Barefoot Hillbilly Wife to a Redneck......

Left Over Candy Canes?

Here is my good deal!!! Lol It only cost me $5!!! Its a small food processor with a juicer attachment and an extra canister.. I almost passed it up at a yard sale last fall. They had $10 on it and I asked if they would take $5. So I packed it home where it sat on the counter for a couple of months.. I had to get it out and figure it out just hadn't taken the time.. Now the one I had before was bigger and NOISY!!! I hated it it was a pain to clean too.. You couldn't talk over the noise at all.. SO I got this one out and use it to chop up onions and other things.. Then I thought I would use it to slice potatoes and onions.. Well being slightly blond I put the blade in upside down(Hey I have an excuse it didn't have directions!!) I figured it out and its was so cool!! In less then 60 seconds I had a whole potato sliced!!! I stared at in awe for a few second and then stuck an onion in it.. I was Like Wooo HOOO no more hand slicing for me!!! I used the meat slicer the other day on some left over roast to make Enchilada casserole and this for veggies. Its not real hard to clean either and I can stick it in the dish washer after I rinse it out.. I am so happy for my Bargain!!

Herding Ducks, Leaky Well, and Visitors!!!

Lambs and watchful mommas!!

More pregnant mommas waiting!!

BAD DOGS!!! Took off this morning with the big dog and went visiting.. I tried to tell them that's a good way to get shot or run over but they aren't listening. SO little ones are tied up and big one will be as soon as he lets me get a hold of him.. He still remembers last time I got a hold of him and he got tied up for a few... And he slipped it and got away.. but I have been bribing him with a raw egg once in a while... Will try a different type of restraint! If he would just stay home!! He is showing his puppy side in the pic playing with the other dogs...

The leaky line.. The problem this morning took a few minutes to fix and awhile to set and of course everyone was needing water..

Its been quite the day! We did get to meet some new people they came to look at a goat and its So fun to talk to like minded people! We had a blast talking to them!! To bad they had to leave so soon!

Something has been getting our ducks and one is limping so we thought to put them at least in the hay barn at night..... Yeah right.. One thing to remember is that Muscovy's FLY and we would get them almost to the barn and they would fly away to the middle of the pond. So they are on their own for now. I tried a dip net but I missed the first one so they all panicked and flew away. Hubby had a few choice words!Lol I just laughed.. I tend to laugh at the wrong time sometimes!! Lol!! On the upside the geese herd rather well!!

We did get started on the brooder for the new chicks and turkeys headed our way in March. WE are getting 100 Colored Ranger chicks, 15 Midget White turkeys and I am still deciding on banties and some layers.... We are working towards Momma hens brooding new babies every year. But the neighbors dog nearly wiped out the chicken population here before we got moved here.

We didn't get done what we wanted to get done but that's the way things go.. Best laid plans....

Its late now and all animals have food, water, and shelter.. Its another day on the farm....

Not A Farm Animal........

He had Lunch!!! Lol I say he I don't know it could be a she! My youngest girl and I jumped in the van and drove by slowly taking these pics.. That sunroof in the van came in handy!!

He was keeping an eye on us I had the camera zoomed out as far as it would go to get this close.

The neighbors dog went to investigate what it was and what it had... SO it flew up in the tree and then came back when the dog left....

They are so cool looking I just hope it wasn't a chicken he was eating.... I consider myself a patriotic person but they may be pushing it if he starts carrying off my chickens!! Just Kidding...sort of....Lol

Went a little Pic crazy!!!

It is Simply life....... Its been busy around here lately! I have been sick and the girls have been too. My middle DD had pneumonia and I have ear infection. I have tried everything natural and finally gave in and went to a regular doctor well its not working either...

So anyway we have had babies like crazy we are up to 8 lambs, 4 calves and 5 goat kids. Girl to boy ratio is high on the girl side!! Lol Of course I seem to influence that having 3 girls! Lol Anyway I have 3 bottle babies and we did lose a little lamb that was so small or it would have been 9 lambs..

 We also have geese now.. I have pictures of everything and my farm girls!! it was 60* yesterday and 34* today.. big difference and its COLD!!!

Here they are in the pond!.......

Little fluffy butts!! lol........

Here are the 3 bottle babies in confinement!! Lol They are now outside and think they are so very mistreated!!! They cry for attention!

Here are the bottle babies. Thinking they are still horribly mistreated to be outside.

The twins exploring while mom was trying to get the puppies food!!!

Look at those Bellies!!! The black one is on the left is grandma to the little buck born a couple of weeks ago that was so colorful. The other is one of the Boers here.

Smug little bottle Sheep Fiona!! She played the "I am tired" card and got carried up the hill when we went to take pics and check on the pregnant mommas.

Here are the twin boys and momma............

Bottle Babies helping!!! Lol We took them out with us today. So they were out of their little world.. It was alittle scary for them at first and we couldnt get to far from them. I am debating on selling them now or waiting......

Our Jr. buck Caspian. I thought his silhouette was cute with his little beard. He wont have as impressive horns as his sire due to breaking the one off last fall. But he is cute one.

The new babies. The boy is in front the girl hiding. He doesn't have anything on his mouth its little black spots or freckles! Lol His mom has them too but they are not as dark.

Babies again!....... I couldn't catch the other boy from the triplets in a pic.

My Full Blooded Nubian's April and Hope. They have about a month to 6 weeks to go before babies. April gets HUGE!!!

Here is Handsome!! He was licking my hand and I tried to get a pic of him with his tongue hanging out but he was to quick! He was all lovey today and enjoying the scratches around his ears. it took washing my hand Several times to get his "cologne" off of me! PEEEUUUU

One of the Muscovy's that May be a boy.... I don't know...... I have given up trying to figure it out!! Lol I guess when they start laying eggs I will know!!

Our geese. I forgot to say before they are Toulouse Geese! They make me think of the Disney movie Aristocats.

They were making all kinds of noise here. They stay at the pond though so not annoying to hear all the time.

The one in the middle was getting a little upset with me. I am not sure why except maybe they were expecting food!

The ducks sunning on the pond bank..

Cows were soaking up the rays too!! Hey its January we don't complain about sunshine!! Especially warm sunshine!!!

My 2 remaining silkie hens. to think I started out with a bunch of them.. Well okay 6 white ones 2 years ago and 6 black ones this last year. The cats took out some of my first white silkies and then the dog and the nest box falling took all but these 2....... I love them though.

The 2 black silkie roosters, the hen and behind them, the little Ameracuana banty(Wild Woman!) She is crazy.

Bottle babies, LGD puppies, The little Hobo, and 2 of my farm girls!

And we wonder why the bottle babies think they are human.....

One Farm Girl got caught taking her socks off!!! The rule is they can go out in long sleeves but no jacket on days like this but They must have socks on with their boots or slip ons. This kid always sneaks out with out the socks, or the jacket or "loses" them like she has here!!!

Another farm girl with the bottle babies and the dogs! Relaxing in the hammock soaking up that sun!!!

 

Fluffing' up and settling in for the night. These boys either escaped the butchers block or weren't big enough to begin with. The ones we wont for breeding are with the hens and they do a good job of keeping these boys away. Even though some of the hens do escape the roos in the barn and make it up the yard to visit these boys!! Lol

Here is our puny dog... The vet said it was probably something she ate but its not worms or anything like that.. SO that's good...

Here is Hobo one of the little strays that come up. We live by a dog pound/humane society and people drop dogs off all the time. She is so ugly she is cute.. She is also our alarm if anyone pulls up outside or twitches or wiggles!!!Lol

Here is a few of them last night.The twins and one of the singles.

One days eggs. They weren't laid in there I forgot to take a can with me so confiscated a food dish filled with hay to carry them back to the house. I am getting anywhere from a 12-20 a day not bad for winter time..

This is them finishing off the centers of the round bales. I thought the little goat there looking at the other was cute!! I will have to take a picture of the hay "racks" now that they have new bales in them... The only thing I have a problem with is the younger goats (9 months to about 2 years) can get their horns stuck in them. They reach to far in at a certain angle and then try to pull back and get stuck!!

This and That

Here is the little Macho man!! He thinks the world is his playground!! lol He comes up and taps on your leg with his hoof to be petted!! Such a lovey boy I am glad he is not going for meat...

Here are the 3 bottle babies in confinement!! Lol They are now outside and think they are so very mistreated!!! They cry for attention!

Here are our geese!! We have one mature gander and 3 geese. Then 2 ganders that are younger. They are so pretty on the pond. And the ducks have bullied them so far! LOL

Here they are Eyeing the food on the bank but haven't got the nerve to come up yet...

Here they are trying to decide which pile to eat out of!!

Here they are in the pond!.......

I wish I would have had a camera with me when I brought them home. I had 6 orange beaks looking back at me in my rear view mirror. Doing 70 miles an hour down the interstate! Lol It was so funny!

On a personal note I am getting a new car... Well Its from the salvage yard that my brother works at and he has fixed it. Its a KIA mini-van. Kids ain't gettin any smaller!!Lol It gets really good gas mileage too!! I would not ever buy a new car especially now that he works there. That is where we got Kyle's work truck too.

Okay I am off to bed!! Good night!

A Few Pics Today........

More babies.................

Here is Peanut... I guess we should have named him Chunky Peanut Butter!!!

The Boys full bellies and its Nap Time!!!

One little lamb.... I have the twin in the house.

Here she is copying momma!! Good Girl!!!

Marigold and her Expressive ears!!! She is grinning for the camera too if you can see.

One gray Muscovy duck......

This is the one that when we got them as 3 week old babies he/she had a hurt leg. You would never know now...

Here they are all huddled up this morning...

Nic still looking at the camera. Anna looking like she is in trouble.. She isn't... Not right now anyway.... They had been out in the rain earlier this morning.

Here is the Lone Ranger! Our female Dinah got hit the other night up on the Highway. Our fences in one field aren't the best to say the least(another project in the works)But when I dog can climb a fence its hard to keep them confined. I didn't think they were going that far but she was hit and so we now only have Sam and the pups.. He has been very good though.. In the pic he is watching up on the road was a car stalled out. He was keeping an eye on them. He looked back when he heard us in the barn.

One red ear slider under the ice.. I didn't think the turtles would move around much but we have seen turtles under the ice several times now... Aren't they suppose to hibernate in winter?? I will have to look that up!

Snapping turtle.... Bad thing to have in the pond with livestock around!! This was a good sized one too!
That's it for today.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!!!

Coldest Day Yet.....

See how tiny!! That is a small laundry basket..... But I have to try.

The one hadn't been able to clean hers off as much because they fell thru to the other side of a panel but we got there just in time and got them back to her and they are now very white instead of so yuck looking. Both mommas are really good mommas and the one that I have her little one was looking for him and started cleaning the othermom's babies...

Here is the pond those white lines are cracks. It gives off the strangest sound.. Its about 2 inches thick in most places. The shallow end is froze almost all the way down. I was standing on it and took a dive.. I went flat on my face!!! As I crawled off the ice I told Kyle I was to old for this!!lol

It was Slick!!

The ducks and pigeons are at the other end eating...

Kind of gives you a chill...........

Sad little wild duck got froze to the pond....

Kyle standing on it he was a little farther out but it started cracking!! So he came back to the edge! LOL

Air bubbles frozen in the ice... Ice does some of the coolest things..... lol I am easily amused!

Brrrrrrr...... It wouldnt be so bad if it would snow.......

Right now its so cold that if you don't keep everything covered it starts hurting.. I don't know how you people so far up north survive!!lol 8 degrees is not my ideal temperature! Brrrr!! My oldest and youngest DD's feeding the Bottle babies! They are all doing fairly well. Little sheep has gotten the squirts though! yuck. Nothing unusual though. They are getting about 4 baby bottle a day. I will get regular lamb nipples next week and start them on those and they will be moving to the panel barn next to the house soon!!

All the animals are huddling close too. All tails tucked and cold looking. We tried to run two tank heaters off the power strip in the well house and it was to much for it so it flipped the switch so when we got down there we had frozen water!! And not just a thin Breakable layer but about 2 inches thick in just a few hours time and That was in the barn!! The chicken's water was completely froze too. Its taking up to 5 hours a day to get everything done outside. 2 1/2 hours in the morning and at least an hour in the evening.

 We moved hay bales around and threw more bedding out for everyone. We took the panels down from around them and flipped the centers out and wrapped the panels back around the middles and then took what was left and made little piles for them so they could have fresh stuff to bed in. We got fresh hay to the rabbits and the chickens too.
Also when we insulated the well house I guess there is a small crack at the bottom of the door and it was just enough even with 2 heat lamps to freeze the faucet part but its not busted or anything. Just needs a little time to warm up. SO we blocked the crack and will check it in the morning. It is sooooo cold!!

I took pictures the other day to post about how pregnant the ewes are and I also have some of me standing next to Daisy the cow. She is a Dexter and is very short compared to other breeds of cows.

Here is a pregnant St Croix ewe and the lamb that's about 2 1/2 months old. Black spot behind them is the calf Velvet.. Goats sneaking out the hole in the fence in the background!! Brats!

This is our bull Source. I need to try to get up close pics but they have been grazing on top of that hill behind him....
Here is my self pic of me and Daisy!! lol Holly Sneaking into the pic behind my hand!! The girls had went back to the house already. She isn't real big as compared to some of the dairy cows we saw at the fair this year one weighed 1800 or 2100 lbs!! I couldn't see over her back and she produced 6 gallons of milk a milking!!! I couldn't afford to keep her in feed! Even if she ate hay and grass like Daisy does!

Here is our babies outside. Momma is never far. She is in the background cleaning up the cow's few left overs!! They all tolerate the LGD pups. I even caught a St. Croix Ewe cuddling with them!! lol The ducks looking at me as if to say " Hey Lady where's the food?"Everyone in line waiting their turn even though there are 13 other nest boxes!!! They all want the same ones! Isn't that typical???Isn't he a handsome feller?? lol Silver Spangled Hamburg Roo again.... Another pregnant ewe!! She is the Katahdin that we pulled out of the pond a couple of months ago. The red on her back end is Not blood but where she was scratching her hind end on the red pipe gate.

Okay Thats all I have for the night getting ready to make last trip to the barn to check on everything. Have a good night all!

WHo Said Farming Was Boring? LOL

We now have 4 bottle babies!! I really don't like to have them but.... The triplet's momma kept going to far from babies and they were left to fend for their selves. She even got into the pig pen which could have been disaster for her if the pigs hadn't been sleeping or for the babies if they had followed her. So I brought them to the house and gave her most of the afternoon and then went and tried to milk her and I got very little from her.

In the mean time one of the new ewes went into labor! They are extremely skittish and weren't handled much at all. SO when I came out the front door very quietly she jumped up and ran!! With the first of the baby bubble hanging out and then she kept having the baby, running around with it hanging out!! At this point I was convinced If the baby made it it would be a miracle!! We caught her and helped her have it the rest of the way but I had nothing to cut the cord with and was afraid to pull it. So I let her go and she immediately jumped up and ran!!! Mind you it only got to about 25* today!! Not a day for a wet newborn to be on the ground!! Baby is now running around the house!! LOl Well not running but up on wobbly legs exploring!! I will try again later to get colostrum out of mom but for now I have mixed up fake stuff. It doesn't have the antibodies moms does but it does have protein, fat, vitamins and energy.

Oh and then While I was trying to milk the goat I heard the puppies fighting and got over there after I was done and they had killed a Chicken! I was Soooo mad!!! It was the female, Anna! I was so not happy with them!! At least it wasn't any of my favorites this time BUT it was one of my Few Australorps!

I posted this little guy online because I just couldn't see using him for meat and with in 2 hours he was sold! The lady is coming by tomorrow to pay the deposit and then she will pick him up in February.Isn't she just queen of the house!!! LOL She was so thrilled the first time she jumped up there!! I only have one more week and then the new ewes can go into the main herd and then I will set up nursery in the panel barn for the 4 bottle babies. I am really disappointed because I thought her momma would make a good milk goat but so far she hasn't been the greatest mom and I haven't been able to get much milk from her I will try in the morning again.

This is the milk I got this morning from Daisy. It has almost an inch of cream on the top. Things are starting to go a little smoother with her and milking! I try to give myself 2 weeks with goats and I got a little impatient with Daisy but its been almost 2 weeks and she is doing better. Now if I can get just a little more milk from her! Probably not till baby is older. It has been a long day so I think I will make it an early bedtime for me tonight! After I check on the momma sheep and go look in one the ones in the barn. The older ewes have got to pop soon!!! Have a good night!

Pictures!

Here is Daisy and Velvet this morning after I had milked... She did better this morning. I got over a half gallon. She is finally letting her milk down. Velvet kicked me though!! Little stinker! Here is Nina and Mora(2nd calf born) out in the field this morning. They have a light frost on their backs which is okay because it kind of helps to insulate them.

Here is Aleta and the first calf this year Sirloin. He is about 2 months old now.

Here is Iris and Peanut snuggling with chickens. LOL The little hen was laying by peanut and then Iris cam up and started nibbling on her and she just sat there and let her!

Baby kisses!....LOL.......

Twin boys come to see whats going on.......................

Awwww let me chew on you too.......................
I am not Spoiled in the least bit!!!...........................LOL One of her favorite spots to sleep! Right next to the wood stove!.........The headboard Kyle built last night!! Cost nothing but time and screws to put it together. It also needs to be stained now. I want to try this homemade walnut stain its dark but sooo pretty! But that will be a while.

The winter weather is definitely here! I made a pot of deer chili last night and it was GOOD! We had it for lunch today too. This is the best tasting deer we have had in a while of course its young and hung for about 3 days before we put it in the freezer. Well off to do chores for the night! Good night all!

Busy Weekend Turned COLD!

She has decided she likes the wood stove. Its warm and she can usually find a snack(tree bark)! LOL She is doing good and has gained weight. She is also chewing her cud which is a good sign. I give her a little hay and some dry oatmeal to nibble on. She loves to be cuddled!! I can see it now if she gets as big as her momma and insisting she is still a lap goat!! LOL

We have decided on names for her siblings. Her name is Marigold so her sister is Iris which means Colorful or rainbow in Greek. The boy is named Peanut Butter... Peanut for short. I am still undecided about the twin boys.

Slept in some this morning that didn't sit well with Daisy the cow!! Cant even sleep till 8am with out making some one upset with me!! She got over it when I filled her pan up with the treats for milking! Of course I am surprised the little house goat let us sleep that long with out hollering for a bottle. But she didn't. I worked outside for most of the day trying to make sure every thing is settled for the storms. We have thermo cubes to plug the water heaters into. Those things are so cool! It comes on at 32-33* I think and shuts off at 45*.. I think I would have to read to be sure. But it saves on electric because those heaters can really suck up the juice!! lol 0Apparently there are some kids with to much time on their hands!!Hmm Imagine that! This is the mailbox that they pretty much destroyed!! I could find them something to do....
We made sugar cookies tonight... We forgot the paint brushes to put the icing on with so we just drizzled it on. Can you tell which ones are moms and which are the kids? LOL We encourage individuality around here......We have had freezing weather. Starting with rain and turning to winter weather mix. Not much accumulation. Boy do the animals know it!! They are eating like they are starving!! (They are NOT starving!) On top of that its a full moon! I was putting out the D.E. and Sea Kelp and they just about run me over trying to get to it!! LOL I will get new pics of animals up. I am looking forward to Christmas this year. Of course all I have to get is a few stocking stuffers and I am done. We got our short little fake tree decorated. Its cute though.. I don't usually like fake but its was small and cheap. Since we moved we ran out of space to put it.

Four of my Americauna hens. The dark one on the end is a pretty one. The 2 that look alot alike my girls call the twins!! Then One chicken butt!

One Americauna, Spangled Hamburg Rooster, White crested Polish Hen and Spangled Hamburg Hen!

Baby that was born around 2 months ago. He is growing like crazy! And very friendly!! So not like his momma!

Some of the pics are a little blurry sorry about that... But here is one of the Katahdins that is looking very pregnant!!

Peanut and Iris all snuggled up!!....................

The as of yet un-named twin bucks Being woke up by the intense camera flash!! LOL

Iris up close!.........................

Sam and Dinah Napping. They are very active at night especially when its a full moon and we also have bad weather!.

More Pregnant Mommas!............ I would have thought the White St. Croix would have popped by now. But Nooooooo...

 When we left for church last night it was about 45* when we came out less then 2 hours later it was 21*!!! Its so cold it hurts!! We are way above the ice storm line though! Just snow and sleet for us.. Oh Joy!! LOL But its better then an ice storm!!The high today is only 18*

I worked outside yesterday afternoon for about 5 hours getting ready. We put new hay out. We had to use the panels around the hay to make a baby pen so they wouldn't get stepped on and to give moms time to recoup. SO they really ate the one bale we had in there and played confetti with it.. You know run around the barn with a mouthful and throw it up in the air!! lol Of course those pregnant girls are more like rolling around the barn!! So I found 2 more panels and we scrapped up all the loose hay and got the cow a good layer of bedding down. Checked all lamps and thermo cubes. Checked on the pigs. They are in a new spot I will have to get pics some time today because it was getting dark last night and they kept blurring!

I did have a little more success with Daisy yesterday morning. I let Velvet in when I went to milk and she was nursing off one side and I was milking the other. I kept having to push her on her own side but I got as much off one side as I had been getting out of the whole with out baby there to help. So we will see if that will start making her let her milk down. I can see her walk away with a bag full even though I have been milking for 10 minutes. They are different from goats. I really prefer milking goats. But I would like to have cows milk to make butter.

 well I am headed out to milk after I put on all the layers because fo the cold. Have a good day everyone!

Fluffy and Dry!!

Triplets......Dark one and little one in the front are girls and the boy is in the back.

How cute is that?.......................

And More BABIES!!!

WIde loads are delivering!!!

As I was posting this look what showed up!!! Yep It Finally happened!!! BABIES!!! WOOOO HOOO!! These are my first Kiko/Nubian/Boer cross kids! Daddy is a Kiko and Momma is a Nubain/Boer cross. So on with the blog!! The 2 goats by the hay are Mother and Daughter Kikos. Minerva and Cassie! They still have at least another month I think.....

This is My Dottie!! Grandma to the 2 babies up top. She is the healthiest hardiest goat I have! She pops out twins and just keeps going!!

One pregnant sheep............

One not so little lamb...................

More Pregnant Sheep......................

One little pregnant goat................

My Reg. Nubian and Her daughter from last year. Both bred to kid in February...........

MOre pregnant goats but they have a little while....

Ethel who kidded tonight.........

Walking to the barn.... Had to take a rest.......

We will probably be back at the bar n before to long another belly had dropped and her bag was twice as big as this morning........ woooooo hooooooo

Who Turned Off The Heat????

Still No BABIES!!!  Have a good day Everyone!!

Oh To Milk A COW!!!!

I have the Head Stanchion built. My mom and I built it yesterday. Didn't do to bad if I do say so myself!! Hubby even approved. I did notice I need to fill in some of the wide spots so she doesn't try to stick her head in the wrong way. We got momma and baby in the barn and locked in the stall last night. Separate but close enough neither was to bad freaked out...

SO fast forward to this morning... I had feed and everything On the off chance I would be able to actually milk her.. LOL Yeah okay I was just going to plop down beside her and start milking.... Uh yeah only in a dream world where every animal is tame enough and understands that you need the milk from them.. I really didn't expect to be able to milk her this morning so wasn't severely disappointed. I did get her in the stall and latched in. She calmed down with the food. But when I went to touch her udder she brought the back leg up quick!! Notice the smug little baby peeking for the other side with the Milk Goatee!!

These short legged little Dexter's can pack a heck of backhanded sort of kick!! LOL One of the other cows got me a couple of months ago when I was petting her down the side. I avoided being kicked by Daisy today though because I was watching for it. I left her in while I did the other chores in the barn and she ate the grain I had for her. Which was Beet pulp and oats with a little corn. I am not sure yet what I will be using all the time kind of playing with the mix at this point.. She is bigger then the Goat First Fresheners. lol All the ones I have milked I either had from birth or had been milked before. Then I put them up on the stand and hold in place with my shoulder if I have to. Some Goats lay down on you or climb the other side of the Stand with their back legs!! Quite the Sight to see LOL! Cows aren't quite as agile as goats Thank Goodness or I would never milk them! There is a big difference in a goat that's weighs 150-200lbs and a small cow that weighs about 700-800lbs... If she keeps kicking I may have to get what they call a kicker. It Keeps them from being able to kick.. Another thing I am not sure what to do about is the tail!! That thing HURTS!!! One more in favor of the goats! lol

I left her in the barn with baby Velvet and some hay. She will get use to being in there and then I will let her out in the barn yard and then eventually out with everyone else again. When she quits rolling her eyes when she is in the head stanchion it will be easier. Right now she isn't convinced its a good thing besides the fact that she did get treats!! At the same time we will be taming Velvet the baby and working with her to get her use to being handled and she will be one we use for milking also. Now she isn't so sure about us because we did separate her from momma last night and then we were back this morning... Another great adventure here on the farm!!

For those of you wondering NO BABIES!!! I did feel some movement on my big white goat Gina. She may have another 2 weeks. Ethel just defies all! Brat! It will have to be soon she cant go on like this!! It will probably be Saturday when we are gone to get the new sheep!! I don't think they will have any problems but I still like to be there!!

SO that's what is happening!! We are suppose to get more rain tonight and its going to get cold again! Shiiivver!!

THis Little PIGGY.....

Built a house of straw..Or hay I should say!!lol

This is the nest that they had slept in last night. They make nest really well! Oldest DD said it looked like a giant birds nest!

Billy the little pig has hay stuck on his head!! He was the one I was most worried about because he is small and was shivering some but has warmed up now.

Thats me in my Layers of clothes. You would never now I had 3 shirts and 2 pairs of pants on under that!! lol!Here they are digging where I had moved the fence back! They found green under the snow!! Smart little fellers!

Just little flakes then this by 7pm tonight. If it didn't get dark so early it wouldn't be so bad!! I would never make it living farther north!! I would go crazy from cabin fever! LOL
SO anyway we got out to get ready for the cold have the well house all insulated and ready. Then we move on to putting out hay..... Tractor's Block heater wasn't working!! the tractor wouldn't start! So we go to get the part(by now its dark!) and its a Special Order!!! Soooooo We did something I do NOT recommend except in Dire circumstances... We hooked come-alongs and chains and pulled one very Large hay bale off of the top of the stack and rolled it ever so gracefully into the back of the truck! It tipped and went sideways!!! But it was in there ! Then we took it to the barn and pulled it out of the back of the truck the same way pretty much. The goats and sheep have hay and I threw some to the cows and their babies as they were staring at me through the panel looking soooo Hungry!

We got all the animals settled and I am now 50lbs lighter then when I went outside... Nope not a new diet just shed the clothes to keep me from freezing!! To go out and keep everything tolerable it takes a fair amount of clothing. We all have rubber boots. The girls don't have the insulated ones because they are still growing and wear insulated socks with them. Then we have leggings and then sweat pants and a skirt over it all. It blocks the wind. Then we have a long sleeved shirt and usually a hoodie plus a hat. With something to cover our chins. About the only thing you can see of our face is our eyes and nose and we cover our noses sometimes when its real cold.. Then we have a coat to cover it all. I usually wear latex gloves under my work gloves to keep my hands from getting wet because that makes me cold quicker then anything. I also make sure I put lotion or something on my face before I go out too. Because I get wind burn so easy!! SO its layers up on layers!!! Hence the 50lbs!LOL It takes about 20 minutes just to get ready to go out. Okay I will quit whining about it now and post a pic of our older dogs!

They are kind of camera shy! I have to turn it on behind me and then take their pic. If they see me turn it on they get up and walk away which is exactly what they are doing in this pic!!! Sam is the first one and Dinah is behind the gate. She still looks a little rough due to the trimming she had. The little ones are cute and have lots of personality! I think they will be good dogs!

Good Night Everyone!!

Patiently Waiting.

It is Simply life......

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No babies,... Stinkers! The pic is 2 of the sheep that are having the bloody show and their udders are big and tight looking for sheep. But they keep going!!

One goat has completely lost her ligaments and I can put my fingers completely around her tail bone!!! That's GOOD! Its usually mean 12-24 hours Max! Wooo Hooo Ligaments are right above the tail and they will loosen when they are going into labor or getting ready for labor. She has a tight udder too! The other goats ligaments are loosening but not completely gone and her udder is getting bigger but she may have another week.

We have new dogs!! They are Komondor and Collie/English Shepherd mix. The dad is a full blooded Komondor and the mom is the mix. They were started on a farm with almost as much of a variety as we have and all birds are free range. SO that's good!!!

Hubby fell off of the scaffold at work Wednesday! NOT good!! His shoulder and head took the brunt of it! Good thing he is hard headed!. His arm and shoulder is sore but I think its nothing more then strained. He was thinking it was broke but its getting better.

Thanksgiving was good! Way to much food!!! Girls are at my parents for the weekend. They have been there a lot lately. But This is probably the last for a while as they will probably be getting ready to move soon. They are going to his parents next weekend.. They will be ready to be home for a while!! lol

That's it for right now......

Here is what I have ordered!

It is Simply life....... Here are the books I ordered. I am soooo Excited!! lol

 I have wanted the Basic Country Skills every time I checked it out at the Library. There is so much in it that You just can absorb it in 2 weeks!! When you take it back its usually gone right away. The Stocking up is one that seems to have alot of info too. We will see. The Next one I hope will help with the chickens..  The Arithmetic in Agriculture is one I think the girls will like for school. We wont use it for a year or 2 but its good to get it while I can. Last is something I plan on doing after next years garden so I can cut the cost of buying seeds. I had one more but thanks to sales tax I had to take it off or I would have been paying a little more. Its was an essential oils book but I have one already just liked this one.. Maybe another time.

Woooo Hooooo I won!!!

It is Simply life.......

Okay lol Now you are wondering what I won!!!
I won a $100 gift certificate to http://www.back40books.com / !!
I dont usually win stuff Especially not $100 worth! I was so excited!! LOL Kyle just said Ahhh thats just right up your alley.... And then "Merry Christmas Babe"!!! LOL
Now I am looking and thinking Sooooo many books!!! How will I ever decide!! I will let you all know what I decided on as soon as I know!!! Lol