Big Kick-Off Weekend!

That's a lot of soap, and for a reason! The kids and I will be vending at the Fiber Frolic for the first year this weekend and then my Mom and Faith will be holding down the fort or actually booth at a brand new farmers market that I'll regularly be at all summer. Very excited to see how things go! Unfortunately it's supposed to rain all weekend, I know we'll be under cover, outside in barns and Mom will have a large tent canopy for Sunday but if y'all wouldn't mind saying a prayer for us and for nice weather that would be much appreciated. I was steadily prepping things for this weekend and sent to kids to get the mail and lo and behold there was another invitation to vend at a local event in August! Goodness we are blessed! Details coming soon!

buddies

the sheep have arrived!

More later, just wanted to introduce the newest cast members!

Buck show tomorrow! Yikes! Excited, but YIKES!

He's had my heart for 5 years now...

 Five years ago today Garlic was delivered to his forever home and I'll tell you it has been the fastest 5 years of my life and some of the best memories I have include him. I've mentioned before and I'll say it again he is my childhood, little girl dream come true, only better. As best I can piece together he's about 30 today and I wanted to share some of the sage wisdom he's taught me since joining my life. There are some things I've learned in the past 5 years that only he could have taught me.

 He's taught me that sometimes what you think you want and what you need are completely different and what you need turns out being exactly what you want.

There are things in life worth waiting for because time is fleeting and causes you to savor every minute in a way that's not possible had you gotten it instantly.

 Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side of the fence but the grass is short, the people don't understand you and there is sweet feed served at home!

A few hours on horseback or a large warm shoulder to cry on are sometimes the same thing.

Sometimes it's the smallest stone that causes the most surefooted among us to stumble and it's ok we can recover and continue along that trail.

Lay down in the sunshine and rest when you're tired and take off at a full gallop when you're not.

Aging gracefully is beautiful.

Nicker when you see a loved one! They tend to eat that up - and bring carrots.

 Forgive the hurts from the past; they made you who you are, and who you are is appreciated because of the past, the good and the bad. 

It takes time to build trust, it's hard work but the payoff is amazing. I rode 'Boz' (Garlic) today bareback in a halter with just a lead rope. It was amazing, it gives me chills to relive it. We've gotten to know each other and built a trust with one another and developed an ability to listen to each other in a language only he and I speak, it's beautiful and there is now way this would have happened 5 years ago, but I'm so thankful we were put in each others paths and have had the past 5 years together.

It's ok to take chances, I did 5 years ago and have never looked back. I took a chance 5 years ago on a skinny old horse with a kind eye and completely unknown history, I took a leap of faith and I'm still flying!

I have no idea how much longer I have with him; 30 is getting up there, but if I spent all my time worrying about that and wondering I'd miss out on a whole pile time. So here's to the next 5 years Boz! Thank you for being the most amazing horse on the planet and for being mine. I love you Boz.

concentration

As part of the prep for the upcoming things we're doing, Andrew and Spice need to get used to milking together, actually Faith and Spice do too, but one thing at a time. Usually the milking chore belongs me and I really enjoy that. It's a time for me do sit down, breathe, relax and do only one thing. If I cannot relax Spice feels that and reacts to it which doesn't make for a pleasant experience. Since this is something I do because I enjoy it I don't want it riddled with a bad milking experience or two or 15...

I take this time to think and listen and enjoy.

Last night I sat back and let Andrew have a go at it and he did well, the mosquitoes were awful and she ended up kicking at one and kicking the milk pail then stepped in it so the milk went to the chickens, but overall everything went well. I was proud.

Plans for Saturday?

We'll be at the Windsor Fairgrounds on Saturday to participate in our first dairy goat show. This show also includes a Jr. and Sr. Buck show and Galloway has been entered. So if you're in the areas and have nothing else to do and want to come cheer us on pop in, bucks show in the afternoon!

it was just hanging around...

begging to get shot.

Oh! through the lens of my camera, what did you think I meant?! ;-)

oh my goodess!

So many wonderful things going on here and I've been crazy busy - hence the lack of posts and I cannot wait to share them with you, just not quite able to yet! So excited!

Hey! Whatcha doin?

So I've been busy working on getting the remainder of the yarn skeined and working on the displays for some upcoming events and George wandered over to the window to see what I was up to. It made me giggle and think, 'I wonder what he's thinking looking at all that yarn - some of it being his...' lol!

Love

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.


No photo, just a description. 

Last night; while sound asleep, I rolled over in bed and uttered "Ow!"  (sore muscles after a hard days work will do this) Ron's hand quickly found and touched my cheek and with love and concern in his voice asked, "Are you ok?" 


I smiled, melted and felt loved.
 

Ramsey made a friend!

for a year now!

It's been an entire year now that we've had this amazing creature to share our lives with. I cannot imagine a day without him in it. Thank you Bridger for being so amazing!

I mean seriously....

I would never lead you a stray... I would never lie to you and I would never tell you this is simply the worlds. best. cake. EVER!! if I didn't mean it. How could it not be I mean seriously it combines three of my favorite things, raspberries, lemon and butter! ohmgee!!!! You must go instantly and make this and spread the love! Seriously, go make this!

Happy Beautiful Spring!!

a bit of relief...

 Katie and I snuggling on the back porch when she was just a wee lass.

Just returned from the vet's office with a report of good - ish news. Katie's leg is NOT broken like I thought. Praising God for His mercies! She did do a fair amount of soft tissue damage and will be a while recovering but should; when healed, be ok. Watching for infection and still on some pain meds but my "Katie Darlin' " should pull through!

Katie update

First of all, thank you all who participated in the emergency vet bill soap sale, I appreciate that more than words can express.

Secondly, I went back and reread the initial post about Katie after reading some comments and realized that in my stress I did not accurately describe what happened. So I apologize for that. In no way did my neighbors dog have anything to do with Katie getting hurt, my neighbor and his dog were just walking by to get the mail and happened to be in the right place at the right time and was able to help.

As I said, I was not here when it happened and just came in on the aftermath but from what I can gather she tried to jump the fence, managed to catch her leg, panicked and who know what at this point.

As directed by the vet I attempted to take off the dressing/bandages and check the laceration. However, when doing so she started moving around and looked to me like that her leg was moving weird almost wobbly, despite the fact that the vet didn't seem to think it was broken when she examined her on Saturday. My gut tells me it's broken, so I stopped re-wrapped and put the splint back on and will call the vet again in the morning. Because my truck is still in the shop (since Thursday) and will be for a while....ugh.... my mom will drive her truck down (over an hour each way - Thanks Mom!) and help me get Katie to the vet for an x-ray and who knows what from there. I wish I had better news and hopefully tomorrow I will post that she's going to be on the mend shortly it's just bruising or something. She is on meds for pain and stall rest, which she detests but there are some things you just cannot explain to a goat! That being said, I'm really trying to listen to Katie too, listening to what she's trying to tell me in her own way and it helps that I've known her her whole cantankerous in a loving sort of way life. Some people may be of the mindset that it's just a goat, and I'm ok with you thinking that. To me Katie is my responsibility, I caused her to come into this world, bottle fed her and raised her from day one. I need to do what I need to do to make sure she's not suffering, that is one thing I simply cannot bare. I do not take the responsibility of any of the animals here lightly. Each decision I make on their behalf is done with care, consideration and in what I feel is appropriate at the time.

NOT her best day!

Poor Katie, she's miserable and confined which makes it even worse! This afternoon as I was turning onto our road I got a frantic phone call from Faith. I didn't understand much of what she was saying but told her to calm down and breath and I was turning into the driveway. I was able to get out of her that Katie had cut her leg and that a neighbor was out with her. So I parked and headed out to assess the situation our neighbor had his dog by the collar in one hand and Katie in the other she was dripping blood and not bearing any weight on her leg even with the dog three feet from her. Oh Lord this is NOT good! Fortunately I got my dad's head in situation like this and can remain calm and do what needs to be done. I told the kids what I needed them to do and got her up to the house with the use of a garden cart as an ambulance for goats. Cleaned up the wound and got it dressed and the bleeding to stop. She still wasn't bearing weight and I was afraid she'd broken it and figured this day would end with tears, a shovel and a good-bye because of that. I did what I could do for her but knew this was way beyond what I knew to do and had no pain meds for her. I don't think there is anything more pitiful than a whimpering goat. At least in that moment I couldn't think of anything. I called the vet out I just knew despite the cost I had to do it, Katie is like a daughter of sorts to me and I just had to do what needed to be done. So the vet came out about two hours after I got home and with an exam said she didn't feel anything broken but that she may have just really injured the leg muscle, tendons etc and the cut was nasty! So she vetted her and put this splint on her leg and gave me some pain meds and said if she's still not bearing weight by Monday get her to the office and we'll do an x-ray just to see what is going on in there. But this should work, so we'll see. That being said a farm call on a weekend will be a rather large bill so this weekend only I'm having a Emergency vet bill sale on the goat milk soap. Buy 5 get one FREE! This of course is to help pay for her bill. Katie sends a big THANK YOU to all of you.

something new

We picked up this year's first batch of broilers and more replacement layers, and I'll post pics later, I'm just tooooo tired tonight. We also picked up a couple of Red Rangers to try this year as well, they are a slightly slower growing chicken that's raised for meat, but I understand they are pretty good at foraging and more suited to a natural setting so I'm giving it a try. We'll see, stay tuned!

oh my... again...

I'm looking for a new phone and showed the kiddos what I was thinking about getting and they both laughed and snorted. Then Andrew said, "I think that's too much technology for you Mommy."

Punk.

oh my...

Some of the things that come out of Andrew's mouth cause me to stop, look at him, shake my head and laugh. The things that kid says....

oh my!