Back In The Day It Was All About Hay

n And Then There Were Three! And Then There Were None!

When Daniel was eleven, we moved to a four-acre property in central Massachusetts. It wasn’t long before he came to me and announced he wanted to get goats.
“Goats?” I exclaimed. “Why goats?”
“Because there is too much grass to cut,” he replied.
“Well, if you want goats, what if we get sheep instead? I’ve always wanted sheep.”
“No,” Daniel said, “sheep gnaw the grass down to the ground, and you have to rotate their pastures, but goats don’t do that. It will be much easier to have goats.”
I answered, “Before you get goats, I want you to have experience with goats.”

Daniel’s Goat Adventure Begins
Daniel had done his homework and found a goat farm a few miles up the road. (I’ve never seen it, but somehow he knew about it!) We went to Crystal Brook Farm a few days later and met Ann, the goatherd. Ann, with a generous smile, asked how she could help us.
Not wanting to do the talking for Daniel, I remained silent. Daniel remained tall and straight and didn’t say a word. I nudged him a bit and asked him why we were there.
Stiffly and formally, Daniel blurted out:

“I want to come to work for you, and you don’t have to pay me!”

Ann and I both laughed at his directness. She then told us to come back on Sunday afternoon, and she would talk over his proposal.
We arrived back at the farm on the appointed day, and within a few minutes, Daniel had a job as a farmhand at the goat farm. Thus began a friendship that has continued to this day, 24 years later.

The Goat Trio (and Then Some!)
Soon, it was Daniel’s birthday, and Ann gave him two male goats. He named them Sherlock and Mr. Tumnus after characters in some of his favorite books. (Those of you who are Narnia fans will undoubtedly know Mr. Tumnus!)
Daniel, even at age 11, was incredibly responsible. I could trust him with anything. Never did he whine or complain about caring for the goats. They were his pride and joy, and he spent much time caring for them while they spent much time keeping the grass “cut.” They quickly learned to unzip his red jacket, though they never mastered zipping it up.
A year after Daniel started his goat herding venture, he bought a female goat. So, we had three goats. When I commented on this fact, Lizzie said:

“Mom, did you know that the goat is pregnant?”

“What? Pregnant! Well, I suppose four goats are not much more than three.”
Daniel spoke up with my dad’s smirk and said:

“Well, they typically have twins but can have triplets!”


The Great Rose Bush Incident
Daniel was a steady worker on his little goat farm. He and Eric built the goat shed, which we painted “barn red” to match our barn. He installed a wire and electric fence, which worked great—until the grass grew high and shorted out the current.
During that time, the goats jumped right over the fence. And guess where they headed? Right to my prized David Austin roses.

Not my white Winchester Cathedral!
And my pink Elizabeth!
And my Shropshire Lad!
Eaten to the ground. Yes, all three rose bushes eaten to the ground. (If you are a rose enthusiast, you know these British roses are not cheap!)
After a trim, all was working well again. So just know that if you are using electric fencing, you must keep the grass cut around it.

Fencing Solutions for Your Goats
If goats are your desire, we carry a terrific sheep and goat fence. Check it out here. We can also provide you with an electric fence, though I prefer a permanent fence for goats as they are clever, curious, and always entertaining!

Warm regards,
Debbie Page
CEO, Louis E. Page Inc.
Woman-owned business and family-owned since 1893.
(True! That’s 131 years owned and run by our family!)tThey went on their way, and I headed for another walk to the beaver pond, my peaceful, happy

I walke
CEO, Louis E. Page Inc.
Woman-owned business and family-owned since 1893. (Your continued support fuels my dedication to excellence, backed by those 131 years in my family, and thus I remain steadfast in my commitment to serving you with the utmost integrity and professionalism.)

And Then There Were Three! And Then There Were None!

When Daniel was eleven, we moved to a four-acre property in central Massachusetts. It wasn’t long before he came to me and announced he wanted to get goats.

“Goats?” I exclaimed. “Why goats?”

“Because there is too much grass to cut,” he replied.

“Well, if you want goats, what if we get sheep instead? I’ve always wanted sheep.”

“No,” Daniel said, “sheep gnaw the grass down to the ground, and you have to rotate their pastures, but goats don’t do that. It will be much easier to have goats.”

I answered, “Before you get goats, I want you to have experience with goats.”

Daniel’s Goat Adventure Begins

Daniel had done his homework and found a goat farm a few miles up the road. (I’ve never seen it, but somehow he knew about it!) We went to Crystal Brook Farm a few days later and met Ann, the goatherd. Ann, with a generous smile, asked how she could help us.

Not wanting to do the talking for Daniel, I remained silent. Daniel remained tall and straight and didn’t say a word. I nudged him a bit and asked him why we were there.

Stiffly and formally, Daniel blurted out:

“I want to come to work for you, and you don’t have to pay me!”

Ann and I both laughed at his directness. She then told us to come back on Sunday afternoon, and she would talk over his proposal.

We arrived back at the farm on the appointed day, and within a few minutes, Daniel had a job as a farmhand at the goat farm. Thus began a friendship that has continued to this day, 24 years later.

The Goat Trio (and Then Some!)

Soon, it was Daniel’s birthday, and Ann gave him two male goats. He named them Sherlock and Mr. Tumnus after characters in some of his favorite books. (Those of you who are Narnia fans will undoubtedly know Mr. Tumnus!)

Daniel, even at age 11, was incredibly responsible. I could trust him with anything. Never did he whine or complain about caring for the goats. They were his pride and joy, and he spent much time caring for them while they spent much time keeping the grass “cut.” They quickly learned to unzip his red jacket, though they never mastered zipping it up.

A year after Daniel started his goat herding venture, he bought a female goat. So, we had three goats. When I commented on this fact, Lizzie said:

“Mom, did you know that the goat is pregnant?”

“What? Pregnant! Well, I suppose four goats are not much more than three.”

Daniel spoke up with my dad’s smirk and said:

“Well, they typically have twins but can have triplets!”

The Great Rose Bush Incident

Daniel was a steady worker on his little goat farm. He and Eric built the goat shed, which we painted “barn red” to match our barn. He installed a wire and electric fence, which worked great—until the grass grew high and shorted out the current.

During that time, the goats jumped right over the fence. And guess where they headed? Right to my prized David Austin roses.

Not my white Winchester Cathedral!

And my pink Elizabeth!

And my Shropshire Lad!

Eaten to the ground. Yes, all three rose bushes eaten to the ground. (If you are a rose enthusiast, you know these British roses are not cheap!)

After a trim, all was working well again. So just know that if you are using electric fencing, you must keep the grass cut around it.

Fencing Solutions for Your Goats

If goats are your desire, we carry a terrific sheep and goat fence. Check it out here. We can also provide you with an electric fence, though I prefer a permanent fence for goats as they are clever, curious, and always entertaining!

Warm regards,

Debbie Page

CEO, Louis E. Page Inc.

Woman-owned business and family-owned since 1893.

(True! That’s 131 years owned and run by our family!)

🌍 We Have Amos and Andy and Isabelle!

This is a continuation of Daniel and his three goats.
It wasn’t long before Penny’s delivery time arrived. (Penny was the pregnant goat I mentioned yesterday, but I failed to mention her name!) Daniel checked on her frequently, and one morning, close to lunch, he came and got me from my office to let me know she was in labor.
As a labor and delivery nurse, I was excited to attend the birth.

A Goat Birth Story
As I got to the goat shed, I quickly assessed the situation and could tell she was in trouble. The second kid had managed to get its hoof past the head of the first kid. Donning gloves, I attempted to push the hoof back behind the head, but to no avail. I tried a second time. I tried for a third and final time.
You might wonder what the nanny goat was doing with all this ongoing intervention. She remained calm and unphased, other than her laboring to deliver her goats.
Recognizing we needed professional help, I told Daniel to run to the house and call Eric. (This was before cell phones!) Eric was Ann’s husband and super familiar with cows and goats giving birth. Daniel thought we’d be okay, and I made it clear that we were not! He ran to the house, and within a few minutes, Eric was pulling up in his truck. I was so glad to see him!
Putting on gloves, Eric did what I had been doing—but with much more strength! He succeeded, moving the second kid out of the way, and soon, the first was delivered, followed by the second and then a third!
Triplets!
I just witnessed the birth of triplets, and what a delight and relief. All appeared healthy and robust. Woohoo! I was so excited and blurted out:

“We have Amos and Andy and Isabelle!”


A Nod to the Past
Growing up in the 50s and 60s, Amos and Andy were famous radio sitcoms. My family and I enjoyed many evenings gathered around the radio, listening and laughing. I miss those days of radio productions when you had to use your imagination to paint the pictures in your mind.
It’s one of the reasons I love storytelling with words, not pictures.

Fencing: Painting the Picture First
Planning for your fence projects is precisely the same thing. First, you paint the picture in your mind, then draw it out, and then physically create it on your or your customer’s property.
One of our customers has been super busy with customer projects, most of them involving panels. Wire mesh panels are one of my favorite products. They come in many different sizes and finishes, from:

Galvanized before weld (GBW)
Galvanized after weld (GAW)
Vinyl-coated (VC) in black or green
Stainless steel
Check out Louis E. Page for more information and photos!
Wire mesh panels have numerous uses, from decks to balconies to machine guards. Start planning today!

Warm regards,
Debbie Page
CEO, Louis E. Page Inc.
Woman-owned business and family-owned since 1893.
(Without question, that is 131 years owned and run by our family!)

Well, folks, it’s official: EVERYTHING is going gluten-free these days. Even… fences? You bet!

After all, at Louis E. Page, we like to stay ahead of the curve. (Want to stay ahead of your belly curve? Try going gluten- and grain-free!) And when the world starts talking gluten-free, why not make sure our fencing is, too?

What’s in Our Fences?

Now, don’t worry—our fences aren’t made from buckwheat and oat milk (though wouldn’t that be a sight?).

What I can promise is that they’re 100% free of gluten, carbs, sugar, and, yes, any sort of wheat product.

But what they are packed with is something even better:

Strength

Durability

Quality materials sourced from trusted manufacturers in the U.S., Italy, and China

Because when it comes to fencing, it’s not about the latest dietary trend—it’s about keeping your property secure.

The Versatility of Our Wire Mesh

Speaking of secure, how versatile is our wire mesh?

Whether you're:

Protecting your garden

Building a chicken coop

Keeping your energetic pup (looking at you, Phoebe!) safely in the yard

We’ve got you covered—no gluten required.

A Deliciously Fun Thought Experiment

And just for fun, let’s imagine a world where fences were like food. Could you picture that?

A crispy breadstick fence for the front yard

A nice spaghetti-wire mesh to keep the deer away

Sure, it wouldn’t last long, but it’d be delicious!

Thankfully, our fencing solutions are built to stand the test of time (and hunger).

Sticking to What We Know Best

So, while the world figures out its next food craze, we at Louis E. Page are sticking to what we know:

High-quality fencing that protects your home, your animals, and your peace of mind.

Got any fun ideas or thoughts on gluten-free fences? Or just need some help with your next project?

📧 Shoot me an email at debbie@louispage.com—I’d love to hear from you!

📞 Give Terry a call at 978-486-3116. She’ll help you figure out your next fencing project.

Wishing you a day full of joy, security, and… gluten-free everything.

Debbie Page

CEO, Louis E. Page Inc.

Woman-owned business and family-owned since 1893.

(It adds up to over 131 years owned and run by our family. Think about it: Nobody stays around in business that long without really supporting customers so they want to come back!)

 In the Beaver’s Lodge

You never know what may turn up when you go out for a walk in the forest. I’m always looking for animals and listening to the various birds. And, of course, my eye is always on the lookout for fences. Yesterday was no exception.

An Early Spring Walk

The snow has melted in my neck of the woods, except for a few small patches here and there. We’re having an early Spring, and I am thrilled. I thought perhaps I might see a red-winged blackbird. On the first walk, I passed a pond with cattails, a common resting place for these birds. We looked and listened but didn’t see one.

We heard and then spied the hawk flying overhead. We picked wintergreen, and I taught the two young grandchildren how to chew on the leaves to extract the excellent taste. We dropped a few leaves and sticks into the flowing water and ran to the other side of the bridge to see them traveling along. It was a delightful day.

A Peaceful Happy Place

They went on their way, and I headed for another walk to the beaver pond, my peaceful, happy place. Rarely do I pass a person on this trail. Stone walls line much of the path, and I wonder who lived here so many years ago and what they did. Were they sheep farmers? Most likely.

I walked to the beaver pond, hoping to see a beaver and an eagle. I sat on the bench for a while and saw a large black bird atop a pine tree on the other side of the pond. I couldn’t tell if it was an eagle, and I didn’t have my binoculars. I didn’t see a beaver, either.

I walked to the old beaver lodge and was delighted to see it was still intact after winter.

A Surprising Discovery

I walked a bit more, thinking I needed to spot a fence. As I returned from my endpoint, I spotted two green things coming out of the beaver lodge. Getting closer, I discerned them to be steel T-posts, just like the ones we sell.

Lo and behold, who would have thought I’d see those in this wilderness, especially sticking out of the beaver lodge?

Life’s Fascinating Moments

Life is so fascinating, especially when we are looking for something. Are you looking for your fence and posts? I’ve got you covered with our top-quality fencing and steel posts.

👉 Check out my website or give my team a call at 978-486-3116. We know how to do fencing. And we’d love to serve you.

Warm regards,

Debbie Page

CEO, Louis E. Page Inc.

Woman-owned business and family-owned since 1893.

(Your continued support fuels my dedication to excellence, backed by those 131 years in my family, and thus I remain steadfast in my commitment to serving you with the utmost integrity and professionalism.)