For many years, my family has been good friends with the Wahlquist family.
(Left to right: Micah, Mrs. Wahlquist, Mr. Wahlquist, Deborah, Elizabeth, Stephen, Nathaniel, Benjamin, Andrew, Elisha)
The Wahlquist’s have Anglo-Nubian (usually just called Nubian) goats. The breed was developed in Great Britain of native milking stock and goats from the Middle East and North Africa. Due to their Middle Eastern heritage, Anglo-Nubians can live in very hot climates and have a longer breeding season than other dairy goats.They are large in size and carry more flesh than other dairy breeds. The Nubian breed standard specifies large size, markings can be any color, the ears are long, pendulous, and the nose is Roman. Nubians are very sociable, outgoing, and vocal. Because of its elongated ears and sleek body, the Nubian is occasionally nicknamed the “Lop-Eared Goat” or “Greyhound Goat”.The Nubian’s size makes it a very useful dual purpose animal. This breed leads the way for the dairy breeds in butterfat production: it produces on average 5% or more butterfat content. Only Nigerian Dwarf , Pygmy goat and Boer goat breeds, which are less likely to be used for large scale milk production, surpass them. Because of the higher fat content, the Nubian milk has more flavor than lower fat milks. Milk production is lower than other dairy breeds on average.
The Wahlquist were given two lovely does recently.
Cookies
Daisy
On Valentine’s day this year, Daisy had two beautiful male kids, which were appropriately named Valentino (left) and Sweetheart (right).
They promptly invited us to come see the newborn kids before they were taken to be sold. It was over a week before we could get there, due to bad weather, but finally, the skies cleared and we had a beautiful, partly cloudy day in mid-February to come.
Barely two weeks old, the kids were a mixture of sweetness and playful curiosity. Their eyes were big and brown, and their fur was soft and plush – Sweetheart looked like he was wearing velvet. They were quite content to either sit on our laps or investigate every mysterious detail about us.
Valentino.
Sweetheart. Kimmy kept insisting that Sweetheart was Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh.
Abigail and Kimberly with Sweetheart.
Sweetheart tasting Kathy’s fingers. They tried to taste everything: clothes, buttons fingers, shoes, hair, my camera…
Tasting Emily’s dress.
Investigating Matthew.
My sister, Kathy, has loved animals – especially baby animals – for years. She said Valentino and Sweetheart were enough to make her want to have goats of her own.
Kimmy was very taken in with the kids and wouldn’t leave them alone. I think they liked her just as much as she liked them.
The severity of the itch is directionally proportional to one’s ability to reach it.
Valentino and Sweetheart with their mother, Daisy.
Of course, the Wahlquist not only have goats, they also have chickens, a LOT of chickens, all of them different kinds. When they buy chickens, instead of buying all one breed, they will buy several. The result is a colorful, dynamic flock of fowl, each with unique characteristics and breed history.
A Plymouth Rock hen. The Plymouth Rock breed was developed during the 19th century in New England by crossing Dominiques and Black Javas. These are dual purpose fowl, meaning that they are used both for meat and egg-laying.
A Black Giant hen.
A Columbian Rock hen. Another good dual-purpose breed.
An Orpington Buff hen. The Orpington is a large bird from the English class of chickens. It is a bold, upright breed with a wide chest, broad back, and small head and tail. The Orpington was bred as a dual-purpose breed (meat production and eggs), but its popularity grew as a show bird rather than a utility breed. Their large size and soft appearance together with their rich color and gentle contours make them very attractive.
This is the rooster. I’m told he’s a composite of several different breeds the Wahlquist’s have owned over the years.
Kimmy loved the chickens almost as much as she loved the goats. She badly wanted to hold one and was persistent in chasing them all around the yard. When she finally caught one, she was totally tickled with her success.
Holding the chicken for Stephen to pet.
After a while, I felt sorry for the chicken. Maybe Kimmy loved it a little too much.
Elizabeth holding a chicken for Abigail to pet.
The Wahlquist boys work on putting old lawn mowers back together and selling them. After everyone had their fill of goats and chickens, they took the girls for a spin.
We really had a marvelous time. One thing I particularly enjoyed was getting to spend some time with the Wahlquist’s eldest daughter, Elisha, who has been one of my dearest friends for nearly seven years. Because our families are very involved in different churches, we count ourselves fortunate if we see each other more than two or three times a year. So, we keep in touch by writing several long letters each month, updating each other on personal and family news, discussing books we’re reading, projects we’re completing and encouraging each other in our Christian walk. In times when there were few to encourage me, I could always count on her loyalty and friendship. She’s a friend that I thank God for every day.
It was hard for all of us to leave. I think the family consensus is that we need more kids.
