Milking Zarah. Or not.

So this is what Zarah's udder looked like this morning after putting the kids up for the night. And Ella Belle was out this morning. Apparently she had just gotten out. If you look real close or zoom in, you can see her teats. About maybe 1 1/2" long and the size of a pencil width. I could get 1 finger plus the thumb on them. She was tight as a drum. And SO hard to milk. I have not even attempted to milk her since I had wormed her with the Dectomax 4 weeks ago. And it has a 32 day milk withdrawal time.

So, between her kicking and raising her feet or else just plain sitting down like a dog on top of the bucket, I was plum worn out. She did not like this or want anything at all to do with it. I even tried to get Ella to come in and nurse some. But what happens when you actually WANT a kid to nurse on the stand?? Nothing. She ran around and played hide and seek and "catch me if you can", which of course I couldn't in the milk room. Too much to get behind and under. So, after about 20 minutes of me not wanting her to think she was gonna win this first round, I quit. Went and got Ira Joe out of the stall. They both tried to nurse but she only stood still for a few seconds. They did some more for a little while, while I watched. I sure don't want Zarah to get mastitis.

So, a few days ago, a friend in Tn. called about a milking machine she had just bought from a man near her up around Nashville. He makes these machines. For $175.00. Everything except the battery, which is only a little more. She milks about 9 goats and she is loving this machine. It filters and cools the milk. Really nice. Well, when she called, I thought I didn't need a machine. But after this morning, I called the guy. I told him about Zarah's small teats and he said he didn't think the suction things would stay on such small teats. But he said he'd look for a smaller size. Because I think I really want one now. Just for Zarah. Because I am worn out and it was NO fun at all. For her or me. And I don't want her to hate this.

So my 1st day of April has not turned out so good. Like the guy suggested, get the kids up on the stand and let them nurse some milk out, then try again. Sounds like a plan, if the kids will do it. They should be hungry enough to. I was so hoping that Zarah would take after her mother Abby. Maybe next time? She is a first freshener.

Easter

Easter Sunday was a day of sunshine and rain. Off and on again. I saw lots of little green plants coming up in the garden, like collards, kale and mustard. Some lettuce and radishes too. I always like to see that. I was getting a little worried that I planted too early. But with all the rain and sun, things just happen.

I would have liked to have had lots of flowers on the table. But the daffodils started blooming way back in Jan. so none of them. But did find lots of henbit, which I was excited about for the bees. But they don't really stand out in vases. I have lots of dandelion though, but didn't want to take too many. I put those on the runner along with yellow Peeps. I just love yellow and white in early spring. 

This is one of my ram lambs I had butchered a month ago. I marinated it in olive oil, crushed garlic and fresh rosemary overnight. Then put it in the oven at 400 for about 35 minutes, then turned it down to 200 for a few hours, Took it out and let it rest for about 30 minutes. It was SO good. I didn't think anyone would eat any, but it went pretty fast. It's like good roast beef. Red in the middle and tender and so juicy. It was a 6 pound leg. I have another one in the freezer. But was very happy how it turned out.

And here are the grand kids. Coryn is on the left. She's 11. Chloe is in the middle. She'll be 14 the end of May. And Kansas will be 10 the end of April. So we decided to let them all hunt eggs. I wanted to hunt eggs too. I still love doing that. It's so fun.

So we had a great day together. My youngest daughter Abby and her husband rode their motorcycle down to Pensicola, Fla. for the weekend so they missed us. We really missed them too. But Abby will probably come tonight for left overs. Mom made a Watergate cake that was SO good. And I made banana pudding, my husband's favorite.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. And have a great week too.

These pigs

So I have had these pigs 2 weeks now. It's been pretty good so far. I haven't fallen down in their pen. They haven't bitten me. Or chased me. Or gotten out yet. And I do believe Joe, the white one, is almost as big as Bob now. But I am wondering if he can see. He's got really small eyes. That I can barely see. Smaller that Bob's eyes, and his are small too. They just look weird. I don't think I've noticed pig eyes before, but I think they should be bigger. It doesn't seem to be affecting his ability to get around. Or eat. Because he's all over and eats like a pig. I don't know. Maybe they are supposed to be small like that.

I'm giving them lots of the fermented grains. Plus lots of scraps, goat milk and the bread from the bakery in Chatt. And their yard is a mud pit now. I need to add the other panel soon. I can't imagine feeding these guys for 5 more months. Ugh. But if it keeps going like this, I might be ok. But, they are still small at the moment.