Now that the first group of kids are a month old and we have newer kids, the warming barrels are passed down to the smaller ones. Saba was very worried that her girls were out of reach, so this afternoon she slept with her head in it for part of the time. She repeatedly snorted at them to express her dissatisfaction with their being so independent so soon.Meanwhile, the big three that had lost the barrel, slept in the exact spot where the barrel used to be. They are creatures of habit.
The baby monitor went on the fritz at about 6:00AM, but I knew Saba was going to kid today. Yesterday her udder really started to pop and I had her in all day just in case. The sun had been out but the wind was nasty. This morning the wind had picked up and the snow was back. The barometric change probably was everything to do with my waking with an unusually pressure filled head and headache. Dave went out to the barn and Saba was down with a bubble already out. By 8AM we had our first little doe. By 8:10 we had our first visitors admiring her.
We got everyone settled into a clean stall and brought offerings of grain (greeted favorably) and molasses water (Nah!) and were ready to get breakfast when Julia noted a new, small bubble. Ten more minutes passed before Saba lay down and had Doe #2 at 9:30AM. Finally, we determined that she was really done and left them to rest and work on nursing together. Just after taking the video below, Doe One had taken her first milk. Saba was still cleaning her second kid as we left. She's a good mom.
Since you last saw him, Aidan has passed his week birthday, and gone from 6 1/2 pounds to ten.
Has started drinking with the big boys, (see the difference in three weeks - 10 lbs vs. 28) and been sleeping with older women! Oh! How they grow up!We started the week with more indoor recess, and family style dining, but it was time to take all that energy outdoors.
Last week-end's thaw made it possible to see some grass and open some gates to get the youngsters outside. The mom's led by example and taught terrible eating habits. How embarrassing. Abi learned how tasty tree recycling is. Ali worked on cleaning her plate. After a couple of days, everyone learned that it was each goat for himself when the grain came out. Even the little guy. The kids are already good little lawnmowers, and are really putting on some size. Even Aidan gets right in there, but mom is still tops!
Don't be fooled by the sun glasses. Its just to keep the snow glare down. We are in a single digit cold spell, and have Saba due in the next couple of days. I hope she can hold on until we reach something above freezing - please!
All our complaining about the cold and snow and this is what we get.
A warming warning! A sure sign of spring is mud, and yesterday's thaw that took us into the mid to high 40's, gave us a taste of it.All the manure that was getting hidden by the daily two inches of snow became exposed. The underground springs that erupt from our hills started to flow. Grass appeared in spots. So did the slush. Unfortunately, the puddles started at the barn door, so it took a little coaxing to get a couple of the fussier goats out. Also hampering the task was the high winds that did not allow me to block the door open with the usual rock. At one point the gust was so strong, it was all I could do to hang on to the door with all my weight, so that it didn't smash three goats in the head as they were thinking about stepping in the mud.
Walking through the calf deep, sloppy snow was akin to walking against the surf in soft sand at the beach. Boot sucking work! Midday I had to drive along the Loyalhanna Creek just as the ice was breaking up and rushing downstream. Huge ice blocks were thrown up onto the causeway access road.
The causeway itself way blocked with ice and submerged in the rising water. I can't imagine what flooding problems we could have had if the freeze didn't return so quickly in the afternoon.
Aside from Punxsutawney Phil not seeing his shadow to predict milder weather in our futures, we have our own predictor at the farm. Egg production. Just a month ago we were counting the zero egg days, but soon enough the count picked up to four this week. Considering we are down to six hens(just lost one a week ago), that is great. There is one other way to know spring is coming - the calendar. If we are patient enough, Spring will be here soon, bringing her sultry friend Summer.
The blog is really notes to my friends, old and new, to let you know what's going on in our lives. Its also a diary of sorts for myself. It started at the farm in Ligonier, PA, hence the name, but now life and work has moved us back to Connecticut,
I've always taken lots of photos and sent postcards from everywhere we travel, just to keep in touch. Email took over and then the digital camera.
Instead of me plugging up your email, you can check in when you have the time.
And yes, another town with the same problems as any other!!!
Please enjoy and let me hear from you...really~
Storm Exposure
A crack in the storm clouds spotlights the farm
Twin Bucklings born 12 31 11 and Triplet Bucklings born 1 8 12
Adeline, Shown by Julia, 0-6 Month Doe 4-H Blue Ribbon Winner
I know a lot of people know English much better than we know any other language, but for those that want some help, me included, I'm trying this translator. Please leave a message to let us know where you are viewing from. Ciao!
Saba was very worried that her girls were out of reach, so this afternoon she slept with her head in it for part of the time. She repeatedly snorted at them to express her dissatisfaction with their being so independent so soon.
Meanwhile, the big three that had lost the barrel, slept in the exact spot where the barrel used to be.
They are creatures of habit.
The sun had been out but the wind was nasty. This morning the wind had picked up and the snow was back. The barometric change probably was everything to do with my waking with an unusually pressure filled head and headache. 
Dave went out to the barn and Saba was down with a bubble already out.
By 8:10 we had our first visitors admiring her. 
Ten more minutes passed before Saba lay down and had Doe #2 at 9:30AM. 
Finally, we determined that she was really done and left them to rest and work on nursing together. 
Just after taking the video below, Doe One had taken her first milk. 
Saba was still cleaning her second kid as we left. 
Since you last saw him, Aidan has passed his week birthday,
Has started drinking with the big boys,
and been sleeping with older women!
Oh! How they grow up! 
We started the week with more indoor recess, 
and family style dining, 
but it was time to take all that energy outdoors.
The mom's led by example and taught terrible eating habits. 
How embarrassing. 
Abi learned how tasty tree recycling is. 
Ali worked on cleaning her plate. 
After a couple of days, everyone learned that it was each goat for himself when the grain came out. 
The kids are already good little lawnmowers, and are really putting on some size. 
Even Aidan gets right in there, 
but mom is still tops!
How they have come up with this arrangement, I don't know, but I've seen it two days this week. 
Sure doesn't look comfortable for Mia on the bottom.
A sure sign of spring is mud, and yesterday's thaw that took us into the mid to high 40's, gave us a taste of it.
All the manure that was getting hidden by the daily two inches of snow became exposed. 
So did the slush. 
Unfortunately, the puddles started at the barn door, so it took a little coaxing to get a couple of the fussier goats out. Also hampering the task was the high winds that did not allow me to block the door open with the usual rock. At one point the gust was so strong, it was all I could do to hang on to the door with all my weight, so that it didn't smash three goats in the head as they were thinking about stepping in the mud.
Midday I had to drive along the Loyalhanna Creek just as the ice was breaking up and rushing downstream. Huge ice blocks were thrown up onto the causeway access road.
The causeway itself way blocked with ice and submerged in the rising water. 
I can't imagine what flooding problems we could have had if the freeze didn't return so quickly in the afternoon.
There is one other way to know spring is coming - the calendar. If we are patient enough, Spring will be here soon, bringing her sultry friend Summer.
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