Is Arctic Cold Warmer Than Frigid?

No news to anyone watching the telly or reading the news - our part of the country is days into an "Arctic Freeze". Well tonight's forecast has a blue thermometer and the word "frigid" next to it. Are we to surmise that means its getting worse? Or have they run out of ways to express the cold we are suffering through.

I will tell you that the goats have had mostly indoor recess, with a short outdoor stint where they spend most of their time standing together in the shed, watching my kitchen door.  I can hear them cursing my name! When the sun is out I want them to get a little fresh air and solar heat, even if that is tough to feel when the wind kicks back up.  Yesterday I even went into the shed with them to show it really wasn't that bad out there. I was met with blank stares.

Little Brianna followed and waited for something exciting to happen like heat blowers to start up. Kids! They are so eager and gullible.

I had my camera in my pocket. That's where it was when I tromped back into the house. Taking off my gloves for anything is quick and painful. My rubber boots feel like rocks on my feet as I walk over the frozen ground.

Normally this would be kidding season here, and I am sure it is on other farms. I'm betting the electric bills are going to be high to keep everyone warm for those that survive being born during this freeze. As it is, I have cracked skin. Imagine kidding and maybe milking to get the slow starters going.

God bless the farmers working out there this month!

Christmas Tree Recycling - Rite of Winter at On the Pond Farm

After a warm start and not much snow, winter arrived the day after Christmas with a pretty messy snow storm. Late that morning, we actually got on the road to visit the new grand baby, and didn't even make it beyond the township limits before we realized our mistake. So we turned around, only to see snow plows going the other way, and for a few minutes the snow even stopped pounding down.

Do we keep going?

No. What's the rush.

There wasn't one, aside from getting back to our favorite new boy.

The next day was a better experience.

So when we got back home, Christmas trees were starting to pile up, and phone calls and emails were coming in asking if we needed trees again. I love our friends and neighbors for this. Not only does this keep the goats happy, it also cuts down on feed costs. I'm sure even the citiest city folk have heard about the price of corn and grains. Wasn't it just last week that I read about huge round bales of hay being stolen. Crazy!

Until the last couple of days of warmer temperatures, we had a field of snow and ice. Of course, now we have boot sucking mud. Where is the middle ground? I think we can hope for that three days in May if we're lucky!

Happy New Year 2013!

Its been an eventful 2012 for my small family. Earlier in the year, we learned that we needed to sell the farm in order to make a job move, and we have been in that process for a while now. The farm has been for sale, as have my animals, and my lovely goat herd has been getting smaller and smaller with my last four breeding gals left.

Then just four weeks ago, our first grandchild Jake was born, and we have been lucky to be able to spend a lot of his first month with him. With our future move, we will be so much closer, and will be able to see this little one grow.

Since we learned of our move, I appreciate every day spent on the farm with all my senses. We have been so lucky to have been owners of such a special property for soon to be ten years. I wish we could move it with us.

So I look forward to 2013, not for the move from the farm - that will be sad -  but that it takes us closer to our daughter and her growing family. That will give us much joy.

I wish you all a joyful New Year too!

Jacob Alexander

It was an extra long wait and apparently our new grandson used his time well, growing into a 9 pound 3 ounce, 21 inch big baby, and finally arriving at 11:02 PM, December 4th.. We do not have big babies in our family, and this big guy surprised even the professionals. They couldn't figure out where Kristin had tucked this child. A 7 1/2 lb baby was the call just that morning.

Jacob gave the hospital staff a few scares, and we all have to be thankful for the staff AND technology that brings these babies safely into our welcoming arms. I had made the drive just in time to be there as everyone went into surgery, but before I could even get to the labor area, my joy and anticipation was tempered with a hard slap of reality. As the labor room door opened, the first thing I saw was a crying woman. She was around my age, and the tears were not tears of joy. She was on the phone, but I didn't even need to hear the words. The baby had been delivered still born. I cannot imagine the pain.

We are so lucky and grateful to have Jacob Alexander - named from his parents' middle names - coming home.

Impatient

Or maybe excited.
We are in the waiting game for our first grandchild.
Due date - last week!
I thought I'd resolved the photo issue.
Apparently not.
So it will be the written word only till I figure it out. 
Sorry to disappoint (if I am!).

Trying To Be Thankful!

For three days I've been attempting to clean out my files so that I can somehow make room for more photographs of our splendid Thanksgiving feast and family gathering. Its just not working.
An email to Google and perhaps something will change shortly. 

Just here to say that I apologize for not attending to my blogging duties, but I do have events recorded and someday soon, a whole glut of visuals will appear!

Hope your Thanksgiving was not too stressful, hanging out with all those people who knew you since birth! 

My food consumption was moderate, so I feel pretty good about not sizing up in my jeans!!

The cold and white weather has returned. Its really winter I believe. Stay warm all!

Goats On Pasture

I know that the goats on pasture is nothing new here, but after the ten dismal days of Sandy, it felt new.

Smiling Speckles

This past week, their personalities are starting to show through again with their cozying and curiosity, when I spend time in the field with them.

Post Sandy gloom and rain had them hunkered in the sheds way too much, and hay was becoming a larger staple in the evening meal.

Brianna at six months old

Now with the newest rotation, they would likely burst with more hay.

As a matter of fact, I had one close call on Election Day with a bit of bloat, but a couple hours of attention with baking soda "shots"(oral), and the crisis passed.

Twee

I think Vinegar, here in the background of her first daughter Twee, got into something the third day they were in the corral. She came into the barn looking five months pregnant(that's full term for those new here), but luckily was not foaming at the mouth. After that day, the girls ended their corral clean up.

Adeline

 VIDEO of the goats at breakfast

Today I took a walk in the lower field, partly to inspect the fences, and partly to get the girls to the far end of the field.

When all else fails, I am the leader and they easily follow. They'd still be by the barn, had I not led them today. Its an important job, being the Herd Queen!

And here they have two acres of pasture, but four of them have to try and eat from the same square foot.  Herd mentality.