When I still didn't have a CLUE what I was going to do for this week's theme, I happened to see a Nat Geo program on orangutans when I was visiting insomnia land. Beautiful creatures, their gangly bodies and facial expressions are almost comical. That led me to thinking about other animals that could be nature's comic relief, like the ostrich, penguin, sloth, etc.
Then I completely lucked out and met a pair of fainting goats.
F.A.I.N.T.I.N.G.
If you have not heard of fainting goats, here is a YouTube video that explains what they are all about.
The two I met were well rounded, exposed to everything, just-go-ahead-and-try-to-scare-me, goats named Boomer and Indigo. Fainting goats don't actually faint or lose consciousness at all during these episodes. Due to a congenital medical condition (myotonia congenita), the goat's muscles tense up when they are startled or excited.
Boomer and Indigo are VEEERRRRYYY attached to their Mom. So much so, they do not really need to be leashed, as they follow her around. When I met them they were in the midst of barking dogs, and people they didn't know and it did not phase them one bit. In fact, nothing really startled them. Well, except one little incident when they were crossing over a foot bridge and Boomer picked just that moment to fall over stiff-legged and, yep, off the bridge into the water. He had a cast of thousands there to rescue him, however. He crossed the bridge after that just fine and happily munched nature's goodies on the other side.
When I met them I immediately knew that goat facial expressions were meant to make us smile. Goats, I think, are natural comics.
Then I completely lucked out and met a pair of fainting goats.
F.A.I.N.T.I.N.G.
If you have not heard of fainting goats, here is a YouTube video that explains what they are all about.
The two I met were well rounded, exposed to everything, just-go-ahead-and-try-to-scare-me, goats named Boomer and Indigo. Fainting goats don't actually faint or lose consciousness at all during these episodes. Due to a congenital medical condition (myotonia congenita), the goat's muscles tense up when they are startled or excited.
Boomer and Indigo are VEEERRRRYYY attached to their Mom. So much so, they do not really need to be leashed, as they follow her around. When I met them they were in the midst of barking dogs, and people they didn't know and it did not phase them one bit. In fact, nothing really startled them. Well, except one little incident when they were crossing over a foot bridge and Boomer picked just that moment to fall over stiff-legged and, yep, off the bridge into the water. He had a cast of thousands there to rescue him, however. He crossed the bridge after that just fine and happily munched nature's goodies on the other side.
When I met them I immediately knew that goat facial expressions were meant to make us smile. Goats, I think, are natural comics.
This is Boomer. He has a load of great facial expressions and ears to match.
Boomer was not at all shy about the camera. In fact, he tried to taste it once. Such a friendly, well-adjusted guy. A true testament to his Mom.
Then there is Indigo. A little more subdued and named for blue eyes, Indigo wasn't as curious about my camera, and didn't have as many facial expressions as Boomer, but definitely stood very still for photos.
Then there is Indigo. A little more subdued and named for blue eyes, Indigo wasn't as curious about my camera, and didn't have as many facial expressions as Boomer, but definitely stood very still for photos.
Um...maybe too still. I could have taken a boat load of this stance. Maybe Indigo was mesmerized? Or had fainted standing up? I am not sure. But I do know that I sure wish we had some fainting goats on this farm. (When my husband reads this he is going to look at me and say....."NO GOATS." But that's what he said to chickens years ago and we have eight.) HA!
I am sure we need to move along to the blog circle and more "Comic" interpretations. This is a wide open theme, and I can't wait to see how others decided to attack it! This week we are starting with Darlene of Pant The Town Pet Photography, serving Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Smile, enjoy, and have a great weekend!
I am sure we need to move along to the blog circle and more "Comic" interpretations. This is a wide open theme, and I can't wait to see how others decided to attack it! This week we are starting with Darlene of Pant The Town Pet Photography, serving Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Smile, enjoy, and have a great weekend!
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