Briar Creek Farm

10/14/2026

Baby Boots has apparently decided that the best way to enjoy a treat puzzle is to sit right on top of it! Meanwhile, Lucy is doing the actual investigating, hoping to uncover a tasty little surprise. 🐶❤️

I have a feeling Baby Boots is perfectly happy letting Lucy do all the hard work! Between the curious noses and those sweet little faces, these two sure know how to make an ordinary moment entertaining. Never a dull moment with these girls! 💕🐾

10/12/2026

❤️🪿 A Little Idea to Bring Us Closer Across the Miles! 📦

As some of you know, my son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters live in Indiana. I miss them all horribly! ❤️ Thankfully, we can video chat, which is wonderful, and I get to see them periodically when I travel to Kokomo or have to go to Indianapolis for work. But living so far apart is hard, and I wanted to come up with something fun we could do together, even when we can’t be together in person.

So, I had an idea! I ordered a porch goose and had it shipped to my granddaughters in Indiana, and then I ordered one for us here in North Carolina. We got everyone together on a video call, and the girls opened their box while we opened ours. Now, we each have our very own porch goose! 🪿❤️

But that was just the beginning!

We explained to the girls that we are going to start a new monthly tradition. Each month, the girls will secretly pick out an outfit for our goose, and we will secretly pick out an outfit for their goose. We will then ship the outfits to each other, but nobody will know what the other has chosen!

Once both packages arrive, we will get together on a video call, open our surprise packages, dress up our geese, and reveal our selections to each other. I can already imagine the giggles and laughter as we see what everyone picked out! 😂

And guess what? We’re going to do this EVERY SINGLE MONTH! 🎁 That means surprise packages, lots of anticipation, and a new goose outfit reveal for all of us every month!

For now, my goose is sitting here in North Carolina in all its naked glory, just waiting for its very first outfit! 😂🪿 I have a feeling this goose is going to have a better wardrobe than I do before long!

I may not be able to see them all as often as I would like, but I hope this little tradition gives us something special to look forward to every month. It’s a way to share laughs, make memories, and feel a little closer despite the miles between us.

Sometimes, the simplest ideas turn into the sweetest family traditions. Who knew two porch geese could bring so much fun to our family? ❤️🪿

Let the monthly goose fashion show begin! 👗🎩🕶️

❤️

10/12/2026

A Day of Giving, Gratitude, and Answered Prayers

At Briar Creek Bath and Body Outreach, we believe that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life. Today was a reminder of just how much those moments can mean.

It had been a while since we were last able to provide residents at the assisted living facility with our goat milk soap and goat milk lotion. Today, we were blessed to return with a fresh supply of both products, along with other essential supplies. These products will be provided to residents with the greatest need, helping them enjoy a little extra comfort and dignity in their daily lives.

Every donation we receive helps make these moments possible, and we are grateful to be able to continue serving our community in whatever ways we can.

But today’s visit brought something even more special.

While we were there, we had the opportunity to visit with one of the residents who holds a very special place in our hearts. She is one of the facility’s ambassadors and, more importantly to us, one of the biggest fans of our baby goats when we bring them to visit the residents. She absolutely adores them, and knowing how much joy they bring her makes those visits especially meaningful to us.

We knew she had been very ill, but we had not known all the details of what she had been going through. During our visit, we received some wonderful news about her recovery. Without sharing her private medical details, we can say that her healing has been remarkable, and it was clear that God has had His hand on her through this difficult time.

Hearing the news was one thing, but seeing her in person was something else entirely. I was so happy to see her and hear how things were progressing that I couldn’t hold back a few tears. Sometimes, the blessings we receive have nothing to do with what we bring through the door. Sometimes, they come in the form of witnessing someone we care about healing and getting another chance to enjoy the things they love.

Today, we delivered soap, lotion, and essential supplies, but we left with grateful hearts and a renewed appreciation for the people who make our outreach efforts so meaningful.

This is what outreach is all about. It is about meeting needs, preserving dignity, building relationships, sharing love, and recognizing the blessings God places in our path along the way.

Thank you to everyone who supports Briar Creek Bath and Body Outreach. Your generosity helps us continue touching lives, one bar at a time. Every contribution matters, and every opportunity to serve reminds us why this mission is so close to our hearts.

If you are able to make a donation to help us continue serving those in need, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us for additional information on how you can support our mission. Briar Creek Bath and Body Outreach is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and every contribution helps us continue making a difference in the lives of those who need it most. Donations are generally tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Together, we can continue touching lives, one bar at a time.

10/07/2026

Public Service/Educational Announcement:

We recently received a comment from someone who believes Myotonic goats should no longer be bred and that the breed should be allowed to die out because myotonia congenita is a genetic condition. The concern was also raised that these goats experience muscle spasms and therefore cannot have an acceptable quality of life.

We understand that people can have strong opinions about animal breeding and welfare. However, we believe this subject deserves a thoughtful response, especially when the proposed solution is for an entire breed to disappear.

Yes, myotonia congenita is a genetic neuromuscular condition. We do not dispute that. It is the reason Myotonic goats experience temporary muscle stiffness when they are startled or excited. Myotonia occurs because the muscles have difficulty relaxing normally after contraction (The Livestock Conservancy, 2026).

There is, however, an important distinction in how this condition is described. The Livestock Conservancy explains that the characteristic stiffness is a muscular phenomenon, not a loss of consciousness. The degree of stiffness can also vary considerably among individual goats (The Livestock Conservancy, 2026).

That is different from describing every episode as a painful muscle spasm.

Despite the name “Fainting goat,” Myotonic goats do not actually lose consciousness during these episodes. They remain conscious while their muscles temporarily stiffen, and the stiffness generally passes relatively quickly (The Livestock Conservancy, 2026).

Does that mean responsible owners should ignore the condition? Absolutely not.

Responsible ownership means understanding the breed, providing a safe environment, monitoring the animals, and recognizing individual differences. A goat could potentially be injured during a fall, and that is something we take seriously.

However, acknowledging a genetic characteristic is very different from concluding that an entire breed has an unacceptable quality of life and therefore should no longer exist.

Quality of life should be evaluated by considering the whole animal, not one characteristic in isolation.

We consider our goats’ overall health, body condition, behavior, mobility, nutrition, social interactions, reproductive health, and ability to function comfortably in their everyday environment.

There is another important fact that should not be overlooked.

The Myotonic, or Tennessee Fainting Goat, is currently classified as “Recovering” on The Livestock Conservancy’s 2026 Conservation Priority List. Recovering is the least threatened category on the list, but it indicates that the breed continues to receive conservation attention (The Livestock Conservancy, 2026a).

The Livestock Conservancy recognizes the Myotonic goat as a unique American genetic resource worthy of conservation. The organization also identifies characteristics that make the breed valuable, including heavy muscling, parasite resistance, active foraging ability, docile temperament, reproductive efficiency, and usefulness as a meat goat (The Livestock Conservancy, 2026b).

Therefore, while someone may personally believe that Myotonic goats should be allowed to die out, the organization dedicated to conserving America’s rare livestock breeds recognizes this as a breed worth preserving.

We choose preservation through responsible breeding.

That does not mean breeding every animal indiscriminately. It means understanding the breed, selecting healthy animals, maintaining genetic diversity, practicing good husbandry, and making responsible decisions about which animals should contribute to future generations.

We are not going to pretend myotonia does not exist. We are not going to ignore our responsibilities as breeders. And we are not going to claim that every aspect of the breed is perfect.

However, we also do not believe that having a genetic condition automatically means an animal has a poor quality of life or that an entire breed should disappear.

Responsible breeding, responsible ownership, education, and honest discussion are better answers than extinction.

At Briar Creek Farm, our Myotonic goats are cared for, valued, and loved. We will continue learning about the breed, making responsible breeding decisions, and doing our best to give every goat in our care a healthy and fulfilling life.

Different does not mean they do not deserve a future. 🐐❤️

Myotonic goats have a place in agriculture, and we are proud to help preserve that place.

Reference: The Livestock Conservancy

10/06/2026

For those a bit curious about fainting goats.

Myotonia congenita affects how muscle cells manage electrical signals. In simple terms, the “off switch” for muscle relaxation works a little slower than average.

10/05/2026

When you think your fainting (goat) doe is in heat, but she actually isn’t ….. Briar Creek Farm

10/04/2026

Briar Creek Farm Rock Bottom was a happy guy today!

10/01/2026

🐐 BREAKING NEWS FROM BRIAR CREEK FARM:

The Great Goat Housing Crisis of 2026

So apparently, we have a serious shortage of housing at Briar Creek Farm.

At approximately 3:55 this morning, the security camera caught a few of my does gathered together in one stall.

Now, before anybody calls the authorities… 😂

THE STALL IS NOT DIVIDED IN SECTIONS.

That bright line running down the middle?

A COBWEB.

But apparently, these girls have decided it is an actual property line and NONE OF THEM ARE CROSSING IT.

There is an entire empty side of the stall.
Plenty of room.
No competition.
No reason whatsoever to be packed together.

But this is goat logic.
- One doe lays down.
- Another wedges herself beside her.
- Another decides, “Well, if she’s over there, I obviously need to be over there too.”

And suddenly we have a full-blown goat pileup. 😂

Meanwhile, the rest of my does are scattered throughout the barn. There are some in other stalls and others apparently believing that the main aisle way is premium real estate.

At this point, I’m beginning to think I don’t actually own a barn.

I own a goat apartment complex, and the residents have completely ignored the floor plan.

🏠 Stall? Occupied.
🏠 Other stall? Occupied.
🏠 Main aisleway? Occupied.
🏠 Open space? Absolutely nobody wants it.

And the best part?

They all seem perfectly happy with their housing arrangements.

Because apparently the goat definition of personal space is: “If I can still breathe, there’s room for one more.” 😂🐐

So tonight’s barn report:

✅ All does accounted for.
✅ Nobody is homeless.
✅ Nobody understands the concept of personal space.
✅ And apparently, cobwebs are now legally recognized property lines.

Welcome to Briar Creek Farm.

09/27/2026

The girls in heat are lined up at the fence because the boys are in their pasture at the fence blubbering. I hate to tell them, it is not October 1st yet!

07/04/2026