It was a much anticipated visit. News about mom and kids settling down in the neighbourhood created quite a stir. Ionia is beautiful and her kids have insatiable energy. Welcome the lovely Nigerian Dwarf Goat family of East Lexington, Massachusetts.

A lovely family

All images ©Carmen Mandel

During an afternoon visit to the LexFarm Goat Yard, we were introduced to the family members. Ionia, the beautiful goat doe, is mom to three of the four frolicking kids. Her pretty doe kids are Sapphire, Naya and Ella. The handsome young buck is Jasper, born to another doe in the herd where Ionia comes from. 

We heard interesting facts about the goats, the yard activities and the idea behind this initiative. The herd shares a habitat of tiered ramps and round logs for their climbing needs, set against the peaceful scenery of Arlington Lake.

The lovely goat family let the visitors pet them and feed them delicious dry twigs and leaves. Ionia and the kids grazed, jumped, skipped and played with contagious energy. 

Every now and then, a mischievous somersault made us all laugh. Their luscious coats are of individual patterns; their curiosity, endless!. Bright kind eyes glance sweetly.

It was a wonderful time in a pastoral environment, enjoying the company of these beautiful residents while goose flocks flew by under the setting sun.

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♥ My new line of products featuring the goat family:

Barn Friends

Home décor, stationery and more. All sales proceeds suppport LexFarm

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A compassionate holiday season. Being thankful and preparing for the joyous holidays. Extending our compassion to all creatures with vegan and delicious dishes.

Let Us Celebrate with the Turkeys

♥Adopt a turkey and save a life♥

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How the Turkey Got its Name
(Adapted from Infoplease)

Christopher Columbus thought that the land he discovered was connected to India and believed that the bird he saw, the Turkey, was a type of peacock. He therefore called it tuka, which is peacock in Tamil, an Indian language. Actually, the Turkey is a type of pheasant.

The Native American name for Turkey is firkee; some say this is how turkeys got their name. When a turkey is scared, it makes a "turk, turk, turk" noise.

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Learn more facts about this gentle bird.

• A Very Vegan Thanksgiving (itseasybeingvegan.com)

• 9 Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes

Sheep can tell whether you're feeling happy or sad

via BBC Newsround

Scientists found that sheep preferred smiling human faces to stressed ones. They also preferred being around happy animals.

The research worked by giving the sheep a choice of doors through which to get food. One door showed a happy human or a sheep, the other showed grumpy faces.

"They vastly preferred the smiling human or the image of the animal that had just had a meal," researchers said.

Earlier research by the team found that sheep could recognise 50 individual sheep faces and remember them for two years.

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♥ It is time to change the human misperception on farm creatures

The amber eyes of this pretty ewe enthralled me.

♥ Read the story behind this moment in my gallery.