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It's been a funny morning, well it's been a funny day, The weather has turned colder now like winter's on its way. I lit the fire earlier, with paper and some sticks, That 18 inch wide fire grate was giving it big licks. I threw some coal on, then a log and built it all right up, The teapot it was telling me to go refill my cup. And as I sat int' old armchair, complete with pot of tea Outside the wind was blowing, and dashing every tree. The sky was getting darker and I knew that it would rain, And at that point I realised that Autumn's here again. The leaves are changing colour now all turning red and brown, The wheel of time is turning and the summer has wound down. We start another chapter with a bleaker cold look on, The Aga in the kitchen with its kettle sings my song. I brew another cuppa, and then look out to see, Where are my goats? They're not in sight, but I know where they'll be. They all go in a building, along the paddock wall, Their shelter on a day like this, milkers kids and all. They've got a set of hay racks filled every single day, In case they want to have a munch while they're all out to play. They've plenty of fresh water, our David sees to that, I know without I even look they're in there with our cat. She's never far away from them, she's awful cute but wise, For all her fresh warm goats milk, that cat, on them relies. They'll all be lying cudding, all with one intent, The cat will sleep amongst them, and everything's content. And I feel very happy as I fetch another log, I throw it on the fire when I've gotten past the dog. 'Cos Cody our bullmastiff lies as close as she can get, Her head is right upon the hearth, she must be hot, and yet, There's no way she'll move backwards, although she's burning hot, In case one of the other dogs jumps in and gets her spot. And so the fire prospers, and now begins to glow, I think I'll toast a teacake on the toasting fork, and so, I bring one from the kitchen and as I slice it through, Cody here has come to life, she watching what I'll do. She knows that food is on the go, and looks at me to say, I'm starving mam I don't suppose you'd throw some food my way? And as I spread the butter, upon my little treat, It melts into the teacake that I cannot wait to eat, It smells so good I can't describe, and all of it's for me, The butter drips from off my chin, I drink my pot of tea. But then I last no longer, I have to now give in, I dare not eat the last wee bit, for that would be a sin. Our Cody would be horrified and terribly offended, If I sat here and scoffed the lot, the teacake feast was ended. I have to give her my last bit, I can't resist those eyes, I couldn't bear the looks she'd throw, her sadness and her sighs. So Lynne gives in and Cody wins, it happens every day, But Lynne don't care, this love is rare, there is no other way. And not long now before the kids, our David and our Kate, Come running round the corner, along and through the gate. They burst through outside doors then in, and all that I can hear, They're talking now in tandem, both try to get my ear, To tell of all that's happened, at school their day their time, And when they both have finished, I tell them both of mine. They know I've toasted teacakes, our David he could smell, He knew what I'd been eating, so they want some as well, They both change clothes, get ready, to do some outside work, And I'm sat here roasting as I wield the toasting fork They both enjoy the teacakes , with butter dripping down, While they are busy eating, they hardly make a sound. A drink of tea to wash it down, they're ready then to go, To bottle all our baby kids, oh life is good, I know. Lynne Lewis-Saunders UK |
I was wondering if Tom Considine was an ISBA member...or if we should invite him to be one? Joan Zahniser of Iron Tooth Saanens posted to WSU list about getting sables....mainly out of using lines from the triplet brothers, Clovertop's Lot, Clovertop's Leif, and Clovertop's White Lightning. She said she has bred heavily on the line because it seemed to breed out bad feet and legs, while getting well attached udders and heavy production. I asked if Tom Considine had bought any of her sables, because I'd heard a few years ago that he'd bought a few sables from Joan. Her reply was " Lots of them" From what I understand, Joan breeds purebreds, so those looking for sables out of purebreds might want to contact Joan or Tom Considine. Jeanne Ledger Donna, I still have the socalled 100 animal papers submitted to the standard committee. At least half of them are from Alpine crosses Not all saanen blood as the sable is supposedly from. Carol K Donna's Reply Carol, The list you have is ancient history... And any animals on that list are a minimum of 87.5% SAANEN genetics which, under the upgrade program, would make them 'NOT ALPINE' but the breed they are 87.5% of whether it be Sable or Saanen or Oberhasli or Toggenburg or Nubian! I also still have that list and exaggeration isn't appropriate for statistical analysis of anything! How you can state that 'at least half of them are Alpine crosses' is beyond my comprehension! THE LIST OF 100 ANIMALS SUBMITTED TWO YEARS AGO had a mix of PUREBRED 100% SAANEN GENETICS, AMERICAN 100% SAANEN GENETICS AND AMERICAN SAANEN GENETICS THAT WERE A MINIMUM OF 87.5% to show a cross section and were not by any means a COMPLETE list of Sables. There are 35 animals on that list that are PUREBRED Sables... 100% tracing back to the PUREBRED Saanen books on both sides of the pedigree. There are 40 animals on that list that are 100% tracing back to PUREBRED AND AMERICAN SAANEN herdbooks. There are 25 animals on that list that are a MINIMUM OF 87.5% SAANEN genetics and some of those are as much as 99% SAANEN genetics. Calling those Alpine crosses is a bit of a stretch don't you think? The list of over 700 animals submitted last year with the proposal were all animals tracing directly back to the Saanen herd books at 100% Saanen and the upgrade program animals were NOT submitted so as NOT to confuse the issue for those who don't understand that an animal with 87.5% Alpine genetics is an American Alpine and an animal with 87.5% Saanen genetics is an American Saanen and an animal with 87.5% Nubian genetics is an American Nubian, etc, etc... That IS what the ADGA upgrade program has been since 1952 (I believe that is the correct year but I'm sure if I'm off a year or so someone will correct me! <G>). Donna Palmer Editors Note: Thank goodness for Donna, she gives straight answers with facts, not emotion. She has done a good job as Chair for us! No matter how insulting or outrageous someone's comment, she does not fall into their trap of arguing over an issue. She gives straight answers, and if she cannot back it up with facts, she doesn't make the comment. Thanks Donna for standing up to everyone and taking the heat for us!
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