Goats

I'm sure everyone who has goat kids thinks theirs is the cutest ever. And so do I. Really, these kids are so cute! And they are all so friendly. They jump all over me when I'm out there. They are all so healthy and growing like weeds.

I took Astrid and Isla last Friday to get their horns burned off. I had a little scare with Astrid that night, but she's doing great now.  I am hoping Olga's kids won't have horns. I still don't feel anything on the buck. And bucks usually come out with little horn buds. They are 2 1/2 weeks old now.

Last week I started cutting privet and honeysuckle for the goats after I milk. A few days ago, they were all standing at the fence, looking at me. I forgot to get their morning brush! So I got them a big pile. The kids had their own little branch. They're starting to eat stuff now.

I put it over here on this brush pile so it's not on the ground. If anything touches the ground, they will not touch it! These goats are so picky.

I had to keep them all in this week because they sprayed the hay fields. We had some rain so I let them go out yesterday for awhile. They've pretty much stayed in the "jungle", eating all the brush over there.

Happy Friday y'all! I hope you all have a great weekend! It's going to be COLD here. We have had a fire going most of the week. Supposed to freeze tomorrow night.

Pretty productive day so far.

 This morning, when I realized the St. Elmo market opens in 2 weeks, I panicked! 2 weeks!? I have got to get busy!

So started making sheep balls. I have so much crappy wool to use for this. Got my scale and needle felting needle and went to work. After making about 15, I decided my hands were too rough and needed lotion. So put some on and went back to work. I loved how the wool stuck together better with the lotion on my hands. It was tighter. So from now on I will put lots of lotion on my hands.

That was before I got stabbed with the needle. Has anyone ever been stabbed through the finger with a needle felting needle? It really hurts! It surprises me first. Then I realize what just happened. I mean, this needle is about 2 inches long, with barbs about a half inch up, that grabs the wool and makes it stay together. I have had one go all the way through a finger before. Hurts for days after. Not fun.

Anyway, this is 24 sheep balls, ready for the washer, when I get some hose.

This morning, I decided to make some dandelion jelly too. So ran out and gathered 10 cups. Got it all ready. Hubby had to bring me some lemon juice from the store on his way home, but I had all the rest to make it. Got 6 jars of dandelion jelly. Tomorrow I want to make violet jelly.

Forgot to say the 2 jars on the left are plantain olive oil ready for salve. I just need the little jars I use to put the salve in. There wasn't much plantain yet, just starting to come up, but I got enough for this start.

And during all this, I washed a load of crappy wool that's not good for spinning, but good for felting. So got that done too. I have another smaller bag when this is dry. I just have one rack.

Now to go fix dinner and get ready for the very last night of American Idol. I am so sad Mackenzie was voted off last week. He was my favorite. I just like his music style. I have watched this show since season 2. But did not watch it when Niki Manaj was a judge.

 Then back to work tomorrow on more stuff. I am not working at Mrs. T's anymore on Fridays. And just filling in whenever I can't find anyone else to work. But still doing everything else. I haven't had a free Friday in years. This should be fun!

I got sucked in.

Went to the feed store yesterday to get chicken feed. I had seen the chicks for weeks now, all fluffy and cute, but did not want to get any. That was like the farthest thing from my mind. Really. I don't need anything else to have to feed and take care of!

But yesterday, they had these. Cuckoo Marans. Yeah. I have ALWAYS wanted these chickens. Like always. I love their eggs. They are just beautiful.

So on the way home, I stopped and got 6 of them. And a bag of these chips because they didn't have any more of those amazing new pellets. And a bag of organic chick starter-grower. About $70 right there. I have not had chicks in years just because they are SO expensive to raise and no eggs for at least 6 months. I'd much rather spend that money and buy some already laying. Makes more sense to me.

                                    But just look at these sweet little cuties. I could not resist them.

They are in the dining room for now, til we get through this crazy April "winter". Then they might come over here to my studio til I can put them out in the coop. I might even go back and get some Buff chicks too. Maybe.

So here are the newest babies at Outback Farm. I love them.

And I did get into the St. Elmo Farmers Market!!! I am so happy! It's on Fridays from 4-7 in St. Elmo, right at the foot of Lookout Mt. at the Incline Railway. So exciting! They get all the mountain traffic and tourists too. And they have a street market the last Friday of the month that goes down behind St. Elmo Ave. So fun! And a Christmas street market in December. I am so excited. Now to get planting! And planning. And making more soap. And yarn. And dryer balls. But I think I want to call them sheep balls. Just because.