And we are done!!!!

Yesterday was a busy day here. First off, it was stormy, lots of rain. Then Annabelle decided to lamb right out in the front pasture. It was pretty bad for awhile. I had to just walk away and leave her alone. She would not let me get near to help. There was a lamb head hanging out for a long time. I assumed it would be dead when she finally did get it out. So when I came back out to check, there were 3 little lamb heads, bobbing around. I did get them all into a stall and Annabelle followed. Then when I came back out a little later, there was another lamb! She had quads. 3 ewe lambs and a ram. So cute. And all doing well. Except, she really wasn't paying much attention to the last 3.

So I called a friend who has been wanting bottle lambs. She also has 3 young kids. Asked if she was ready for some lambs and she said sure. So they came a little later, after I'd bottle fed them all colostrum. They all seemed t be doing great so far. The first biggest lamb was nursing.

So off the 3 littles went, all wrapped up in towels and carried by their new people. They are all doing great this morning. Carrie was a little stressed about one of the ewe lambs, but she's great this morning, as are the other 2.

And Annabelle's little ewe lamb that stayed with her is doing great too!

So, later that afternoon, Campbelle decided she's had enough and wanted to have her lambs too. Out in the field. It was nice and sunshiney by then. So I went and grabbed more clean towels and a book and sat outside with her.

She finally had this big ewe lamb. She is huge! She was up and going for the milk bar soon after.

I had gone to check on Annabelle after she had that one lamb. I saw that one of the pallets needed adjusted. So grabbed the huge mallet-hammer and proceeded to smash my left index finger. Geeze, that hurt like heck! Ran inside to get my husband to see what I'd done, because I couldn't look. It was pretty bad. The whole tip of my finger is crushed. And it hurts. And I cannot milk the goats. UGH!

Got it wrapped up and went back outside to get Campbelle in a stall. That baby walked by herself most of the way there! And Campbelle followed her.

I got her some food and water and made sure the lamb was dried. Then noticed she was pushing. I thought she was pushing out afterbirth. But no, there was a big head! She was having another lamb. I was sure it would be dead because it had been a good hour since she'd had the first lamb. But he was fine and alive! He looks just like Frodo, the black and white ram lamb of Darla's. SO cute!

Campbelle is my very favorite ewe. And Galadriel looks just like her.

I have named the boy Tom Bomdadil and the ewe is Galadriel. Annabelle's ewe lamb is Goldberry.

So we are officially finished with lambing! They had 20 lambs total. 3 stillborn lambs. 2 rams and a ewe. I have 14 here, 7 rams and 7 ewes. Carrie has 2 ewes and a ram. So 17 live births. And equal males to females. So just get ready for lots of really cute lamb pics. Sorry! But they are so adorable.

It's going to be really hard to decide how many to keep.

Annabelle.

had a little litter of lambs this morning. 4 of them. 3 ewes and a ram. That brought the number of lambs to 18 so far. 3 have died. And I have 1 ewe left to lamb, Campbelle.

I woke up really early this morning with thunder, lightening and very heavy rain going on outside. I lay there in bed worrying about all the sheep, if they had their lambs inside. I finally got up at 6 and went out to check on them.

Annabelle was out in the front pasture. I went to look at her, and sure enough, there was a water bubble. She would not go in, so I left her. I couldn't get close to her. I went to get towels and when I came back out, there was a head out. She would not let me near her to help. So I left her.

When I came back out, there were 3 lambs laying on the wet grass, all alive. I thought for sure that first one was dead, the way it hung there for so long.

So I picked all 3 up and got her to follow me to a stall. She was not happy about it, but she went inside. I didn't want to bother her too much because she was a bit crazy. So I left her again.

When I came back out to check on the lambs, there was another one laying there! Geeze already!

So anyway, she was not paying much attention to the last 3 lambs. So I dried them off as much as I could. I went in and got a bottle of colostrum and fed the 3 smallest lambs. They drank it all. Then I called my friend Carrie and asked her if she wanted 3 lambs for her 3 sweet kids. They came a few hours later, with towels and bottles. Those little lambs will be loved and spoiled before the day is over. Annabelle never even looked at them.

So she has the biggest ewe lamb with her. She's doing great. Annabelle is Buttercup's mother. Buttercup had triplet ewe lambs on Easter Sunday. So between these 2 ewes, they had 7 live lambs, 6 ewes and a ram!

The sun is shining again! It's a big mud pit outside. But the lambs (there are 12 of them at the moment)  are running about, playing and having fun together...

All the boys...

This is Lambchops. He is Adalaide's boy. She also had a ewe lamb. She is taking such good care of them! I'm really proud of her. I'm so glad I got her in a lambing jug, just in time! But this little guy is adorable! I call him Lambchops because he does have those fluffy sideburns like a man.

These are Darla's boys. The black and white is Frodo and the brown is Sam. She's a really good mother and apparently has rich milk, because these are fat little guys.

And this little sweetie pie is Bilbo, Cameron's boy. He has been limping. Somehow he's hurt his right front leg. One of the big ewes might have hit him, trying to get him away from them. Or Cameron could have done something. Whenever she's ready to go, she nudges him til he gets up to follow her. She doesn't let him get too far from her. But he would rather just lay down and sleep, just like Bilbo Baggins did when he was so old.

And these very small boys are Amarillo's. Goodness, they are so small. As big as she is, I am a bit surprised. But she did have triplets. They both look like her a lot. The smaller one is Pippin and the bigger one is Merry. I love them!

Still waiting on Campbelle and Annabelle to lamb. They are just laying around, waiting too.

I'll take pics of all the girls later. There are 5 of them.

12, 13, 14...

This morning, I got up early and looked out the front window. I could see Amarillo standing in the same place she was laying last night. It was raining. I saw some littles lambs around her. So I got some clothes on, grabbed towels and went to her. I saw 2 lambs standing and one laying, still wet. It was dead. But the other 2 were fine. I grabbed them all and she followed us to a stall. Got the lambs as dry as possible then went to get hay and feed for her. Got them all settled in, then trimmed around her udders so the lambs could find the teats. They did. I found out all 3 were rams . I was happy to have a few more boys. They will be Mariodoc Brandybuck (Merry) and Perigrin Took (Pippin).  Can you tell where these names came from?? Yes, I have Bilbo Baggins, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee, so had to have a Merry and Pippin.

I still need names for Adalaide's 2 lambs, a ewe and a ram.


 So we have 6 ram lambs and 5 ewe lambs so far. There are 2 more ewes left to lamb now.

And I am tired of April already. It has been the most fickle month, like it really doesn't know what to do. Should it be cold? Or hot? Or dry? Or sopping wet?   Well, so far, it has been ALL of these things. And right now, it's SOPPING WET out there! We have had a fire going some days because it's been so cold. Then a few days later, the air conditioner is on.  Oh April, I will be SO glad to see you leave!

And I realize this must be horribly boring to you all, all these lamb posts right now. But this is my life. Like ALL DAY, this is my life. Hauling water, hay, feed, making sure the right lambs are with the right mothers. Rescuing the lambs that went the wrong way at the fence and got on the wrong side. Banding tails. Giving some lambs bottles. Just never ending sheep right now! I am SO tired. And I took a nap yesterday afternoon. Yes, a nap. And it felt SO good!                                        

And here's 10 and 11...

Adalaide had twins this morning! A ram lamb first. He's black and white, like an Oreo cookie. So cute. Then not too long after, she had a tiny ewe lamb. I thought she was dead, but I got her head dried off then rubbed her chest real good and she breathed! She's brown and cream. SO cute. And both already nursing. Adalaide is actually being a mother! I am so relieved to see her being so good to them.

And I am exhausted. I've been getting up early and running out to check on the sheep. Then hauling water, hay and feed all day and feeding lambs bottles and checking on them. Trying to keep mommas and babies together. I've caught Buttercup's lambs nursing on mommas who have not lambed yet! And they let them!

I will be SO glad when all this is over. I will not be doing this again. It's been so stressful for me and then for the sheep too, I think. And All the stalls are full of moms and babies. And it's supposed to rain alot.

I have the alpacas out back with the goats. They are not happy. They don't really care for goats. They are sheep people. They love sheep babies. They miss them. But I have no room for them right now, til they are all done and it's not raining. They they can come back to live with their sheep.

So, 5 down, 3 to go...

Number 8 and 9...

were born yesterday evening. I had just gotten home with grand kids and saw Cara laying flat out like she was dead. I ran out there and she got up. But I could not get her into a stall. She had actually been in a stall all day and was still when I left. I should have shut the gate.

So anyway, I had to help pull the first lamb out. It was a ewe lamb, all brown and so pretty. I got her dried off and picked her up to try to get Cara into a stall. She followed us in. Then a little later she started pushing again. This one was a little smaller, but dead. So dead. Looked just like the first one, another ewe lamb.

Cara kept moving around, but I got the baby to get some colostrum. Then I went and got a little bottle and gave her some more. It was dark then. So I left them alone. I buried the lamb out behind the barn with the other lamb.

This morning, I took another bottle, just in case she needed it. But she was good and nursed.

So Cara was the 4th ewe to lamb. We have 7 lambs so far. 4 ewe lambs and 3 ram lambs.

I named the new lamb Elanor, after the elf flower that grew in Loth Lorien, the elf city in Lord of the Rings.

The other 3 ewe lambs I named Ella, Emmy and Elsa.

The ram lambs are Bilbo, Frodo and Sam.

Then I finally caught Adalaide in the stall next to Cara. Cara is Adalaide's daughter from 3 years ago. I went out that morning and saw 2 lambs on the ground, One was already dead. Cara was barely alive. Anyway, got her in and she was a bottle lamb. Adalaide didn't want anything to do with her. So I hope she will keep any new lambs. If not, I have a friend who will take them.

AND, we are supposed to be getting storms here later today. UGH!! I don't have mush room left for more lambs right now inside.

Adalaide...

This is what Adelaide thinks of this whole business.

Some more...

Got up early to check on the sheep this morning and found these 2 little fellas. I had a feeling Darla was going to have some real soon last night when I checked. I have never seen her lamb at all. She always has hers about 5 or 6 in the morning. They are always all dried and standing up nursing. Same this morning. And she's always had boys. So 2 more ram lambs to add to the growing flock. 6 lambs so far, 3 ewes and 3 rams. These guys are so cute.

So meet Sam and Frodo.

Meeting the babies...

Buttercup went out for a little while with her triplets. Misha and Sugar got to meet them up close. These boys just love babies! They will be great babysitters. The other 6 sheep didn't even bother coming to meet them. Silly sheep.

Last night I banded all the triplet's tails. I hate this part of having lambs. I waited till nearly dark to do it. They did great. Tonight I'll do little Bilbo's tail. He's so sweet.

No more babies today so far. This could drag on for a month, which will be fine with me. I just don't have room to keep 8 sheep with lambs in these 3 shelters.

Number 4...

When I went out to feed the sheep this morning, Cameron stayed in the middle stall. I had seen her laying down pushing as I walked over. I thought I should put the other 6 sheep and alpacas over next door, but that was a stupid idea. Cameron went all crazy. So got the sheep back over here so she could see them.

It was about 30 minutes later when I saw a white head coming out. I could tell right away it was a ram lamb because I saw little horn buds. The ram I used had pretty impressive horns. But that was all I saw, just a head. No feet. She was pushing and pushing, but not much happening. I went in and found the left leg and started pulling when she pushed. Then tried to get the other leg. He finally came out. But he was weak. I got him dried as much as I could with Cameron's help. He's a little cuties, eye liner and all. He's all white with a little black spot on his right hip.

Then about 30 minutes later, I saw another water bubble. And a foot this time. She pushed a few times and out popped the head. I could also tell this was another ram lamb. But this little guy was dead. Nothing I did got him going. I can see no reason for him to be dead. But he was. I dried him off and left him there for Cameron to clean off. I out him over to the side. Then I buried him behind the barn. So sad.

Little Bilbo Baggins is doing just fine though. He's so cute. I love brand new lambs, they are all legs and big fluffy  head. Too cute.

So 2 down, 6 more to go. And it's supposed to rain later today.

1 down, 7 to go...

Buttercup was back in the maternity ward this morning. About 1 this afternoon, I heard a loud baaaaing, so ran to check the sheep. It was her, in labor. The little white lamb came first. Once her head came out, she slid on out.  But it was rough for a little while. She's adorable!

I thought she might just have the one lamb, but about 45 minutes later, she acted like she was choking and out popped another one. The little black lamb that's standing was 2nd.

Then about 20 minutes later, I saw another water bubble. I was hoping it was afterbirth, but no, here came another lamb!

2 sweet little black lambs and a white with black spots. I think they are all ewe lambs too. And this is Buttercup's first babies!! She even let me get her teats clear for nursing and knock off some of the hay hanging under her belly. She was so good. I did go ahead and give the 2 black lambs some colostrum in a bottle, because the last one was pretty weak. But when I went back out later to give them another bottle, both black lambs were up and nursing!! I am SO proud of Buttercup!

I told the other sheep that they need to spread the lambs out to about every 4 days or so. I hope they listen to me. If this is any indication of lambing, then we could end up with a whole lotta lambs If they all have 3 lambs, that's 24 flippin' lambs! I hope the rest are ram lambs.

Maternity ward...

Can you see Buttercup, in the maternity ward? I noticed her this morning, in the middle stall, by herself. Usually when they are by their selves, they're either sick, or about ready to lamb. And she's ready to lamb!

I think I am ready for this now. I've got all the stalls cleaned and ready for mommas and babies. I have hay and feed. I need to get lots of bands for tails Monday. And to castrate ram lambs.

I feel better about lambing right now. I was pretty stressed out about it. Especially after hearing I won't be able to use the pasture next door. But I think they'll have enough grass to eat with the north pasture, back yard, goat pasture and big garden. I fertilized all but the garden, not thinking I would be having to keep sheep over there. Maybe I can do it anyway.

So bring it on ladies!! We can do this! I have a good feeling. Weather is supposed to be great too.

Next pictures will be of lambs...

They're back!

My birds are back! I'm so happy to see them! I've named them Samwise Gamghee and Rosie Cotton, from The Hobbit. They are so sweet. I love these birds.

Any day now...

there will be lambs galore, running, leaping, chasing each other, jumping on mommas! Oh how I wish it were all over and this was happening. But, it could drag on for a month, which really won't be too bad at all . That will give them all time to bond with their little ones. I just hope they all do.

 3 years ago, Adalaide had twin ewe lambs in early morning rain and cold. She just left them there, on the cold wet ground. Didn't do a  thing. One was already dead when I went out to check on the sheep. The other one, Cara, was barely alive. But she made it and is going to have babies of her own soon. I just hope Adalaide does better this time.

And Annabelle has only had 1 ewe lamb ever, and Buttercup is 4 years old and really really huge herself.

Then there's Amarillo, who had quads. We bottle fed the ewe lambs, Campbelle and Cameron. She kept the 2 boys and raised them just fine. The girls stayed with them after it got warmer and she was ok with that. But she is HUGE! It could be that her wool is making her look a lot bigger, I hope. She was the only one who did not get sheared back in September. Thank goodness the rest did, because this would be a mess.

So there are 4 ewes who have not had lambs. I hope they will all be good mothers and raise their lambs. I do have a friend who will take bottle babies if need be. And I have a freezer full of goat milk, just in case.

Speaking of shearing, we are waiting to hear from my guy. His dad always came to help him, but he has prostate cancer, really bad too. It's all over.  So don't know if he's past away or what. I may need to find someone else. And it will have to wait now anyway, til lambs are born.

So, that's what's happening here on the farm. Waiting, waiting, waiting...

Clematis...

blooming on the old fence.

Smelling VWs

This past Saturday, my husband and I went to Bug-a-Paluza at Camp Jordan. There were SO many VWs there, I know I didn't see them all. And it was sunny and hot.

But I LOVE VWs. Beetles, vans, campers, you name it, I love them. They have always been my favorite vehicle. I was practically raised in a VW. My dad was a teacher, so back then, they got a whole 3 months off. We'd take off in our VW camper and go on long road trips across the country. We'd pull over and camp by the side of the road, or a river bed. Such great memories for me.

One of the things I love best about a VW is the way they smell. It might sound strange, but they do have a very distinctive smell. Some have a slight gassy smell, which is fine. Mine always did. But I loved it. And most of the bugs I owned I could see the road as I was driving, through the floorboards.

So I had to stick my head in all the opened windows, just to smell them. And of course I had to touch each one. And I also talk to them. Because each one has it's own personality.

What makes me sad is seeing the ones that have been made into dune buggies. Or some other thing. A lot of the ones there were SO low to the ground. Back wheels turned in. Just all kinds of wonky things being done to them. And most had air fresheners hanging from the rear view mirrors. Why??

I really like the older models better. Like '69 or older. Something about the windows, lights, fenders, luggage racks. I saw a '58 too. Born the same year as me.

But this one brought back some memories too. Way back when I was 16, my brother who was 17 at the time and my sister who was 12, were living in California with our dad.  We all wanted to go back to Ga. to live with our mom. My brother had a VW van. And I had a dog named Ziggy. We loaded that van up with all our belongings and took off. We headed up to Yosemite National Park first, with a friend of my brothers.

We spent a few days there. Got the van loaded up and took off again and the van broke down. Got it going again but it wasn't going to make the trip. We headed back to LA and traded the van in for a little souped up black VW bug. Looked a little like this little guy here.

So we got him all loaded up. It was so full, my sister was sitting on all kinds of things in the back seat, plus my dog back there too. Took us 3 long days and nights to get to Metter. But we made it! Been in Ga. ever since.

And I've had a few VW bugs since too. A brown one that kept shutting off, at crazy places and times. Like once, right in rush hour in Atlanta in the fast lane on 75. Just quit, right there. My kids were little too.

And another one that did the same thing. Then I got the yellow bug. Got him from a neighbor for $800. She let me pay $50 every other week. Had him for 15 years. Probably spent a million dollars on him too. 2 engines, 2 paint jobs, lots of other work, plus new floor boards and carpet, seatbelts... SO much money. Gave him to our youngest daughter and she had it about 5 years. Then sold it to the guy that did lots of work on it for $500. I almost died when she told me. I was driving down St. Elmo Ave one day going to Chatt. when I looked over to my left and saw a tire going past me. It was mine. Whole thing just came right off. Fun times!!

I know someone understands how I feel about these cars and has fun memories of them too.

Soaking up the sun

It's a glorious day here today. After so much gloomy rainy wet weather, this is amazing! I've already washed towels and rugs and hung them out to dry. It's windy and cold, but the sun is out! We do have a fire going in the wood stove since yesterday morning. It's cold! And will be cold til next Monday. April is such a wonky month really. Doesn't quite know what to do. Hot one day, cold the next. Sunny, then rainy. It actually rained yesterday while the sun was shining. So crazy!

I started digging a trench over in front of the sheep-chicken barn yesterday. It's nothing but a stinking mud pit. Poor sheep can't even get inside without wading trough knee deep wet cold mucky mud. It's horrible. So I decided to dig a trench and route the rain water away from there. So far it's working and water is draining out to the field.

I am expecting lambs from all 8 of the sheep starting the 15th. I see udders on all of them now. I am crazy for doing this. I'm stressing out, thinking of all that could go wrong. I'm dreaming that they all have 4 lambs each. UGH... And Adalaide, who had twins 3 years ago, is huge. One of the lambs was already dead, laying out in the cold wet mud. Cara was barely breathing when I found them. I got her inside and warmed up and got her a bottle of colostrum. She joined the other 2 bottle babies on the side porch. Amarillo had quads earlier that month and didn't really want the 2 ewe lambs. And she is huge now.

And I found out earlier this week that I will not be able to use my neighbors pasture next door. I am so glad I didn't fertilize over there when I did all the rest of my pastures. So we will not have a garden this year. Sheep will be in it. We put up a fence Monday to keep them out of the apple and pear trees and will use that little plot between the trees for a small garden. My husband will plant it. I just do not want to mess with a garden this year anyway, after the drought last year.

The kids are growing like weeds. They turned 4 weeks old Tuesday. I am giving Freya's kids a bottle a few times a day. Seems like she won't let them nurse. I have a friend who wants all 4 doe kids. And my friend who disbuds for me wants Thorin the buck. I am so glad to find good homes for my kids.

S now just waiting on lambs and for the ground to dry out here.

I had a cow...

for a few minutes today.

I had just got to town and my husband calls. There's a cow in the yard, he says. A cow in the yard? Yeah, a cow in the yard. Not a big cow. Looks like a baby, maybe 3 feet tall. White with black spots. I said it sounds like a Holstein. So I told him to see if he could get it over in the small yard with the hay bale. It had been raining since early this morning, with thunder and lightening. Anyway, he got him over there.

I called a few neighbors to see if it was theirs. No.

So I called on the way home to see if it was still there. He said it's now way out in the hay field next door. Didn't know how he got over there. So I am about a half mile from home and see the calf walking north on the road. I go to the driveway and start walking back, hoping to run it back here and put it with the sheep in the front, hoping someone might come by and see him. I get to the calf and he starts running north, not south the way I want him to go.

Then here comes an ATV with 2 women in it. They hop out and said it was theirs. They had just got 5 calves yesterday. They live BEHIND us over the ridge to the west.  3 of the calves are still there. So 1 is still missing.

We get him back to my place and put him in with the sheep and alpacas til they go back to get the trailer.

This is what the sheep thought about the whole situation. They ran to the front. The alpacas did their scary screeching noise. I told them he wouldn't be here long, so hang on.

And they came with their big ole trailer. The younger lady backed it in herself. I was very amazed with her. Said she did this all the time. So the cute little calf is gone. I was going to keep it if no one claimed him. The older lady asked how much for my trouble. I said nothing, that's what we do out here, help each other out.

So another fun day in the country!

Stella with her drink coozy...

The boys...

I was walking over to the studio and saw the boys laying by the new hay bale I got the other day. They do like their hay. They are going to alpaca shearing day at my friend Susan's farm April 14th. I have another friend who is loaning us his truck and trailer to take them over there. Last year, I couldn't find a way to get them to the shearers, so they didn't get sheared til mid June. Poor guys were absolutely miserable. I don't want that to happen again. I am so thankful for good friends.

The sheep now, that's a different story at the moment. I'm so glad they were all (except for Amarillo) sheared in September, so they aren't too bad right now. But I think they are all pregnant and I'm worrying about their back ends and udders right now. They aren't due til the middle of April and I'm not really sure if my shearer will be able to come before that. So I'm trying to think of a way to get each one in a place where I can cut the wool from around their udders and back ends. Sure would be nice to have some sort of shute (?) they could go into, that I could also get into to do this. Hmm...

Baby love

These alpacas just love babies! I told them real soon, they will have LOTS of little baby lambs to take care of.

It's spring here at Outback Farm!!!

Yes, spring has sprung here on the farm! Winter is finally  past. I am so thankful! The birds are twittering all about, making nests everywhere. I even saw a squirrel coming down out of the tree in the studio yard. The baby kids are frolicking about too. Soon there will be lambs!

 I hope everyone has a fun first day of spring, where ever you are!

Wilderland...

Today, my daughter, her 2 Boxers Rousey and Daisy, and me and my dog Stella, went to the most beautiful place to walk. It's a private property at the foot of Lookout Mt. It's beautiful. I want to live there. I would never leave.

The dogs had a ball, jumping in every lake and stream and mud puddle they found.  Just look at that water! All blues and greens. Magical. That's Lookout to the West.

This lake is at the top. There are about 7 or 8 on this property. Maybe more. But each one is amazing. Little waterfalls and streams all over. Even some natural springs with wonderful cold water!

One of the guys who own this property has a son who walks tightropes. There is one across this lake. It goes from here to the other side. He has done this from the 2 Aquariums in Chattanooga. He's good. But what a great place to fall, right?

The most peaceful place ever. And a beautiful day to go for a long walk.

kids...

This morning we went out back to see what we needed to fix the electric fence. Thorin and Alva came to say hello to Tiny. All the kids were out this morning early. We had a hard freeze last night and it was really bone chillin' cold out. I am so ready for some nice warm weather please!

I had let the sheep and alpacas out back last night, after I put the goats to bed. After I fed the sheep and alpacas, I let the goats out. All the kids were out and I saw Misha and Sugar at the gate, checking the babies out. They love babies. They practically raised the 3 bottle lambs 3 years ago. They are still good buddies. So I told the boys they will have plenty of baby lambs to take care of real soon. I'm sure Amarillo, the ewe that had the quads, is going to have quads again. She is rather huge right now. Some of it is her wool because she was the only one who didn't get sheared in September last year. But it is babies too. I called my friend Carrie to see if she was serious about wanting bottle babies and if she was, she better get ready for a few! She said yes, they were really wanting some babies. I am happy about that!

I kind of wish we had gotten snow instead of this frost the past 2 nights. I didn't cover anything, so I know I've lost my few blueberry bushes that had tons of flowers on them already. And the 3 fig bushes had tips of green. The elderberry bushes had full leaves too. It's been a wonky winter for sure here. I'll be so happy to see it leave us.

And we're all done!

In less than 12 hours, kidding season started and was over. Last Tuesday, the 7th, about noon, Freya was in the back stall in their barn, laying down when I checked on them. She didn't show any signs of labor at all. In fact, I had written dates down, starting March 9th through the 24th, so I wasn't even thinking about kids then.


I was in my studio, which is right in front of the barn. I thought I heard a baby goat, but thought there's no way. But I heard it again. So I went out and sure enough, there were 3 little goat babies. 3 of them!! I knew Freya had more than just 2 kids in there, as huge as she was.

So got some towels and helped dry them off as much as I could. They are all girls!! All are doing great. I have tried to give them a bottle, but they will not take it. I have had to milk her some, because the kids will just nurse her right side. Her teats are SO big, they can't get their little tiny mouths on it. So when I get most of the milk out, it helps them.  She's such a good momma.

It's been really cold here and they are small, so I decided to put little sweaters on these guys.

Then, about 11 that same night, I went to check on Olga. I had noticed earlier that she was laying down, getting up and pawing, then laying down again, quite often. So I was watching her.

When I went out at 11:30, she'd already had 1 kid, and the head and a leg of another were coming out. I couldn't find the other leg, so I gently pulled when she'd push. And out came another kid.

The darker one came first. It's a buck. I named him Thorin, after the dwarf king under the mountain, in the Hobbit. I was hoping I'd get at least 1 buck so I could use that name.

The lighter one is a doe. I named her Alva.

I am milking Olga because she's SO big and the kids cannot drink it all yet. Her milk is really good and we are drinking it already. I have missed goat milk so much and it's SO good! I wish Freya's kids could nurse on Olga. She has perfect little teats, just the right size for little mouths.

So I was way off on dates. That buck must of got them both as soon as he went through the gate here! Just bam, bam, done! And I kept him here 6 weeks.

These kids are SO cute and sweet! And I am SO allergic! I'm having to take Claritin just so I can breath. And hay too.  But I have to love on these sweet babies!

I'm sorry I haven't been posting here. I take pictures with my phone so it takes forever to load them onto this blog.

I will try to post more often though.

Oh, if anyone has some really cute Irish, Celtic, fairy, elf, hobbit names for girls, please let me know. I need 3 for Freya's girls.

Bacon and goats

This is some of the bacon I just got back yesterday from my pig. I kept him up the road at my friend's farm with his pigs. We took them to the butcher a month ago. So Allen has a smoker and he smoked all the bacon for us. It is SO GOOD! Worth the wait. He also smoked some for too long and gave me some to use for seasoning beans and things. So today, I've had a pot of pinto beans going. Having them for dinner with corn bread!

My husband's been working on the driveway, clearing all the weedy trees and privet. he got a truckload of brush so I put the goats up front so they can eat some. They went right to it and started going at it! Happy girls right there!

Freya is due March 9th through 15th, then Olga  5 days later til the 20th or so. They are both HUGE! I so do not want them to have more than 2 each.

And the sheep are getting bigger too. Amarillo is so big, but I think part of hers is her wool. She's the only one that didn't get sheared in Sept. so her wool is pretty long. But she's poking out at the sides, so I know she's pregnant. She's the ewe that had quads last time. UGH! This is why I bred the goats to kid first, so I'll have milk. Just in case.

I can hardly wait to have goat milk again! Cow's milk is just not the same at all. It's like water to me. And we're getting raw milk from a friend.

The weather has been really warm lately. Trees are budding out, which makes the pollen count go sky high. I have been stuffed up now for a week. Even my ears. I hate this. I've been drinking dandelion tea, from flowers in the yard and garden. I hope it kicks in soon. My grand kids are the same way.

So sorry I've not been posting, but I haven't had a lot to say lately.

New gate.

It's been awhile since I've posted here. Since I was sick, I just have no motivation at all. I have to make myself get up and go. Maybe it's the weather too. Although, it's been so nice here lately. We have not even had a fire going til a few days ago. Windows open too. We do have to open windows sometimes because that wood heater really puts out some serious heat. It's usually 83 in the dining room which is next to the living room. So it's not too much longer til spring! I've been seeing daffodils popping up already!!

So my friend Beth, who gets goat milk from me, swapped me this great gate! I finally picked it up this past weekend. My husband wanted to put it up right away. So we set the posts yesterday and got it all finished this morning! SO much beter than the 2 pallets with the little piece of fence in the middle for a gate.

Here it is, all done. Farmer Tiny, so proud of it! He is a great guy really. It might take all day to do something, but he can still do it!

And here they go, through the new gate for the first time! And as usual, Sugar is the very last one anywhere. He just ambles everywhere, that alpaca. No hurry for him. He's so funny. I have seen him run a few times, but it's very rare.

And there they all are, through the gate. And we have never been able to get the latch part to be snug against the pole. Ever. So we have lots of bungee cords all over. But it works! And that's all that matters. It looks so much better. And it swings both ways. It'll be so much easier to get through without getting scratched by wire.

Thank you Beth! I got the other gate from her too, that goes to the goat yard.

So what's going on at your farms?

Cameron in the studio.

Some snow?

Don't know if you can see it, but these sheep and alpaca are covered in snow! It actually started snowing pretty good awhile ago, so I moved them back next door to where the hay is.

And the house has a little dusting of snow too. But it's already almost all gone. It might snow some more later. Who knows? Georgia is already being shut down and declared a state of emergency. Schools closed here and in Tn. Probably Alabama too. SO scary, this white stuff, around here! But, my brother lives in Colorado Springs, Co. and he said they shut the schools down the minute they hear of snow coming. I thought that was pretty funny!

Hello...

So I have been sick since last year .It started last week, Tuesday I think, with a cough. It grew to the flu. It was evil. After taking checks to Mrs. T's Wed. morning, I came home and went to bed and didn't get up til Saturday. It was bad. My throat hurt so bad I cried. A lot. I got up one of those mornings and almost past out. I lost almost 12 pounds.  I am somewhat better, but not like I want to be. I never want to go through anything like this again. My husband was sick too but I didn't know it.

And I have no pictures to share at all. It's just gloomy anyway here. We might get some snow! It's been raining a lot. Our local weatherman, David Glen, is a big liar. He said we would have a cold DRY winter. So far, there is not a dry spot out there. It's cold though. I think I would seriously consider moving to the Arizona desert for winters from now on.

I took the ram back home last week before I got sick. Thank goodness, he's gone! He was the biggest fattest ram ever! He was a real glutton. With him here, they went trhough a whole round bale of hay in less than 2 weeks. He had to go. Then I get panic attacks now, worrying if ALL the sheep are pregnant. UGH, what was I thinking????

Both goats are pregnant. Getting bigger every day. Already waddling. I've been getting cow milk from my friend Sarah. It's just not the same though.

I am making some ham and bean soup with the left over ham from Christmas. It smells so good in the house. I haven't cooked since last week.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. And wishing you all a happy healthy 2017!