Yup, that's right yesterday was August 24th, in one week, August 31st I will turn 60! Wow, I sure don't feel like I'm 60. I guess I look 60 when I look in the mirror. But when I think of my age I don't think 60. Maybe 50.
I don't think my life is going to change much, I don't expect to slow down there are just too many things that I want to do and learn. There might be some changes in what I do, but I still want to do plenty of things. There are places I still want to see as well.
This is a day of thinking. But mostly it is a day with things to get done...the usual chores and then help Jenn and Pat with the start of moving.
I am also hosting my group of knitting friends this week. It is my special Tea Party I always host the Wednesday of my birthday. Must get things ready for that.
Tuesday, the broilers go to R&B and then back to be cut up, bagged and frozen. Jenn and Pat will be here in the evening to help with the cutting, bagging and such. And also dinner together.
After the Tea Party is done, then it is time to get things ready for vacation. Plus Labor Day weekend the Kid's move to Laingsburg will be completed.
Vacation follows soon after. I think that this year I will need the down time to think about what being 60 means to me. What do I REALLY WANT TO DO? What do I need to do to get the want to do done? So many wants and soooo little time in the day.
Keep me in your thoughts and if you feel so inclined send up a little prayer to help me spent the next decade doing some real LIVING. Quality time.
Onward and Upward!
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Been a while again, but...
So, spent the last week at the Shiawassee Fair with my granddaughter Daniella. She was showing and selling her goats. Had a good time as always and she got plenty of ribbons and even one trophy. Great job Kiddo!
Now I need to get back into the swing. Plenty of work to do around here as well as some fun things too. I got a new horse just two weeks before fair and I really want to spent some quality time playing with her. She rides and drives so it will be loads of fun.
Today will be catching up with phone and emails. Also will try to get a plan on what needs to be done and when. Then I can start checking things off the list of to dos.
I will try to get some pictures of the fair and my new pony when I get a bit more time.
For now...Onward and Upward!
Now I need to get back into the swing. Plenty of work to do around here as well as some fun things too. I got a new horse just two weeks before fair and I really want to spent some quality time playing with her. She rides and drives so it will be loads of fun.
Today will be catching up with phone and emails. Also will try to get a plan on what needs to be done and when. Then I can start checking things off the list of to dos.
I will try to get some pictures of the fair and my new pony when I get a bit more time.
For now...Onward and Upward!
Sunday, March 3, 2013
It has begun...
Busy day, it started when I went out to do chores. I had two does who were due the day before. We were really hoping that one at least would have because Daniella was here. No such luck. We had been keeping a close eye on them, but no one really was interested in the sheep that wasn't due, or so we thought until next week. So anyway, I went to feed the sheep and the yearlings...I went to the door and looked into their pen. What I saw was a big surprise...laying quite lifeless in the middle of the pen was a black lamb. I could see it was breathing so I quick got in and picked it up and carried it into the house. Greg said something about the goats would wait until Daniella was gone, but then realized that it wasn't a kid, but a lamb!
The next couple of hours were spent warming and stimulating and force feeding the little guy. I asked Greg to go out and check to see if there were any others out there. When he came back in he said he found one more, very small ewe, but that was it.
When I got a chance to go out, believe it or not I found another lamb, not as small but just as dead. They all were cleaned off, but I expect that because there were three She just couldn't keep track of them. Plus the yearling does were running around there as well since they were sharing the same pen.
We felt bad that we lost two of three lambs, but it got worse...that evening when we were out for chore I heard Greg say from the back of the barn..."another one!?" Sure enough there was another lamb, not small but not as big as the one in the house. She had lambed QUADS! But because we hadn't thought she was due yet she lost three of them. They had all been buried in the straw, maybe by her trying to "wake" them, or when she was nesting each time one was coming. Hard to say. Pretty amazing anyway.
I managed to bring the one survivor around somewhat, but he never would try to stand and didn't have much sucking desire. When time came for Greg to take the dogs out for the last trip in the evening he checked on the little guy, he was dead. He just didn't have any will to live.
So now, to finish this blog on a happier note. While all the above was going on the two does decided that today was a good day to kid! Genevieve was in strong labor when I went out at about 11:30 am. It wasn't long and she had a doe and a buck to keep her busy. Just as soon as she was about done then Amalthea let me know that things for her were not going as they should be. When I checked her back end I saw another back end, little tail and all! This one was coming breech. Time for me to assist. I won't go into the details, but it was quite an experience getting the legs up and back so that everything was a little more stream lined and easier to come out. One nice little buckling doing fine.
Before much more time passed I could see that once again things were not as they should be. Little goats are suppose to come with their muzzles resting on their front legs. The first thing your suppose to see is the toe of a front foot then the nose. Well this little one was being a copycat...once again butt first. Again I assisted and all was good, this time a doeling. Twins, nice but wait...here we go again! Third one same problem, this time another little buckling. Everyone alive and well.
The last one was a bit smaller then the other two, I was concerned that he wouldn't get the milk he needed so I decided to make him a bottle baby. At the time I had the lamb that would have been a bottle baby as well if he had lived, so they could keep each other company.
I had planned on leaving all the cross bred kids on their dams. They will all be sold as they are dairy meat cross.
While I was out checking on the mommies and little ones I made a decision to take Genevieve's twins in to also be bottle babies. She was slamming them against the wall every time they cried! I didn't think they would last long if she kept that up! So much for my plan to keep them on their mother.
As of this morning I now have one mommy and her two healthy little ones doing well in the barn. One mommy who will now be a twice a day milk provider for her little ones and then later our first milk of the season. The three littles in the greenhouse had a good breakfast this morning and will soon be growing like weeds. With me bottle feeding them for the next few days at 7,11,3, and 7. Then out to the barn and feedings will be at 7,1, and 7. Anyone wishing to help is welcome at any of the afore mentioned times.
Skippy is due on the 9th, here's hoping that she will not follow her mother and beat on her kids. If so she will also be a twice a day milker from the start.
I have to also tell about my great and wonderful German Shepherd Dog Isabeau who is the most wonderful Mommy Dog that ever was! She has been waiting for this time of the year since last year. She loves the babies and as soon as there are crying babies around she is in heaven! I can't get over how good she is with them and how much care she will give them. How gentle she is and sweet. She is a bit over protective of them when it comes to Anya though...I have seen teeth several time when Anya has gotten too close to Isabeau's babies! Makes me laugh every time. Anya I don't think sees the same wonderful thing that Isabeau does. She is just curious at what it is and why on earth is it in the house! I hope that she does see how Isabeau is and learns from her so that when the time comes Anya and take over as the Great and Wonderful German Shepherd Mommy Dog.
Here are a couple of pictures of Isabeau keeping watch over the little lamb while it was in the house yesterday. She knows her job is to keep the little ones stimulated like a mommy would do and also to be there when a little one needs something. She is the first to let us know if someone needs a bottle or go get out and move around for a bit.
I hope everyone has a chance to get outside while this wonderful sun is shinning, it's not warm, but it sure is bright out! Have a great day.
Onward and Upward.
The next couple of hours were spent warming and stimulating and force feeding the little guy. I asked Greg to go out and check to see if there were any others out there. When he came back in he said he found one more, very small ewe, but that was it.
When I got a chance to go out, believe it or not I found another lamb, not as small but just as dead. They all were cleaned off, but I expect that because there were three She just couldn't keep track of them. Plus the yearling does were running around there as well since they were sharing the same pen.
We felt bad that we lost two of three lambs, but it got worse...that evening when we were out for chore I heard Greg say from the back of the barn..."another one!?" Sure enough there was another lamb, not small but not as big as the one in the house. She had lambed QUADS! But because we hadn't thought she was due yet she lost three of them. They had all been buried in the straw, maybe by her trying to "wake" them, or when she was nesting each time one was coming. Hard to say. Pretty amazing anyway.
I managed to bring the one survivor around somewhat, but he never would try to stand and didn't have much sucking desire. When time came for Greg to take the dogs out for the last trip in the evening he checked on the little guy, he was dead. He just didn't have any will to live.
So now, to finish this blog on a happier note. While all the above was going on the two does decided that today was a good day to kid! Genevieve was in strong labor when I went out at about 11:30 am. It wasn't long and she had a doe and a buck to keep her busy. Just as soon as she was about done then Amalthea let me know that things for her were not going as they should be. When I checked her back end I saw another back end, little tail and all! This one was coming breech. Time for me to assist. I won't go into the details, but it was quite an experience getting the legs up and back so that everything was a little more stream lined and easier to come out. One nice little buckling doing fine.
Before much more time passed I could see that once again things were not as they should be. Little goats are suppose to come with their muzzles resting on their front legs. The first thing your suppose to see is the toe of a front foot then the nose. Well this little one was being a copycat...once again butt first. Again I assisted and all was good, this time a doeling. Twins, nice but wait...here we go again! Third one same problem, this time another little buckling. Everyone alive and well.
The last one was a bit smaller then the other two, I was concerned that he wouldn't get the milk he needed so I decided to make him a bottle baby. At the time I had the lamb that would have been a bottle baby as well if he had lived, so they could keep each other company.
I had planned on leaving all the cross bred kids on their dams. They will all be sold as they are dairy meat cross.
While I was out checking on the mommies and little ones I made a decision to take Genevieve's twins in to also be bottle babies. She was slamming them against the wall every time they cried! I didn't think they would last long if she kept that up! So much for my plan to keep them on their mother.
As of this morning I now have one mommy and her two healthy little ones doing well in the barn. One mommy who will now be a twice a day milk provider for her little ones and then later our first milk of the season. The three littles in the greenhouse had a good breakfast this morning and will soon be growing like weeds. With me bottle feeding them for the next few days at 7,11,3, and 7. Then out to the barn and feedings will be at 7,1, and 7. Anyone wishing to help is welcome at any of the afore mentioned times.
Skippy is due on the 9th, here's hoping that she will not follow her mother and beat on her kids. If so she will also be a twice a day milker from the start.
I have to also tell about my great and wonderful German Shepherd Dog Isabeau who is the most wonderful Mommy Dog that ever was! She has been waiting for this time of the year since last year. She loves the babies and as soon as there are crying babies around she is in heaven! I can't get over how good she is with them and how much care she will give them. How gentle she is and sweet. She is a bit over protective of them when it comes to Anya though...I have seen teeth several time when Anya has gotten too close to Isabeau's babies! Makes me laugh every time. Anya I don't think sees the same wonderful thing that Isabeau does. She is just curious at what it is and why on earth is it in the house! I hope that she does see how Isabeau is and learns from her so that when the time comes Anya and take over as the Great and Wonderful German Shepherd Mommy Dog.
Here are a couple of pictures of Isabeau keeping watch over the little lamb while it was in the house yesterday. She knows her job is to keep the little ones stimulated like a mommy would do and also to be there when a little one needs something. She is the first to let us know if someone needs a bottle or go get out and move around for a bit.
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| I'm here if you need me! |
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Don't even think of trying anything with my new baby!
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Onward and Upward.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Sausage making...
Okay, so yesterday I posted on my facebook wall that Greg and I were making sausage and that I would post a picture when it was done.
Yummy! And pretty too.
Onward and Upward!
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| Breakfast sausage on left and Sweet Italian on the right. |
Yummy! And pretty too.
Onward and Upward!
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Just an update...
Not really anything of import here. It's cold outside, there is no snow on the ground. It's been windy for the past few days, so the cold got colder with the wind chill.
I have some basil coming up in the greenhouse that I started about a week ago. There should have been onions as well, but the seed was old. I replanted, with newer seed the onions, but they have about a week to go.
Went into Owosso this morning to do some grocery shopping. Stopped at Home Depot and got the boards for my new Square Foot garden boxes. They'll be here and ready just as soon as Greg decides he's ready to build them. A new plan for the garden this year. Let's hope it works out better then last year's.
One week from tomorrow there are two goats due to kid. I will be bringing them in from now on at night. Just to keep an eye on them and to give them a chance for more grain and hay. Both already look like they are ready to pop!
Right now the sun is shinning and it looks nice, but the temp is only in the 20's! A warming tread is suppose to be on the way, but we'll just have to wait and see.
I found a couple of neat things on facebook today, one to make your own American cheese: http://www.fromaway.com/cooking/how-to-make-american-cheese I will be sure to try this one as soon as I have some colby.
This one: http://girlmeetsnourishment.com/gmnwordpress1/ I'm going to do some checking into before I make anymore comments.
Not much to say, so I'll just leave it as it is...Onward and Upward!
I have some basil coming up in the greenhouse that I started about a week ago. There should have been onions as well, but the seed was old. I replanted, with newer seed the onions, but they have about a week to go.
Went into Owosso this morning to do some grocery shopping. Stopped at Home Depot and got the boards for my new Square Foot garden boxes. They'll be here and ready just as soon as Greg decides he's ready to build them. A new plan for the garden this year. Let's hope it works out better then last year's.
One week from tomorrow there are two goats due to kid. I will be bringing them in from now on at night. Just to keep an eye on them and to give them a chance for more grain and hay. Both already look like they are ready to pop!
Right now the sun is shinning and it looks nice, but the temp is only in the 20's! A warming tread is suppose to be on the way, but we'll just have to wait and see.
I found a couple of neat things on facebook today, one to make your own American cheese: http://www.fromaway.com/cooking/how-to-make-american-cheese I will be sure to try this one as soon as I have some colby.
This one: http://girlmeetsnourishment.com/gmnwordpress1/ I'm going to do some checking into before I make anymore comments.
Not much to say, so I'll just leave it as it is...Onward and Upward!
Monday, February 11, 2013
Here's what it looked like on Sunday moarning around here...
Woke up Sunday morning to this...Pretty darn chilly! Hoar frost can be pretty spectacular around here! Hope you enjoy the pictures.
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| Pretty darn cold. |
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| A bit of leftover Christmas. |
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| Before Sunup, Frosty Flower Garden. |
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Frosty Farm Scene.
Onward and Upward!
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Monday, February 4, 2013
Good day so far...
So, once again haven't blogged in quite some time. But I feel like there is something to say today, so here we go...
First off, I spent my morning organizing my sewing room. After spending time up there before Christmas and also after it was hard to find anything. Now I can find what I am looking for and I am ready to start some new projects. Feels so good!
Then, after breakfast we went out to do the chores. No more milking for a while, but everyone still needs feeding. We also moved critters around so that when kidding and lambing times comes in March and April we will be ready. Now I can keep an eye on all the ones pregnant, so when their time comes all will be good. We dropped hay down and piled it in the different spots for the different critters. We also filled all the water tanks and added bedding where it was needed. Wonderful!
Then before going back into the house we took the dogs for a good walk out in the field. Only about 3/4 of a mile for us, but the dogs went farther by all their here and there running. Another feel good moment!
Don't know for sure what I am going to do this afternoon, but I feel like getting something done. Maybe I'll do some sewing, or maybe some more organizing the raw wool area is in need of some time.
We'll just have to see what hits me. But now I need my lunch...Onward and Upward!
First off, I spent my morning organizing my sewing room. After spending time up there before Christmas and also after it was hard to find anything. Now I can find what I am looking for and I am ready to start some new projects. Feels so good!
Then, after breakfast we went out to do the chores. No more milking for a while, but everyone still needs feeding. We also moved critters around so that when kidding and lambing times comes in March and April we will be ready. Now I can keep an eye on all the ones pregnant, so when their time comes all will be good. We dropped hay down and piled it in the different spots for the different critters. We also filled all the water tanks and added bedding where it was needed. Wonderful!
Then before going back into the house we took the dogs for a good walk out in the field. Only about 3/4 of a mile for us, but the dogs went farther by all their here and there running. Another feel good moment!
Don't know for sure what I am going to do this afternoon, but I feel like getting something done. Maybe I'll do some sewing, or maybe some more organizing the raw wool area is in need of some time.
We'll just have to see what hits me. But now I need my lunch...Onward and Upward!
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| Pretty picture I found, no other reason then it is just a pretty lighthouse somewhere. |
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