Flambe

This is what happens when you have too many thing on your mind.My nice garlic bread went in for a little bit more browning, and as we were eating, Dave asked if I was still cooking something. The smoke was filling the kitchen, and when I opened the oven, my bread was in flames. I threw the sheet pan into the snow, and the bread kept burning long enough for me to find my camera and take these shots, stop the smoke detector from shrieking, and go back out to take another look. Still going.Well done.

On All Fours

Feet that is. This little guy went from pulling himself by his front legs, to climbing around with the big kids. What a difference two days can make. Aidan's back leg tendons had not properly formed at birth, so it was a disturbing to watch him struggle. By yesterday we were up to three good legs. Today we have a regular, naughty goat kid trashing the barn! Auntie Vinegar came to look him over, now that he's cruising around.
And speaking of four, finally all the kids have names. The twin does are Ali and Abi (the darker head),
and the buckling is Andouille. Yes. Like the sausage. So in this shot, we have Abi, Ali and Andouille eating big goat food.
At two weeks old, Andouille had gone from 10 pounds to 20.5. He is SOLID!

VIDEO OF THE KIDS IN THE BARN CLIMBING AROUND. ANDOUILLE FEATURED
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpuPi5t2MTs

Fleeting

It was so sad to walk into the barn this morning and find that one of the new bucklings was dead. We really shook our heads on this one. He seemed the bigger, healthier of the two. We did find a cut in his leg that may have been all it took to weaken such a young thing. So now we are extra worried about his brother, but at the 10:30pm check, all looked well. Aidan was napping, but I got him up to nurse, and gave Aziza some more grain. This was the first time that she seemed really hungry for it. I'm not sure how her milk is coming in. Her udder is small and the little guy goes back and forth to nurse. I'm not sure if he's just fussy, or that one side is better and he's figuring out which. Each time we loose an animal, we better appreciate the ones that make it, and try to make the odds the best we can for that to happen more often then not. But as in this case, we just shake or heads and realize that life can be so enjoyed - and so fleeting.

Aziza's First Kids - Two Bucklings

So what's all the fuss about here?Our two week olds are old news with two new bucklings surprising us a day early. The surprise was enhanced by the fact that Aziza's udder was not very pronounced yesterday. Even so, my gut was telling me something was up, and I put the baby monitor set up on my list of things to do today. No need.I heard them before I saw them, as I fed the hens this morning. I looked in and saw that Aziza was a bit nervous, and didn't want me in the stall. After I got things settled with the rest of the goats, I sent out a few emails and made a few calls to Team Goat.
As I was working on fixing up the maternity ward, neighbor Alison showed up and went into action with drying and cuddling to get rid of the shivers. Next Aidan worked on his little buck to get him cozy, and we transferred them to their clean home. This little guy is being named after the first person to cuddle him - Aidan. The two brothers worked their way to their mom and she finally settled down to let them nurse. I was a bit worried about her, but she was quietly talking to them before the night was over.

VIDEO OF AZIZA'S NEW BUCKLINGS BORN THIS MORNING
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0CfRrzuUH8

The Ice Festival and Warm Snow

Isn't this ice sled beautiful?!

We have had frigid cold weather for over two weeks, so last weekend was perhaps too perfect for the Ice Festival. We, like most people we observed, walked briskly around the displays in the Diamond. We might have lingered a bit in a gap with some sun.
Or to take a quick picture - -but finding a warm place to shop for a few moments was more popular than usual.

The past couple days' warming trend into the twenties, and even above freezing, seems like a heat wave.

One thing about snow in these warmer temperatures is the big fat flakes that really stick to everything. Its a "Winter Wonderland".Watching the video below, the snow almost seems fake. The goats don't care.

They just want breakfast.

VIDEO OF THE LATEST SNOWSTORM

Kids Day In

This morning the nannies got their grain outside, as the temps were mild (merely 30), and I wanted the kids to get used to the great outdoors. They had other plans. It went something like this.Ever see that dog movie where they eat spaghetti? Shluurp! Wanna get a ride in the wheelbarrow? Cool! Pooo! Try eating this plastic. It makes funny noises.

And if you flap your ears really wide and jump, you can fly.

How Many Kids Do You See?

VIDEO OF KIDS ON THEIR PLAYSCAPE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzN8fhCuC2M

Kids And Kids

Monday was a snowy Martin Luther King Day, so a good day for the neighbors to visit and play.Julia is getting the kids socialized, and helped me medicate one goopy eye.

Finally got a picture of the shy one.

I had this week-end as a due date for Zola, but that udder isn't anywhere near full. Her belly's getting there though.
The little ones and their nanny's are all in one stall now. Mainly because we were running out of extensions and electric water buckets. We need a set on stand by in case someone else kids soon. There was a bit of bickering at first, but they are all getting along, and the kids have one more to snuggle with in the barrel.

The does are the real climbers, but all three are very active. The little buck is getting heavy. He's quite compact already.

Nap time. Shh!

VIDEO OF KIDS PLAYING IN THE BARN

Happy Birthday Mom!

You win the prize!

Threecycling, Treecycling

Initially, the trees arrive to be a snack and distraction for the goats. With the snow getting deeper, it hard to find much to do after the grain and hay is eaten. A walk down to the water cooler is about all the excitement there is, and the gossip is slow. As the wind has become persistent, the trees, or their skeleton have become makeshift hay racks.
Think of it as a stuffed potato, but these are stuffed trees. I take a slice of hay, break it up and stuff it in between the tree branches.The goats can eat the hay, or the tree, or combine the two. I see less hay laying on the ground and blowing across the snow. Even a well eaten tree serves as a good feeding station, and gives everyone a chance at food with less butting.

They're not done with this yet!