Inspiration

I have been inspired to start blogging. Yes me, a forty something, computer novice is entering cyberspace. I have enjoyed reading "This Goats Life", "Marigold" and "A Journey in your Dreams" and have been inspired to write my own. I am in no way as good a writer as these bloggers but feel a need to write my experiences down "Beyond the Sidewalks." I chose this name in honor of a magazine I used to read, as a kid, called Countryside, A small stock Journal and Life beyond the Sidewalks. What teenager do you know reads homesteading magazines? Well I did. I grew up in a very normal suburban family that lived on 2 acres. I was the only one in my family that loved animals and farming. I have always been the Goat Girl to anyone that knew me and to this day give animal advice out freely. Goat and Dog 4H were my favorite pastimes. At age 11, I was watching Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Greenjeans came to visit with two darling Saanen kids. I fell in love with those adorable snowy white babies. I ran in to my mom begging to get a baby goat. My mom, being the supportive mom she is, got busy and found two Alpine/Nubian cross doelings. One for me and one for my best friend. She also found a good 4H club to join so we could learn about our new babies. My friend's dad dubbed us "The Goat Girls" as we ran around the neighborhood followed by Sweet Pea and Star. Happy times raising goats and traveling to fairs and shows followed. I also trained dogs and showed them.
I am now grown and have pretty much raised goats and trained dogs my whole life. My son wanted to join 4H so I started my own club and repeated the experience for him although he preferred the dogs and his pony. He is now grown and in college in L.A. but continues to have a little dog that has more frequent flyer miles than I do.
We currently have a small herd of Nigerian Dwarf goats, one Pygmy wether, two pot bellied pigs, a llama, 5 dogs, 2 cats and a few hens. My favorite thing to do, other than reading, is sitting in a lawn chair with all my critters milling around me.
So with this blog, I will share my experiences with "Life beyond the Sidewalks"