for a bit, but in that odd way, with a peculiar kind of neural focus, that we ferret out the most trivial and distant memories—if we “put our mind” to it, I retrieved it!

So if this Grimm’s title triggers stories for you, watch the classic tale below. Question: Do today’s children know “children’s stories” told for generations

THE BREMEN TOWN MUSICIANS