photography

The thirtieth of May 2020

goats, kindness

The pandemic has caused many problems beyond a lingering dry cough and fever. Many people have died, lost employment, and had struggles with mental health due to prolonged isolation and uncertainty. Sadly, my friends, another effect of the pandemic situation has hit animal sanctuaries very, very hard.

The majority of photographs I have shared on this blog come from Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats in southern England. Set in the beautiful countryside, this haven is home to 140 goats making it the largest sanctuary of its kind in the UK. At present, they are appealing for any help possible to help keep the sanctuary afloat while they cannot accept visitors due to COVID-19. Please consider sending them a donation – no matter how small – for the goats and for the sanctuary to carry on.

The twenty first of May 2020

goats, kindness

Life is full of inevitable ups and downs. Sometimes, if someone is having a rough go of things humor can be a kind way to lift their spirits. Take Dover for example – after two days of constant rain at The Haven Zoo, she made the best of it by sporting a goaty mohawk. Thanks for passing along this lovely photograph! Another way to practice kindness? Supporting charities that might be losing income due to lockdowns and social distancing like the Haven – make a donation

The thirteenth of May 2020

goats

As far as goat breeds go, Nigerian Dwarfs have become one of the most popular – just look at that little smile from Della! People tend to like them because they don’t require as much space as other goats given their smaller size, plus they actually produce a bit of milk if cared for properly. In addition, they are known for having sweet personalities making them excellent companions for small-scale homesteaders. And of course, they are absolutely adorable.

Thank you again to The Haven Zoo for sharing these lovely photos of their newest residents this week. If you would like to support Della and her friends, please consider making a donation, or even sponsoring the herd!

The eleventh of May 2020

goats

I am pleased to announce some new additions to the menagerie at The Haven Zoo!

Della and Dover are 9 week old Nigerian dwarf twins who recently relocated to The Haven. Della is named after the state of Delaware, US and Dover is named after a town in Ohio, places that are special to the founders of The Haven. Della is dark brown with black spots and blue eyes and loves to climb. Dover is white with black and brown spots and is super bouncy. You can support Della, Dover and all the rest of the Haven Zoo by donating here.

The fifth of May 2020

goats

It is easy to get lost thinking about what the world will look like after the COVID crisis is over. Maybe stop and think what you will remember most about this time. What will stick out in your memory – the panic-buying of toilet paper? Busses circulating empty through the cities? Or maybe, the collective kindness that emerged throughout neighborhoods and communities to help those in isolation get what they need? Keep a journal, remember your thoughts, it will be therapeutic in the present and valuable in the future.

The third of May 2020

goats

Anyone else Zooming these days? Of course I don’t mean down the road and off to a destination, I am referring to digital meetings! I always freshen up, put on a nice (ish) top, set up my lighting just right so the top half of me looks like I would at the office. However, unlike at the office, I am usually in yoga pants or sweat pants on the bottom. Although meetings are exhausting, it is wonderful that there are so many ways we can stay in touch and carry on through this crisis.