Friday, March 11, 2016

Freya

I was gone all day today. I asked my husband to check on the goats during the day when he got up. I'm still waiting on Olga to kid and figured she'd have them the day I'd be gone all day.

But no, she is still fat and sassy. I think that's all she is, fat and sassy. Not pregnant at all. Because absolutely NOTHING happened today while I was gone. Nothing!

But I am glad I went out there to check on the goats. Because Freya's udder was as big as a cow! I am serious. Huge. I immediately thought something has happened to the kids. They were either dead or lost or gone. So I didn't think to look for them, but grabbed Freya and dragged her kicking and screaming, to the milk room so I could milk her real quick. The right side felt like kids had nursed recently, but the left was so bug I hardly get my hand around it. But I did and got her milked out good. Then back to the barn to look for kids.

And there they were, right behind the door, with fat little bellies, all curled up sleeping. I was very happy to see that!

So looks like Freya is 100% now and ready to be milked. The cats and dogs got some good warm milk. We will wait another week for ours.

And I did not get accepted to the Main St. Farmers market. I am very upset about this. I took a year off and I guess I shouldn't have. I guess I will look for another market now. Ya snooze, ya loose.

In the garden!


All week, it's been nice and warm and dry! So Thursday was garden day. I started tilling in the morning. It was really windy, so I figured the wind would dry out what was still a little wet. But it was mostly dry ground, except up around the cedar tree.

I had gotten kale, collards and mixed greens seeds from the feed store Wednesday. So I got those all planted. I put some of the composted hay-manure on the top of the seeds.

Then last night about 8 it poured rain for about 20 minutes. Knocked the satellite out it was so hard. I was worried all the little seeds would be washed away. But this morning, all is well!

I also ordered a lot of flower, herbs and veggie seeds from Johnny's yesterday. They'll be here early next week! I plan on planting a lot of flowers this year, for the bees and for cut flowers for market. I sure hope I get in Main St. market this year. The board should be meeting this week to go over applications.







This is the kale, collards and turnip greens patch from fall. Still doing good.




See this dark green patch of grass? This is the alpaca toilet. I let them and the sheep out here sometimes and this is where the alpacas do their business. They have a spot here and a spot out in the South pasture and the North pasture and in the back yard, goat yard and side yard. They are very tidy creatures. Also makes it east to scoop it up!




This is the little maple tree in the front yard, getting ready for the little leaves to come out. The blueberry bushes are in the corner past this tree. Just full of little buds about to burst forth!




This is the big maple tree in the front yard. Just full of goodness!




The honey bees are out and busy! They are coming in full of pollen. I hope I get lots of honey soon. I am almost out already.

Alpacas, sheep and goats.

I let the sheep and alpacas out back with the goats yesterday for awhile. Misha was very curious with the kids. I don't think he would ever hurt them. He and Sugar were with the 3 bottle lambs a few years ago and loved them. They are very protective alpacas.







It was a beautiful day here. Got a lot of work done.

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Astrid and Isla

 Freya is doing SO much better today! She ate some of her feed and hay this morning. She has lots of milk now. Just 100% better than a few days ago. She's outside eating grass. I fixed a bottle yesterday morning and only one of the kids drank a little. So I am very happy and relieved right now!

This was yesterday outside for awhile with mommy.










This is Astrid. I'm still thinking about that name. Not totally sure about it. But it somehow fits her. She has the cutest little elf ears ever.



                                                           This is Isla. She is just adorably cute!






And Astrid again. I love them both. I was so worried about Freya, I almost put them on Craig's List to see if I could sell them. So glad I didn't now.





                                                      Just look at those sweet little ears. So cute!





I love this picture. Looks like the girls are whispering to each other, doesn't it? Wonder what they're saying?





Still waiting on Olga. No signs from her at all yet. I told her today would be great to have kids. I'm home all day. Friday and Sunday gone all day. She'll wait til then I'm sure.

Springtime!

My alpacas have declared March 10th the official first day of spring here at Outback Farm!

This morning as I was filling up water buckets, the alpacas came walking up to me. They hardly ever do that, so I was wondering what was wrong. Then I realized they wanted to be sprayed with the water hose. They love to sprayed with water when they're hot. So I figured they must think it's spring and time to get wet.











                                          Sugar likes to get wet then lay down in the mud. He's so funny.





So happy 1st day of spring, y'all!

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Making soap and cutting wood.

 Yesterday was pretty hectic here. Freya was not doing well when I went out in the morning to check on them. She was not eating. Had runny poop. I swear this happens every time. The day after they kid or lamb. So I called a few goat friends to see if they had any ideas. It's a pretty long story so I won't go into the whole thing. I'll just say that I will NEVER give a doe or a ewe molasses water again! Ever! I just hope she makes it. I had milked her some Sunday because the kids were just nursing one side. So had 3 little bags in the freezer. I'm giving them a bottle to help out. They are fine. Freya just doesn't have much milk right now with not eating much. She is eating a little hay here and there. Kim brought some alfalfa and she loves it. So I'll be getting more for both goats. And I'd like to sell the kids as soon as possible. But I think Freya will be fine soon.

So my brother Mark came out and we fixed the electric fence. There was a big branch that fell on part of it a few weeks ago. So had to get that all fixed. Then the post at the end had just rotted at the bottom. So put a new post in and got it all back up and running again.

Then we came in and made soap. He's been wanting to learn. We made an easy honey-oatmeal hot process soap. He did good! Quick learner.



That's the soap he made. He did a great job and he was so happy about the whole process. I think he will be making more soap soon.




And while we were fixing fences and making soap, my husband and his friend Kid were cutting up the rest of the tree. Kid went back home and got his wood splitter and withing an hour, they had this pile of split wood! Pretty cool, right?Now all we have to do is take it over to the wood shed and stack it up. I got it all out of the chicken yard so all that's left is the brush to burn.



I will be taking pictures of kids when I can get them outside. It's nice out but still a little chilly.

Still waiting on Olga to kid. Any day now. She does not look like she's going to really. But she is so lonely,  poor girl. That's the bad part of having just 2 goats. I was hoping they'd have kids about the same time.

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Babies!!!!!

 This morning, Freya did not want to leave the barn. She kept calling me. I checked her and she didn't seem to be having any discharge or goo. But she didn't want to leave the barn. So I called the caretaker that stays with Mrs. T Sat. night til I get there at 8:30 and told her what was going on and to see if she could stay for the day.She could stay half the day then my daughter Heather came in for the other half. So I got to stay home and keep an eye on Freya.

(I did have to go to Mrs. T's from 5-7. When I got home, I heard one of my sheep. A very distressed sheep. So ran and got the flashlight. It was Cameron, all wrapped up in that darn electric netting fence I have around the kale in the garden. She hadn't been there too long. But I had to cut the wires to get her out. Always something going on with those sheep! She was fine.)



I did notice her udder had gotten huge though, so I knew it could be any time. And today was just a beautiful day to have kids!




So we hung out in the barn. I cleaned both the stalls. Fluffed up the hay. Got water buckets and hay ready. And waited. And waited. I always said waiting on goats to kid is like waiting for Christmas morning when I was a kid. Like it would never get here.


So I went inside and did some things inside.


Went back out 30 minutes later and   she had 2 kids on the ground, all dried off! I checked them both and they are both girls!!!!! And So cute! Freya is such a good mother.   





This little one is Isla. She has gopher ears. She's about the same color as Freya, a little lighter though.

And the one laying down here is Astrid. She has cute little elf ears like her daddy, Oden.




                                                                        Isla says hello y'all!






I left them alone to bond. When I came back for a check, they were both laid out here in the sun. I had to check Isla, she was laying so flat.

And they are both nursing the same side, so I had to milk out the other side. They are good kids, already full tummies and I've seen both pee and poop.



So, welcome to the farm! The first kids in 3 years I think. So exciting to have little kids here again!

Now waiting on Olga. This is her first time so I really want to be here for her. I'll be here all day Monday and Tuesday til my pottery class at 6. And the whole week will be in the 70's with NO rain!!