More cuteness

 The buckling. He has a heart on his forehead. Too cute.

Some baby cuteness

This is the little tiny doeling. I have to do one picture at a time apparently again.

The bad babies.

This evening it stopped raining long enough for the goats to come to the milk room to eat. And it gave the bad babies enough time to slip out the back fence to the "jungle" for some free time alone. I had to go look for them when I realized they weren't back at the barn with the others. So here they are, coming back to the barn. Brie is on the left and Iris on the right. They are such bad girls!


Don't they look like bad girls?

Here we go again!

But this time there are tornado watches all around. My friend's weather warning thing went off a few times already this morning. We are flooded again. I have to cross a creek again to get to the goat barn. Just another crazy January day here on the farm. It pours rain then stops. It's SO HOT and I have windows open. I am sweating.

And I am having to go out to the barn to check on Abby. I do believe the old girl is in ketosis. I was thinking she was in labor. But no kids or even any real sign of kidding. So I read about ketosis and it's her. So I am drenching her with all kinds of good things and giving her B Complex shots and lots of warm molasses water. Even put lavender EO all over the stall to calm her. I sure hope she pulls through this. She did this last year too. She'll be 11 in a few weeks. So I don't think she'll be doing this again, if she makes it. I'll do all I can for her though. She's my favorite doe, even though she's the biggest bully. I do love her.

There goes some thunder. And it's very dark.

Are you lookin' at me?

I was in the bedroom making my bed and looked up. Bout got scared to death! There's John Henry looking at me through the window! Silly boy.

Fresh raw cow milk

This is not goat milk. I sure wish it was. But look at that cream! Nearly half the jug is cream. This is from my friend's Jersey cows. She has 2 that she's milking now. I have to get milk from her while I am waiting on goats to kid. Which shouldn't be too much longer, but it seems like some of them like being as big as an airplane.

Farm exercises and cold fresh air.

There is no better way I know of to wake up in the morning than good farm exercises and cold air hitting me in the face. Especially after sleeping to nearly 10 am. Because I took Benedryl earlier this morning. Because my eyes were running like crazy and I was  sneezing. I have to get up at 6 so I can get my grand daughter ready for school and on the bus at 6:40 and it's still dark outside, so I go back to bed til daylight. I am not one of those dark-thirty farmers who does everything in the early before daylight hours. Not me. But I am an early-bird and like to get most things done before noon.

So my feet hit the floor running when I saw the time. Good grief! Pull on my dirty farm pants and boots and go outside. It's cold out there! But by the time I am done, I am sweating and jacket-less. I have hay in the house-barn next door, so grab the 2 wheel wheelbarrow with only one working tire, go next door for hay. Feed sheep while over there. I had already checked on new momma and kids. Gave her a shot of Banamine because her udder is still hard. And rub her udder down with coconut oil mixed with peppermint EO. Babies are sleeping and look fine. Trudy looks like she wants to go outside. So out she goes. Then acts like she's forgetting something, so goes back in a few times. Babies still sleeping. So out she goes again with the rest of the does. With no kids yet.

Get the hay. Feed the sheep. Go back struggling to get the wheelbarrow up the slippery path to the garage. Take hay to does and bucks. Also have already fed dogs and cats before all this. Then go check the nest boxes for eggs. 4 of them, still a bit warm. Back to the house for coffee. I love that stuff!

Next I am headed to town. Then I have got to go get my truck and get it loaded with 37 bales of the hay I bartered fro a half a lamb. There are 4 bales left of the 180 bales I had gotten last year. 180 bales. And it's almost the end of Jan. Those 4 will last til the 1st of Feb. But we're supposed to get some pretty heavy storms starting Wed. SO I need to be prepared to feed lots of hay in the barns.

So I am woke up now and ready for more. I hope y'all have a great week.

(The reason I am taking Benedryl is becaues I am snuggling with these new kids. I have to kiss them and smell them and all. Then my eyes itch so I do all that and next thing I know, my eyes are all puffy and swollen. I do this with kittens and baby lambs too. I have to wash my hands really good after each snuggle session. But sometimes I forget or can't. And for some reason, these new Benedryl pills just knock me out, even though they say non-drowsy formula. Well, they aren't.)

I am SO allergic to goats!

New kids on the farm!

I was thinking Trudy might have her kids last night. Full moon and goo. So I put her in the back stall for the night, just in case. Went to check on her later last night and found these 2 little cuties. They are definetely Boer crosses. The white one is the buck. He's probably twice as big as the little doe. Both have elf ears.

Trudy's a good momma. But her udder is so hard. The kids are getting milk because I have seen poop and saw them pee. I hope Trudy doesn't have mastitis. Her udder isn't hot, just hard, like a grapefruit. I'll go get some more hot water with peppermint EO. If anyone knows something else to do, please let me know. I do not want to bottle feed kids!

Good friends and family

 Last week we were almost out of wood. I called a friend up the road to see if they had any to sell. She said she's ask her husband. So he called and said he'd meet me near their house and I could ride with him in his truck since I didn't have my truck. So off we went out into the cow field to their wood shed. It's got wood that they use for their camp kids in the summer. Another friend came to help load. We got a small truckload. We went to my house and got it unloaded and stacked in the wood shed. It lasted about a week. And it was free!

My husband came home Wed. for the day while waiting on his truck to get loaded. Our friend up on the mountain had some more wood he was giving us again. Back in the fall he had several stacks that we got. So we went on up and found 2 more good sized stacks, all cut and ready for the wood stove. We got our long bed truck loaded down with all that wood. And it was free too.

Also last fall, my friend up the road before our house called and said she was having an Ash tree cut down and did I want it? Of course. She had some guys there cutting it and they loaded it all up in my truck for me. Some of it was really big too. The son-in-law came one day and split all that. Didn't even ask him. They just came out one day and he grabbed the ax and started splitting wood. So my daughters and grand daughters started stacking it in the wood shed. It filled up fast. He likes splitting wood apparently.

So far we have not paid a cent for fire wood. We have an old maple tree that needs cut down. I hope we can get to that in the next few weeks. I like this new wood heater. I can fill my yellow farm wagon up with wood and it lasts at least 3 days. And the house stays at least 70 degrees, give or take a few degrees. Very nice warm heat too.

Then a few days ago, another friend called. he works at a semi truck wash in Ringgold. Said there was a truck with some corn flour they had to clean out and he got 4 55 gallon  barrels of it and could I use it for my animals? Well, I called my friend who has 2 Jersey cows she milks to see if she could use some. So she took 2 of them and I took 2. He delivered them and put them where we wanted them. Now I need some pigs.

I am so thankful for friends and family.

Home

There is no place I'd rather be. I have to make myself go out when I have errands to do. Like today. Just get up and go.

I had to take my vacuum in  to get serviced. It wasn't picking anything up. Then while I was out there, I went to Fresh Market and Hobby Lobby. Just wandered around. I did get bread at FM. Then to Costco for a few things. Wandered around in there awhile. I even went to a cute little fabric-yarn store but didn't see anything I had to have. Then paid a few bills and went to Aldi's. My mom wanted me to get something at Costco, so stopped by and visited a few minutes. Then on to the herb doctor to get more of my happy juice. Then home.

I love my drive home. It was around 5:30 so there was a little traffic on the way out. Then the last 8 miles or so, I'm usually the only one on the road. Then I get to my driveway and I am so happy to be home, like I can breathe again.  All my animals are happy to see me, the one who feeds them. They're all ready for some hay and grain and cat food and dog treats. I rush in the house, change shoes, run around feeding animals. Tonight, I brought the bucks back to the back yard so I could move the sheep over there for shelter. Brought Sandy and Zeeboo back with the rest of the does for the night. It's supposed to be really messy tonight, with sleet and ice and snow mix. A lot of schools are already closed. But haven't heard anything about Walker Co. yet. Every school around is closed but us.

Anyway, it's so good to be at home. I just want to stay here. I really don't need anything. I have all I need right here. And out there in the world, people are rushing around, trying to get here and there as fast as they possibly can. No one hardly even smiles or says hello anymore. Out here, it's a totally different world. I like being at home.

Abby and her (devil) daughters

Last night I put Abby and Iris Josie, who is laying next to her, in a stall. Iris Josie was outside with the rest of the goats this morning, over next door in the field. Yes, I have bad goats. So I put John Henry and Arlo Guthrie the bucks, up front so I could put all the bad does in the back yard so they won't go out. All but Zarah Belle came in. As you can see, she is STILL on the OTHER side of the fence, all by herself. It must run in the family, wanting to be alone. Well, except for the youngest bad baby, who is a momma's girl. Most of the time. They both love their momma.

But Zarah has always been a little skittish. She broke her back right leg when she was just a few months old and ever since she's been this way. She's so beautiful and very pregnant. I so hope she's a good milker like Abby. But she's just so bad.

Then her little sister, Iris Josie, is a devil goat for sure. She is just plain ole BAD. But sometimes she can be so sweet and let me pet her. She's the one I named after my mother. Never do that.

Abby seems to be doing ok today. I'll give her some molasses water. I hope she'll get over this. I think I'll put Zeeboo and Sandy up front with the bucks. I don't think anything will happen. But John is still a stinky boy.

Older goats

I don't know if you can see her, but Abby is in this picture. (She's a little to the right in the middle. You can see a little white on her rear.) All alone. She was gone all night alone actually. And it was in the low 20's too.  I was worried sick. Crying, worrying, praying for her. Imagining all kinds of horrible things again.

Yesterday, I saw all the goats out in the filed, where they are not supposed to be. I got them all back in. Then about an hour later, it was time to milk and feed the goats. They were all there, except Abby. It's always Sandy, Abby and Trudy first. Then Penelope, Zarah and Zeeboo next. I only have 3 stanchions. And they all know the order, We do this every day.

So I didn't think anything about her not being there. Just thought she's gone back out. Later on I went out to the barn to see if she'd come in and gone to bed. No Abby. So I got the dogs and we went out back. It was pitch black dark out there. We went way out back. I called and called her. Nothing. I didn't even hear anything. I went all through the tangled mess of blackberry and honeysuckle vines, thinking she's gotten stuck and couldn't get out. Or had stepped in a hole and broke her leg and couldn't walk. I had cuts all over my legs from all the blackberry vines. But no Abby.

I just cried. I missed her already. I have had this goat for almost 8 years now. My first ever milk goat. She's aggravating as crap and can be such a bully, but I love her. She's the best goat to milk too. I am not very sure if she is bred or not. Sometimes she's really big and others she's bony and I can see all her bones. But her udder seems to be getting bigger.

I did get those 2 new does about a month ago. The black one, Zeeboo, can be a real pest. She's all over the place, picking on everyone. I was thinking Abby has seemed a little quieter since they've been here. Maybe she just wants to get away from Zeeboo? She seems to be fine.

So has anyone had an older goat that would go off by their selves and stay gone awhile? She's always been with the other goats. My goats don't like being alone. Do older goats go off to be alone to die like dogs do? I have no idea what to do with her. I don't want some wild animals to get her. And I don't like that she's out there alone at night, unprotected.

 I know I have got to get that electric fence fixed and working fast. But I need money, which is short right now. So any advice and suggestions would be great.

I just completely forgot to say that I went out first thing this morning to look again and found her. She was way over on the other side by the goat barn in that pasture, eating grass. Just fine and dandy, the old stinker. I was SO glad to see her. And so happy that she was ok. I guess she must of been sleeping in the old shed in that pasture. I hope so. I let her stay out there. She seemed to be fine. And she acted like she wanted to stay out there. She's behind the house now. And so are the others.

Good morning, sunshine!

This morning, I woke up early to this. Everything was just so green and blue and bright. Just beautiful. God is good.

Got more done today.

I just love bare trees. They seem freer, lighter, like their personality comes through. And I love how the blue sky looks bluer through the curly branches. Each tree is different, just like people. 

Today was another gorgeous day. I worked outside again. This time I tore down all the ugly orange and black netting I had around the chicken run area. Since I only have 4 hens and a rooster I decided to just get rid of all that ugliness. And since they are really truely free range chickens now, we just don't need all that fencing and netting up any longer. So down it all came. It took awhile but it looks so much better. 

I am going to try to get the chickens to stay out back in the goat area. Make a little coop for them at night. This way I can have an extra stall for sheep. Which I will be needing soon. So I'll have 3 lambing pens for them. These stalls are 10x10 so they can be divided into 2 pens if needed. But I only have 3 ewes to lamb in a few weeks and the rest in May so I only really need 3 anyway. So this will work out good.

Also took the pieces of fence I used for tomatoes out to the electric fence and went as far as I could with them. Not very far at all. But I did get all 3 strands of wire back up. So maybe that'll keep the goats in?

I sold some lamb meat today too. While the guy was here, he wanted to see all the animals. I called all the goats to come and everyone came except Abby. I called and called for her but she never came. Jeff was here for about half an hour. After he left I went out back to look for her. I didn't see her anywhere. I called and called but nothing. I was starting to think of all these horrible things that must have happened to her. Then I went out the side gate and back up to the back field and there she was, coming out of the bushes. Just fine. I guess she didn't hear me. She is a Lamancha. I think she just needed some alone time. But she scared me. I'm so glad she's ok.

Tonight is supposed to be in the teens. Brrr. And tomorrow really cold. SO no working outside. Think I'll stay inside and clean maybe? That doesn't sound like fun. 

Sunday

Today was amazing! I was outside all day. I worked in the garden awhile. Finally got all the tomato posts and cages put up. Also had some fence sections I had used for some tomatoes and got them all pulled up. I will not use fence again for tomatoes. I'm going to use them to put outback on the non-working electric fence for the goats. The bad babies are getting out again.

Sat out in the sun for awhile for some much needed Vitamin D and crocheted on my bedroom afghan.. I want to paint my bedroom a blue jean sort of blue with white trim and white cotton tab top curtains. And brown pillows.

While sitting outside, I noticed some dandelion flowers. So got up and picked a hand full for some tea. I love dandelion tea. I also saw a honeybee on a flower so left that one. And felt bad because there were no more. But the tea was good. I saw the honeybee while I was crocheting. It came to visit me. I am hoping to get a hive from a honey guy not too far from here. Just to have a hive here, not own it. He said he would bring one in the spring. But I might end up getting a hive of my own someday. I'd like to take a class first.

And I saw some Bluebirds in the bluebird houses in the chicken yard! They were trying to decide which house to get. I have 3 in a row. But usually the sparrows get them first. We have an old maple tree that has lots of apartments in it that usually fill up pretty quick. But the main complex fell off last week with all the rain we had. So there may have to be some construction going on soon up there.

So it was a busy day here, with all the bees and birds setting up housekeeping. And the goats and sheep are getting ready for kids and lambs in the next few weeks. I sure hope this weather stays like this for awhile. It's been great.

I hope you all have had a wonderful Sunday.

Jonquils

Also found several clumps of my favorite early flowers popping up all over. I'll have some pretty yellow flowers soon on the table to brighten up the house.

Frozen

I went outside early this morning and the little pond was frozen over. Around the edges it looked like this. So many different things to see. Just so beautiful.

Chess

I have never liked chess. Like golf, to me it seems like the most boring thing to do. And quite complicated. But my husband loves to play chess. (He also likes the game Hearts. Hmm.) He taught both our kids at a young age. And has taught our oldest grand daughter Chloe, when she seemed interested in it. She loves it too. And is pretty good at it.

So the other day, Kansas, the youngest grand, found the chess set in the cabinet. She brought it out and hubby helped her set it up. He explained about all the pieces and what they can do and how they can move. I don't think she gets it yet. Chess is a very quiet game. A game of concentration. A game where people really don't talk a lot. And do a lot of sitting and staring. NOT a game for a child like Kansas! That child cannot do any of those things for more than 30 seconds. Really. And when I told her that in some chess competitions sometimes it could take several hours for a person to make a move, I think she decided it was not the game for her either.

I did find out that the queen is the most powerful piece on the board. Ha! I always knew she was special.