Pioneer Woman at Heart

Courtesy of my 20 year-old "Vet-Tech" in training daughter - happy photos of the goats.  She dressed up all of her animals and took fun photos of them playing (including her rabbit!).  This brought smiles to my face, as I am unable to walk to the barn yet.  Gosh I just love these guys.  They are sporting their Christmas collars and bells, ha ha!  Of course they were not left on, but they seemed to enjoy playing around with them.

I used a portion of a head of cabbage to make a carrot/cabbage/potato frittata (loaded with fresh chives).  I found 4 pea pods while gutting the garden, so not to waste them, they went in too.

Way back in the summer, we ran out of hay.  Dallas got mad.  He soon learned to jump out of his stall and eat up the tidbits where we store the hay.   I could write a book about this goat.  He became more of the goat from h-e-double hockey sticks.  He jumped out so many times, I got tired of putting him back in. We built up the sides of the stall, north and south (the west wall is the barn wall where we have slide gate for them to exit and go into the fenced area).

Organic gum?  We gave this brand a taste test.  It's good at first, but doesn't last long. It gets hard to chew too quickly.  It's gmo free, made in the USA, all natura l f lavors etc.  It is a bit over $2.00 and I counted 29 pieces inside.  It's t asty, but expensive for how long it lasts. I've been working in my herb garden , w eeding and getting it ready for planting.  I uncovered my cilantro, and parsley, so no replanting needed for those.  It will take me a few more days (or more ) to get it spiffed up again.

My little ladies are not that little any longer.  They are growing quickly. I'm starting to teach them the call to come for a treat.  I need to get some meal worms next. 

Despite the weeds multiplying here this season, I am still getting some new blooms in the flower beds.  I've been dodging the rain showers (and storms) and cutting flowers to bring inside. You can see the bees are very busy this year in the flower beds too.

I'm afraid to show the world my vegetable garden right now. All this rain...humidity, no sunshine.... Oh, why not.   It really is in disarray this year.   Although, so far I see only one hot pepper plant did not make it due to the excess rain. Here it is...

The carrots and beets are now planted.  Each row is about 43 feet long.  We really need more, but I'm working on that.  I got the last two rain barrels in place for the next rainfall as well.  I need the water to plant everything else mid-May. Hubby and I are figuring out the best place to install my new  (concord) grape arbor.  That is next on the list too. Remember my new elderberry trees I planted last year?  Well, I found another use for them.  I read that you can stuff elderberry branches/leaves into mole tunnels to get rid of them.  My trees are not really big enough yet, but I do plan to try this if the moles continue to dig tunnels.  

One rainy day, two rainy days, three rainy days, done!  The seat cushions are all done. For one table anyway.  A few need the ties attached, but we can now enjoy them. I've also been retouching the paint on my kitchen cupboards.  They are getting a good cleaning, and guess what else?  

If you are wondering about the cut back on usage of electronic and social networks, I have a quick update. Day one:  one child just about had a meltdown, but later used her time to read a library book she has had for a few weeks.  Another got out the water color paints and painted these:

I have been trying to get clips of the kids (baby goats) romping around the kitchen, but I end up laughing so hard, the videos end up with headless goats or just feet.  Or, as you'll see in the video, the dogs get excited when they hear the pitter patter on the floor.

Everything is normal here today.   The sunrise is a beautiful pink.

Mama Peanut gave birth to twin boys.  One black and one brown, with markings like their dad.

With all the kiddos home yesterday, and the outside temperatures chilly, I used up four apples that where getting too soft to enjoy.  

As of today, we've lost 5 meat chickens.  We've raised white rocks before, and had a lower mortality rate than these Jumbo Cornish Rocks. I can't tell if they are breaking their legs or having heart attacks, but from my research, it's common.  Next year, I will have to order more, and expect to lose a few.  Just sharing that tip for those considering raising chickens for meat.

Yesterday I had a very nice laundry day.  Every line was completely full.  I did not get all the rugs washed as planned, but got all the barn cat bedding washed and put back.  It was nice to see Timmy in one of the boxes this morning, sleeping peacefully. The baby goats had outside playtime.  They love to run and play.  By the time I got out there to film them, they were pretty tired.

I didn't have to worry about where I'd get my 10,000 steps yesterday (I have a fitbit). I gained just shy of 8,000 steps by noon.

In the midst of a mad-woman cleaning day, I ran across a box of printed cardstock that was storing an unfinished project.

I'm trying out a new pattern for a simple dish scrubbie.  This one creates an edge (or ridge) on the scrubbie, making it easier to use.  I used one 10 yard length, 2 inch wide strip of netting.

To take over the goats or not to.  That is the possibility over the next 2 years.  Daughter is talking about moving out after she graduates (and go off to college) and won't be able to take the goats with her.  If she leaves them, I would have to take over all duties that she took care of. Which is everything - all goat care, milking, and soap making.  I was simply the goat milker back-up.  And of course, watered them during the school year when needed. This is only a "possibility" as I have a very large garden to plant, weed, harvest and stock up with.  Not to mention chicken duties, splitting wood and so forth.   And then there is possible employment outside of the home, and my freelance work inside the home.  And "Big Boy" is another element to the decision.  I'm not sure if I can handle his smell and attend his care.  And lastly, there is the issue of never leaving to travel anywhere, and being tied down to the homes...