No Pockets, One Knee

That's the problem.

All Winter, Fall and Spring, I wear a vest when I go out to the barn and fields. You've seen the ugly, well worn, and often smelly thing, on Farm Fashion features. It has deep, deep pockets, so I can carry, the shock collar remote, treats, syringes, glasses, all sorts of stuff, AND the camera. With these hotter days, and shorts and tanks, pockets are not always part of my attire.

Hence the problem. No camera. No photos and videos that you and I love to see. I know my written word can be of interest at times, but folks, we know, its the pictures we love. I have loved photography in my own humble way since - heck - I don't know! Since when I took pictures, people liked to look at them. So I apologize for the lack of posts and photos, as this is part of the problem.

The other part, that came to a head yesterday, is my knee that has been slowing me down in my chores. After x-rays and physical therapy in the past month, nothing was found and they were stumped as to the cause.

Last night's barn chores put the knee over the edge. It was the bucket that broke the camel's back situation, and the knee popped. Such pain. I wondered if someone might find me there unable to walk, with goats clambering all over me, looking for food and attention.

After regaining my breath and finding I could take baby steps on my heel, I made it to the house, and called my neighbor to help get the herd in the barn. Thank you Karen!

This story can and will go on, but its time to ice the knee and get ready to inch my way to the car and get to the doctor's office. I still have my driving leg, and its a short drive. We'll see what's next.

Not looking for sympathy, just excusing myself from the more regular posts if things get medical here.

And there still is the pocket problem!

Made In The Shade

Its been a hot and humid couple of days now, and even the animals are slowing down. Don't the barn cats look comfy? Can't see them? They've got it made in the shade. I would never have noticed Mia if I didn't see her flop in here. This has become a regular spot for Snickers. Pekoe found his own grassy place in the shade.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day

Comfrey - Growing and Using

Its a busy holiday week-end, and so I am going to be lazy, but I hope you'll appreciate the effort!
I'm going to send you to the blog The Garden of Eaden, found on my sidebar. For my British friends, and those in that climate, Mr. Eade is from your side of the Pond. Everyone may want to check out his web site and seed shop. All kinds of information and fun.

Simon Eade's past two posts cover comfrey, and I have my own garden shots for you.

The May 27 post was of great interest to me as it covers

HOW TO MAKE LIQUID FERTILIZER FROM COMFREY

My one plant is big enough for my dog to dig a hole underneath it to cool off in. I think its time for me to put it to use.

For those of you who want to learn how to grow this useful plant, Mr. Eade covers that topic today. Click on the title for more.

HOW TO GROW COMFREY

Rotational Grazing

http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/rotategr.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Managed_intensive_rotational_grazing
Two Saturday's ago was the first day for this group in the paddock nearest the barn. If you look closely you will see the white posts from the electric fences that we use to divide the paddocks into even smaller grazing areas.Every time we move the sheds on sleds, I try to place them where they can stay for two weeks, and to a place that I can see them from the house. Then I make as small a section of the paddock as I can, for the goats to move into, using the electric net fences. They are connected to the high tensile fence with a clip. This is the way I do rotational grazing, and it works pretty well for giving the goats fresh pasture everyday. I don't move the goats to a new paddock daily. I just move enough of the netting fence so that the herd has enough new vegetation to keep them busy for a day. Then the next day I do it again. You can see the line of new food from where the fence was moved a few more feet, each day, in each of the photos. Each day the goats RUN to see the newest area I've opened for them. They all have their favorite food they go for on their first browse around. Then they come back and look again. Its like a buffet where you eat dessert first, and then end up with the boring stuff at the end, IF you are still hungry. We try to give them enough that they are happy, and leave plenty behind to start the next set of growth.These last pictures were taken two Thursdays after we started, and the electric netting fence was removed on Friday. The paddock was neatly trimmed, but with plenty of growth to continue growing for a future turn in a couple of months from now. And of course, the fields have been pretty evenly manured by the goats because of the rotational method we use, so that also keeps things growing.The goats are getting very little grain or hay in the barn. The nursing goats are getting hay and grain rations, but as the kids approach weaning, the nannies are also being weaned from this feed. As we hit the summer months, we will depend on good rotation and growth to keep the goats fat and happy!

Brees Update

A few people, including myself, have been wondering how Brees is doing in his new home. Today I heard from his new family, after he got tagged for this summer's Westmoreland Fair. This photo was on their Facebook site. Doesn't Brees, now Wally, look like he is having fun with his new pal Oscar?Brees, on the right, with a collar and leash, getting his exercise with Kayla.

Kids and Kids - Spring - Continued

Those of you with kids. Do you remember when you first had them, and all of a sudden you were very popular, but you really weren't? Here we go again. We have these cute kids, and everyone wants to come over. I am talking about the goats now.