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.

A Few Changes

Since we got the two feet of snow starting February 5th the kids have not been able to go out all day into a field. The snow was too high for them. and it was so difficult accessing another gate. That changed Sunday when Dave hand dug around a gate, and up to the shed in the upper field. I had planned to take my Deere out and mash my way out there, but I never got to try. The fear was getting me stuck in the now heavy, slippery snow.Today, after watching Brees eating grain with his mother, I took the time to set up a creep feeder. We have a futon frame I got for a couple dollars at an auction. With a couple of bungee cords, I cordoned off a corner, and put in a bowl of grain and minerals. He caught on very fast!A creep feeder is a place where the kids can get to, but the mothers can't. That way there is a supply of food that only the kids can munch on. Brees already is a bit stocky for the spaces here, but it will work for a few days anyway.
VIDEO OF BREES BUTTING MY BOOTS AND RUNNING IN THE BARN

Naturally, today the rain and wet weather came along, but luckily short lived. Everyone but Twee and Brees got to spend the day outside, but they did get out for a while this morning.Tomorrow, they will have the company of Vinegar. Her due date is the 24th, and she is "ripening" up. Her udder isn't tight yet, but that could come quickly. I think she looks very good with two days to go. Her hips are changing, and her belly is dropping, but she looks very fit. She's been put in her own clean pen so that she can relax, and have some space of her own to birth. Can't wait! She's a good mom, so I expect no problems, but the baby monitor is on!

Black Friday, White Saturday, and Confetti Sunday

Friday was spent trying to time our trips around the Black Friday shoppers, and the incoming sleet and snow. But once home, it was just another day. What made the Thanksgiving week-end particularly fun was the neighbor's visiting grand twins. Here they are checking out the ruckus in the adult goat stall.

They were at the barn twice a day to help get all the goats in and out, preparing the feed, and even did some stall work getting the bedding paper down.The extra hands were helpful Saturday morning when we put all the goats into new areas, requiring us to change their routine. By Sunday the goats had the new destinations all figured out. Fast learners.Mary Ashley made sure every kid had a spot on the hay rack. Jake also needed a bit of love and Dave's corn treat.

Saturday was our first day waking up to any snow on the ground, and the gray sky looked like it would bring more.

The snow highlighted the dips and hills.

You can see all the work put into mowing the fields.

To me its quietly beautiful.

In the early afternoon the sky had turned blue, and the snow was gone, as we showed a friend the fields and woods.

As gray and raw as it had been in the morning, the afternoon was breezy and amazingly clear.And suddenly we could see what had been obscured in the clouds on the morning walk... ...snow topped mountains in the distance. It was quite wonderful!And as for the confetti today. It came out of the most recent batch of recycling from the high school. Looks like the goats should have a party.

The Paper Factory

Mom has a new job. Or perhaps an addiction. The paper shredder.

Tuesday we got a heavier duty, recycled, paper shredder from the Loyalhanna Watershed Association, and now my mother is known as the Paper Factory. She is addicted to shredding, and has been folding, tearing, and shredding paper since we plugged it in. She is shredding everything in sight. Magazines, mail, newspaper.

She is going to set the thing on fire - I swear! It has smoked a couple times, but we think (and hope) its just the dust from the white paper. We have to takes its temperature every once in a while to make sure she gives it a rest.

So far she must have produced three or four garbage bags of the stuff. The fun hasn't worn off yet.

What does one do with all this paper you ask? Well, we use it for bedding for the goat's stalls. We get several bags from a couple places, but all of a sudden we need more. Perhaps the doubling in size of the herd?

After making a mess in the kitchen, we moved the operation out to the garage, where she can run the factory as she pleases, whenever she wants, and be outside in the sun or shade, depending on which door is open.
Its a nice sit down job for her as she waits to have hip surgery. We tell her the paper tearing is good for her upper body strength.