I was definitely AWOL and not able to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. Hubby ended up with the doctor sending him from his office directly to the hospital. He is finally feeling better today but he's still very ill with an infection in his blood and whole system, the diabetic ulcer which has worsened and the broken foot which has worsened. The new bone from the break has pushed the toe and foot bones up and the bone at the previous amputation over and down, so it resulted in the ulcer. He'll need surgery but he's too sick to do it so will come home soon with a pic-line. It's an IV port threaded from his upper, inside arm into the aorta in the chest for IV's that are being delivered into the chest and throughout. He's also on blood thinners.... and "one sick puppy". He did decide today that he's either a basset hound or blood hound as they are slow moving and look sad. I suggested he go with the bloodhound as his legs aren't short enough for a basset (nor as short as the Corgi's here ;). He saw the humor and wasn't crabby so he's definitely feeling a little better.
Looking for the good in all of this (to remain sane of course;), I decided I'm very glad I'm not a diatician as I'd hate to have been that gal who came in to tell him NO he couldn't have a salt shaker and no he can't have pizza and no he can't have anything else he wants to eat ..... I sure wish his menu didn't have all the diets on it and only his own so he didn't see what was available for the patients on a general, eat as you want diet! He's on a diabetic and heart diet so 1800 calories and no salt. Yuppers, glad I'm not responsible for being his diatician!
I'm also thankful his nursing care has consistently been above expectations! What wonderful nurses they have ALL been! Of course he's still wanting cute, young gals! So even at just-turned-58 he's got the good foot out of the grave! ;) (Go ahead and laugh. One needs to see the humor in things or break down from the stress of it!)
I've sure been perusing a LOT of magazines! WOW, some of them are quite interesting as to current trends for those who are well off or those who are well into debt to live a well-off lifestyle. I do love some of the wall colors that are now popular. I also enjoy the recipes a lot and the crafts and such! There's the song with the phrase "little bit country" and I am POSITIVE I'm a little bit more than all country! I love the old farm houses and country decorations. I also saw a wall hanging today that I LOVE! It's a huge barn with trees and such around it and some metal horses..... and it's a whole lot country.... just my style! The price has been lowered to $125 which I about choked on and they came down and offered it to me for $60. I just can't decide. I know I shouldn't spend that, but I soooooo want to. Boy do I want too! I LOVE it! It's ME! They'll be open on Wednesday again...... should I? Do I? I wonder if I offered a bit lower....??????? The metal horses are the expensive "Home Interiors" and I have 1 of them. They are expensive new and out of stock now I'm sure. I wonder if I sold one or both if I'd get anything off them on eBay? I sure do love that barn...... and don't need the horses so I'd end up with a great deal, wouldn't I? What do you think, readers? (No, I didn't go shopping over the weekend. I only stopped and picked up bandaging material for hubby's foot as I need 2 rolls of the wide (4") sterile gauze per day.) Help me decide.... this is a one of a kind ceramic type wall hanging and quite good sized. Should I?
It's hard to believe December is trying to get in the door. I don't have my list of pre-winter chores done as I've been at the hospital other than doing chores. That stock tank is now ready to be moved and I need some time to move it and fill it asap. ;) I have hay coming in the morning so I'll work on that while I wait for the hay guy. Even if I don't fill it full it will be a good start. The electric cord is there and ready for the heater to be put in the tank and plugged in. I need to put the 2 stakes in marking where the cord is at for the winter so it doesn't get caught in a snow plow, etc. That won't take long but I want to get the heater plugged in first so if I have to move the cord some I can do it. It just fits to the heater cord and tank. Then after the tank if full, I need to pull the hoses and drain them. I use them all winter and drain them when done being used. I rarely have a problem other than it's a pain to drain them as I generally can soak 2 pairs of gloves easily. So much to do and so little time.....
I'll be back soon and hopefully have something more interesting. I do hope that my posts about hubby's diabetic issues will educate people so they take diabetes more seriously and don't have to go through the stress and pain. It's a huge emotional pain for the family and a physical pain and all to go through for the diabetic. If you're not diabetic and have family or close friends who are, I hope you can help them understand how bad it can be and give them some support in their efforts to live with it and make the necessary diet changes. I'm taking much better care of myself now in the last year and a half as I have it in my family also and I don't want it! I need to loose more weight too! It's a devastating and horrible disease at best.
I do hope you all have a great week coming up.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Catch Up Day
Today is a catch up day! I've had 3 days of working hard to get pre-winter work done as we are predicted to have snow on Friday and rain Wednesday thru Saturday. Soon things will be frozen down and I won't be able to make things easier to tend to over the long winter. Our homestead may only be 11+ acres, but I still have to have things ready to care for the livestock appropriately.
Being I was able to trade the 6 does for the 5 heavy duty farm gates I have them set for corral panels and was able to use the whole chain link dog kennel for the bucks in their new location. That made it so their area is about 4 times as large as I had hoped for for the winter. So they are now in their new quarters just outside of the barn right next to the does which is where they want to be. They really want to be with those cute junior does who are coming in heat and a bit too young to be bred. They feel they need to keep tabs on them and socialize full time! I guess even if you're a goat you still crave attention from the girls and especially the "really hot and cute" girls!
I also was able to release the 8 new chickens into the new goat pen also. I'm hoping the goats will afford them some protection from predators. They do get along well so it's definitely worth trying. The hens will help clean up spilled grain the goats waste too. I had 3 of the young new hens who were doing quite a happy dance over the release from the big cage they were in. They were hopping in the air while spinning around and fluffing their feathers and flapping their wings.
One thing about farm work is there is a LOT of cause and effect. Everything something is achieved, it causes the need for more work! Now I need to cover the pen to keep the owls and hawks from getting to my hens. With the price of hens these days ($10-15 each for young hens around here) any loss is expensive. I have more to do where the pen was as there are some pallets that need taken care of that the goats jumped around on and the wasted hay to be put in the new raised garden beds I've started. There is still a gate to be mounted as a gate and some other tidying up and shoring up where I put the gates in for corral panels. Cause and effect!
So tomorrow while I take hubby for his medical appointments (which takes 2 days a week and daily bandaging and care) I will spend a few minutes reviewing my list of pre-winter preparations and get to scratch some things off while adding on more! The medical trips take all day as it's 1 1/2 hours' drive each way to the big city. We live in a small rural area so everything we do is a drive.
Tomorrow I'll have a shorter/easier chore to do as my mare has finally got her stock tank down low enough in water I'll be able to tip it and clean it out. I'll then move it back to it's winter spot where my electric cord can reach for the stock tank heater to keep her some open water. That spot is great for winter but not the rest of the year as it's by a walnut tree and few others and gets too many leaves in it. The walnut leaves cause the water to turn black and nasty and I worry about the tannins being toxic being walnut shavings are highly toxic to horses. I'll have to fill it of course and that can be in progress while I tend the goats and chickens and milk. If there's time I have 3 fence posts to drive. I got them pulled up today. Of course it's not as simple as just driving the posts! They have to be securely attached to what they are supporting and it always seems that there are other things that crop up making something so simple sounding a longer process than expected. Dinner will have to be something that I do the majority of the work on early in the day or in a crockpot so it's quick and easy. Maybe pizza melts!
We've had another blessing this week that is beyond thoughtful! A neighbor showed up with a trailer load of fire wood all cut and split for us. It's mostly odd shaped or sized pieces that don't stack well so end up in a pile. They had been throwing them on the trailer not sure what they were going to do with them. Then another neighbor had stopped by their place and commented he was going to be coming over to help us with wood in January. We have some left over from last year but I've been a bit concerned over having enough. I never use to worry about the fire wood as hubby took care of it. Now he can't and I'm responsible for something I'd not had to be overly involved in. I only toted some in the house and burned a lot of it in the past being it was one of hubby's responsibilities. At least we now have ample so I don't have to worry about enough to get through to mid-winter for help cutting and hauling it from the woods. We have a couple of wonderful neighbors! It's so hard to tell someone how much their kindness means to us!
I'm not sure if I'll have time to post tomorrow. I wish you all a very special Thanksgiving Day with your family, friends and special folks! We'll go to my BIL's/SIL's for the day and I'm looking forward to a day to relax! We'll still need to be home by 4:30 or 5 as I will still need to milk the does. Livestock chores are done here even on a holiday. The animals have needs that I chose to be responsible for and will tend too. I'll have everything done that I can prior to leaving so it will be easier and faster when I get home. We'll still have a special time with special people!
Enjoy your dinner and time! I'll be back in a few days!
Being I was able to trade the 6 does for the 5 heavy duty farm gates I have them set for corral panels and was able to use the whole chain link dog kennel for the bucks in their new location. That made it so their area is about 4 times as large as I had hoped for for the winter. So they are now in their new quarters just outside of the barn right next to the does which is where they want to be. They really want to be with those cute junior does who are coming in heat and a bit too young to be bred. They feel they need to keep tabs on them and socialize full time! I guess even if you're a goat you still crave attention from the girls and especially the "really hot and cute" girls!
I also was able to release the 8 new chickens into the new goat pen also. I'm hoping the goats will afford them some protection from predators. They do get along well so it's definitely worth trying. The hens will help clean up spilled grain the goats waste too. I had 3 of the young new hens who were doing quite a happy dance over the release from the big cage they were in. They were hopping in the air while spinning around and fluffing their feathers and flapping their wings.
One thing about farm work is there is a LOT of cause and effect. Everything something is achieved, it causes the need for more work! Now I need to cover the pen to keep the owls and hawks from getting to my hens. With the price of hens these days ($10-15 each for young hens around here) any loss is expensive. I have more to do where the pen was as there are some pallets that need taken care of that the goats jumped around on and the wasted hay to be put in the new raised garden beds I've started. There is still a gate to be mounted as a gate and some other tidying up and shoring up where I put the gates in for corral panels. Cause and effect!
So tomorrow while I take hubby for his medical appointments (which takes 2 days a week and daily bandaging and care) I will spend a few minutes reviewing my list of pre-winter preparations and get to scratch some things off while adding on more! The medical trips take all day as it's 1 1/2 hours' drive each way to the big city. We live in a small rural area so everything we do is a drive.
Tomorrow I'll have a shorter/easier chore to do as my mare has finally got her stock tank down low enough in water I'll be able to tip it and clean it out. I'll then move it back to it's winter spot where my electric cord can reach for the stock tank heater to keep her some open water. That spot is great for winter but not the rest of the year as it's by a walnut tree and few others and gets too many leaves in it. The walnut leaves cause the water to turn black and nasty and I worry about the tannins being toxic being walnut shavings are highly toxic to horses. I'll have to fill it of course and that can be in progress while I tend the goats and chickens and milk. If there's time I have 3 fence posts to drive. I got them pulled up today. Of course it's not as simple as just driving the posts! They have to be securely attached to what they are supporting and it always seems that there are other things that crop up making something so simple sounding a longer process than expected. Dinner will have to be something that I do the majority of the work on early in the day or in a crockpot so it's quick and easy. Maybe pizza melts!
We've had another blessing this week that is beyond thoughtful! A neighbor showed up with a trailer load of fire wood all cut and split for us. It's mostly odd shaped or sized pieces that don't stack well so end up in a pile. They had been throwing them on the trailer not sure what they were going to do with them. Then another neighbor had stopped by their place and commented he was going to be coming over to help us with wood in January. We have some left over from last year but I've been a bit concerned over having enough. I never use to worry about the fire wood as hubby took care of it. Now he can't and I'm responsible for something I'd not had to be overly involved in. I only toted some in the house and burned a lot of it in the past being it was one of hubby's responsibilities. At least we now have ample so I don't have to worry about enough to get through to mid-winter for help cutting and hauling it from the woods. We have a couple of wonderful neighbors! It's so hard to tell someone how much their kindness means to us!
I'm not sure if I'll have time to post tomorrow. I wish you all a very special Thanksgiving Day with your family, friends and special folks! We'll go to my BIL's/SIL's for the day and I'm looking forward to a day to relax! We'll still need to be home by 4:30 or 5 as I will still need to milk the does. Livestock chores are done here even on a holiday. The animals have needs that I chose to be responsible for and will tend too. I'll have everything done that I can prior to leaving so it will be easier and faster when I get home. We'll still have a special time with special people!
Enjoy your dinner and time! I'll be back in a few days!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Adios Girls!
Today I said goodbye to 6 of my goatie girls. I had advertised 5 of them on Craigslist along with a young buck. I wasn't even off the CL site and had a response. We made a trade that I'm VERY happy with and 6 does went along to a new home instead of just the 5. My head said sell another as I had a buyer ready to make a deal and my heart said I like Lily soooo much.... but I also knew she'd be on the list to go come spring if she didn't go now. I like her so much and yet her teats are something I don't want to breed (multiple spurs) so that was a LARGE issue for me.
Feed prices have jumped and winter is nipping at my heels so it was time to do the inevitable. I'm also in a spot with needing my numbers down for care as hubby's foot has worsened significantly and the specialist said he's "a heart beat away from another amputation". So I need to be able to care for him with less work to do.
Even with the 6 now gone to a new home for breeding purposes, I still have 16 goats! I have a young buck (Buckley) to sell yet and then will have 2 bucks (Nipper & Winchester22) and 14 does. My goal was to get down to 12-15 goats by winter. I may reach the 15 yet! I'll have a very hard time getting down to the 12 if I even could as I traded 2 young Boer bucks for 2 full sisters (Macey & Mo'Nique) to one of the goats (Daisy) who is one of our 3 top favorites. I'm also keeping the 2 2009 does out of Daisy (Latte & Coffee Bean).
(Sandy, who just left, is on the left with Winchester22 trotting towards her. Daisy on the right with Latte and Coffee Bean playing on the wood.)
Feed prices have jumped and winter is nipping at my heels so it was time to do the inevitable. I'm also in a spot with needing my numbers down for care as hubby's foot has worsened significantly and the specialist said he's "a heart beat away from another amputation". So I need to be able to care for him with less work to do.
Even with the 6 now gone to a new home for breeding purposes, I still have 16 goats! I have a young buck (Buckley) to sell yet and then will have 2 bucks (Nipper & Winchester22) and 14 does. My goal was to get down to 12-15 goats by winter. I may reach the 15 yet! I'll have a very hard time getting down to the 12 if I even could as I traded 2 young Boer bucks for 2 full sisters (Macey & Mo'Nique) to one of the goats (Daisy) who is one of our 3 top favorites. I'm also keeping the 2 2009 does out of Daisy (Latte & Coffee Bean).
(Sandy, who just left, is on the left with Winchester22 trotting towards her. Daisy on the right with Latte and Coffee Bean playing on the wood.)I now am down to 2 does (Claire & Kendra) to milk! Come spring I'll be up to 5! So getting a calf will be a good deal as I'll have ample milk to feed it and pasture for it to graze. We've raised a lot of calves over the years like that and they are the nicest meat - very lean and tender. It's also an economical way to have our own meat that is raised in a humane and natural manner without all the chemicals and hormones used in commercial meat. My animals have a very good life while they are with us.
So, adios to my 6 girls who have gone to another goat farm to be breeding stock and still live a good life with lots of turn out and good care! I love placing animals in a good home that they will be happy in.
Come spring kidding season will bring more kids ..... and I'm glad I have a "quality product" that others appreciate and want. It makes it worth it!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Nanny Berries
Do you know about Nanny Berries? If not, let me introduce you with this one:
Celebrations - http://www.boergoats.com/clean/articleads.php?art=1016
These articles are a GOOD read and very enjoyable. The writer has the ability to write so one feels they are right there while reading them.
If you don't enjoy them, you probably are not an animal lover or just despise goats!
Celebrations - http://www.boergoats.com/clean/articleads.php?art=1016
These articles are a GOOD read and very enjoyable. The writer has the ability to write so one feels they are right there while reading them.
If you don't enjoy them, you probably are not an animal lover or just despise goats!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Easy Oatmeal Soap
Do you ever wonder what you could do with your bits of soap (soap scraps) from used bars and hate throwing them out? Here's just the ticket!
For each half cup of soap scraps add one cup of water into a pan on the stove and set the heat to medium. While this is melting, line an old dish with wax paper and grease the paper so help prevent the soap from adhering to it during the drying process. Stir the soap occassionally while keeping an eye on it and when it's fully melted, stir in enough fine oatmeal to form a stiff "batter". When the soap becomes quite stiff pour the mixture into your dish/mold. Before it gets completely hard and dry, cut it into bars the size you prefer. Then you have an excellent soap for keeping your hands soft and is good for your skin.
A few drops of essential oil or even vanilla may be added with the oatmeal if desired. Be aware that essential oils are strong smelling in a soap mixture and the aroma can become over powering in your house so star with only a SMALL amount!
For each half cup of soap scraps add one cup of water into a pan on the stove and set the heat to medium. While this is melting, line an old dish with wax paper and grease the paper so help prevent the soap from adhering to it during the drying process. Stir the soap occassionally while keeping an eye on it and when it's fully melted, stir in enough fine oatmeal to form a stiff "batter". When the soap becomes quite stiff pour the mixture into your dish/mold. Before it gets completely hard and dry, cut it into bars the size you prefer. Then you have an excellent soap for keeping your hands soft and is good for your skin.
A few drops of essential oil or even vanilla may be added with the oatmeal if desired. Be aware that essential oils are strong smelling in a soap mixture and the aroma can become over powering in your house so star with only a SMALL amount!
A Few Winter Tips
Do you get salt on your winter footwear? If so, dampen a rag with white vinegar and blot clean. The heavier the salt buildup and the more absorbent the material it's on will mean more botting and rinsing the rag a few times but it does work.
Also, it's time to get some kitty litter in some gallon jugs and in your vehicle with a small shovel. Be sure to have a snuggy warm blanket or 2 in the vehicle too! If you have individual seats or passengers in the back seat and front, you need enough blankets to make sure every one has enough to be well covered. If you wear a dress, it really doesn't hurt to have a pair of sweat pants in the vehicle over the winter too so you don't get stranded in a dress on the side of the road!
If you don't live in an area where these tips are as important, don't forget them if you travel to an area where they are for your holidays!
Also, it's time to get some kitty litter in some gallon jugs and in your vehicle with a small shovel. Be sure to have a snuggy warm blanket or 2 in the vehicle too! If you have individual seats or passengers in the back seat and front, you need enough blankets to make sure every one has enough to be well covered. If you wear a dress, it really doesn't hurt to have a pair of sweat pants in the vehicle over the winter too so you don't get stranded in a dress on the side of the road!
If you don't live in an area where these tips are as important, don't forget them if you travel to an area where they are for your holidays!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Sunday on a Country Road
It's been a busy day. Today has been opening day for firearm deer season so it sounds like a war zone out there ALL DAY!!! Last night was the end of bow season and we have a nice neighbor we allow to hunt on our property. He got a really nice buck and brought the liver and heart last night along with his news. Today he brought his trophy and the neck for us to cut and package. We'll have 10 meals out of this and more if we have left overs. We'll also have a nice soup broth from the neck bones too. Tonight was liver and onions which we both love and greatly enjoyed. This same neighbor also comes and helps us with our firewood which is a great blessing considering our health issues. So it's a win-win situation. An added benefit is he keeps others off our property which we hope keeps the livestock safer! Then today my BIL came for gun season and saw a big buck but it got scared off before he got in a good range for BIL to take him.
We did have an interesting few moments with opening day. I happened to look out and our front yard had several deer nervously milling around before deciding which way to run. There were 7 does. When they took off one missed the jump over the fence and got all tangled up in the woven and hot wire and took a spill. Being a fence row with rocks she had a hard time righting herself as she was trying to run and catch up with her herd.
I did end up with the electric fence on the other side of the house demolished so the deer were threw there too. I got that fixed but boy they can sure twist that wire up and all 3 strands also "braided" together. I sometimes wonder if my horse is bummed while standing and watching me fix it so she doesn't have an escape route.
When my BIL got done hunting he had a surprise for me! He found a tire kicking around his place that fit my wheelbarrow! HALLELUJAH!!! I was cringing at the price of a new one and had been looking for a used unsuccessfully. He also had an extra air compressor that can be attached to a car or garden tractor battery! I felt like a kid with 2 birthday or Christmas presents and both are used items! Sometimes the little things mean the most! He also "made my day"! He helped hubby pull a pulley and gear off a motorized "contraption" hubby has made from some used garden tractors for his walnut cleaning.
I've added 3 pics of various places on the country road I live on. The leaves are now gone and yet I just took these pics! Winds and rain do that.
I thought you might enjoy them. They remind me of when hubby and I were late teens and young adults. Back then it was a "thing to do" to go for a Sunday drive and enjoy the views.
Later we continued those drives and looked for property after we were married.
We often see deer in several places and yet the road is probably only 3 miles long.
Our place is on the dirt end of the road. Being there is a county line/change in the middle it's paved South of us in the next county.
Another time I'll post a few more country road pics.
It's an attractive road if you want to call a road attractive! I guess being a country girl I just enjoy the country look!
My Nigerian Dwarf buck is in 7th heaven again. Several of the junior does are in roaring heat and all clamboring for his attentions. He's all kissy faced and blubbering his goatie talk to them while trying to coax them through the small holes in the partition between pens in the barn. I'm ruining his full enjoyment of the situation for another 6 weeks or so as I want them to have a little more size and maturity before they are bred. It wasn't such a peaceful chore time tonight with all the commotion the girls are causing while trying to be in the best spot to win Nipper's attention and his noise-making trying to lure them to the other pen! Usually milking time is quiet and a great time for contemplation, pondering things, making plans, and hoping I can get all the outdoor work done before the snow and ice hit full time for the winter. That can be any time!
While in the barn I found a surprise today too! I have 2 hens who needed time away from their flock to recover from being picked on and mated too much. They are in with the adult goats. Low and behold they have started laying again! I found 4 green eggs behind the chair in the stall where they have a peaceful spot and can get away from the goats. It's a broken chair that I took out to use to sit in while bottle feeding kids and I'm keeping it out there! One of my new hens I just got has started to lay also so I found a nice large brown egg in her box too! I wasn't expecting any eggs til spring and today I found 5! Maybe Easter is closer than I expected?
Then I headed to the house to take care of my milk and for supper. What a busy day and with some moments that I greatly enjoyed and appreciated!
We did have an interesting few moments with opening day. I happened to look out and our front yard had several deer nervously milling around before deciding which way to run. There were 7 does. When they took off one missed the jump over the fence and got all tangled up in the woven and hot wire and took a spill. Being a fence row with rocks she had a hard time righting herself as she was trying to run and catch up with her herd.
I did end up with the electric fence on the other side of the house demolished so the deer were threw there too. I got that fixed but boy they can sure twist that wire up and all 3 strands also "braided" together. I sometimes wonder if my horse is bummed while standing and watching me fix it so she doesn't have an escape route.
When my BIL got done hunting he had a surprise for me! He found a tire kicking around his place that fit my wheelbarrow! HALLELUJAH!!! I was cringing at the price of a new one and had been looking for a used unsuccessfully. He also had an extra air compressor that can be attached to a car or garden tractor battery! I felt like a kid with 2 birthday or Christmas presents and both are used items! Sometimes the little things mean the most! He also "made my day"! He helped hubby pull a pulley and gear off a motorized "contraption" hubby has made from some used garden tractors for his walnut cleaning.
I've added 3 pics of various places on the country road I live on. The leaves are now gone and yet I just took these pics! Winds and rain do that.I thought you might enjoy them. They remind me of when hubby and I were late teens and young adults. Back then it was a "thing to do" to go for a Sunday drive and enjoy the views.
Later we continued those drives and looked for property after we were married.
We often see deer in several places and yet the road is probably only 3 miles long.
Our place is on the dirt end of the road. Being there is a county line/change in the middle it's paved South of us in the next county.Another time I'll post a few more country road pics.
It's an attractive road if you want to call a road attractive! I guess being a country girl I just enjoy the country look!
My Nigerian Dwarf buck is in 7th heaven again. Several of the junior does are in roaring heat and all clamboring for his attentions. He's all kissy faced and blubbering his goatie talk to them while trying to coax them through the small holes in the partition between pens in the barn. I'm ruining his full enjoyment of the situation for another 6 weeks or so as I want them to have a little more size and maturity before they are bred. It wasn't such a peaceful chore time tonight with all the commotion the girls are causing while trying to be in the best spot to win Nipper's attention and his noise-making trying to lure them to the other pen! Usually milking time is quiet and a great time for contemplation, pondering things, making plans, and hoping I can get all the outdoor work done before the snow and ice hit full time for the winter. That can be any time!
While in the barn I found a surprise today too! I have 2 hens who needed time away from their flock to recover from being picked on and mated too much. They are in with the adult goats. Low and behold they have started laying again! I found 4 green eggs behind the chair in the stall where they have a peaceful spot and can get away from the goats. It's a broken chair that I took out to use to sit in while bottle feeding kids and I'm keeping it out there! One of my new hens I just got has started to lay also so I found a nice large brown egg in her box too! I wasn't expecting any eggs til spring and today I found 5! Maybe Easter is closer than I expected?
Then I headed to the house to take care of my milk and for supper. What a busy day and with some moments that I greatly enjoyed and appreciated!
Friday, November 13, 2009
GDS - Goat Delusional Syndrome
WHAT IS GDS?
ARE YOU AT RISK?
Do you have GDS (Goat Delusional Syndrome)?
There is no known cure. We don't know how this disease is contracted, the level of contageousness, and very few, if any, approach a full recovery. There are many documented cases of people remaining without symptoms for years, only to have the disease return after many years of not keeping goats.
So, "WHAT IS GDS AND ARE YOU AT RISK"?
Goat Delusional Syndrome
Basic Symptoms
1. Frequent and ongoing conversations with one or more goats.
2. Assigning human attributes such as personality to goats (i.e., "That goat is so selfish - such a snob - so possessive - so jealous.")
3. Over-sensitivity and over-protectiveness (i.e., taking offense when someone refers to goats as mere livestock).
4. Periodic insomnia due to worry about goats - walking out to the barn after midnight just to "check on things."
5. Considering Christmas presents and/or treats for "special goats."
Advanced Symptoms
1. Hugging and kissing goats - even BUCKS.
2. Addressing goats with terms of endearment (i.e., sugar, sweetie, honey, baby).
3. Eating only half an apple and pretending you're full - just so you can share the remainder with a goat.
4. Remembering every goats birthday without referring to a calendar or registration papers - AND expecting everyone else in the family to share in your excitement at the goats birthday party.
5. Spending an inordinate amount of time at Internet goat sites and e-mailing perfect strangers about your goats.
6. Canceling vacations because of goats.
7. Missing church because a goat is due to deliver.
8. Buying a bigger farm or ranch so you can buy more goats.
9. Buying goats on credit - putting goats on lay-away - saving for months to buy a single goat.
10. Taking a second job or second mortgage to support your goat habit.
11. Joining a 12 Step Program or support group because of your goat addiction.
12. Insisting that family holiday gatherings are at your farm/ranch because you can't bear the thought of the goats being alone for the holidays.
13. And finally, trying to find decorative uses for goat berries - such as painting and stringing them like cranberries for your Christmas tree.
Written by Debbie Whittle and posted on several e-group lists.
*****
The article is by a Debbie Whittle. I don't know who she is or where to find her but will be watching for her on my goat lists. I would like to get permission to leave this here and add any other credit she'd like with it if she'll graciously agree. If you know of a contact method, please post in the comments or email me! TIA!
I greatly enjoyed reading it and hope my readers do too. Good job, Debbie!
The photos are of a couple of my goats. At the top is Winchester 22 at 5 weeks old. Winchester is goatie #22 and a Boer buckling. The 2nd photo is of Lady Bug and June Bug who are full sisters of triplets. In the background is Nipper, their future herd sire. The girls were about a month old. They are Nigerian Dwarfs.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Thursday Things
Today isn't a good day to be posting much if anything as I have so much to get done. I'm in the middle of canning applesauce, it's hubby's birthday and winter is coming so the outdoors work is heavy on my mind. I still have a couple big projects to finish and need to GET THEM DONE! ButI have this driving urge to write something..... So here's a tip for cooking corn that I found on a recipe group (thanks to Russie).... I have some frozen corn so I'm going to pull some out for supper and give this a try! What we had last week was a tad dry so maybe it can help!
SWEET TENDER CORN EVERY TIME
Just add a pinch of sugar and a splash of milk to the corn's cooking water.
The lactose in milk helps tenderize the kernels,
while sugar enhances the corn's natural sugars.
Save the salt for the table, as it will toughen the kernels.
I'm also going to be making fried chicken. I don't do a lot of frying due to cholesterol levels for both of us but it's a special day and it's one of his all-time favorite meals. I also have a tahini butternut squash with a bad spot forming so will roast part of it (the rest can go in the fridge for the weekend) so I don't lose it. The hens will enjoy the spot I have to cut out so it's not going to waste. ;) Smashed potatoes would be good..... and gravy.....I guess the nuts need to be jarred so I can use the cast iron fry pan today!
We're having a sunny day and it's up to 52 degrees and I'm not going to get much done outside due to canning and a big dinner. I'll do chores and milk of course as that's a must. I'm still trying to get a couple decent pics of the new goaties to share. They sure are cute and SWEET SWEET girls who LOVE attention. That's life, isn't it!?!
Have a good day and thanks for stopping in to read my meanderings!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Cheese Making - Cheddar Curds
Have you ever made homemade cheese? I do and I LOVE it! It's helpful to have my dairy goats so I have fresh milk but you can make it with store bought milk too. You'd have to buy additional cream to make it a rich cheese though.
I need to get a cheese press made and get the items needed to make aged cheese as that's my next step. I need the wax used for aging and to have a suitable "cave" that will hold at 55 degrees. My fridge is set much lower because of milk storage so I's not going to work. My ideal would be to find a small dorm-sized refrigerator that can be dedicated to just cheese.
In the meantime, I LOVE making cheddar curds. These fresh curds are "addictive" and sooooo yummy. Then there's all the nutrition too!
Instead of just giving you the directions, I'm going to give you the link that I started with as it's full of great photos and so easy to understand that you really can do this with your kids for a home science experience. Then they can have a nutritious snack instead of the candy and chips and such they wish they had. This is a great way to help your kids have healthy snacks and improve their habits.
http://www.cheesemaking.com/Recipe_CheeseCurds.html This is a reliable company too that has a great reputation in the cheesemaking world.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Tuesday Tip - Blogging
I have learned a "new trick" in my blogging. I wanted to do more with photos and a few graphics in my posts and am giving it a go. I have learned though that there's a "trick" to making it easier on myself and also much faster!
I need to upload the photos in reverse order FIRST! Then I can add my writing and it will end up faster and the right spots! The way they upload always puts the photo at the top and then I had to cut and paste my text which was already written.
I'm glad I have this all figured out now as I have taken photos of my home made bird feed and am about to post what and how I do them. I have several photos and need to reduce them in size a bit and finish the 2nd one. So I'll be able to post that easily now because I learned a new trick.
Well, I'm not sure I want to eat dog biscuits so I will have an apple for my treat instead!
Have a great day!
I need to upload the photos in reverse order FIRST! Then I can add my writing and it will end up faster and the right spots! The way they upload always puts the photo at the top and then I had to cut and paste my text which was already written.
I'm glad I have this all figured out now as I have taken photos of my home made bird feed and am about to post what and how I do them. I have several photos and need to reduce them in size a bit and finish the 2nd one. So I'll be able to post that easily now because I learned a new trick.
Well, I'm not sure I want to eat dog biscuits so I will have an apple for my treat instead!
Have a great day!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Makeup Names
GOOD GRIEF! I'm NOT a Wall! I'm here on the computer and listening to "Better TV". There was just a segment about makeup on; and I find the product names and labels offensive. There is a facial makeup the presenter was promoting called SPACKLE! It's, as she said, a "primer". I sure won't be buying it as I'm NOT a wall to be primed and spackled.
I also feel that if a man had tried to use these names/labels for makeup (foundation) 10 or 20 years ago there would have been a MAJOR upheaval (like I'm doing??) over it and it would have been considered degrading and extremely chauvenistic.
Do you find these labels offensive?
Would you buy products with labels like these?
I'm sure glad we have other choices as my choice to buy makeup that lets me be in touch with my "girly" side and has a more feminine flair to the name. I'm far from a girly girl too! I'm a farm girl and I know how to get dirty, wear a little stink, and most likely turn a few noses. But, makeup is my feeling feminine time!Use Those Onion Skins!
Recently I learned a frugal and vintage method to make broth using the onion skins along with vegetable peelings and such. I knew about the vegetable peelings and bits but didn't the onion peels!I've since started it and it's a NICE brown vegetable broth, even from just the onion and garlic skins and ends. I wish I'd thought of it YEARS ago as we love garlic and onions and here I've been throwing out "gold"! Here I've been buying onion soup mix in quantities and had my own product that is just minus the salt! I won't even bother with adding up my waste of money as I can't! How would I when I can't tally the wasted onion bits/pieces.....!
Now I have a flavorful broth when I need to add some liquid to a soup or casserole at the last minute and I'm not watering it down flavor wise. It's great for soups, stews, etc. I LOVED the stew I made with some last week. The potatoes really are better with the added flavor! This will make great gravy also! Plus you have a broth with NO SALT so you can "fix" a too salty dish too!
Just be aware that the broth is the color of tea so it will darken your pot of yummys if you have a pale item cooking such as a potato soup, chicken broth, etc. It won't hurt it but the appearance will change a bit.
Enjoy and save yourself some money you can better use elsewhere!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Frugal Tips for Cheese and Yogurt Making
Just a couple tips:
* You can buy cultured buttermilk WITH active/live cultures from the grocery store and then use it to make "ice cubes". Store in a freezer container or freezer zip lock baggies. I'd suggest you label the bag and date it. You can use these cubes to make your own buttermilk (and more cubes) and for making cheese! Just store them so they don't freezer burn as you can make more as you go along and you want those original store ones to keep well.
*You can buy yogurt that has active/live cultures (plain, vanilla and lemon are best) and do the same. Yogurt and buttermilk are different cultures so will produce different tasting cheese! You can then make your own yogurt too and it's really easy to grab out a few cubes.
*If you have yogurt that is aging and you want to get it used up, make cheese out of it. Drain it like making cheese and you'll have a bit of a soft, fresh cheese for spreading on toast, crackers, pb & j sandwiches (an extra treat with a bit of cheese in them), stuffed french toast, or for adding to another dish calling for cream cheese. It's great in cheese cake and can also be mixed with cool whip for a fruit salad dressing. It makes a great fruit dip too using a recipe calling for cream cheese.
*If you have bits of cheese that are drying out, do NOT throw them out. Cheese is expensive and you can be frugal and save them for a dish calling for cheese such as augratin veggies or potatoes. It's great grated on a dish of soup or chili, etc.
*Don't forget that the cheese you buy such as the cheddars, colbys, etc are aged cheeses that developed a mold during their aging process. Those mold spots we occassionally get on a cheese don't make the whole cheese bad. You just trim the bits off and use the cheese. It'll continue to mold if you don't use it up but you can cube it up and freeze it until you can use it for a cheese sauce or dish. Those cubes go great in a broccoli or potato soup!
* You can buy cultured buttermilk WITH active/live cultures from the grocery store and then use it to make "ice cubes". Store in a freezer container or freezer zip lock baggies. I'd suggest you label the bag and date it. You can use these cubes to make your own buttermilk (and more cubes) and for making cheese! Just store them so they don't freezer burn as you can make more as you go along and you want those original store ones to keep well.
*You can buy yogurt that has active/live cultures (plain, vanilla and lemon are best) and do the same. Yogurt and buttermilk are different cultures so will produce different tasting cheese! You can then make your own yogurt too and it's really easy to grab out a few cubes.
*If you have yogurt that is aging and you want to get it used up, make cheese out of it. Drain it like making cheese and you'll have a bit of a soft, fresh cheese for spreading on toast, crackers, pb & j sandwiches (an extra treat with a bit of cheese in them), stuffed french toast, or for adding to another dish calling for cream cheese. It's great in cheese cake and can also be mixed with cool whip for a fruit salad dressing. It makes a great fruit dip too using a recipe calling for cream cheese.
*If you have bits of cheese that are drying out, do NOT throw them out. Cheese is expensive and you can be frugal and save them for a dish calling for cheese such as augratin veggies or potatoes. It's great grated on a dish of soup or chili, etc.
*Don't forget that the cheese you buy such as the cheddars, colbys, etc are aged cheeses that developed a mold during their aging process. Those mold spots we occassionally get on a cheese don't make the whole cheese bad. You just trim the bits off and use the cheese. It'll continue to mold if you don't use it up but you can cube it up and freeze it until you can use it for a cheese sauce or dish. Those cubes go great in a broccoli or potato soup!
Sunny Sunday
It's been a pretty day out and got up in the mid 60's which is AWESOME for November here in the "North Country" (mid-west US). We'll be lucky to have another this year.
I had been lucky to get 4 turkeys @ 40 cents a pound and today I'm done with partial thawing and cutting up the last. The first went right into the freezer with a bit of wrestling the rascal! I need to rethink putting turkeys and chicken in the baskets and try for my cheese and such instead I guess. It's a new freezer and I've loaded it in the same order as my previous one that had shelves and no baskets. I'm not impressed with the baskets at this point. Maybe if I rearrange (and it's packed now) it and use them differently it would be a better "fit" for my style. Anyway, this last one will be about 10 meals for the 2 of us! The carcass is now in the soup pot and I have chunks of meat in the electric skillet along with the 2 wings.
As usual, I'm collecting the fat off the top of the soup pot and have a couple bird feeders started for winter. I'll post about them later and took a couple pics to share with that project. We'll have baked potatoes with the turkey and corn on the cob I've pulled out of the freezer.
My next stock up (how I'll do that with a full freezer will be a good one) is the pork butts on sale this coming week for 99 cents a pound. If I keep this up I'll be pulling the frozen milk out sooner than expected!
Here's a new load of mangel beets for livestock. These things are HUGE. Once an animal gets the hang of them they LOVE them. Pigs are hilarious when thrown a couple. They need a bit of cutting for goats, cattle and horses.
This is from our annual trip north to get apples and our winter supply of potatoes, onions, squash, etc. I hope you can click on it for a larger view if you'd like.
It's time to milk my goats and then finish supper. I hope you have a good evening and your upcoming week is enjoyable. Stay healthy!
I had been lucky to get 4 turkeys @ 40 cents a pound and today I'm done with partial thawing and cutting up the last. The first went right into the freezer with a bit of wrestling the rascal! I need to rethink putting turkeys and chicken in the baskets and try for my cheese and such instead I guess. It's a new freezer and I've loaded it in the same order as my previous one that had shelves and no baskets. I'm not impressed with the baskets at this point. Maybe if I rearrange (and it's packed now) it and use them differently it would be a better "fit" for my style. Anyway, this last one will be about 10 meals for the 2 of us! The carcass is now in the soup pot and I have chunks of meat in the electric skillet along with the 2 wings.
As usual, I'm collecting the fat off the top of the soup pot and have a couple bird feeders started for winter. I'll post about them later and took a couple pics to share with that project. We'll have baked potatoes with the turkey and corn on the cob I've pulled out of the freezer.
I'm so "tickled" to have run across this sale accidentally and was able to have 4 turkeys! We enjoy turkey year around. I don't roast them though so that the Thanksgiving turkey that is roasted is still a special treat. I do love to have cutlets and dip them in egg wash and bread crumbs and I also love a good turkey melt sandwich. We had turkey hash last night and turkey soup the night before so tomorrow needs to be not a turkey meal.
My next stock up (how I'll do that with a full freezer will be a good one) is the pork butts on sale this coming week for 99 cents a pound. If I keep this up I'll be pulling the frozen milk out sooner than expected!
Anyway, here are a couple pics I thought you might enjoy.
Here's a new load of mangel beets for livestock. These things are HUGE. Once an animal gets the hang of them they LOVE them. Pigs are hilarious when thrown a couple. They need a bit of cutting for goats, cattle and horses.
This is from our annual trip north to get apples and our winter supply of potatoes, onions, squash, etc. I hope you can click on it for a larger view if you'd like.
It's time to milk my goats and then finish supper. I hope you have a good evening and your upcoming week is enjoyable. Stay healthy!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Thursday Thank You
It's been a very hectic couple of days! I have a couple paragraphs of differing topics so if one doesn't appeal to you please scroll a bit and hopefully the next will!
FOLLOWERS
I am THANKFUL for having 3 followers of my blog. What a bright spot in my day to find I had my first and in a short time I have 3 wonderful folks who feel my writing is worthy of them checking in on my blog! ROSES and SUNNY DAYS to you 3 wonderful people and any more who come along and want to follow too! THANK YOU!
DIABETES - Yes, there is a time to be thankful!
I guess diabetic foot ulcers and neuropathy will be one of my "causes" to give people a heads up since dealing with hubby and his major health crisis over the last couple years. We're on our third ordeal with ulcers with the 2nd getting a myraid of nasties and MRSA/staphs resulting in a fast gangrene and amputation of the large toe and supporting joins and bone structure with opening for drainiage of the whole under part of the foot to the heel. We are now back to another ulcer and with NO feeling in his feet, he severely broke his foot and we didn't know it. Due to bad circulation the swelling wasn't attributed to a break but rather the blueness of his feet and he can't take water pills and make an hour drive to the docs. (He opened the car door while tooling down the road one day, scaring the beegeebies out of me.) Anyway, the specialist had an emergency and they couldn't see us and couldn't get ahold of us so we showed up. Due to my asking about the previous weeks culture and if he needed back on the antibiotics before going another week, they shipped us to another specialist and it took all day to do the med visits and get prescriptions! The result being, yes he needed back on antibiotics right away BUT the culture was much better than 3 weeks ago!!!! PHEW!!!! I'm thankful I learned that one NEVER EVER takes too many "deep breaths" until the ulcer is so scabbed over there can't be any penetration of nasty microbes!!!! We'll be several months to that point but I'm thankful for an improvment along with the minor set back. Yesterday a podiatrist was listening to me about not using a minor type adhesive bandage the bottom of a foot of a diabetic as the bandage rolls and causes a new friction blister in the middle of an existing ulcer resulting in loss of several weeks of healing! PHEW, thankful for a doctor taking a minute to LISTEN to us!
SUNSHINE!
We're getting a bit of sunshine on and off today. I so love a sunny day and I live in the "land of snow and ice" for a winter so we have VERY FEW sunny days and I'm not wanting to let what we do get go. However, it's not in my control so I REALLY am thankful for what I do get! It's a good motivational aspect in my life!
GOATS!
I'm very thankful that my goats have gotten to the point they can handle the very occassional crash of their beloved schedules! We've also just had DST and they are still LOUD over that when I arrive in the barn. I will hope they are yelling thank you at me as I show up to dole out their vittles and provide their expected (read that demanded) maid service and attention. Yesterday their schedule was a blow to their expectations but they greeted me whole-heartedly today and were thankful to be served their custom mixed feed they so relish. They are a blessing and I'm very thankful for them!
Still on the goat theme, I'm thankful for my 2 new girls! I made a trade of 2 NICE young Boer (traditional) bucks for them. More on them later too!
CHICKENS
Another new addition is I also brought home some new hens and hopefully a roo at rock bottom prices for young birds! More about them later but I'm very thankful for this addition.
FOOD
I'm VERY THANKFUL for an unexpected "windfall"! We stopped at WalMart to get the prescriptions filled on the way home from the med visits and while wondering I crossed paths with another couple who were pointing and talking about the 2 turkeys in their shopping cart. So I asked if they had turkeys on special or something and YES.... They SURE DID! Limit of 2 and only 40 cents a pound!!!! WOW! I have a turkey in the oven for dinner and I'll take it apart and freeze most of it into individual meals for stir fry, turkey melt sandwiches or calzones, turkey and homemade noodles, etc. I love doing this. I love turkey and being able to get 6-8 meals (2 of us) and lunches out of a big turkey. When that turkey was only $8 it's a WINDFALL IMHO! I wish they weren't 34 miles away as I'd go back for a couple more and then do the freezer game of trying to get them all in there with everything else I have frozen!
I'm thankful for many things but that is the highlight for today! I'm thankful you have stopped by to read my blog and would love to have you return!
Have a wonderful day!
FOLLOWERS
I am THANKFUL for having 3 followers of my blog. What a bright spot in my day to find I had my first and in a short time I have 3 wonderful folks who feel my writing is worthy of them checking in on my blog! ROSES and SUNNY DAYS to you 3 wonderful people and any more who come along and want to follow too! THANK YOU!
DIABETES - Yes, there is a time to be thankful!
I guess diabetic foot ulcers and neuropathy will be one of my "causes" to give people a heads up since dealing with hubby and his major health crisis over the last couple years. We're on our third ordeal with ulcers with the 2nd getting a myraid of nasties and MRSA/staphs resulting in a fast gangrene and amputation of the large toe and supporting joins and bone structure with opening for drainiage of the whole under part of the foot to the heel. We are now back to another ulcer and with NO feeling in his feet, he severely broke his foot and we didn't know it. Due to bad circulation the swelling wasn't attributed to a break but rather the blueness of his feet and he can't take water pills and make an hour drive to the docs. (He opened the car door while tooling down the road one day, scaring the beegeebies out of me.) Anyway, the specialist had an emergency and they couldn't see us and couldn't get ahold of us so we showed up. Due to my asking about the previous weeks culture and if he needed back on the antibiotics before going another week, they shipped us to another specialist and it took all day to do the med visits and get prescriptions! The result being, yes he needed back on antibiotics right away BUT the culture was much better than 3 weeks ago!!!! PHEW!!!! I'm thankful I learned that one NEVER EVER takes too many "deep breaths" until the ulcer is so scabbed over there can't be any penetration of nasty microbes!!!! We'll be several months to that point but I'm thankful for an improvment along with the minor set back. Yesterday a podiatrist was listening to me about not using a minor type adhesive bandage the bottom of a foot of a diabetic as the bandage rolls and causes a new friction blister in the middle of an existing ulcer resulting in loss of several weeks of healing! PHEW, thankful for a doctor taking a minute to LISTEN to us!
SUNSHINE!
We're getting a bit of sunshine on and off today. I so love a sunny day and I live in the "land of snow and ice" for a winter so we have VERY FEW sunny days and I'm not wanting to let what we do get go. However, it's not in my control so I REALLY am thankful for what I do get! It's a good motivational aspect in my life!
GOATS!
I'm very thankful that my goats have gotten to the point they can handle the very occassional crash of their beloved schedules! We've also just had DST and they are still LOUD over that when I arrive in the barn. I will hope they are yelling thank you at me as I show up to dole out their vittles and provide their expected (read that demanded) maid service and attention. Yesterday their schedule was a blow to their expectations but they greeted me whole-heartedly today and were thankful to be served their custom mixed feed they so relish. They are a blessing and I'm very thankful for them!
Still on the goat theme, I'm thankful for my 2 new girls! I made a trade of 2 NICE young Boer (traditional) bucks for them. More on them later too!
CHICKENS
Another new addition is I also brought home some new hens and hopefully a roo at rock bottom prices for young birds! More about them later but I'm very thankful for this addition.
FOOD
I'm VERY THANKFUL for an unexpected "windfall"! We stopped at WalMart to get the prescriptions filled on the way home from the med visits and while wondering I crossed paths with another couple who were pointing and talking about the 2 turkeys in their shopping cart. So I asked if they had turkeys on special or something and YES.... They SURE DID! Limit of 2 and only 40 cents a pound!!!! WOW! I have a turkey in the oven for dinner and I'll take it apart and freeze most of it into individual meals for stir fry, turkey melt sandwiches or calzones, turkey and homemade noodles, etc. I love doing this. I love turkey and being able to get 6-8 meals (2 of us) and lunches out of a big turkey. When that turkey was only $8 it's a WINDFALL IMHO! I wish they weren't 34 miles away as I'd go back for a couple more and then do the freezer game of trying to get them all in there with everything else I have frozen!
I'm thankful for many things but that is the highlight for today! I'm thankful you have stopped by to read my blog and would love to have you return!
Have a wonderful day!
Warning about cats and fresh milk
We, like so many others, have cats in our barn that get a squirt of milk while we are milking. I also leave about a quart of milk as I'm heading to the house. The cats hunt well and I think the milk helps them be robust for our nasty winters. They are all looking good now which is great as snow is around-the-corner, so to speak.
Anyway, I found out this is a dangerous thing to do - especially in the summer! If the cat doesn't clean the milk off completely, you end up with milk drying all over the cat and.....
..... making A SOUR PUSS!!!!
Anyway, I found out this is a dangerous thing to do - especially in the summer! If the cat doesn't clean the milk off completely, you end up with milk drying all over the cat and.....
..... making A SOUR PUSS!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
