First of all, for those of you reading this blog who don't know any of us personally, WOTD is a new group.  We've only been meeting since Nov. of '04.  Most of us didn't even know each other until coming together.  It started as a "I know someone who knows someone" type of thing and here we are!

Today I'd like you ALL to meet Peggy.  She was actually the first to respond to my email questionnaire.   She is currently living on 21 acres with her Saanen Dairy Goats & Haflinger horses.  For various reasons, they have had their home for sale and it has sold.  She will need to find another place by March 30 and affordable, rural places have become a thing of the past here in Montana.  She has her goats and her horses up for sale.  At first I thought it was just too sad to write about, but since the shock has worn off and reality has set in, I have decided that these bumps in the homesteading road do happen and we need to talk about them.
Peggy states, "I have raised Saanen Dairy Goats and practiced Small Animal Farming for 30 years now.   As a WOTD, I feel this change in my life is just one of the things that we all face.  I think Every woman will face changes, and by talking about it we can all benefit from it.  My plans for the future are vague; however you can bet I will stay in the dirt somehow.  I will try to keep it clean by still making soap and selling it at the markets. I had hoped to get a beginner goat club off the ground, but that did not happen. Perhaps we can have a goat sub group for WOTD.  I have enjoyed the Knitting sub group so much I can hardly wait for the next one.  

What I love about WOTD is that it is a get together of women to just talk, sort of a round table without structure.  We share ideas, we help each other, we inspire."

I have been married for 40 years to a city raised man, who can not and will not even grow a vegetable.  His idea of fixing dinner is ordering a pizza.  He is a workaholic, and comes home to watch TV.  A marriage made in Heaven.  He is never in the way.  He also needs me as if he did not marry me, he may have died years ago from Twinky and Oreo overdose." 

Peggy's most passionate about her goats and it shows.  She takes excellent care of all of her animals.  She says there are just too many goat books out there to recommend just one.  If you're interested in living a simpler life, she suggests you go and learn from people who do it.  Peggy knows from whence she speaks.  Having lived this lifestyle for so long, she has a just little experience under her belt! 

Peggy graduated from high school in 1966 with honors in Science and Music, fifth in a class of over three hundred.   She then started college with a major in Science and minor in Music.  As Peggy says, "One year later I got married, had three children, so much for my career."  Years then passed and "I have my Masters in Small Animal Farming from WSU.  I also completed a Sustainable Small Acreage Farming Course from WSU that was held over the winter months in the year 2000, by the Extension office under WSU.  I am a licensed DHI (Dairy Herd Improvement) supervisor & tester under California.  I have given classes at several universities about Artificial Insemination practices, and general goat health care. 

Blow us all out of the water, Peggy!  Who knew?  That's what I love about this blog!  We are all getting to know each other better by it as well as sharing with others. 

As previously mentioned, Peggy makes soap from her goat's milk.  She is willing to ship it and if you'd like to order any or discuss anything else with her, please send and email or comment through this blog and I will put you in touch with her. 

Thanks for sharing, Peggy!