Yesterday, the Prahlow's farm was teeming with medical students, celebrating the end of their second year. The gracious host and hostess have a beautiful farm, with several goats, cats, dogs, and of course their own accomplished children! Way out in the countryside, their homestead sits atop a short, southern Michigan hill. Travelling up the paved drive, Daniel and I passed a tiny little abandoned farmhouse. A couple rustic barns with quaintly disheveled siding greeted us by the path, then gave way to a view of their tenants... GOATS!
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| Mother goat with her kids. |
Being an animal fan, this was already enough to warrant the drive out into the countryside, even if the views of rolling fields and lively lakes hadn't already done the job! We briefly passed up the few fields of goats and arrived at the top of the drive. I marvelled at an orange-striped cat peering back at us through the windshield of the car parked ahead, then looked up at the Prahlow's residence. Oh, it was beautiful! Stately, humble, and welcoming all at once... with log-cabin walls and a roof that kisses the sky.
Our host and hostess welcomed us in and introductions began. Two of our friends were already there. We settled in and arranged our side dishes. Tamara, the hostess, invited us to sit or see the house or go outside, and I darted towards the goats!
Mary, the daughter was very nice, and she caught a kid and held it for us so that we could pet her. Mary's experience showed an excellent report with the mother goat, who didn't blink an eye as her baby was taken. The kid, however, bleated like the end of the world was near, "MA-A-A-A-A!" The decibels that she produced were startling for such a little creature! By this time, there were more students and their significant others arriving. The poor little goat kept bleating and we couldn't help but laugh, knowing she would come to no harm. The situation was reminiscent of a child meeting her extended relatives for the first time, not knowing yet that they would be a joyful part of her life.
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| The kid and her brother, grazing later in the day. |
My friend Jordan and I jumped the fence and met some of the goats hiding in the barn, while Mary introduced them. We fed the show goats and an older, very curly goat in other pens.
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| Show goats, excited about the food in our palms. |
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| The curly goat, who loves to use his long horns when he needs a good scratch. |
Then we all explored the farm! We swung on the swings, took a stroll along the wooded path, and explored the barns and the old farmhouse. Dinner happened somewhere in there... Dr. Prahlow's prayer was heartfelt and the food was amazing! Later in the evening, someone started a fire. A group of girls and I went on a marshmallow expedition with Mary. We gathered around the fire, roasting the sweet little treats until the middles were mushy. We talked and laughed and had a generally grand time, then gradually shifted indoors. A few musicians separately added to the warm atmosphere, and the night dwindled with the crowd.
All in all, a blessed family, a beautiful farm, wonderful friends, and a graceful night. Thank you, Prahlow family!
