The name:
It originated a few days after I was born, my grandfather in his wisdom stated that a baby that small 2lb9oz could not have a name as long as the one I was given, so he named me Mizou, and for the last 61 years we have never found out why, he named me this or what it meant,at the time we assumed it may have come from the French Indo China as he was stationed there at the turn of last century for 20 years. But it still remains a family mystery.
So I have been called Mizou all my life by the family.
The "lea" part happen by accident when I retired from a very active work life in '75 being a cat lover I set up a breeding cattery, it was to be called Mizoulee, but a typo at the RAS cat control in NSW stuffed it up and an "a" was put in...so it stayed.
Mizoulea cattery was in the 80's one of Australia's leading breeding showing and winning catteries.
Mizoulea won the federal show with many cats over the years and this was against fierce competition, one show had 1500 cats and I won 3 main areas, best in show, best male cat, best siamese and best spay and neuter, after that walked away from the show scene undefeated.
The cattery did very well for decades and is still in existance now breeding siamese and burmese.
Then came the Mizoulea Goat Stud, this is perhaps my biggest achievement in the breeding world, in the last 20 years breeding the worlds most prolific milker ,a saanen doe called Mizoulea Sapphire (pictured). She has been measured producing 12.4 kgs (27.33 lbs) at 4 years of age, in a 24 hour period.
She is an older grand dam at the moment and is still breeding super kids.
The goats were always my passion and drought has hit us hard here in South Australia, so many will sadly be culled soon.
But to help save the goats I and a friend (thank you Christine of Geckogully) set up Mizoulea Craft
This wonderful online craft shop has all you would need for creating works of art in textiles, it is a quilting and sewing site and I try to keep it up to date with all new products as they come in.
There are over 1000 items to drool over and I will soon be adding hundreds of machine embroideries to the site as well as many hand embroideries that are already there for you to buy.
Bulk wadding is also available as are beautiful Batik Fabrics
If you love Matilda's Own battings I can supply these as well but they are not yet on site, their Bamboo is to die for, so soft and silky, but then all their products are well known , i can get a bulk buy quote for individuals if needed.
So enjoy the shopping at Mizoulea Craft
and I hope you enjoyed the history of the name.
Leesa Lewis
In dry South Australia
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The Cats:
I have a female x bred called "Fluffy" she is part abby and Somali, a beautiful mum with 7 ordinary looking kittens blacks and tabbies, 7 is way too much for her to handle and she has had 2 bouts of milk fever and even with an unlimited supply of goats milk she is struggling, so I have to give her calcium tablets.
Now giving a cat calcium is a challenge at the best of times and Fluffy is of no exception,and I am an expert, she fought, sick as she was but I won and three got down her throat with no loss of fingers, this has been happening for weeks but today she decided she was no longer going to fight and gobbled them up herself, which is a bit amazing as the only ones I have in the house are chocolate flavoured for animals, now if they were mouse flavoured it would have been easier still.
But at least she is taking them easily and kittens should be ok.
The Goats:
Complaining bitterly about the quality of feed, pea straw is all I can now get, so tough times are back.
But breeding season is upon us and the Bucks are very fiesty, today I went into Tarka's yard to be greeted by him all covered in blood, he had ripped out a scur and that made a mess of his good looks, it looks worse in the picture than it really is, but he is eating and I don't think he will feel like fighting Darius again through the
fence for some time, it must have hurt, I just have to watch it so that he does not get fly struck.The girls are all in season and I had 2 young bucklings get in with them a day or two ago, so you mark the calendar and wait to see who got which doe...
The farmers in the area are having a last attempt at growing feed crops, many will leave their farms if it does not work, already there are so many "new" people in the area from the last four years that I cannot keep up with all the names.
21mm of rain so far in the last 3 weeks, not nearly enough.
The reason why I keep my goats, though thick or thin:
These goats are my family
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GIFT OF THE OLD ONE
The young couple had made their usual hurried, pre-Christmas
visit to the little farm where dwelt their elderly parents with their small herd of goats. The farm had been named Lone Pine Farm because of the huge pine, which topped the hill behind the farm, and through the years had become a talisman to the old man And his wife, and a landmark in the countryside.
The old folks no longer showed their goats, for the years had taken their toll, but they sold a little milk, and a few kids each year and the goats were their reason for joy in the morning and contentment at day's end.
Crossly, as they prepared to leave, the young couple confronted the old folks. "Why do you not at least dispose of "The Old One?” She is no longer of use to you. It's been years since you've had either kids or milk from her. You should cut corners and save where you can. Why do you keep her anyway?" The old man looked down as his worn boot scuffed at the barn floor and his arm stole defensively about the Old One's neck as he drew her to him and rubbed her gently behind the ears. He replied softly, “We keep her because of love. Only because of love."
Baffled and irritated, the young folks wished the old man and his wife a Merry Christmas and headed back toward the city as darkness stole through the valley.
So it was, that because of the leave-taking, no one noticed the insulation smoldering on the frayed wires in the old barn. None saw the first spark fall. None but the "Old One.”
In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry flames were licking at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror and despair, the old man shouted to his wife to call for help as he raced to the barn to save their beloved goats. But the flames were roaring now, and the blazing heat drove him back.
He sank sobbing to the ground, helpless before the fire's fury.
By the time the fire department arrived, only smoking, glowing ruins were left, and the old man and his wife. They thanked those who had come to their aid, and the old man turned to his wife, resting her white head upon his shoulders as he clumsily dried her tears with a frayed red bandana. Brokenly he whispered, "We have lost much, but God has spared our home on this eve of Christmas. Let us, therefore, climb the hill to the old pine where we have sought comfort in times of despair. We will look down upon our home and give thanks to God that
it has been spared."
And so, he took her by the hand and helped her up the snowy hill as he brushed aside his own tears with the back of his hand. As they stepped over the little knoll at the crest of the hill, they looked up and gasped in amazement at the incredible beauty before them. Seemingly, every glorious, brilliant star in the
heavens was caught up in the glittering, snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine, and it was aglow with heavenly candles. And poised on its top most boughs, a crystal crescent moon glistened like spun glass. Never had a mere mortal created a Christmas tree such as this. Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder and incredible joy as he pulled his wife forward. There, beneath the tree, was their Christmas gift.
Bedded down about the "Old One" close to the trunk of the tree, was the entire herd, safe. At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed the door ajar with her muzzle and had led the goats through it. Slowly and with great dignity, never looking back, she had led them up the hill, stepping daintily through the snow. The kids were frightened and dashed about. The skittish yearlings looked back at the crackling, hungry flames, and tucked their tails under them as they licked their lips and hopped like rabbits. The milkers pressed uneasily against the "Old One" as she moved calmly up the hill and to safety beneath the pine. And now, she lay among them and gazed at the faces of those she loved. Her body was brittle with years, but the golden eyes were filled with devotion as she offered her gift Because of love, Only Because of love.
My Horse:
My horse is of course another rescue, he was a few weeks old when his mum dies and was raised with goats milk and with the goats. His name is "Bakir" and he is 60% Arab and a very gentle and lovely horse, he is unbroken but has been raised by me as i do all my animals with lots of love and heaps of discipline, so he has lovely manners and joy to have around...as you can see from his picture he has a huge scar on his back so he could never be ridden but even with all the drought and feeding problems he stays, he is probably the only truly useless animal I have, but he is more of a friend, and always cuddles me and the goats and he even cuddles the bucks during rutting season, even I hesitate to do that.
Goosey
Goosey is my friend, he is in his 19th year and a lovely part Sebastepol Gander, very set in his ways ans insists on helping me every day with the chores, he has to lead the way and make sure the coast is clear, vbg, gets very upset if left behind.
Lets me know if strangers are around and bailsup anyone I don't like and he can be vicious.
He believes he is a human, we gave up getting him girlfriends he would beat them up and drive them off.
He had problems when I received a Keeshond puppy, Hanna is boisterous, and wants to run ahead, well Goosey had other ideas and Hanna soon learnt to follow not lead, he would pluck her as she ran past.
so Hanna stays by my side.
Leesa
