The day turns out to be a special one for me when a letter comes from Joanne Battersby, the Hooterville lady.

Joanne and family operate a goat-raising farm in the Smithville area. Residents call the town Hooterville.

With Joanne's permission, I offer readers parts of her latest letter telling of the multiple births of long-eared Nubian goats that occurred this spring.

Joanne gives names to each look-alike baby goat. And although they look exactly the same, Joanne knows each by name.

Naming them in the Battersby style is an art in itself.

Here is part of her letter:

"Spring is definitely here; I've swatted my first fly in the house. We've got babies, lots of babies, 10 in number. We are thrilled to have five of the cutest little bucks and five gorgeous doe kids, all purebred Nubians (with long ears).

"We have a variety of colours and sizes. This year we've named them after cartoon characters.

"In the barn now reside: Bart, Lisa, Maggie, Fiona, Loonette and Molly, Bullwinkle, Rocky, Chris and Stewie.

"At any given moment I've had upward of three indoors in an old playpen beside the propane heater in the kitchen -- the tiny ones on those cold nights, the stronger ones lying beside their moms in the barn. I and babysitting-wonder Jonathon have been bottle-feeding on a regular basis as the need arose.

"We've not had one single birth, all have been twins or triplets. Moms are very busy ... they are wonderful to watch and such therapy, should you be having a bad day."

Also on the farm, her letter continues, are "Diego the donkey, five rabbits, Clyde the dog, barn cats and one Muscovy duck. Yes Ted, the Wainfleet Auction Barn now has my number, a duck to heat the bugs.

"We're truly blessed over here on a small Smithville farm. God Bless you, friend Ted."

Hugs, Joanne and family.

Ted Wilcox is a lifetime Hamiltonian with a passion for sports, community and, most of all, family.