You’ve Heard of the Tower of Babel — How About the Tower of Baa?

Saanen goats are a Swiss breed known for their calm temperament, pointy ears, and tendency to climb the tallest structure in their immediate surroundings to help them evade predators in the mountainous environments they call home. While there are no such predators in central Illinois, one caring couple in the small town of Windsor built a literal tower to put their herd at ease. The Tower of Baa is located on the sprawling property of Dave and Marcia Johnson (pictured below). The 30-foot-tall structure, made of 5,000 handmade bricks, was built with 276 steps wrapping around the frame. They help the goats to reach their respective “apartments” — hollow rooms within the tower where the goats sleep at night. It’s a charming installation, but it actually preceded the goats. A voracious reader — and former school principal — Dave was flipping through an issue of Decanter magazine in the mid-1990s when he was struck by an image of a winery in South Africa. The winery featured a tower with spiral steps upon which a herd of goats ascended and descended as they pleased. It was the second tower of its kind ever built, the first being erected in the 19th century on a winery in Portugal. Dave decided he would build the third. He called the bricklayer who built his house and asked him to come out of retirement to design the structure. The bricklayer agreed and ordered a haul of handmade bricks from North Carolina. After three months of work, the structure was complete, with a copper roof on top. The Johnsons then purchased 11 goats to call the tower home. While the herd has grown and shrunk in size over time, they’ve always slept in the tower and enjoyed climbing and jumping from its wooden steps.

 

 

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Bride Calls for Metal Detector Mid-Wedding After Losing Her Ring Swatting a Bee on the Beach

When Abi and Tony Clark decided to tie the knot on the beach at St. Brelade’s Bay in the Channel Islands near the coast of France, they never dreamed their wedding would turn out the way it did. As the couple were exchanging their vows, Abi’s engagement ring went flying and landed in the sand. The guests immediately jumped from their seats and began searching, to no avail. It turns out that the beach had been invaded by bees that were evidently attracted to Abi’s perfume. As she tried swatting a couple away, the ring went airborne. For his part, Tony suggested that the ceremony continue without the ring, and it did. However, throughout the day Abi kept worrying about the lost ring. Finally, a friend mentioned that a local man named Steve Andrews (pictured), recovers rings for people on a volunteer basis. A call to Andrews was made and he showed up quickly. The couple was just about to cut the wedding cake when they got the news that the ring had been found. Needless to say, Abi was thrilled, and the rest of the wedding celebration continued without incident.

 

 

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Cheese Lovers Rejoice: Study Says You Can Enjoy Cheese Without a Rise in Cholesterol or Weight

A recent 12-week study has found that three daily servings of full-fat dairy can be incorporated into your diet without negatively affecting your cholesterol or weight. In fact, participants who ate more dairy saw improvements in blood pressure and had higher intake of calcium, protein and vitamin D. Dairy products contain saturated fats that contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, which is why dietary guidelines around the world have traditionally recommended fat-free or low-fat dairy foods. However, Professor Harvey Anderson at the Toronto University’s School of Medicine says that despite these concerns, numerous studies have found no association between full-fat dairy consumption and negative health outcomes. Anderson notes that the study findings are especially relevant for older people who have lower energy needs overall and may, therefore, have difficulty getting sufficient protein and nutrients. He says that for many older adults, dairy products are a familiar and energy- and nutrient-dense option to help meet their nutritional needs, without increasing their risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases.

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The River That’s So Clean Locals Use It To Swim Home

While the typical way to navigate most cities is by automobile, bicycle or public transportation, locals in Bern, Switzerland, use the river to commute. With a current that can reach 5 to 7½ mph, it’s somewhat faster than walking — and a lot more refreshing in the summer months. It’s perfectly normal for locals to swap their business suits for bathing suits after work. Apparently, in times gone by, swimsuits used to be regularly hung out to dry on the balcony of the Swiss Parliament Building. The Aare River is kept famously pristine, thanks to a mix of strict environmental policies and natural geography. Its water comes straight from the glaciers of the Swiss Alps and flows through large lakes that settle the sediment before the river reaches cities like Bern. Surrounded by nature — yet in the middle of the capital city — urban swimmers are carried effortlessly down the river. Needless to say, by the time workers get home, there’s no need to unwind.

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