a very pregnant Lucy

I was trying to get some udder shots, but just wasn't having it. At present, "she vonts to be a-loan. "

She looks so uncomfortable waddling around the goat pen, poor baby!

Before and after a cut and style.

Those bigger heavy electric clippers Intimidate the hell out of me so those are Lovers job. Luckily for me, Orchid is a tame little thing and sweet as pie so she let me clip her with plain scissors.  It took about 25 minutes but whatever. I realize the pros can do at least 5 animals in that same amount of time but Im not charging myself! I haven't walked her on a leash for a long time. I'm surprised she did so well! It was a little trek from the goat pen to the pergola where I cropped her. She did very well.

Bitter sweetness

Marigold and Clover have left the farm. It was an executive decision that had to be made. Marigold was such a beautiful little goat, but she was so tiny I was concerned about using her for breeding. I decided to go ahead and sell her and her brother together and I hope to get my lamancha bred this fall to my Nigerian Buck.

They went to an acquaintance of mine who live fairly close and has owned goats before. I know they will be well cared for there!

And on the up note, Lucy's mucous plug has begun to make an appearance.  It isn't drippy drooling out ( I know its gross) its just sort of bubbling out. I thought from sure she'd kid the weekend, but it looks like it wont be an Easter kidding after all.

Kidding stall and milking pen

Introducing the new kidding stall. 8 by 8 feet of recycled splendor! Its still not complete. .. I need a roof for avoinding the scorching summer sun. But there is a manger for the goats and four walls and a door. This space will be where my goats kid in spring,  a loafing area during inclement weather and a milking pen. It will be expanded eventually so that these areas are all separate but, for now, its functional . It ain't pretty though! For only $6( the cost of hardware ), I can't complain.

Whats been going on. . .

We purchased two Peking ducklings over the weekend. Admittedly,  they were an impulse buy on lovers part and are living in quarantine for Tue next 4 weeks. We always quarantine new acquisitions .
They are quite entertaining I have to say. They look so silly waddling around!!

Ive been spending much time buying and unraveling natural fiber sweaters for the purpose of resale. My hope is to generate enough dough to cover our hay habit! I may put a PayPal button on both of my pages. I want my recycled yarn to be set apart from other sellers, so I have been dying and re-plying some of the yarns as well. I have to admit some of it will be hard to let go of!

We finally got some drywall done as well! I can't believe what a huge difference it makes in lessoning the dark cavelike feel of the house. It reflects so much more light than the dark brown insulation!

So Anyway- here are some pics

What spring time brings

The weather has been beautiful.  The days are getting longer. The ducks and chickens are busy laying.

Many of my seedlings died, but I have time to start again! 

On the unhappy side of things, lily gave birth to a stillborn buckling yesterday.  He was about 6 weeks too early. I feel so bad for her. She nudged him and tried to be a mama to him. I spoiled her. She got extra grain and beat gulp and some watermelon. She was upset when I took her boy away.

She is Orchids dam. She didn't get to raise Orchid either, bit they have since bonded and spend a lot of time together. Lily will not be bred again. She just doesn't seem to carry well. Poor thing. She's the goat version of Charlie Browns Christmas tree.

The free 5 minute cold frame

The location isn't the greatest, but I'm not moving it today!

Anyway- what I did: I had  salvaged window that was in the shed, it came with the house ( several actually).
I also had about 40 reclaimed bricks which also came with the house. I stacked the bricks up double and simply layed the window on top. Because of the location and the fact that it isn't sloped, the bottom half of the frame was shaded. I took several of the taller bricks to raise up my pot to the level of the sun light.  There is a quarter inch gap around two of the four sides. I don't know if that will be a problem yet but I have sheet plastic to lay over the whole thing on colder nights. I removed the window screen and simply slide open the window to get to the plants!

In the coldframe right now:  sweet peas, lemon cucumbers,  swish Chard, and pie pumpkins.