One of my favorite parts of goatkeeping (combined with our too-small pastures) is that our herd prompts me to wander in the woods on a regular basis. On previous summers, I've usually figured I'm too busy to go on extra walks, but our goats have taught me that there's always time for a good ramble.

During the week, we just spend an hour in the evening hanging out within a short distance of the coop. I read and relax while the goats browse. But on the weekends, I often like to explore...even if that means we end up in parts of the woods that are so deer browsed that they're nearly barren from a goat point of view.

(Note to self --- I definitely need to buckle down on the hunting this fall. The deer have been staying out of our garden, but their populations appear to be very high this year.)

Ah, this spot looks much more goat friendly.

There's nothing like a pair of goats to make a bipedal human feel even more ungainly than usual. Our darling does prance across deadfalls like this in a heartbeat while I slowly pick my way through the trip hazard with much more care.

Of course, I shouldn't be surprised at their agility since the girls have been practicing on their balance beams for most of the summer. In case you can't tell, Abigail is repeatedly headbutting that tree in front of her while staying steady atop the log despite her trailing leash. Ah, to be a goat.

Top finds of the day Sunday included a small patch of goldenseal that I likely couldn't pinpoint again and a couple of blooming downy rattlesnake plantain (a relatively inconspicuous orchid). Plus some extra peace and joy to hoard for the busy week ahead.

Thanks for the boost, Abigail and Artemesia!