Daisy and Poppy: The Princesses of the Pines

Through years of growing up begging for a dog, my dad has always said he’d rather of another kid. I’d beg for a dog, year after year, sometimes trying to hint at it for a birthday or Christmas gift, but to no avail. I always got the same response - “I’d rather have another kid before I get a dog.”

As an avid animal lover, I refused to give up, even after I went on to college, as I still lived at home on breaks and summer vacations. So, as you could probably predict, when I was sent home from college due to the COVID pandemic, I tried again. I asked for a pet dog to keep me company. After all, I would be home for a while since the next semester was moved to remote learning as well, and having a four-legged companion would help relieve some stress.

Once again, I got the same scripted response - “another kid.”

So I did some thinking, “if he’d rather have another kid so bad, then why don’t I get one?” Well, it turns out I fell in love with two, and kids need companionship as well, so a few weeks later, I came home with Poppy and Daisy, two Nigerian Dwarf goats who I like to call “The Princesses of the Pines.”

My dad and the rest of my family quickly fell in love with Princess Poppy and Princess Daisy, and we all quickly learned of the silly antics they get up to when we are not around.

With that, let us enter the magical White Pine Kingdom of Poppy and Daisy. ..

A Queen Among Us?

With piercing blue eyes, and a black and white coat, we have Daisy. More of a queen than a princess, she definitely maintains the order of the kingdom. Wherever Daisy goes, Poppy follows, and whatever Daisy does, Poppy imitates.

One day soon after the Nigerian princesses were settled in, my family and I came home from the market to find Daisy on top of one of our chariots, prancing around, and shouting cheers of joy. Poppy was on the ground, looking up at the majestic queen, attentively listening. What was going on in the kingdom that day? Perhaps she was giving her inauguration speech, announcing her coronation to the throne.

Princess Poppy the Pure

A faithful sister, Princess Poppy tends to Daisy’s every request. With a soft, chocolate and orange cream-colored coat, and auburn eyes, Poppy exudes the character of a witty, outgoing, but sometimes naive younger sister.

Poppy’s curiosity often gets the best of her, and when we, the guards, return home, she can typically be found wandering throughout the White Pine Forest that surrounds the kingdom. Poppy thinks the pine needles are the most delectable cuisine in the kingdom, and it seems as though she often invites her sister to join her.

When Poppy is not found filling her tummy with pine after a long day alone, she is generally found hopping and dancing around the kingdom when she thinks no one is watching. The guards like to think that she is prancing through the village, singing or whistling a musical tune, just as all true fairytale princesses do.

But Poppy and Daisy’s adventures do not end there. Everyone needs a day off, or at least a break from a hard day’s work, and the same goes for royalty.

Off to the Races

One of the most common sites when we glance outside the watchtower windows to check on the princesses, is Poppy and Daisy attending the races, not to watch, but to compete. They love to race each other up and down the castle courtyard and driveway, and one thing is for certain: if any of the other creatures of the kingdom, such as the rabbit and bird commissaries, are making bets when we are not on watch, they should always bet on Poppy.

The Mystery of the Royal Thrones

Running the races — let alone running a kingdom — is, of course, a daunting, tiring task. And that is why Poppy and Daisy have their royal red thrones to relax in while keeping watch over their kingdom. They have a large, two-acre kingdom to keep watch over, so they move their thrones all over the kingdom throughout the day. How they move their thrones without the assistance of us guards remains a mystery, but they are very meticulous in their movement, and are sure to reach every corner of the kingdom each each and every day.

When the Day's Work is Done

At the end of each long day, Poppy and Daisy are escorted by the guards to their gated and secure master bedroom where they have a huge playground with a slide, an all-you-can-eat buffet of hay, and two very luxurious beds to comfortably retire in at night. Security footage from the the guards' body cams show that the girls get up to quite the shenanigans here as well, running up and down the ramp and stairs, and repeatedly sliding down the slide. As with any two sisters, there are fights at times, but they always end up being resolved.

Eventually, they fall asleep, waiting for the next morning to come, when us guards let them out of their room to carry out their mysterious royal duties yet again.

The Return of the Guards

If you think these royal goats have crazy adventures when their guards are not around, just imagine what they do when we are there to let them inside the chariots, rather than on top, to take them to neighboring kingdoms, or when we have days off and can just have fun playing with them.

Kingdom Cams are a Must

Coming home after a day trip without the princesses, or even just stepping outside after a few hours in the watchtower without them reveals great detail about Poppy and Daisy's not-so-secret royal life. With castle security cameras to keep watch, I am sure we would see that this is not even an ounce of the mischief they get into during the day as they lead their kingdom. It is beyond question that Princess Daisy and Princess Poppy live an action-packed, seemingly magical life behind-the-scenes.

Of course, there are still the not-so-magical times where the goats do what most people would picture goats doing — lounging around, eating hay, and grazing all day. But when no one is watching, there is no telling what may ensue... whether it be ruling a kingdom or just waiting for you.

This is never what I expected raising two kids to be like, and to think, they are only 5 months old (practically toddlers in goat years), so there are sure to be many more adventures as they grow, adventures which make me — and my dad — fall in love with them even more.

Perhaps the next time I hear my dad say, “I’d rather have another kid than a dog,” he’ll actually mean another kid like Poppy and Daisy.

Ok, Dad. I can “settle” for that. 😉