tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37391828091026358842024-03-12T22:00:17.519-07:00Fox Mountain FarmKathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-32524479375796845122012-09-01T18:57:00.000-07:002013-01-09T14:01:36.566-08:00Let's Talk About FoodI'm very interested in food. First of all, I love to eat. Second of all, I'm extremely curious about how we produce/harvest the food we eat. Where does it come from? What is the cost of it's production to the environment? Is it produced in a way that is congruent with my values? Is it totally yummy? Is it nutritious enough so that I can consider my food to be my medicine?<br />
<br />
I've been focusing on creating our own food infrastructure on our land so that we can grow most of what we eat. We are now capable of growing most or all of the meat we want to eat, all the vegetables we eat, all the fruit, most of the herbs and then there are the flowers for garnish and decoration. We will be harvesting our own nuts some year soon. <br />
<br />
We raise sheep for meat, goats for milk, cheese and meat, rabbits for meat, chickens for eggs and meat.<br />
There are days when I'm too tired to cook.....and I'm grateful that Joseph finds it within himself to cook. Then there are days when I walk through the garden after barn chores and am so inspired to create something new and yummy out of what I find that it doesn't matter how tired I am, I simply must cook something colorful and scrumptious. I'm going to share some of what I've been feeding us.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2j9TXjW4iOEmtfaX2Bz-KJjDcEEp0Kgv6rnS4kbk-0GbcAlPzv_n67RbHMALImQUJTEQeEmfjXig8W4XnqYCMFqiBYDLx4N1_gDnD8258ixA-ZPNNWmK4mg-VJn-GUQMeD-z_FXCbA/s1600/caerphilly1cut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2j9TXjW4iOEmtfaX2Bz-KJjDcEEp0Kgv6rnS4kbk-0GbcAlPzv_n67RbHMALImQUJTEQeEmfjXig8W4XnqYCMFqiBYDLx4N1_gDnD8258ixA-ZPNNWmK4mg-VJn-GUQMeD-z_FXCbA/s320/caerphilly1cut.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is a hard aged cheese variety that comes from Wales in the United Kingdom. It was eaten by the miners who appreciated it's saltiness during their sweaty work. They wrapped it in cabbage leaves to take into the mines for lunch. It was the first aged cheese I made and it's wonderful because you can eat it as early as 3 weeks after you make it. I've also made a batch of Parmesan cheese but it'll be 6 or more months before it's ready to try.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxXxliC3Dl_-wWNjngpq_9lWFs35rPUU05t09KOv1UV2xRmws2JA1Slljk57-x9ubZ0RC5RAKxa-ScmuanttS6xSZvqzK4au5RiovRdPpRGVJ6gPYs-chxhKNT9i0GOnMvl9NxeJ3vw/s1600/caerphilly1cheeseboard2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxXxliC3Dl_-wWNjngpq_9lWFs35rPUU05t09KOv1UV2xRmws2JA1Slljk57-x9ubZ0RC5RAKxa-ScmuanttS6xSZvqzK4au5RiovRdPpRGVJ6gPYs-chxhKNT9i0GOnMvl9NxeJ3vw/s320/caerphilly1cheeseboard2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
We sliced into it and tried it on slabs of fresh tomatoes and crackers. We had chives, basil ribbons, dill and red amaranth leaves for flavor. Very Yum!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCpaPPGi7wGiEeko5ZC20E0Cd0K1erPkvCkX_phIORxE0HjX7Bzmu9rXUws1MbK8rh0Ll_xkyVSIjS6gG4bW3tly0PzIC1HIIVgkHYkkKbsCkDlabJUDLUF9v5MeQoeJnCzVnK3WNVg/s1600/Manchego2b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCpaPPGi7wGiEeko5ZC20E0Cd0K1erPkvCkX_phIORxE0HjX7Bzmu9rXUws1MbK8rh0Ll_xkyVSIjS6gG4bW3tly0PzIC1HIIVgkHYkkKbsCkDlabJUDLUF9v5MeQoeJnCzVnK3WNVg/s320/Manchego2b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Here's a Manchego cheese that will need to age for months before it's ready. sigh........<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9ZinFRReR1mUiZw0SyHr4j9UzGBMSzWXanQTYaCEctcPVvXQxFSixAozbFwfQYgK1cZxyUGWXR0edh8T5nBc6qkAkQ-D_zB74IfzPZBAahg99GH6e6fB9AmlI9ogEMfRDhkhQ4BJQg/s1600/fennelflr3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9ZinFRReR1mUiZw0SyHr4j9UzGBMSzWXanQTYaCEctcPVvXQxFSixAozbFwfQYgK1cZxyUGWXR0edh8T5nBc6qkAkQ-D_zB74IfzPZBAahg99GH6e6fB9AmlI9ogEMfRDhkhQ4BJQg/s320/fennelflr3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Here's a recent salad using fennel flowers (those yellow starbursts), basil cut into ribbons, beet leaves and a special yellow tomato that might be our new favorite.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnmAr3mR3FfjVh5Vvd_HdGKROW4iJZpaky6HhGNR7UgpQEgo4ytObz34syx6uuvGucn4-xpeEeEX8L-y8EyUrprBluJhdK_nRWN5EhaHIqFsEv4FDrng0kpuC0Gw1AUG4IBhtTmhS2A/s1600/tomatosalad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnmAr3mR3FfjVh5Vvd_HdGKROW4iJZpaky6HhGNR7UgpQEgo4ytObz34syx6uuvGucn4-xpeEeEX8L-y8EyUrprBluJhdK_nRWN5EhaHIqFsEv4FDrng0kpuC0Gw1AUG4IBhtTmhS2A/s320/tomatosalad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Here's another dish we ate the same night. Can you tell the tomato harvest has begun?????<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_sh14vGVXLf1Vgn9tIS_O7npbl5wXj-hDwwuiipb8R0cCAAa6KounSSP_9UgxIJrthfkhBVdtos97qOOz8iB5xAInriII0qRxwGOhHM4yGrSbapAXCO_JgOYpGiQoLKKwVtiFXnXCA/s1600/scapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_sh14vGVXLf1Vgn9tIS_O7npbl5wXj-hDwwuiipb8R0cCAAa6KounSSP_9UgxIJrthfkhBVdtos97qOOz8iB5xAInriII0qRxwGOhHM4yGrSbapAXCO_JgOYpGiQoLKKwVtiFXnXCA/s320/scapes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
These are garlic scapes. They are the flower buds that are best to cut off before they open so that the energy goes into making a bigger head of garlic to harvest later. The scapes are harvested and used for all kinds of things such as scape pesto, soups, sauces and even as garnishes as the next photo shows.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY42RVDaLgRK5rpXPdRWCtGwJRYZpoNnfcQwJmMmiLwHPn1ruH9XZBqFukJNAlzzNlw-QOcFZB31zZMv_vNHwE5n40APwep6KGPqu9FYadQF4g5ak3dD3bO_zpz9cLb1A4artmgAlkwQ/s1600/salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY42RVDaLgRK5rpXPdRWCtGwJRYZpoNnfcQwJmMmiLwHPn1ruH9XZBqFukJNAlzzNlw-QOcFZB31zZMv_vNHwE5n40APwep6KGPqu9FYadQF4g5ak3dD3bO_zpz9cLb1A4artmgAlkwQ/s320/salad.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
This was yummy to eat.....strawberries fresh out of the garden, almonds that had been soaked in sea salt water, sprouted and then toasted and of course, all the fresh baby greens of chard, spinach, arugula and beets.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltQiE9_ESzU7KoI5qJyeW-jELf7_eCMawZECS6SMsEp4PGJ-WZUpjMeqDG21G91JKyxH6gjd2xkrs37qXAAZonkfcMa_kwBDoqbLF6G0AebKroEjtZHh9eOh35C0dCj73XQGEtNqteQ/s1600/IMG_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltQiE9_ESzU7KoI5qJyeW-jELf7_eCMawZECS6SMsEp4PGJ-WZUpjMeqDG21G91JKyxH6gjd2xkrs37qXAAZonkfcMa_kwBDoqbLF6G0AebKroEjtZHh9eOh35C0dCj73XQGEtNqteQ/s320/IMG_0007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This dinner (yes, we do eat a LOT) used our very own feta cheese on the salads and greens, garlic scape pesto and various other vegetables. Makes my tummy rumble just looking at it again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98ytnDqZpcGGYGyir4i3k6jnppilse-6SAM7S_QvJ5NslGNAID1QP1THY7N-QhEVKX720LQTndD4RiHI5LhuIzrz4sQ8ssibE_Qx-wdpNUFWLNMPijRsWMgWr7iis6YAaBPX1R7D8ng/s1600/berries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98ytnDqZpcGGYGyir4i3k6jnppilse-6SAM7S_QvJ5NslGNAID1QP1THY7N-QhEVKX720LQTndD4RiHI5LhuIzrz4sQ8ssibE_Qx-wdpNUFWLNMPijRsWMgWr7iis6YAaBPX1R7D8ng/s320/berries.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Often the day ends with walking through the garden and gathering food.....this is a little pile of berries picked on evening. Strawberries, Honeyberries (they are blue, related to Honeysuckle), red currents, red raspberries and golden raspberries. Later in the season we added white currents, sea buckthorn berries, blue berries, black berries and black raspberries. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrnu7H128eOxKRhGXoiIun3ZEglhv13_-Ewom1oWLetwN29LKABZRHfL5mYFvdFXzTjKewNzx6Ddt0NW2I1Tuz1emz2Fc05zXgFgbC0u5LYq6fQnzOWTcfd5hwmV5O8mvwOOOfeD1UA/s1600/Lav.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrnu7H128eOxKRhGXoiIun3ZEglhv13_-Ewom1oWLetwN29LKABZRHfL5mYFvdFXzTjKewNzx6Ddt0NW2I1Tuz1emz2Fc05zXgFgbC0u5LYq6fQnzOWTcfd5hwmV5O8mvwOOOfeD1UA/s320/Lav.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
When you bring together fresh berries and fresh soft cheese from our goats you get a spectacular dessert. We love to add a spoonful of maple syrup into a small mound of cheese and then top with berries. It's so tasty that I could eat mountains of this dessert! In this photo the dessert is garnished with fresh lavender flowers. <br />
<br />
And now for some food photos......some without captions because they don't really need any.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2Unn83yUbOZgzUok3WXPU4kI4aMzN-SjzQEdKJQ5APbgHfNKRwXv9MUHYsxav-l5qf6J8bkijB8uX8vgSnqmmzU528SleyEG48pcQiEMQg9KAyZ6v8eL2nRXOylMdBxx8EdWrKU0sQ/s1600/tomato1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2Unn83yUbOZgzUok3WXPU4kI4aMzN-SjzQEdKJQ5APbgHfNKRwXv9MUHYsxav-l5qf6J8bkijB8uX8vgSnqmmzU528SleyEG48pcQiEMQg9KAyZ6v8eL2nRXOylMdBxx8EdWrKU0sQ/s320/tomato1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JAFhNKuE8iYeG8OTj6CgSkl36zg-lJk3mGILAUekXYhDi6M5dnELKOG72tArgNd0OguryajIW71Ffar_ic__UDj-5OhJcy9URImg23C489J3V7UX_3eeUuPtItuDAf8gpOrZlBT3Hw/s1600/tomato2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JAFhNKuE8iYeG8OTj6CgSkl36zg-lJk3mGILAUekXYhDi6M5dnELKOG72tArgNd0OguryajIW71Ffar_ic__UDj-5OhJcy9URImg23C489J3V7UX_3eeUuPtItuDAf8gpOrZlBT3Hw/s320/tomato2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK01aiMND4N7CnLqSv2b8-UlUbnxCgzxVj6qCj99mfT79kB6Nal0MiZyCleRxnqqZfBSF7fWB0c7lBGkeEbG52I1VN_gmzn3UE7LnfpZ1kLk4ZQf7Hty1Jhcdnl-DXr-9ixzGGNpf8ww/s1600/tomato3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK01aiMND4N7CnLqSv2b8-UlUbnxCgzxVj6qCj99mfT79kB6Nal0MiZyCleRxnqqZfBSF7fWB0c7lBGkeEbG52I1VN_gmzn3UE7LnfpZ1kLk4ZQf7Hty1Jhcdnl-DXr-9ixzGGNpf8ww/s320/tomato3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4JMHNCuxRVnVjMGG6SemMqohAzKh5lPxbjvFPW0NKAnnQ2KRIQoHHosYQCGno6Ml8aTESWLst8ouiv9QmHPEoVy25Wh3M_rVstNd1hMgAWDJ8XeTt0-Oe-txjXbhjIE119GVoigUSw/s1600/tomato4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4JMHNCuxRVnVjMGG6SemMqohAzKh5lPxbjvFPW0NKAnnQ2KRIQoHHosYQCGno6Ml8aTESWLst8ouiv9QmHPEoVy25Wh3M_rVstNd1hMgAWDJ8XeTt0-Oe-txjXbhjIE119GVoigUSw/s320/tomato4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3Z-Mav4IomkTZ9z9L9ZOyNUPKRLArswTZJlffY09SzfNkXEgusTb2nGPWimkfgO4VYQctiRg-27J_ff-gtas9Z02uzOzrDrd9uIovS3yzhDDOdd6kUSQ8OGKSGlJVK9iowIcErn61Q/s1600/harvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3Z-Mav4IomkTZ9z9L9ZOyNUPKRLArswTZJlffY09SzfNkXEgusTb2nGPWimkfgO4VYQctiRg-27J_ff-gtas9Z02uzOzrDrd9uIovS3yzhDDOdd6kUSQ8OGKSGlJVK9iowIcErn61Q/s320/harvest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This was a harvest sitting on the counter one day....a few potatoes, some burdock roots (yummy raw or cooked), black beans, white beans, garlic, shallots, 3 kinds of beets, carrots, and a few shitake mushrooms.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXtLQ-PNLLnJYLrCNHYdngErfhhAHapySHMpSI4kxDC06efJKpK4aokpMYjFJLJoqShG3Bf5-tecVXbtOvclgUjK3Ohyzn1i1YUPuyVlkhQrT9pIADfqr9V3wQp-iTcFmSUYAjZRFVg/s1600/hersalad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXtLQ-PNLLnJYLrCNHYdngErfhhAHapySHMpSI4kxDC06efJKpK4aokpMYjFJLJoqShG3Bf5-tecVXbtOvclgUjK3Ohyzn1i1YUPuyVlkhQrT9pIADfqr9V3wQp-iTcFmSUYAjZRFVg/s320/hersalad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And this was the type of salad I ate a lot of last summer.......mixed greens picked minutes before dinner, herbs and borage flowers. The borage flowers have a cucumber flavor.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzFgJiwPHZwFYiDLtL6_3cW4ggiC37RhcYoVhSt2JSBHKldVBWOcRZj8ynNJljorE5p3sbhH2WqhSTU23UQO5bKh9bP2P6dhIwC3COmCcga5F6OoXtyVUjZc6YNlHYPc3Pi1VzDNa3Q/s1600/hissalad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzFgJiwPHZwFYiDLtL6_3cW4ggiC37RhcYoVhSt2JSBHKldVBWOcRZj8ynNJljorE5p3sbhH2WqhSTU23UQO5bKh9bP2P6dhIwC3COmCcga5F6OoXtyVUjZc6YNlHYPc3Pi1VzDNa3Q/s320/hissalad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And this was Joseph's salad.....he likes the spicy things like more arugula and peppery nasturtium flowers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbz7ldP3CUEv-x537fgpp1T4fe_K2_uOpxIEW72B8Nupg903L72yDfAYWqVNPEBAccmCEm830KsyHPt7842iW3rUQRFc6tKziu9vxn9NTk8Fc2o2tuE_QO0-IezfHcLlbzjZJtaX6ZuQ/s1600/potato1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbz7ldP3CUEv-x537fgpp1T4fe_K2_uOpxIEW72B8Nupg903L72yDfAYWqVNPEBAccmCEm830KsyHPt7842iW3rUQRFc6tKziu9vxn9NTk8Fc2o2tuE_QO0-IezfHcLlbzjZJtaX6ZuQ/s320/potato1.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
<br />
Potatoes, freshly dug and washed. Lightly cooked and then seasoned with a bit of butter, salt and dill or garlic......yum!<br />
<br />
<br />Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-374475881214103292012-09-01T05:09:00.001-07:002012-09-01T05:28:15.188-07:00And Now for Some Sheep!This is an overview of our sheep..... We bought 6 ewe lambs and 2 ram lambs of a special breed of sheep. They come in all colors and are very hardy. They do eat a LOT of grass and hay....much more than the goats. They also travel through the pastures more than the goats. When we got the sheep in 2011 they were very scared of people. If they saw us they would run away unless it was feeding time. They are still wary of other people and so far only let Kathrin pat them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82zOiEb26Rb2pdIscS1JgOpY4w6x4xuBJ6FRVwxX52y4MRfBMUm1Bt5NFx4AiGtoPydtO7Ww_vG6Zi8fbCgQF2lVh1FzHfIL5wd353phQLI934SnYWVuiqxLOh_MGPsiZeEFr7GsPjw/s1600/ewelambs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82zOiEb26Rb2pdIscS1JgOpY4w6x4xuBJ6FRVwxX52y4MRfBMUm1Bt5NFx4AiGtoPydtO7Ww_vG6Zi8fbCgQF2lVh1FzHfIL5wd353phQLI934SnYWVuiqxLOh_MGPsiZeEFr7GsPjw/s320/ewelambs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
These are the ewe lambs when they first arrived. We were still working on the barn so they had to listen a lot of noisy building and had people around all the time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlzBRjke_shJPxjgXraax4M8pbIn7zPualg40zY1ws1Tn_S1iOHN19k83h2UvvZmXLwxpN2DZW38GZY5M6wY-z3toY_TaFILcCYJeE0MKTx5QniFfsz260N4T4ekUOlQrG1GrMXFRcA/s1600/rams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlzBRjke_shJPxjgXraax4M8pbIn7zPualg40zY1ws1Tn_S1iOHN19k83h2UvvZmXLwxpN2DZW38GZY5M6wY-z3toY_TaFILcCYJeE0MKTx5QniFfsz260N4T4ekUOlQrG1GrMXFRcA/s320/rams.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Here are the two handsome rams.....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bb-wtx_0e8_XPQA0G3GaYzm-sbr18Fq_UclrRRdMOOPiBgRPs9OGEjvZ6gnbzn_WG_bQ_QWs_Aj6Z8WduW5UELpsYZ4Yw_H43VslRG9L3yyd66_lDadJN6m7ZKGyvdk7uG6h35Zy5Q/s1600/Fauna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bb-wtx_0e8_XPQA0G3GaYzm-sbr18Fq_UclrRRdMOOPiBgRPs9OGEjvZ6gnbzn_WG_bQ_QWs_Aj6Z8WduW5UELpsYZ4Yw_H43VslRG9L3yyd66_lDadJN6m7ZKGyvdk7uG6h35Zy5Q/s320/Fauna.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The first lamb born we named "Fauna". She was a very cute lamb and loved to be patted, unlike all the grown sheep.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5pHvAuE8_QGLu22F-svBSmG18KLmPKPhJiyM7gmfGKaiioZ4O7mxnxHbdDBKOVyMDooShMp9SRQz-7hqxgoT8ex7ZuYy0l8YkAhaKKeYJSWpec5zcwV_STOr1phaPCvjg9fP3hDuGA/s1600/Lisette's+ramlamb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5pHvAuE8_QGLu22F-svBSmG18KLmPKPhJiyM7gmfGKaiioZ4O7mxnxHbdDBKOVyMDooShMp9SRQz-7hqxgoT8ex7ZuYy0l8YkAhaKKeYJSWpec5zcwV_STOr1phaPCvjg9fP3hDuGA/s320/Lisette's+ramlamb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This little lamb has just been born to a lovely butterscotch colored ewe named "Lisette". He is learning to walk and is looking for his mother's udder so he can nurse. His mother is licking him to wash him off. We named him "Orcus".<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZos-vRA1fcfqnHysbvOm8Kj23_95piHxjkQHUDJjKMmc7LAaf1t25hvJtmoUM9B9Sp0UREYfwIREHRdNqd7m0tO8EyB8CRlmxaopqJDCJeO59BV1KKXfSuaKXnesri-OOJ379XzLsA/s1600/lisette:Orcus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZos-vRA1fcfqnHysbvOm8Kj23_95piHxjkQHUDJjKMmc7LAaf1t25hvJtmoUM9B9Sp0UREYfwIREHRdNqd7m0tO8EyB8CRlmxaopqJDCJeO59BV1KKXfSuaKXnesri-OOJ379XzLsA/s320/lisette:Orcus.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
Here are Lisette and Orcus now.....look how big Orcus has gotten in just 3 months!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7a218lpqHbHKU2Oz8UGnbcxGa8u0ZyRY42yqj54G0OKRsuSqoYApKOEujBIu1mtiilpPBEqc4FMVGduxxOtYUuU0fxwpbrNG69m0yVbSEeFbJhFaRnPsdCeX9GI258TFv9nW5iIPZUA/s1600/Lorelei:Vulcan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7a218lpqHbHKU2Oz8UGnbcxGa8u0ZyRY42yqj54G0OKRsuSqoYApKOEujBIu1mtiilpPBEqc4FMVGduxxOtYUuU0fxwpbrNG69m0yVbSEeFbJhFaRnPsdCeX9GI258TFv9nW5iIPZUA/s320/Lorelei:Vulcan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is Lorelei with her newborn ram lamb we named "Vulcan".<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwewMzHwkE6vLvhrUCtA1tRq_4jtf6U1nQI3KzRYbO3hc4jCkQkg1ZW5rBzR8elcaJgZiLUWcy6CEkCPOspo1xatGWh2Jp7k7NwXThD_l192-HN2wNIYAqSszhQ13j3QlFAoYFksx78w/s1600/Fauna,+just+like+mom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwewMzHwkE6vLvhrUCtA1tRq_4jtf6U1nQI3KzRYbO3hc4jCkQkg1ZW5rBzR8elcaJgZiLUWcy6CEkCPOspo1xatGWh2Jp7k7NwXThD_l192-HN2wNIYAqSszhQ13j3QlFAoYFksx78w/s320/Fauna,+just+like+mom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Like baby goats, lambs learn how to act by watching their mother. Fauna is checking to make sure she's doing it right.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkUbhXierDE_teC7D3K_2Oa0C0R2qbled4iFSAdE3ovRobs277iwj_j7AUrXd3n759_gt1GmY2n1b518-Ag9pGSZsTRi7QpfImOS1mwtoDOMte_NfGzpjjP82qr-j4DZxu8LYPHw94Q/s1600/Lorelei:Vulcan2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkUbhXierDE_teC7D3K_2Oa0C0R2qbled4iFSAdE3ovRobs277iwj_j7AUrXd3n759_gt1GmY2n1b518-Ag9pGSZsTRi7QpfImOS1mwtoDOMte_NfGzpjjP82qr-j4DZxu8LYPHw94Q/s320/Lorelei:Vulcan2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
When the lambs were born we put them in smaller areas with just their mom to make sure they had time to bond without other sheep getting in the way. After a few days we let them rejoin the flock.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy2X1Z-G9DOsVJ8C3K85CB3oaQw5BnjXD2-AyHt1nC57KHe1Z2FP03t7pS7KNiY75w0rfCeEcRYxfYxodyVXA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Several of the sheep have gotten tamer. One of the grown sheep now loves a lot of eye contact with me, lots of patting and she definitely loves to hear sweet words. She lets me touch her face, ears, horns and pretty much everywhere. It's pretty lovely. Most of the 5 lambs from this year love to be patted by me also. They still are wary of other people. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6qkMBue3Nh23Z3ICb-EK4tZBH9jpLzjG2tf3dsvWMK4ozvF1ox9Xy1FwjcWeRyYaW5ucHJGGCKIJSxKyPbZ2DCQfC5BoUQ3JOeaP1wfQw36ggBs-i7EvsbD1p4ddI3PbqI9YdjulJA/s1600/fauna2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6qkMBue3Nh23Z3ICb-EK4tZBH9jpLzjG2tf3dsvWMK4ozvF1ox9Xy1FwjcWeRyYaW5ucHJGGCKIJSxKyPbZ2DCQfC5BoUQ3JOeaP1wfQw36ggBs-i7EvsbD1p4ddI3PbqI9YdjulJA/s320/fauna2.jpg" width="283" /></a></div>
<br />
This is the lamb named "Fauna" and you can see how fast she's grown. She's very sweet and runs up to me to be patted.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRryB2HYn8A7Gbn5uwYqyy58JgAxiugjZCyJqU-tDJUW0Wm9oWw9HNKf688dEBcLlE7QFVdSCiqmQcA-GMfayU_IFw8xDTRiUmXxfiN__iLH_-p5ucOv5rU7S2XJVulYg14hMpdXQuVg/s1600/Cupid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRryB2HYn8A7Gbn5uwYqyy58JgAxiugjZCyJqU-tDJUW0Wm9oWw9HNKf688dEBcLlE7QFVdSCiqmQcA-GMfayU_IFw8xDTRiUmXxfiN__iLH_-p5ucOv5rU7S2XJVulYg14hMpdXQuVg/s320/Cupid.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is "Cupid", another one of this year's lambs. He's gotten very big and just loves having me to scratch him on the top of his head. His horns get in the way of him scratching his own itches.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvu_PNsFtO0WVdCJ1Yys3hyeCwSX2JKgfHMhmcDZfc3HsYp48LYbF0bnSvRtdqZ9BOEV8l3Hxjtyzg-2qEouDrUL3s06LsUKgy28hY6TxUohmk1hpq627PIk1_d1nSnJtbY1GfdygKA/s1600/sheepparade.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvu_PNsFtO0WVdCJ1Yys3hyeCwSX2JKgfHMhmcDZfc3HsYp48LYbF0bnSvRtdqZ9BOEV8l3Hxjtyzg-2qEouDrUL3s06LsUKgy28hY6TxUohmk1hpq627PIk1_d1nSnJtbY1GfdygKA/s320/sheepparade.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
Each morning I lead the sheep out to pasture and it feels like a parade. One morning I took my camera and turned around to take this photo of them following me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlp4qiJ-M6RtU90aZQ2kSsP_atYfQiIzbYrBXRPJs5WPXh13Mwcva9sy4loMRtYENKBwwkKMpwD_JD6iK05hv_xWhaMayPHR4zL-oMuslsqNUXbSSwF_MzbaMqat3DWTQVp1ET6v4cQ/s1600/sheep+in+the+woods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlp4qiJ-M6RtU90aZQ2kSsP_atYfQiIzbYrBXRPJs5WPXh13Mwcva9sy4loMRtYENKBwwkKMpwD_JD6iK05hv_xWhaMayPHR4zL-oMuslsqNUXbSSwF_MzbaMqat3DWTQVp1ET6v4cQ/s320/sheep+in+the+woods.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The sheep move around from pasture to pasture during the day and one of their areas is the edge of the forest where they clamber over the stone walls and hang out in the shade when it's too hot in the sun. Remember, they have been growing a new wool coat since spring and they get hot pretty fast!Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-54656338847295501052012-09-01T04:40:00.001-07:002012-09-01T04:40:45.499-07:00A Glimpse or Two of Here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtGwmgVhVSNAgT3dmx2KYtsJ9jb8SQNmHzuT-Hp-K-XxU1h2qNmriBoPomczeZSO7XmGyJD50Bawd97Sny6MECXm7gaqkbWN-YB1NooobD-B6ZwQIyKwI280Jh_uaeJ9YJHq-NdTleA/s1600/Am+I+cute%3f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtGwmgVhVSNAgT3dmx2KYtsJ9jb8SQNmHzuT-Hp-K-XxU1h2qNmriBoPomczeZSO7XmGyJD50Bawd97Sny6MECXm7gaqkbWN-YB1NooobD-B6ZwQIyKwI280Jh_uaeJ9YJHq-NdTleA/s320/Am+I+cute%3f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Okay, this is a special post for group of special people who are going to join us for a day. Since it's September and things look different at different times of year I thought it'd be nice to show some of the other views of this place......and some close ups of what happens here. In this post I'll share a few photos of some of the cuteness that abound here in the spring time. These babies are bigger now and some of them have moved to other farms. We still have 4 half grown goatie girls that are cute. Three of them totally love being patted by just about anyone, one is a little shy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fUJcRe1kLv4evtfaIl6x_koUKCIoZVYezc3pov81GUQGG61ty58vXkeOH7kutJTALLYhnqYdcI5zcRlSRnIYnxD2CYiWsAkqvPt9rW3FaHFDUyLyCGbRvhGuxQhuu-cdDY3-NIpyfA/s1600/little+rascals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fUJcRe1kLv4evtfaIl6x_koUKCIoZVYezc3pov81GUQGG61ty58vXkeOH7kutJTALLYhnqYdcI5zcRlSRnIYnxD2CYiWsAkqvPt9rW3FaHFDUyLyCGbRvhGuxQhuu-cdDY3-NIpyfA/s320/little+rascals.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1QeoDLZuWKsANTXYeCi8cjtVeObezYQ4uV_LcDfJH7NC1oOiqek9fmHb5CPxQohRxPi77hQ2U0YDxjHLnBjUhPESPq1V9mzbFOKjA8N8X-d8IOM0yL7A0c6Hk3rOtTaqwDyYTSSAgg/s1600/mother+and+son.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1QeoDLZuWKsANTXYeCi8cjtVeObezYQ4uV_LcDfJH7NC1oOiqek9fmHb5CPxQohRxPi77hQ2U0YDxjHLnBjUhPESPq1V9mzbFOKjA8N8X-d8IOM0yL7A0c6Hk3rOtTaqwDyYTSSAgg/s320/mother+and+son.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This is a mother and son photo. He's trying to be just like his mommy. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOXeIVQYtkOT6gqXQBnRXAl5k45v3PdEmd-hC4MBJwD-qOyMAxK9aOZST_hkwl1zotsrislRkny3-xglBAPMATorKrIMsmhIWJehFl1bfzDTRjeeOeh0RenVnpjhjE6jhuHn7nJY1Hg/s1600/mom+is+my+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOXeIVQYtkOT6gqXQBnRXAl5k45v3PdEmd-hC4MBJwD-qOyMAxK9aOZST_hkwl1zotsrislRkny3-xglBAPMATorKrIMsmhIWJehFl1bfzDTRjeeOeh0RenVnpjhjE6jhuHn7nJY1Hg/s320/mom+is+my+bed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This little boy had played hard and gotten tired and fell asleep on his mommy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvO_l2JLo8ImquxVyJUwwpxU2-KnyISJlDpJEmhk0DYcpQKHuVk5JWiPOYnsTLahyphenhyphenY-gyex8FmE-SZjNg4-CWmak6Pkn1a_2ZXwCjLrDXmwYDDgYm3AJeFrGR6FkMHuR1juaWG0nM-A/s1600/goats+on+the+rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvO_l2JLo8ImquxVyJUwwpxU2-KnyISJlDpJEmhk0DYcpQKHuVk5JWiPOYnsTLahyphenhyphenY-gyex8FmE-SZjNg4-CWmak6Pkn1a_2ZXwCjLrDXmwYDDgYm3AJeFrGR6FkMHuR1juaWG0nM-A/s320/goats+on+the+rocks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
They do love to climb around on the rocks and push each other off.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPuihSmndya9kNjgcJ1GW_e9FHfJI5bSSwsgYJeYnI7hkasODT-znoF5ozite4tTXpE8KGMGFGme7cYgV6twBaZn_k2ttMxqJUS92C6FiNJ6_sTIH9rp6aFEQoGkgd6OQY85K_Q8PSA/s1600/joseph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPuihSmndya9kNjgcJ1GW_e9FHfJI5bSSwsgYJeYnI7hkasODT-znoF5ozite4tTXpE8KGMGFGme7cYgV6twBaZn_k2ttMxqJUS92C6FiNJ6_sTIH9rp6aFEQoGkgd6OQY85K_Q8PSA/s320/joseph.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
They also like to climb on people!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAZjOZxvF6tBiZTEny64IIyN4zPAVzvijrGrSyPCzcxK84K6vrF_aFZbclW5axR7qZJOLi-cVoWYu9iUbUjK1oLrVVR6QSfNKTLYGgZFmhgdNSE1kR7zSRsN3PySrDw-nwJi3iA5qUQ/s1600/Rasha:Tao+w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAZjOZxvF6tBiZTEny64IIyN4zPAVzvijrGrSyPCzcxK84K6vrF_aFZbclW5axR7qZJOLi-cVoWYu9iUbUjK1oLrVVR6QSfNKTLYGgZFmhgdNSE1kR7zSRsN3PySrDw-nwJi3iA5qUQ/s320/Rasha:Tao+w.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
Twins!!! We still have the boy from this photo and he loves to be patted. He's grown now and like all our adult goats comes up to about my knee in height. Our goats are user friendly and mostly like being patted although they are not used to a bunch of people at once and are not used to people moving fast. We tend to speak gently around them and not move in ways that would scare them. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThJcdrsN0Kd_trjxC2F0ZfkBPAfWIWn4gS-CoageP9KgUurToHke2ugdPDYxsSK2riVbxwWmn_-kdwDJXAGqnmkuQIWTMWjwrx_JPeTYJKt23kpiPKcCc0jYfk5kCvKxoHw4EEwIOKw/s1600/Chicaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThJcdrsN0Kd_trjxC2F0ZfkBPAfWIWn4gS-CoageP9KgUurToHke2ugdPDYxsSK2riVbxwWmn_-kdwDJXAGqnmkuQIWTMWjwrx_JPeTYJKt23kpiPKcCc0jYfk5kCvKxoHw4EEwIOKw/s320/Chicaw.jpg" width="264" /></a></div>
This little girl named "Chica" was born last year and this year gave birth to her own little girl baby that we named "Bonita".<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBLdkG7UADCiLGJk7mE8lBVsgKm-0u-T_R4h9GeWEn4JsEOyKPhyphenhyphen4CDKA_By0PdRTJqh3-aOUtvb7dRbRwy62BUOdrej79qA90dktQQKFD_Z2XxURT6O7ydDMa7Zh1vbkcdaSMR1a7w/s1600/ChicaBonita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBLdkG7UADCiLGJk7mE8lBVsgKm-0u-T_R4h9GeWEn4JsEOyKPhyphenhyphen4CDKA_By0PdRTJqh3-aOUtvb7dRbRwy62BUOdrej79qA90dktQQKFD_Z2XxURT6O7ydDMa7Zh1vbkcdaSMR1a7w/s320/ChicaBonita.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Here is a grown up Chica with her baby Bonita.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRUx34j-p9uPfarvQfhMjEnRhVmUcfeHZO3mqT2cOttCQEyljxCasLpcPEdzm8UJfB2ylCFPuaUm9sGB2kP0_dJqRqrmF07aUNszZXXPa3QrolC-TReOJMaYYZfL8zUP__hyphenhyphenOPyBDQQ/s1600/ChicaBonita2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRUx34j-p9uPfarvQfhMjEnRhVmUcfeHZO3mqT2cOttCQEyljxCasLpcPEdzm8UJfB2ylCFPuaUm9sGB2kP0_dJqRqrmF07aUNszZXXPa3QrolC-TReOJMaYYZfL8zUP__hyphenhyphenOPyBDQQ/s320/ChicaBonita2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Just like with humans, goat mommies and babies like to spend a lot of time near each other. Especially when it's nap time. The babies play pretty hard and then want to have some quiet time near their mommy. This is Chica and Bonita again having a little nap under one of the platforms that Bonita was just jumping around on a short while before.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1jVIXB28RPxaFCd89kSyckLCNabq7ak0d_9zSaura48n5eAFzPBlkR4G_hGfh09RN0m7IS_GfmXPbI0ARSYXU5m82p_J7lHIsMK8SzOWdOsvQCConYxNWsYrSEg6BtTiMogNhVh2sQ/s1600/LunaCeleste.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1jVIXB28RPxaFCd89kSyckLCNabq7ak0d_9zSaura48n5eAFzPBlkR4G_hGfh09RN0m7IS_GfmXPbI0ARSYXU5m82p_J7lHIsMK8SzOWdOsvQCConYxNWsYrSEg6BtTiMogNhVh2sQ/s320/LunaCeleste.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This mother and daughter snuggle looks funny because they are both chewing. This is Luna (Chica's sister) and her daughter Celeste. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGC0B5BT1Su-rk8u1epHenvqBWIplIODAE1lenfWpS3PWvShT0dG3ZdtH6YUgzJkpUfksKWv3VSyzmE14U3TiMgs4ZraWxeo_My8kjcbRFu7AnDYSUc04Wo4YMJHalbMdNrCbpOUGAQ/s1600/Luciatriplets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGC0B5BT1Su-rk8u1epHenvqBWIplIODAE1lenfWpS3PWvShT0dG3ZdtH6YUgzJkpUfksKWv3VSyzmE14U3TiMgs4ZraWxeo_My8kjcbRFu7AnDYSUc04Wo4YMJHalbMdNrCbpOUGAQ/s320/Luciatriplets.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
If mommies are busy brothers and sisters like to snuggle up together. These are Lucia's triplets.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzKjOMTXAkvxLuc0QzFiTyARYBYFH1-_FaKuw0nyE4UekX0vI_pHEYq6iT7DQTu0riSbg16J3FdXciCOVgHFw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Here's a short video showing how much the goaties love to play. The mother goat Luna, who jumps up on the platform halfway through pushes off the baby that isn't her baby and lets her baby "Cielo" stay on the platform.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sPIa1p-qL35iMicvCNnW5g9LNl4QUm5likST_WzUObCb3djBbGruE74Z_ft8vmRvTvut5GrqL7nXUcxKUdCfWGu9d4csqfkcvSXZi-Wi4X49TP3XB7phXUA9vURVjvJfpInzSYCmxg/s1600/pasture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sPIa1p-qL35iMicvCNnW5g9LNl4QUm5likST_WzUObCb3djBbGruE74Z_ft8vmRvTvut5GrqL7nXUcxKUdCfWGu9d4csqfkcvSXZi-Wi4X49TP3XB7phXUA9vURVjvJfpInzSYCmxg/s320/pasture.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
Because there are coyotes, bear, fox, bobcat and mountain lions the goats are guarded by 2 dogs. They are brother and sister named Fergy and Vera. They are a special breed of dog that originated in Italy to protect livestock. They live with the goats all the time and patrol the empty pastures at night keeping wild animals away.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xCqCjVBJpJvl_2902zKsgYqj8_pDTYmxASAruhkPNLI7IPY2SvW2laqRjd1E7eNUTj-kYoCB09QneU1uDxID7if6qnsrlZzAOJaDfJ029_F0qSTUj3cFdzFV47ac45K4MZxFNQkTeg/s1600/tao5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xCqCjVBJpJvl_2902zKsgYqj8_pDTYmxASAruhkPNLI7IPY2SvW2laqRjd1E7eNUTj-kYoCB09QneU1uDxID7if6qnsrlZzAOJaDfJ029_F0qSTUj3cFdzFV47ac45K4MZxFNQkTeg/s320/tao5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
This photo is from last year, showing a half grown Tao hanging out with Vera. He was nuzzling her a little bit and they were both watching other goats.<br />
<br />
So that's a glimpse into the goat cuteness that lives here. Hope you enjoyed it.Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-91943749089392270762012-07-04T12:20:00.000-07:002012-07-04T16:43:30.654-07:00Flowering Progression<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtGPcJ5gSxodpFAkL4b0LPfl2nPa-lZ01XzNScptbCmEoe8-W1W0gv6Eav17OB4mHdge94LPyte9HdfSPR6HyRUD5MKFKzPgcestYB8ESkWHdmhxJVK7wlG2ytVEfwl2kPCCYyvXrQw/s1600/bench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtGPcJ5gSxodpFAkL4b0LPfl2nPa-lZ01XzNScptbCmEoe8-W1W0gv6Eav17OB4mHdge94LPyte9HdfSPR6HyRUD5MKFKzPgcestYB8ESkWHdmhxJVK7wlG2ytVEfwl2kPCCYyvXrQw/s320/bench.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I have forgotten to take photos the past 2 or 3 weeks but I meant to take a weekly photo of a certain bench against our house to show the progression of bloom seasons. Here it is April 25th and the wood poppes (yellow), Phlox stolonifera (pink), Daffodils (white) are all in full swing with bits of Plox divaricata (lavender colored), Pulmonaria (pink aging to blue), Grape Hyacinth (blue), and Epimedium showing at the edges.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIWqbcar86Vgmh7D0H_smp_I2wtXbdl8FfjHZEbxiun5lTkfeFR-FvoUdhd_nM2j3wwfBD0EsQ5ermn9ejINb1en2iPTpP-Hpx5gWEWE1-sH3oo9qY8133SWr87mY797fdYMVZ-0KWA/s1600/bench6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIWqbcar86Vgmh7D0H_smp_I2wtXbdl8FfjHZEbxiun5lTkfeFR-FvoUdhd_nM2j3wwfBD0EsQ5ermn9ejINb1en2iPTpP-Hpx5gWEWE1-sH3oo9qY8133SWr87mY797fdYMVZ-0KWA/s320/bench6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
May 29th Notice how it's all about softer colors of lavender now? Sure, the Peonies are blooming and the yellow Baptisia in the right front is adding a nice counterpoint to the blue-ish theme and there is that splash of shell pink coral bells but really, it's a fully different view.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDXvoFXkRdyV3Nv5S0VbmCOR8WJSJ6BZPdUJVbX3Emqno6Zv0iZxtdHxqs8IxhpaJBsFYobqyiXnwqntD75CEJotY8dqYAwPDOu4BbklJ98SQEzJocJwn32J0tpjQAsSYkrOnogC_rA/s1600/peoniesrose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDXvoFXkRdyV3Nv5S0VbmCOR8WJSJ6BZPdUJVbX3Emqno6Zv0iZxtdHxqs8IxhpaJBsFYobqyiXnwqntD75CEJotY8dqYAwPDOu4BbklJ98SQEzJocJwn32J0tpjQAsSYkrOnogC_rA/s320/peoniesrose.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's a different view taken the same day. The first red rose is blooming but it's the peonies and iris that reign supreme.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tDWiVOTddmuI8AYGSpIBundsjBYvhrmlp_dGMU2pr-1mPRoMtLaKlaKrqQB36t5yjeobDqr0bTuXUjahEPr3Yolb20kA8Z86_1JrrOKHCjMNfW9Cni8DoEZpBynsUtjOs451ie21eA/s1600/bench8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tDWiVOTddmuI8AYGSpIBundsjBYvhrmlp_dGMU2pr-1mPRoMtLaKlaKrqQB36t5yjeobDqr0bTuXUjahEPr3Yolb20kA8Z86_1JrrOKHCjMNfW9Cni8DoEZpBynsUtjOs451ie21eA/s320/bench8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
June 18th Now notice how the lavender shades are gone and it's all about that red rose blooming and all those green shapes and textures. Yes the coral bells are still blooming and the honeysuckles on the arbor are blooming as well.<br />
<br />
<br />
Speaking of green shapes.....I am in love with green in the spring after a long white winter. Here's the view out our front door. It faces East into a ravine and it feels like being in a tree house.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzX5nZF6iYsEeJLRczL1uLU4YA4okaHirrrfCC8VC_YjopYrgplwCl8EPtXK5WPvcIhB4dzI-FlKFTs_A22ucu3MgWE9UWyLfsRFu26JNcPRkoTyg3b_LeVtRRzuyUB4ohNjJfPXujg/s1600/front+door+view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzX5nZF6iYsEeJLRczL1uLU4YA4okaHirrrfCC8VC_YjopYrgplwCl8EPtXK5WPvcIhB4dzI-FlKFTs_A22ucu3MgWE9UWyLfsRFu26JNcPRkoTyg3b_LeVtRRzuyUB4ohNjJfPXujg/s320/front+door+view.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And then there are all the other colors to fall in love with!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22L3JpQkfkVysZu9wIcK5dmyms_ivSfqHxyOjxReL3eNXjqP_mYbPeIatDvhzMrI_P6B4zQTidex0Cqi_HfUYXoVeMDmQagN99u9Jnmthrcnp9hpRqZD1OcsntNs6yfcmN4JHOPYvuw/s1600/peony8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22L3JpQkfkVysZu9wIcK5dmyms_ivSfqHxyOjxReL3eNXjqP_mYbPeIatDvhzMrI_P6B4zQTidex0Cqi_HfUYXoVeMDmQagN99u9Jnmthrcnp9hpRqZD1OcsntNs6yfcmN4JHOPYvuw/s320/peony8.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGp2ZmFeMTa-xpV9a5ptwmO2JJBXDH-Igi_0Zbtt2PeGqJ8nolfohHfvrh3ysc9qiZ0P5X19YBmdPuCKk7kMb9QxY-sxuMtShLGXN2KdorfGhuGE8FDDjikNNo_Oybez5dMe5Xq04q8g/s1600/iris.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGp2ZmFeMTa-xpV9a5ptwmO2JJBXDH-Igi_0Zbtt2PeGqJ8nolfohHfvrh3ysc9qiZ0P5X19YBmdPuCKk7kMb9QxY-sxuMtShLGXN2KdorfGhuGE8FDDjikNNo_Oybez5dMe5Xq04q8g/s320/iris.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Time to get back outside.........Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-62644992037368726472012-07-04T11:33:00.000-07:002012-07-04T11:34:24.976-07:00And the title today is "Yum!"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVr7fSRtgEDeh5fZALhHJRqZoLs0zhUIhNS2gbGrADizLwUbcq-Q47PU3s2WfPklszYhykkSp2wU0VlUoHUhsjBUuLxKMEA5M7pjnFLwBs1k-gBn8cMS4JFQLSkZzUM8aT4PLR5GOPpQ/s1600/IMG_0301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVr7fSRtgEDeh5fZALhHJRqZoLs0zhUIhNS2gbGrADizLwUbcq-Q47PU3s2WfPklszYhykkSp2wU0VlUoHUhsjBUuLxKMEA5M7pjnFLwBs1k-gBn8cMS4JFQLSkZzUM8aT4PLR5GOPpQ/s320/IMG_0301.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Today I want to share how much yum is in my life. There are amazing salads, garlic pesto, fruit over maple sweetened chevre and a multitude of other yummy greens. There are the roses, lilies and more than 250 varieties of flowers standing in line to show their beauty. Then there are the sweet connections with the animals that share our lives. The sheep, goats, dogs, cats, chickens and rabbits. <br />
<br />
The photo I've started with above is an evening's harvest that gives a sense of the diversity of yum I'm celebrating. Dinner, dessert and roses to dry. <br />
<br />
We started the year with fresh salads and then the strawberry harvest hit us heavy. Many pounds of strawberries were picked to eat until our lips and fingers were stained and then freeze for smoothies. A rare dinner out found Joseph eating a superb salad of greens with strawberries and sprouted almonds and I was impressed enough to recreate it at home for several nights running until something else caught our fancy. Garnishing it with a mini garlic scape was fun!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTR0ktke24q6yZWP57qzL1HHeV0J0a6nBEkUvErPQSgLlnMLlLrj2cA3H5lbRhRZEWAdJsoXT8HBPKAYdamtfprwDJ54cDKlm1CUNjZLXvaWNk1VLdQ38BdwH_jDDbKKfjp68wzxRUCg/s1600/salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTR0ktke24q6yZWP57qzL1HHeV0J0a6nBEkUvErPQSgLlnMLlLrj2cA3H5lbRhRZEWAdJsoXT8HBPKAYdamtfprwDJ54cDKlm1CUNjZLXvaWNk1VLdQ38BdwH_jDDbKKfjp68wzxRUCg/s320/salad.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
<br />
Our salad season has been ever-changing in it's flavors. Starting with a cold frame in the unheated greenhouse gave us red beet leaves, arugula, claytonia, baby kale and spinach to begin. Then the outside crops started maturing adding 4 more kinds of beet greens, 5 kinds of kale, many colors of chards and 2 more kinds of spinach as well as herbs and fresh peas. The health of our plants created an almost radiance at times. This beet leaf was so beautiful I had to stop and photograph it before I could bear to eat it lest I forget it's shine and health.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIENmqlZHxVeeL09ZtFbG_JRNa2a4Z2Bw_Gco8Llk3H4Bv30JjrNdSSHup9OJzEl3VN5C7FtV-bBYnx7XlgUyCPlhUU7UAhJzUTImzvgey1Oi_5kswQC_lnE4MgoaVyCipWc2FG_Shg/s1600/beetleaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIENmqlZHxVeeL09ZtFbG_JRNa2a4Z2Bw_Gco8Llk3H4Bv30JjrNdSSHup9OJzEl3VN5C7FtV-bBYnx7XlgUyCPlhUU7UAhJzUTImzvgey1Oi_5kswQC_lnE4MgoaVyCipWc2FG_Shg/s320/beetleaf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
The berry harvest has been fun because of it's diversity. Red currents, honey berries, strawberries, red and golden raspberries and then a week after this photo the blueberries started coming in. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMW-kmpa3AC9hWzLTY-KDl_zuQkADGFODbWqzMtl28TfeaYWGI14QjpVqsUuZxFEhoYVP98ewWQKohcJutRrOQQXW5E-mO6BrmLx93ZIJKAeVWQ0XjWRtmiHdy1Pq-ehUHifQ4a4LZvw/s1600/berries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMW-kmpa3AC9hWzLTY-KDl_zuQkADGFODbWqzMtl28TfeaYWGI14QjpVqsUuZxFEhoYVP98ewWQKohcJutRrOQQXW5E-mO6BrmLx93ZIJKAeVWQ0XjWRtmiHdy1Pq-ehUHifQ4a4LZvw/s320/berries.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The berries have been eaten over fresh chevre sweetened with a bit of maple syrup. Wonderful dessert!<br />
<br />
Then it was garlic scape harvest time. Hundreds of scapes to turn into scape pesto. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJVHGtsCxLO3-GjW5tXgogAIGvgj0QuQMooyo1dwiDr68IOOQTmIf-QXFJVQn5xtwyZfYLyc3Qudq39Ug0GryeReUQZc0ZEFrPQBAd_a2yRza8nMUtge-3wrbPyVVTzHY2riuUBF5Wg/s1600/garlicscapesOn+board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJVHGtsCxLO3-GjW5tXgogAIGvgj0QuQMooyo1dwiDr68IOOQTmIf-QXFJVQn5xtwyZfYLyc3Qudq39Ug0GryeReUQZc0ZEFrPQBAd_a2yRza8nMUtge-3wrbPyVVTzHY2riuUBF5Wg/s320/garlicscapesOn+board.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And having scapes around induced me to experiment with scape flavored goat cheese which I then used on pasta as a creamy sauce and garnished with parsley and ribbons of red Amaranth. Adding a salad fresh out of the garden with homemade feta cheese and sprouted almonds and dinner was extremely satisfying and nourishing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgPEE5B0lUBWTE1bJowjTHjf_rWnzHrDzqnhh41LqSGyD5Bu5AsW8Vzeuf2pTZU5gCuQQGuPyetB7E8v5xjr5JgmUip-CFlXSJaVIVynjNs52lGoGTTXQ1rkQ_SQ6PDrKL5cODvo6Gg/s1600/IMG_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgPEE5B0lUBWTE1bJowjTHjf_rWnzHrDzqnhh41LqSGyD5Bu5AsW8Vzeuf2pTZU5gCuQQGuPyetB7E8v5xjr5JgmUip-CFlXSJaVIVynjNs52lGoGTTXQ1rkQ_SQ6PDrKL5cODvo6Gg/s320/IMG_0007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-44875086643966719672012-06-13T19:53:00.001-07:002012-06-13T19:53:28.927-07:00Goats for Sale!!!<!--StartFragment--><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hello All! <br />
<br />
It’s been a great year here at Sovereign Hill Farm/Fox Mountain. I can only keep a few goats so I have some looking for homes. I treat my goats well, they have been tested yearly for CL, CAE and Johnnes with all testing negative for all 3. I have only bought from herds tested free from those diseases. <br />
<br />
I have 3 cute and friendly wethers that I’m willing to let go for $50 each if anyone is looking for pets or buck companions. They are all people friendly. They’ll be meat if they stay here.<br />
<br />
I have “Sovereign Hill Stella”, a doe sired by Promised Land Porter and out of Dragonfly St. Lucia that is a lovely doe, very correct legs, nice teats, will be an easy hand milker and her topline is just lovely. She’d be a good addition to a herd looking for those characteristics who can add wider rear udder attachment genetics to her otherwise lovely lines. She’s friendly, great on the milk stand, a wonderful mother, etc. Beautiful silvery brown buckskin. Stella is for sale for $400 </span></span></blockquote>
First photo shows her heavily pregnant with quads.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyLECLjLpcrSP57lvyZWUtNsezQEyuPmeAZaUmdZLuhu2Rsy1jKyoO1jizhQG3vJYuNZ271yaOyc-FmneIAR-ePHfgf11ZG0dhIqoj2qpdfRtaYU2Kt7tE4LXQbs1UccZ_Gs6imew5w/s1600/SovereignHillStella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyLECLjLpcrSP57lvyZWUtNsezQEyuPmeAZaUmdZLuhu2Rsy1jKyoO1jizhQG3vJYuNZ271yaOyc-FmneIAR-ePHfgf11ZG0dhIqoj2qpdfRtaYU2Kt7tE4LXQbs1UccZ_Gs6imew5w/s320/SovereignHillStella.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Here's an udder photo. Sorry she's not standing straight. I was taking a photo fast so I could start milking.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagK0BC0bQpRRnE8E9lKcscnpf1apYciNv988klAF2oosa2eZoEE2XrPmvolWKtsX8WNOOvB9KOA_laks2wvGvlJu65jd4KFZdeDhbl-epRCNN7E0k3qsdHoszwMigdt2ixCsaQg8itg/s1600/stellaudder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagK0BC0bQpRRnE8E9lKcscnpf1apYciNv988klAF2oosa2eZoEE2XrPmvolWKtsX8WNOOvB9KOA_laks2wvGvlJu65jd4KFZdeDhbl-epRCNN7E0k3qsdHoszwMigdt2ixCsaQg8itg/s320/stellaudder.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>
Here's a photo of Stella's mother's (St. Lucia) udder. She is my favorite doe to milk. Her teats may be small and stubby but wow does the milk come out fast and easily. St. Lucia gave me quads this year as did Stella.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_T0SXtEUs4Q66JixF_RzkDbgrHEG1L2WzSyE34rkTJ1YWBWVlYZD0gV8VKqxFycCKUM0t17NXE-sQT8zn2QxDmJR8EJtdeCzXuruFGOjfomUAOhtUacF9s_ynRv9zN9rm7HbzYQDntQ/s1600/Luciaudder.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_T0SXtEUs4Q66JixF_RzkDbgrHEG1L2WzSyE34rkTJ1YWBWVlYZD0gV8VKqxFycCKUM0t17NXE-sQT8zn2QxDmJR8EJtdeCzXuruFGOjfomUAOhtUacF9s_ynRv9zN9rm7HbzYQDntQ/s320/Luciaudder.JPG" width="175" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Stella’s daughter from this year (Sovereign Hill Starla) is reluctantly for sale also. I believe she will improve upon Stella and go further. She is sired by Cornerstone Farm Adah, a buck who brings very correct legs and nice width of body who also carries some very flashy color genetics for those who care about that. I’m actually not sure if I can let her go but if someone really wants her I’ll probably give in. She carries some really great genetics. Stunning silver/black buckskin. Starla is for sale for $400</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQP54_cQnd1pi1dVl-d5ftdG_IeIaiXhhJA8FWXBXqTBYRUb09zhj88R0Qw9LrSj_-Xd26slxXVhhF0kQxzcEgOmiJFIv7375HWIlS-rYbo_IgpBFgRQi5tZBrlKPEP1u039quxy6EA/s1600/stalainmiddle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQP54_cQnd1pi1dVl-d5ftdG_IeIaiXhhJA8FWXBXqTBYRUb09zhj88R0Qw9LrSj_-Xd26slxXVhhF0kQxzcEgOmiJFIv7375HWIlS-rYbo_IgpBFgRQi5tZBrlKPEP1u039quxy6EA/s320/stalainmiddle.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDf3yCgyrHdta-MVCZjJNMWB5jeZMcQuvNkMdkoMcq__aq5ORWCvwOlO0Uz7YMjqUdmYLn0dKwN2LDUynkJVThYzU4wEXEi_2k_kdaxNskvu1shyz5d-GfsidynvhpOva3wVjcmRlcw/s1600/SovereignHillStarla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDf3yCgyrHdta-MVCZjJNMWB5jeZMcQuvNkMdkoMcq__aq5ORWCvwOlO0Uz7YMjqUdmYLn0dKwN2LDUynkJVThYzU4wEXEi_2k_kdaxNskvu1shyz5d-GfsidynvhpOva3wVjcmRlcw/s320/SovereignHillStarla.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
<br /><br />
<br />
I have 2 full sisters to Stella who were born this year and 1 is for sale. Promised Land Porter and Dragonfly St. Lucia are the parents. I expect them to both be lovely does and expect a lot from this breeding.<br />
<br />“Char” is a charcoal black with brown points little doeling who is friendly and carries the genetics that I believe will make her a good hand milker. Char is for sale for $350</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoCyh4rQHSC-zXP_1uqiu2OG2YOesZ8JiT1sgNSfP98h9Tscz46WJLwkYcu-ZoRTvp_XbCJ4HxC-YmvFvc_om-ga5rC0xveQyLaSNwrtafhyphenhyphen0JpFLwSS8IH9t84z7ZDpyVKzNy3mfew/s1600/SovereignHillChar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoCyh4rQHSC-zXP_1uqiu2OG2YOesZ8JiT1sgNSfP98h9Tscz46WJLwkYcu-ZoRTvp_XbCJ4HxC-YmvFvc_om-ga5rC0xveQyLaSNwrtafhyphenhyphen0JpFLwSS8IH9t84z7ZDpyVKzNy3mfew/s320/SovereignHillChar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
<br />
I also have 2 daughters available from lovely Promised Land Zetta, sired by Cornerstone Farm Adah. She gave me triplet does and they are quite lovely. I’ll be be keeping one of them. I call them the Appaloosa sisters because they have white spots. “Azalea” is a dark buckskin with white spots (I'll be keeping her) and her sisters “Zephyr” and “Pizzaz” are black with white spots. Zetta brings those lovely Promised Land genetics with a tall, dairy bone structure, wide and high rear udder attachments, strong lateral udder attachment, good production, great mother, has carried quads the 2 years she’s kidded here (1 didn’t get out of it’s sack fast enough this year and died leaving me with 3, all 4 were does. Last year she gave me 3 does and a buck) Zetta is one of my two favorite does. I’d keep at least 2 of the 3 if I didn’t need to keep my herd size down. These 2 girls are $400 each</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSOyv9XwnxrrpVfw8LvRYh7HFaiUezORjXeNDrn4uUay_poX3-uiJuTKR1JN0MaJv9x5dFuZm_ksSCDYpBjTB7l-b_MkYkd1tUqC-SZmKl5YsISB9CJbbrC34ZpOmBsJ05I7Lktj6GA/s1600/SovereignHillPizzazand+Zephyr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSOyv9XwnxrrpVfw8LvRYh7HFaiUezORjXeNDrn4uUay_poX3-uiJuTKR1JN0MaJv9x5dFuZm_ksSCDYpBjTB7l-b_MkYkd1tUqC-SZmKl5YsISB9CJbbrC34ZpOmBsJ05I7Lktj6GA/s320/SovereignHillPizzazand+Zephyr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
My available wethers are ready to go anytime. I have 3 available. All are disbudded, "wetherized" and ready to share some love. They are all socialized to people although they have been dam raised in the herd so they can learn good herd manners. <br />
<br />
Please email me at kathrin@foxmountain.net or call me 413-329-3974 if you are interested in any of these lovely goats. Of course there are discounts if you buy more than one. Goats must have a companion so I will not sell a single goat to someone who wants to keep it alone. I will happily help you choose a companion goat to keep it company.<br />
<br />
I'll post more about the kidding and lambing season when the planting season is all done. Phew! <br />
<!--EndFragment-->Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-80698632124182416072012-03-21T09:14:00.002-07:002012-03-21T09:14:49.794-07:00Spring has Sprung<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-a_2h7Nt2QKGR3RpgSHKPbkLNlpNwJxjUMR4C-Q9svZPbuJUPL_Bh5_yq3APw5JmLmrBMDDkxTgql-icWnzdwWzF9iEU2IZBjSvAFg-MhyyyEPUdRHodsl2-s1eyRIQyr15_SaNUnag/s1600/dogplay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-a_2h7Nt2QKGR3RpgSHKPbkLNlpNwJxjUMR4C-Q9svZPbuJUPL_Bh5_yq3APw5JmLmrBMDDkxTgql-icWnzdwWzF9iEU2IZBjSvAFg-MhyyyEPUdRHodsl2-s1eyRIQyr15_SaNUnag/s320/dogplay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
All the snow is gone. The goats are sunning, the sheep are panting in their wool and the dogs are playing.<br />
<br />
<br />
The kidding season is getting close and several goats qualify for "Wide Load" warning signs.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EVmxDb0hmmdNiIrqRtA_wDlSKjzvsgvojgNLBH5aJd6dioKuUvuKAyJfYJ_C_dqltAX-twE7u5Z0OQmpUqcO18Jq-Ayd0OPvktSrDghEEKKdbBlJAf81xUnUizpCMeoiIdwlis2M5Q/s1600/wideload.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EVmxDb0hmmdNiIrqRtA_wDlSKjzvsgvojgNLBH5aJd6dioKuUvuKAyJfYJ_C_dqltAX-twE7u5Z0OQmpUqcO18Jq-Ayd0OPvktSrDghEEKKdbBlJAf81xUnUizpCMeoiIdwlis2M5Q/s320/wideload.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I'll do my best to keep posting as the babies start coming. I'm expecting 7 sets of goat babies (1-5 per set) and 5 or so lambs. I'm glad the lambs are likely to all be singles since I'm a bit scared of the potential for a goat population explosion. Should be a huge amount of cuteness around here. Time to tune up the milking machine and get everything ready. <br />
<br />
Several garden beds are planted already. There are greens in the greenhouse and we're now producing enough to keep us in salads.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_PLmd4cpKhZmV3tdXlNdk6-BaNWmOsBw05c3FHISNE0jYCrEM74l9aFWY7yb7a2IebA4k2mmmu1TGyHnRQHcFPQKJ_iWXJz9plU01t94N6rDE1eOw4rI0Z5QPXo4HCsitypukKsj7w/s1600/minicrops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_PLmd4cpKhZmV3tdXlNdk6-BaNWmOsBw05c3FHISNE0jYCrEM74l9aFWY7yb7a2IebA4k2mmmu1TGyHnRQHcFPQKJ_iWXJz9plU01t94N6rDE1eOw4rI0Z5QPXo4HCsitypukKsj7w/s320/minicrops.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Happy Spring, stand back at a safe distance!Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-3755787191094189752012-02-24T08:25:00.001-08:002012-02-24T08:25:51.614-08:00ConfessionsOkay, I confess. The reason I farm is to make sure I spend enough time outside because I believe that is the most loving thing I can do for myself. It's also the way I can give myself enough time away from modern technology and modern distractions. Being outside in nature is an immersion in the peacefulness of current, local reality. <br />
<br />
I confess that I am excited about learning in so many topic areas that I can easily get stuck in front of a computer or reading books for more hours than is balanced. Between barn chores to get me outside and all the gardens that surround the house it is hard to get back inside once I leave the house. Each morning during winter I head out and do morning chores and then I laze around with the goats and dogs in the pasture. There's always something to explore, someone who wants to be scratched or rubbed. I finally drag myself away because I have desk work to do and flower essence orders to pack. During the summer it's similar but there is the added attraction of gardens to commune with.<br />
<br />
How would I live if I didn't have to run a business? I'd probably rarely go back inside. I'm pretty good at going without much food from years of farming as a young mother with not enough hours in the day. A handful of nuts in a pocket and I'm good for the hours! I can pretty easily fall into the herd schedule of lazing around in the sun with a few forays into different parts of the pasture.<br />
<br />
There is at least one other reason I farm. I really like to eat good food. Well, let me amend that. I actually end up spending more time growing good food than eating it but I like to make food happen! Fruit, nuts, vegetables, herbs, edible flowers.....it's all exciting to me! The only way I know to make sure I eat quality food is to know where it came from and how it was grown. That's pretty hard at a supermarket. When I was 19 and growing most of my food someone expressed that it must be difficult to do that. My reply was that it seemed a lot easier than to have such a huge disconnect between me and the food I put into my body. Most of the food I ate was part of my life from seed onwards at that time and in those days not much distraction from the rest of the world to dilute my relationship with my food crops.<br />
<br />
This year I'm working on finding balance in my schedule. I seek to create days with less information distraction from the greater world and more information from the extremely local world. I'll keep you posted!<br />
<br />
Here's a photo of one of my close neighbors, also focused on an extremely local world.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6OzWVmY33s9OOGxNVzpZIxc0qPyfgrpW-7AKp4LAzQC7kPvZg3IbS_0tpf5fVbtG57N1RFmYN5_gZ9CHFX9V2B_6ovH6L0cf8lJBTXsu_ZgX6Dbfo9Q307JIrJJ16rg9XTSvG_YT9g/s1600/frog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6OzWVmY33s9OOGxNVzpZIxc0qPyfgrpW-7AKp4LAzQC7kPvZg3IbS_0tpf5fVbtG57N1RFmYN5_gZ9CHFX9V2B_6ovH6L0cf8lJBTXsu_ZgX6Dbfo9Q307JIrJJ16rg9XTSvG_YT9g/s320/frog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Photo note: I took this photo several years ago. She/he is about the size of an almond. I spent hours watching the 10 that hatched in one of the water lily ponds here.Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-68049459994663816042012-02-20T16:16:00.000-08:002012-02-20T16:16:01.843-08:00February's Golden SunFinally remembered to take a camera up to the barn. It was below freezing but I figured I could get a few photos before the camera shut down.<br />
<br />
Today some notes on a few little things that have worked out well in our barn.<br />
<br />
First of all, I love how much sun comes in. The goat side is on the west and the light streams into their stalls and their run in area.<br />
Here's the stall. Notice the black rubber bumpy itching panels. They still haven't really gotten the hang of them. Notice Vera watching in the doorway keeping an eye on the does. Do you think she's counting to make sure everyone is in?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUq0pSiAodbxPovtcgC4GK7KuUh5kC49PfcnoFjwhCgdj_fIFk_0jYUoSfB6bvuf4SAm6EGALi9NgwFnOuBAmZta283clIUdrTZzP379ZWXHM2UJD7yteuFSkqr3gsAbi9KPEsorWLiw/s1600/doelingstall3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUq0pSiAodbxPovtcgC4GK7KuUh5kC49PfcnoFjwhCgdj_fIFk_0jYUoSfB6bvuf4SAm6EGALi9NgwFnOuBAmZta283clIUdrTZzP379ZWXHM2UJD7yteuFSkqr3gsAbi9KPEsorWLiw/s320/doelingstall3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Here's the other end of the same stall.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhhgJB5ouA9TedeGybSW_t42KFelrqrmYWGfo1mzibH0fNUNvTei8CXBg6__p17Y05-Kq7P2d3NCuenQNLu1bjKIcYV162xoj7-rvlYpLmY365nYFil7W7zs2N0JXPdddhYNEzqcPKw/s1600/doelingstall2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhhgJB5ouA9TedeGybSW_t42KFelrqrmYWGfo1mzibH0fNUNvTei8CXBg6__p17Y05-Kq7P2d3NCuenQNLu1bjKIcYV162xoj7-rvlYpLmY365nYFil7W7zs2N0JXPdddhYNEzqcPKw/s320/doelingstall2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's the doe stall for when I separate the milkers from their kids overnight. They can still see each other and often sleep near each other on opposite sides of the wire panel.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOa-U7kGIdM3BCSqEIFB6G50FvI8cbGHcD6ibgu8R8Jzh9TN_gAKdGvsbLk2nuN1E_LAX3KFKo3-DIGHZMplWn0Tb6qlEGOBEM5blQOjYXh76e7G0PSgpjeCuv8OcHYaedCcHJAjPkSg/s1600/doe+stall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOa-U7kGIdM3BCSqEIFB6G50FvI8cbGHcD6ibgu8R8Jzh9TN_gAKdGvsbLk2nuN1E_LAX3KFKo3-DIGHZMplWn0Tb6qlEGOBEM5blQOjYXh76e7G0PSgpjeCuv8OcHYaedCcHJAjPkSg/s320/doe+stall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
There's a goat and dog sized door into the run-in area. Here's Stella peeking out. She's due April 4 but it's her fist pregnancy and she's not big yet. I hope she only has 1 or 2.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HJPgIDZ4t3i0gfq4Y4Wkb3ZPKliW3RVOMAYi0PIxyFG1bfw54cgGfJIeIwfb9mYM2NFEnTp1p6v5ldrCNDYtq6q2aSddVMjrEOe38C8tV90L-NthXhNETPbmQS-k3uS-KnBZTHg1dA/s1600/stella+peeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HJPgIDZ4t3i0gfq4Y4Wkb3ZPKliW3RVOMAYi0PIxyFG1bfw54cgGfJIeIwfb9mYM2NFEnTp1p6v5ldrCNDYtq6q2aSddVMjrEOe38C8tV90L-NthXhNETPbmQS-k3uS-KnBZTHg1dA/s320/stella+peeks.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
The run-in area is nice and large. The does have half of it and the ewes have the other half. I put a platform in the goat side and my brother built a dog house. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2x2orz4jv03Zza4S-4Y4yN1vZQV4lVmNBUpXj7JujHM3741S369dtSl_ViBtuA76dnGAAQ8923wsxV1kMXhs8VM3Vdj9yw4sPPY_v7Zb50QdExp1qFOHO4iolK41eDqKq4aDNBdRvAQ/s1600/solarium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2x2orz4jv03Zza4S-4Y4yN1vZQV4lVmNBUpXj7JujHM3741S369dtSl_ViBtuA76dnGAAQ8923wsxV1kMXhs8VM3Vdj9yw4sPPY_v7Zb50QdExp1qFOHO4iolK41eDqKq4aDNBdRvAQ/s320/solarium.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
I chose the size of the doghouse to be big enough for both to fit in but small enough that they could build up some heat in there. The opening faces the exit in case they need to leave and do livestock guardian duties quickly. The siting of the doghouse also provides a windbreak against west winds, something the goats appreciate. They like to lounge on top of it in the afternoon sun when it's not windy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8Wp8QFhy_yltNPTY66qXWjgfCI2sM2xsP20AgfZMD2Dx7OHSOfQpv187i4nuAKjrjT8bahNLeqSxGWbKRxbWaOUQQe8I2XQN5Iylon9EYTpeWICDvIdVadiK7IvhuZ-oIWAvQIwOEg/s1600/doghouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8Wp8QFhy_yltNPTY66qXWjgfCI2sM2xsP20AgfZMD2Dx7OHSOfQpv187i4nuAKjrjT8bahNLeqSxGWbKRxbWaOUQQe8I2XQN5Iylon9EYTpeWICDvIdVadiK7IvhuZ-oIWAvQIwOEg/s320/doghouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Then there are those goat housekeeping problems....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImH8hwPWP8psc9-6rYLolaAHyFAXXMbuN3bjtiFON3v8z7a74EqA8MjOG-bL4NLfaE6mlEyGCd1RWiVB8HvYWIbhWmWwyrlVeQ2kD8OcdKVLGKbytiCe0oBm0jXvpfMWhTKxqVVo9oQ/s1600/goatberries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImH8hwPWP8psc9-6rYLolaAHyFAXXMbuN3bjtiFON3v8z7a74EqA8MjOG-bL4NLfaE6mlEyGCd1RWiVB8HvYWIbhWmWwyrlVeQ2kD8OcdKVLGKbytiCe0oBm0jXvpfMWhTKxqVVo9oQ/s320/goatberries.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So after a couple of years of grabbing a handful of waste hay to sweep off the goat "berries" I decided that maybe what I really needed was a windshield brush since it would do double duty; sweep off berries and the scraper could be used when they'd been stepped on and smooshed onto the surface! It hangs nearby on a bit of framing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjdKHELTipvMGq7JgRtuyBqaAmgLXsXgcZCivHLIb7l3vPkPMoL_4fl-XjcBwZXDboviiRA_8MXBiHJv0-hjxMdkRma21Mkaj3WtqM_kXhGSN9L-LwNTcU9NwlOYj0tRYaFKtZvlnwg/s1600/pellet+sweep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjdKHELTipvMGq7JgRtuyBqaAmgLXsXgcZCivHLIb7l3vPkPMoL_4fl-XjcBwZXDboviiRA_8MXBiHJv0-hjxMdkRma21Mkaj3WtqM_kXhGSN9L-LwNTcU9NwlOYj0tRYaFKtZvlnwg/s320/pellet+sweep.jpg" width="134" /></a></div>
<br />
Another idea I had was the piece of scrap 2X6 that I lay along the top of one of the hay mangers on the center aisle side of the stall. It allowed me to balance feed bowls, flakes of hay and buckets of water up there so I didn't have to be holding stuff when sidling through the gates. While that worked well the board did get in the way of filling the manger it was on so I had to move it and sometimes it would fall off into the aisle. I decided it should be hinged so that it could be flipped up when the manger needed filling and down when I needed to balance stuff on it. Feed pans and water bucket on it waiting to be taken away when I leave the stall.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXv3FD3d3MQ_GNU6Ic7U68GzEY36VkJ1hBA0CugS1-zikDjG-1_ZRoxzAkSNvTlXWiMiLW0qBV7MoQNz5eQ0OlKXb-64gz_UwX1eh65j9l8sa3ogxI6QNVar_8ZRvnhakPY4NEzRfWHw/s1600/manger+top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXv3FD3d3MQ_GNU6Ic7U68GzEY36VkJ1hBA0CugS1-zikDjG-1_ZRoxzAkSNvTlXWiMiLW0qBV7MoQNz5eQ0OlKXb-64gz_UwX1eh65j9l8sa3ogxI6QNVar_8ZRvnhakPY4NEzRfWHw/s320/manger+top.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Here it is flipped up for manger filling.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZyKarhqEtQI11hBGGjRwcw7keoOSZNldUWWwmwJO-R26y0nEfY9hEqF6SYt8hKA97wNF_BZARgGHDx5T-vGYGiN0TfGZQyIzZC_a3ThOrMzPldyzOT5YVaQsSH5J4KNUpsig8gjMOg/s1600/mangertopup2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZyKarhqEtQI11hBGGjRwcw7keoOSZNldUWWwmwJO-R26y0nEfY9hEqF6SYt8hKA97wNF_BZARgGHDx5T-vGYGiN0TfGZQyIzZC_a3ThOrMzPldyzOT5YVaQsSH5J4KNUpsig8gjMOg/s320/mangertopup2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
You may notice that the goats are pretty pudgy. (They only get 1/4 cup of grain so they are not being overfed, honest!) Between all their fur and their full rumens they rather look like ottomans with heads and tails. Because of this I've been considering myself to be royalty; Queen of the Ottoman Empire!<br />
<br />
Here is the ewe stall. They are expecting dinner.....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDHphyphenhyphenWErDGorirrak-Nij7U1mg2vP7ksTS1mPR-aa892C5tsGsHonfJjdUr8cvoo5Kb3avXDWM3VP26vSgljZo_ynJkOFJZY-DUtPonjJAoO9E6pKiAgdJax13kitOaZIn4BeXEClw/s1600/ewestall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDHphyphenhyphenWErDGorirrak-Nij7U1mg2vP7ksTS1mPR-aa892C5tsGsHonfJjdUr8cvoo5Kb3avXDWM3VP26vSgljZo_ynJkOFJZY-DUtPonjJAoO9E6pKiAgdJax13kitOaZIn4BeXEClw/s320/ewestall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Chores are done and Vera is on watch duty. Fergey is probably patrolling the perimeter already.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDVZ2RfHUDgmljpmuoZo-Ino6Mk-ViIcMzRMiG37kW3xOy0eSSLAlCwHng0y5tH0NS3bmWd1KWDS5U7vk33m2M9f5eBKfAWrXZFdudykacorrmDmHn79_9BrY_XikcCOYl1abXNF2Ig/s1600/Veraonwatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDVZ2RfHUDgmljpmuoZo-Ino6Mk-ViIcMzRMiG37kW3xOy0eSSLAlCwHng0y5tH0NS3bmWd1KWDS5U7vk33m2M9f5eBKfAWrXZFdudykacorrmDmHn79_9BrY_XikcCOYl1abXNF2Ig/s320/Veraonwatch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-49550031778780525082012-01-30T18:58:00.000-08:002012-02-20T16:18:12.435-08:00Upstairs in the BarnOkay......and up the stairs we go. I must admit it's lovely not to have to climb a ladder each time I head up to get hay. <br />
<br />
Here's the hayloft. Some bedding straw is visible on the left but most of what's here is lovely second cutting hay.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIA_6KqKJ59aH1BDNH0KoFVjuf1yU4QQUOeI4gdxJuaFc-6ZBa2PuhDGhKABZBmD5HuPppZJ2-9TfOPQxwzf1QMIgYlVYWjPzOmA8_fllnMlre1O-Ks1IcKU83yepQr_5bZZUIoYtIA/s1600/hayloft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIA_6KqKJ59aH1BDNH0KoFVjuf1yU4QQUOeI4gdxJuaFc-6ZBa2PuhDGhKABZBmD5HuPppZJ2-9TfOPQxwzf1QMIgYlVYWjPzOmA8_fllnMlre1O-Ks1IcKU83yepQr_5bZZUIoYtIA/s320/hayloft.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The barn upstairs is so big because it extends out over the run-in/solarium areas on both ends so we decided to put a warm barn office for record storage, chatting with goat/sheep buyers and for waiting out long nights of expectant does or ewes. This barn is a hike up the hill from the house and checking on a mom-to-be every few hours all night would be exhausting. This way I can crash on one of the daybeds along the window and pull my overalls on to walk down the stairs for maternity checks as often as I want without being totally fried the next day. It's a fairly large space so we put some kitchen base cabinets along part of one wall. They have an electric tea kettle, a few utensils and tea in them as well as a wash basin for washing up the tea mugs. I think I'll put a couple cans of soup up there for extra long nights or days during kidding/lambing season. The floor is shiny because it's a fake wood laminate......I much prefer real wood but I couldn't justify the extra expense and this has the benefit of being easy to wipe clean. Under the daybeds is a storage area......who knows what would need storing but it seemed silly to wall off that space with no access.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAawAdLFSrrVBcIkSrc6CvuGsIHaXWZEr1Nzt82FLXIYC-00iC7eUF512ixxtBVei0yx-kXle6fKRjTZNP5zwk9LeXBWkbnQFSZZInFBNGHjitarf8WxUXxVYLTGy12pG7sLyFrdCc4g/s1600/barnoffice2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAawAdLFSrrVBcIkSrc6CvuGsIHaXWZEr1Nzt82FLXIYC-00iC7eUF512ixxtBVei0yx-kXle6fKRjTZNP5zwk9LeXBWkbnQFSZZInFBNGHjitarf8WxUXxVYLTGy12pG7sLyFrdCc4g/s320/barnoffice2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's the same wall of windows/daybeds but the other end of it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRsFt8OIf2fiXS6bM3ZXSsqugO1DBK14g1O43lqCcEhi2IwRv8wpFqGDb8mVNP4GyRSCwXOIn464-m3D0B_M4-bmuKnJki8_YlIKVYPksQ7zWPMPeVOICXPuYTHqwtXoVVQyLzZgl5Q/s1600/barnoffice9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRsFt8OIf2fiXS6bM3ZXSsqugO1DBK14g1O43lqCcEhi2IwRv8wpFqGDb8mVNP4GyRSCwXOIn464-m3D0B_M4-bmuKnJki8_YlIKVYPksQ7zWPMPeVOICXPuYTHqwtXoVVQyLzZgl5Q/s320/barnoffice9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The snack and tea area. The top is just some boards....not sanded or finished but that's okay since this isn't a kitchen....more storage than anything. The file box with all registrations, health charts, breeding notes, etc. is kept in one of these cabinets. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBma63RIeCYuWVkW8cYB-LZbilcHhku32nM8hoXupRsB3khrzv8suEHZez5hYC1ag1M6olmwWWnCbgKZGDWEaWf5mW6qZaSe7S6aqz_SPsC3fWbZUXLk42wA2T670GLcRFoYbDMAC4w/s1600/barnoffice1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBma63RIeCYuWVkW8cYB-LZbilcHhku32nM8hoXupRsB3khrzv8suEHZez5hYC1ag1M6olmwWWnCbgKZGDWEaWf5mW6qZaSe7S6aqz_SPsC3fWbZUXLk42wA2T670GLcRFoYbDMAC4w/s320/barnoffice1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The book shelves and coat rack area......<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDF142DHReXTrIC41Q75SGz3O6g1DDPV6Epylz11_jilcEkuGNcBoGj1g1eWm8Mwke1_ZE5DkeY4Urz8mJRk-cbvQyUxlI7XJuFRL5RHwEpoYDL1Iqof_1GcQuTnFFIpGKGb1QRGhyphenhyphenWg/s1600/barnoffice3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDF142DHReXTrIC41Q75SGz3O6g1DDPV6Epylz11_jilcEkuGNcBoGj1g1eWm8Mwke1_ZE5DkeY4Urz8mJRk-cbvQyUxlI7XJuFRL5RHwEpoYDL1Iqof_1GcQuTnFFIpGKGb1QRGhyphenhyphenWg/s320/barnoffice3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Notice how my brother used sections of curved birch to make shelf supports. The coat/hat hooks were a gift from my partner Joseph. He made them the year before.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiL8faudW2pgIGKvWOUu89Oww8xarGQi76vIZNui75R-9slog-QwAUDO7s0V7BtLuSineZk4YRFdNOQAaImxEIfcCjLTtfXOMr35Ca4awSNUwzR1TNgI9LUgIy-bTcX9gW50dreioPUw/s1600/barnooffice4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiL8faudW2pgIGKvWOUu89Oww8xarGQi76vIZNui75R-9slog-QwAUDO7s0V7BtLuSineZk4YRFdNOQAaImxEIfcCjLTtfXOMr35Ca4awSNUwzR1TNgI9LUgIy-bTcX9gW50dreioPUw/s320/barnooffice4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Here is the strip of LED lights that I put up behind the beam to light up the shelf of tea stuff. They adhered perfectly on half of the V-groove of the roof paneling. They cast an amazing amount of warm light. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aTUBAVAwzhiXAHeDJhouHwFI9Lsab9KgX8Lw7CODvG4z6KIj6o68von07Mkkl4uLLHP3oJrT2ywbVKnRYQYxSNEd2pG73HvKb15z1ShRSSTkUolIxDrKSg6Hyb-SyTdKHuuyslzgxg/s1600/barnoffice5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aTUBAVAwzhiXAHeDJhouHwFI9Lsab9KgX8Lw7CODvG4z6KIj6o68von07Mkkl4uLLHP3oJrT2ywbVKnRYQYxSNEd2pG73HvKb15z1ShRSSTkUolIxDrKSg6Hyb-SyTdKHuuyslzgxg/s320/barnoffice5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So, that's it! I think I'm pretty much caught up with barn updates. Hope you've enjoyed them!!!Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-2640094699637823772012-01-30T17:19:00.000-08:002012-02-20T16:18:44.066-08:00More Barn PhotosOkay.....just a quick bit of barn news. <br />
Here's where I milk. It's a cool blue room, small but big enough to hold a milking stand and supplies. I keep small bins with grain and alfalfa for feeding the does during milking. My milking machine bucket hangs up to drain. The actual machine part of it lives through the wall in a tiny room that also houses the barn electrical panel and a few tools.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFE4_z5KkTtKgVZkWvDAN3Z-Mb359_UsgpL4WA23ofU8zoHUkyvtcK51Rt1jZpXNajmOodJfkjesKDdkfqScXFp07wWDAohVYVhwh9_VncFTKiyhKD6yU05PfB2UloZgu9OZRYmdFJZw/s1600/milkingroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFE4_z5KkTtKgVZkWvDAN3Z-Mb359_UsgpL4WA23ofU8zoHUkyvtcK51Rt1jZpXNajmOodJfkjesKDdkfqScXFp07wWDAohVYVhwh9_VncFTKiyhKD6yU05PfB2UloZgu9OZRYmdFJZw/s320/milkingroom.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Next door to the milking room is the milk processing room. That's still a work in progress as I wait for a sink. Jeff did a great job putting up the plastic wall covering, trimming it out and then caulking everything. There is a floor drain and someday there'll be a huge 3 bay sink in here as well as a separate hand-washing sink. I'm not planning on being a Grade A Dairy but I don't want to do something I have to undo and redo if I choose to go for Grade A designation. Right now we're waiting for the caulk smell to dissipate and hopefully soon I'll find the right sink.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwAsJAElfT8eoojAwBPuTfZ_gH2E0ZcZTobLUa8nS4RnV_-xYvbSQjL0qw67Rpqs_jFeLzST1RskeuSjgszyfJWdC_M5PW6WK3TcROWxmesbQ4gseM2OxJKh0-zXkwEKQviIFeVBHcQ/s1600/milkroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwAsJAElfT8eoojAwBPuTfZ_gH2E0ZcZTobLUa8nS4RnV_-xYvbSQjL0qw67Rpqs_jFeLzST1RskeuSjgszyfJWdC_M5PW6WK3TcROWxmesbQ4gseM2OxJKh0-zXkwEKQviIFeVBHcQ/s320/milkroom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And last, but not least is my "bucket loo" as the British call them. This is a bathroom option for those who would rather compost their own waste rather than use drinking water to flush it away somewhere. We have regular toilets in our house but I had no intention of a septic system at the barn. My brother built this beautiful little indoor outhouse. After each use some peat moss is added to cover. When the bucket is full it goes to a special composting area and can later be used on non-food crops. Actually, most of the world uses human manure (humanure) on food crops but since I have lots of animal manure options I'll only use it on non-food crops.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IKDuHf35m3Wb97wky4a3mckXSEVedH36vP97pEcmKm7Ux6yTFum3v7eXdVVar4Czy28jHDkC7yTqXrjf3uTTH_LfaBMCN6XZCG7LrTSA0QyIoCNKUzqCQOVK1RigH__Bw9EH6tVb1w/s1600/bucketloo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IKDuHf35m3Wb97wky4a3mckXSEVedH36vP97pEcmKm7Ux6yTFum3v7eXdVVar4Czy28jHDkC7yTqXrjf3uTTH_LfaBMCN6XZCG7LrTSA0QyIoCNKUzqCQOVK1RigH__Bw9EH6tVb1w/s320/bucketloo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This little indoor outhouse is located just past the well/pump box, tucked into a small area not needed for anything else. <br />
<br />
I'll post photos of the grain room and tool storage soon but next up is the barn office and hayloft!Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-83376958463932079422012-01-30T17:02:00.000-08:002012-02-20T16:19:34.031-08:00Barn UpdateOkay, at last an update on the barn project. I've been too busy to write. I hope the ewes and does are all bred. If so it's going to be achingly cute around here this spring! I'm hoping the barn will hold the increase in animals. <br />
<br />
I forgot to get some shots of the front of the barn so we'll start with the center aisle.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCxISnQPnkkX4XKNuxjGT35CLCrmQL8l5d50UlYypXABVMAtUOUyA4F7fSJ35rwi5wWlthnaPQcbPpQJ1Lkmp2lnmfKdq5VG4FwQU6A2agP8jXtUT3Jvwx2nlOdQ5YudXlitJ1l2AVw/s1600/aisle2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCxISnQPnkkX4XKNuxjGT35CLCrmQL8l5d50UlYypXABVMAtUOUyA4F7fSJ35rwi5wWlthnaPQcbPpQJ1Lkmp2lnmfKdq5VG4FwQU6A2agP8jXtUT3Jvwx2nlOdQ5YudXlitJ1l2AVw/s320/aisle2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Here is the main goat stall. All the does live here and the milking does are separated overnight into an abutting stall to the left.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArJOsyo9kcQlWii42fky6R6lCKm-qU1y0hFiaAA29jbAtZJRRXIugHtxW1Ze-YuJT0dcJt_03rrcKRN5yZMPuDBtKCQLG1FMeQoHbCPMPeOXIn_R0sbLdFPrsMUErJY7ll7Vo8rM_8w/s1600/maingoatstall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArJOsyo9kcQlWii42fky6R6lCKm-qU1y0hFiaAA29jbAtZJRRXIugHtxW1Ze-YuJT0dcJt_03rrcKRN5yZMPuDBtKCQLG1FMeQoHbCPMPeOXIn_R0sbLdFPrsMUErJY7ll7Vo8rM_8w/s320/maingoatstall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The below photo is of the stall the does stay in overnight. Two junior does are watching.....<br />
I like that when separating moms and babies they can still see each other and indeed sometimes sleep next to each other on either side of the wire.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBSNNMoCnKPjQJmWYxGImKPLjjNduM3tNoqjvqsNsX2OnJuQciU9fbvyv79TTjXHxC9slA3q3Alju_aizQi8KejMYZAAW4QfhIvDpKyN3ZOSpv7FQhjwXIAES_CBHV0hJqDO2_2f50g/s1600/overnightstall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBSNNMoCnKPjQJmWYxGImKPLjjNduM3tNoqjvqsNsX2OnJuQciU9fbvyv79TTjXHxC9slA3q3Alju_aizQi8KejMYZAAW4QfhIvDpKyN3ZOSpv7FQhjwXIAES_CBHV0hJqDO2_2f50g/s320/overnightstall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This photo doesn't show this area very clearly but there is a aisle (with gate on it so it can be yet another pen) with 3 potential kidding/lambing pens to the left and one double sized pen at the end. I say 3 potential pens because the pens are created by sliding 2X6 lumber into metal tracks and that allows the creation of more small pens or less larger pens depending upon what is needed. I also have 2 medium sized pens 8X12 and 8X16 that are available for weaning groups, sick bays or whatever. Note the gaps in the gates at adult eye height. That's so they can see out, see their neighbors, see the new babies in the next pen, etc. The gaps are high enough to not create drafts for the kids but low enough that kids can peek out once they are coordinated enough to stand on their hind legs.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscYtQzLI9WrEwXt1lSpu1gwXORAUBSALenBe22RednvjBpGdhfHFUtLESivr0jaO911vmTQ6Kum4tOEh7ST20m3SRnRDuRUg_Zj2R5rbfGImaunt8A2-A2nH9xkedUtj895wbz6h6Yg/s1600/kiddingpens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscYtQzLI9WrEwXt1lSpu1gwXORAUBSALenBe22RednvjBpGdhfHFUtLESivr0jaO911vmTQ6Kum4tOEh7ST20m3SRnRDuRUg_Zj2R5rbfGImaunt8A2-A2nH9xkedUtj895wbz6h6Yg/s320/kiddingpens.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Below is the ewe stall. Like the main goat stall it opens out into what I call their "solarium". (No, they don't have a den, rec. room or library!) I don't yet have any photos of the solarium area showing the clear panels that my brother Jeff built to cut down on wind while allowing maximum light. These panels are either removable (on the east and west sides) or in sliding barn door form (on the north side) so that summer's breezes will be welcomed into the area.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOySRkp7o38FFOA2zwtLRFg8FWg3sWgGxM5b8GUKMN62oYTXO_5dnwkattaUVJ-Cdfkq729Bdr1uzDCpDpICTTKII5mowqwABgBInE2C3qOganSg3fxQGZ8_2f0YnohqKmAiXl9t8hA/s1600/ewestall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOySRkp7o38FFOA2zwtLRFg8FWg3sWgGxM5b8GUKMN62oYTXO_5dnwkattaUVJ-Cdfkq729Bdr1uzDCpDpICTTKII5mowqwABgBInE2C3qOganSg3fxQGZ8_2f0YnohqKmAiXl9t8hA/s320/ewestall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Also like the main goat stall, it has 2 doors out into the solarium. A human-size door and a sheep sized door. I like two doors when there are new herd/flock introductions because no members can be cornered inside. For instance I kept both doors open when I first put the ram in with the ewes. I keep only the smaller door open when it's cold and I want to minimize breezes in the barn. <br />
<br />
Below is the insulated box that covers my well (yes, we built the barn around it on purpose), the pump, the hot water heater, and the batteries that run the pump. The well pump is by Simple Pump ( www.simplepump.com ) and runs off of 2 car batteries with a battery tender that keeps them charged. If we lose grid power the batteries would likely run the pump for close to a month without recharging. Attaching a handle I have would allow us to pump by hand if we needed to or a solar panel could be used to recharge the batteries. I like this pump a lot. When animals depend upon me for water I need to know I have access to water even if the grid goes down because of a bad storm or other grid damage.<br />
<br />
The insulated well box comes off (the side aisle side of it) for access to work on it. The top hinges open for quick access. It hasn't frozen yet and I can put a light bulb in there for heat if needed but the 4 gallon hot water heater keeps it warm enough in conjunction with the rigid foam insulation.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNKAVDYP_1qPtHSYDWhgob3OIWPOaYOIdiZNH-C6JjSxWI1x-dwu2KUwempfAoq6GtWOVe2aDsgRXREJJpszcVrg_hCGotAu1wgDuKOrSxMvbtn9wHn3uXcSsQg1J8Dz5gEHR_V5xpA/s1600/waterfaucet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNKAVDYP_1qPtHSYDWhgob3OIWPOaYOIdiZNH-C6JjSxWI1x-dwu2KUwempfAoq6GtWOVe2aDsgRXREJJpszcVrg_hCGotAu1wgDuKOrSxMvbtn9wHn3uXcSsQg1J8Dz5gEHR_V5xpA/s320/waterfaucet.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Notice the bucket stand that Jeff made. It makes it easy to fill both the small buckets and the 5 gallon buckets. The laundry faucet is kept from freezing with a small insulated box that fits over it when I finish chores. It's a perfect system. The bucket stand top is lined in roofing rubber to keep small spills from going all over the floor or rotting the bucket stand. I love having cold, warm or hot water whenever I need it!! This really beats carrying water by hand to the small barn we used last winter.<br />
<br />
I think I'll stop this post here and do another one with photos of the milking and milk room and other parts of the barn.Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-39304188920074331872011-12-05T20:00:00.001-08:002012-02-20T16:19:57.822-08:00Handsome Rams Arrive!The Boys are here!!!! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCcjMmjx3Y2NxwMjFqH2A94NKV5Z46Gxmz4gVg_ZVNohN6pzprBROGvRe1Khg3AhkOlC-EvZB1NugarbtSz9z2MLVH_JIJngasjjw2uWBevv3jdGOFxTXazN0La-FIkZKy6dzrQ9Ykg/s1600/Briar%253AMondarda+ram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCcjMmjx3Y2NxwMjFqH2A94NKV5Z46Gxmz4gVg_ZVNohN6pzprBROGvRe1Khg3AhkOlC-EvZB1NugarbtSz9z2MLVH_JIJngasjjw2uWBevv3jdGOFxTXazN0La-FIkZKy6dzrQ9Ykg/s320/Briar%253AMondarda+ram.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Handsome and sweet looking, isn't he? He's not named yet. I'm waiting for his breeders to name him. Dick brought the rams down from Maine. Having Dick deliver the rams was a boon given how busy I am with working on the barn. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-wIt8oFwNsw0IKClYNW6lDuCcunWE6mLr-5B_9js7ZXzJ_yuF_tNEd3RJPTVNmnWS9gmwetDTnjMOrgWRxlW5L2CsyjVlPDUDKm_LzpUs9WnbT8ouDpsFyvK-87UBRwmtvArLd9I_w/s1600/K%2526J%2527s+rams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-wIt8oFwNsw0IKClYNW6lDuCcunWE6mLr-5B_9js7ZXzJ_yuF_tNEd3RJPTVNmnWS9gmwetDTnjMOrgWRxlW5L2CsyjVlPDUDKm_LzpUs9WnbT8ouDpsFyvK-87UBRwmtvArLd9I_w/s320/K%2526J%2527s+rams.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Our two rams were born this spring and they have been here only a few days. Today was their first chance to leave their stall and go out into their pasture. They sniffed and could clearly smell the herd of young ewes but they couldn't see them. They tried flirting with my herd of Nigerian Dwarf Goats and got a couple of the goats kind of interested. They ate a lot of grass, butted heads a few times and generally seemed to have a good time. Tomorrow will be another day in and out. In a few days we'll divide our ewes into 2 breeding flocks and let these boys get to work sparking next springs lamb crop!Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-80951629086945433442011-11-09T19:15:00.000-08:002012-02-20T16:20:40.131-08:00November 9th! Beautiful Weather!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Yz6lB6-IWx8S4k5fRRx7O6wfahMSGpwWeC4xAWuHN0VSmf76-fI1JCK8dQ5CcvF_Q4dYThy5zwLJGaMOPDk8FhqNc-7w9tU_0vxlP_Qsmd2tMrwYta77jTd-6uPEbdEaRx6Z05iJwA/s1600/flock11%253A9%253A2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Yz6lB6-IWx8S4k5fRRx7O6wfahMSGpwWeC4xAWuHN0VSmf76-fI1JCK8dQ5CcvF_Q4dYThy5zwLJGaMOPDk8FhqNc-7w9tU_0vxlP_Qsmd2tMrwYta77jTd-6uPEbdEaRx6Z05iJwA/s320/flock11%253A9%253A2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I've been enjoying working on the barn for several reasons. First, I get to work with my brother and I really like that. Second, I get to watch the animals and be more aware of herd health, herd dynamics and individual behaviors. Third, I get to drink in all that beauty of the different flocks/herds in their pastures, the surrounding forest, the view through the bare trees to other mountains, etc.<br />
<br />
I've really been enjoying our small flock of Cascade Farmstead ewes. I think I finally know all six by name now. I admit to having some favorites. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAd7q2X3WO6tLySSyAS4kkl_nlLnWuH-wWoLy4rWh-PPpraAEda9VvV680Ny1UE8CHuEXV1HpcxapG4PQcxLQSt0HVfi4szcNnwkXzVTcyuO5moI3tCVPafjvXSmp1p_Fmi1Gb0TjMbw/s1600/Lisette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAd7q2X3WO6tLySSyAS4kkl_nlLnWuH-wWoLy4rWh-PPpraAEda9VvV680Ny1UE8CHuEXV1HpcxapG4PQcxLQSt0HVfi4szcNnwkXzVTcyuO5moI3tCVPafjvXSmp1p_Fmi1Gb0TjMbw/s320/Lisette.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This is Lisette and I think she's very sweet. She's the color of butterscotch, has no horns and is unfortunately the shyest but maybe someday she'll be tamer. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdUZy8arUREEMjW-3vsxGanb93IJoLjtQ6qkgdfrL54uPiOFFy70KLgF75i5dzY_1Ffc2XzS6MxcTq_UMeBoSS5vZrL9lPMv0hoDGTnwq3dun2wXzOUWgVg7atk8kg7EuxufQnZ-Znw/s1600/Lady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdUZy8arUREEMjW-3vsxGanb93IJoLjtQ6qkgdfrL54uPiOFFy70KLgF75i5dzY_1Ffc2XzS6MxcTq_UMeBoSS5vZrL9lPMv0hoDGTnwq3dun2wXzOUWgVg7atk8kg7EuxufQnZ-Znw/s320/Lady.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This is Lady of the Lake. She's the friendliest and always ready to lead the herd after me. They've eaten their pasture down quite a bit so it's time to move them onto another pasture I think. This will be the first time they follow me down the center aisle of the pastures to get to another pasture. I'm hoping it easily becomes part of our morning and evening routine.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOTLherPtxMPH3ZYWU-lLcffi0RRa3JrC-QW7y-gk7cL8RvtGT_hJ8VPpaLe6rRTI15RUIQE-O190wKMdUKPnWvlc99FbyhSQtafzTySbnprWwfMdihYsF884bFUBbMIkxOB8btnUWA/s1600/Sovereign+Road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOTLherPtxMPH3ZYWU-lLcffi0RRa3JrC-QW7y-gk7cL8RvtGT_hJ8VPpaLe6rRTI15RUIQE-O190wKMdUKPnWvlc99FbyhSQtafzTySbnprWwfMdihYsF884bFUBbMIkxOB8btnUWA/s320/Sovereign+Road.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
This is the view down the road from the barn driveway to the house driveway and beyond. The first half we have to plow because the town didn't have the funds to repair it after all the road fixing needed to get back to normal after Irene.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzKbpIHGDPbjXekUIYwkpUbu6S9acIF4TwS_GHMqdtQwrw7vmMX31L6wQB0M7eIOfgSkWXWUJxtP2O5p0x-DCVpfLFk5k0CINORwQwc6sxeghCk1IwmFKv6MW2L70pEJjzPSxKcq-Rw/s1600/Leoneea+and+twins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzKbpIHGDPbjXekUIYwkpUbu6S9acIF4TwS_GHMqdtQwrw7vmMX31L6wQB0M7eIOfgSkWXWUJxtP2O5p0x-DCVpfLFk5k0CINORwQwc6sxeghCk1IwmFKv6MW2L70pEJjzPSxKcq-Rw/s320/Leoneea+and+twins.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Okay.....this photo is from the late spring but I'm thinking about baby goats again because it's breeding season for next year's kid crop. This is Leoneea with her twin babes Tao and Rasha looking out from behind a wall. Leoneea has such a lovely look to her and like all the other goats was a great mother to her young. Tao still likes to climb into laps although he's a bit big and Rasha (the doeling) is a sweetie who likes nothing better than to get some patting.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtqwZcGEI5ZGXVlDwRt80xu8ZqgsOFQJIkhGXCBInjVIV8VUhoUrFh5C4TB80GPBsCe22Z9PDWfvnW1pqvsAJQRCWIbTWbCTup_4myUPFDlU9tgqwa8AQgXLzUg8z3DeELW-HagqEVA/s1600/DSC_0985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtqwZcGEI5ZGXVlDwRt80xu8ZqgsOFQJIkhGXCBInjVIV8VUhoUrFh5C4TB80GPBsCe22Z9PDWfvnW1pqvsAJQRCWIbTWbCTup_4myUPFDlU9tgqwa8AQgXLzUg8z3DeELW-HagqEVA/s320/DSC_0985.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Zetta gave birth to 4 babies; 3 doelings and a buckling. This photo shows them only a few hours old. I've been telling all the does this year to only give birth to 1 or 2 babies this year. I don't want the herd to grow so quickly!!!Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-25138679811391415882011-11-06T16:51:00.000-08:002012-02-20T16:21:08.301-08:00Note to Self!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKU_0K-gwawm5xiSDLEZ0ohe9Vm2zQ_huf1X9VlrHXea5N5pOUbX4nsrfkrmKvLrqpzSf-WscWWfIzITmwcZVUeN3rHElcc9H0EUiM26z_De5BN2cCfMMlHo9g_YOkMLjLiiS5uWHXOw/s1600/stained+barn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKU_0K-gwawm5xiSDLEZ0ohe9Vm2zQ_huf1X9VlrHXea5N5pOUbX4nsrfkrmKvLrqpzSf-WscWWfIzITmwcZVUeN3rHElcc9H0EUiM26z_De5BN2cCfMMlHo9g_YOkMLjLiiS5uWHXOw/s320/stained+barn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Note to Self!!! Next time I am painting or staining something remember to try a sample of the chosen color rather than trust the color chart. I was rushing to get the barn stained before winter and the temps have been dropping. I found someone local to do the job and he and I both thought it should get done soon so I chose a color that I thought would be sort of a golden oak color. I almost panicked when I came out of the barn to look at the front that had just been sprayed! It looked like yellow more than wood; sort of a yellow ochre color. Yikes. It's not like I live near a paint store and the stain had already been bought and winter is coming so I had him finish it. It's okay...much better now that it's dry. It's sort of a golden saddle leather color. Next stain job will be in a color to mellow it a bit. That's the fun of using translucent stain. Oh, and I'm pleased to report that most of the snow has melted. Or at least half the field is bare now. I guess my optimism is showing. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4Jlf8yIey5aO_BaRUW-hxKJNOYMHdr2CnJJkFNFRkOmL3SIeuPZ7TUs-orb7DvPo3XVMSG209eArRGe5Uq3Y8fNPN8RgF9Duw5-QAoFNXU8tOXm_RynYHudY9w3gmjs9xwQCKngKtg/s1600/front+stained+barn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4Jlf8yIey5aO_BaRUW-hxKJNOYMHdr2CnJJkFNFRkOmL3SIeuPZ7TUs-orb7DvPo3XVMSG209eArRGe5Uq3Y8fNPN8RgF9Duw5-QAoFNXU8tOXm_RynYHudY9w3gmjs9xwQCKngKtg/s320/front+stained+barn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-82568530534244864262011-11-01T18:48:00.000-07:002011-11-01T18:49:56.458-07:00October StormWe got a winter trial with 4 inches of snow on October 28th. Then on Saturday we got about 24 inches of snow. We woke up Sunday morning glad that it had stopped ahead of schedule and amazed to look out at the results. The texture of the snow allowed it to create slumps over the balcony railing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjmBUij5zZF9Rv9tzfM413VcqbuYlYvOoR8kXxm4YYDY-qHCRcAUuFAobYqRtkrQHgtDHuEJxePQDnaSaK5KjTYPVFfTAkGUYkjd_Fyq6OC8Y_h28wpAf9_xqQhXSzxGVjNzbds3FCQ/s1600/cool+railing+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjmBUij5zZF9Rv9tzfM413VcqbuYlYvOoR8kXxm4YYDY-qHCRcAUuFAobYqRtkrQHgtDHuEJxePQDnaSaK5KjTYPVFfTAkGUYkjd_Fyq6OC8Y_h28wpAf9_xqQhXSzxGVjNzbds3FCQ/s320/cool+railing+snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's a look down the driveway.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWu0r8cHfLZkW1ZKkmuPgbaY377ywwBnNpiGYPW0q12S1fhXZuEZhFjPt48vP_7GLLEvKOrq-WW8tzMqGTrExsx9x0ZpsNGit1dx8D0dSEpjszjqXlgY4U3VIDz68EIaNboLK2PcfDA/s1600/yikes%252C+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWu0r8cHfLZkW1ZKkmuPgbaY377ywwBnNpiGYPW0q12S1fhXZuEZhFjPt48vP_7GLLEvKOrq-WW8tzMqGTrExsx9x0ZpsNGit1dx8D0dSEpjszjqXlgY4U3VIDz68EIaNboLK2PcfDA/s320/yikes%252C+snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Here is our 20 foot pond in a photo that shows the depth of the snow.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bz6OC3AYJNFjbCaEpG9pg8tRbUSeHsvz33i-0-mG2zjDEuYwjvd55uR5bvisSAisWYUZwbXh25sp1LlajjIY-0Tq2tJoZ320VDPryJfHlTMgfDB3P2EOjxUGqo6xoAgDyhhLclOJ-w/s1600/0ur+20%2527+pond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bz6OC3AYJNFjbCaEpG9pg8tRbUSeHsvz33i-0-mG2zjDEuYwjvd55uR5bvisSAisWYUZwbXh25sp1LlajjIY-0Tq2tJoZ320VDPryJfHlTMgfDB3P2EOjxUGqo6xoAgDyhhLclOJ-w/s320/0ur+20%2527+pond.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It took us a day to get ready for the storm and then a day to clean up after it. I managed to plow down from the new barn.....a good thing since the town doesn't yet plow that road. Our town did plow to our house driveway although they sunk the big plow truck in the mud along the dirt road that leads to our driveway. With a week of days in the 40s and 50s I'm hoping the snow melts and that the goats can go out to pasture for a few more weeks. The dogs LOVE the snow and it was deep enough to make them look like albino Corgis! They get excited when the snow falls off the barn roof. They pounce on it yelping in excited falsetto. Back to working on the new barn this week.Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-16161797509692384132011-11-01T18:36:00.000-07:002011-11-01T18:37:03.518-07:00"Bowl with Eggs" still life in reality<br />
<div style="font: 16.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font: 16.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAS-nfQA3aWJwWnQNIAZvo0-Unz_MNPoHdRFyZ4O4RfpXcZLo9lUw_Uqos_FP0Nnejg3CzJSrCusoqDs8A4tLcJfIVZwH-ln23lUHu3CmFogifyOPajv4ZYIEOQNItSNx8cHoL0Rj3w/s1600/eggs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAS-nfQA3aWJwWnQNIAZvo0-Unz_MNPoHdRFyZ4O4RfpXcZLo9lUw_Uqos_FP0Nnejg3CzJSrCusoqDs8A4tLcJfIVZwH-ln23lUHu3CmFogifyOPajv4ZYIEOQNItSNx8cHoL0Rj3w/s320/eggs2.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
<div style="font: 16.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 16.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Our hens have started laying and the eggs are such lovely works of art and such miracles. Okay, so I'm easy to impress because I see the beauty and miracle of just about everything. I'm particularly enjoying the sight of the soft blue/green eggs in a bowl that my friend Susan created and gave to me. The color is a pretty close match although the greenish eggs vary somewhat in tint from blue/green to more of a soft olive green.</div>
<div style="font: 16.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdQvHxpAu2W3xkdKmrFraO2E8-YrcmelaywlBwVN2cPbW5_AekC0bzRjeGJh3aschzLb80SHBL8vVnA2NJyAlYtmQdFMuHWoyg9umemOjBzmN6zCpjsDlGKxhN2z9f0Fty8qbYC1fuA/s1600/garlic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdQvHxpAu2W3xkdKmrFraO2E8-YrcmelaywlBwVN2cPbW5_AekC0bzRjeGJh3aschzLb80SHBL8vVnA2NJyAlYtmQdFMuHWoyg9umemOjBzmN6zCpjsDlGKxhN2z9f0Fty8qbYC1fuA/s320/garlic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font: 16.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 16.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
I'm also enjoying the garlic harvest. Here's what a bulb of garlic looks like when it's just been cut down from the hayloft. Below is after the roots have been trimmed and the outer layer of skins have been rubbed off. Ready to add to the pile we keep ready to add to dinner creations!</div>
<div style="font: 16.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6ofWEU5zG-kZ2WAs0WYOJV1TX52QwEuW3oeMrLCLAr1q24P-1X8EfkkIxUMrtbGqiI0KT_9QtleAmT4lSUWmKSOnrKvQqQWWiFtJc0QTaT-qqCK34bI5wVo3JO8OAKm6CiWtAJu3LA/s1600/garlic+trimmed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6ofWEU5zG-kZ2WAs0WYOJV1TX52QwEuW3oeMrLCLAr1q24P-1X8EfkkIxUMrtbGqiI0KT_9QtleAmT4lSUWmKSOnrKvQqQWWiFtJc0QTaT-qqCK34bI5wVo3JO8OAKm6CiWtAJu3LA/s320/garlic+trimmed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font: 16.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 16.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Note: these garlic photos feature another piece of ceramic art by my friend Susan. </div>Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-63034407924273316482011-10-18T18:27:00.000-07:002012-02-20T16:21:39.111-08:00Wish I had another sunny day to get some more up to date barn photos but here are a couple. It's a lot further along now and the fencing is done as well but none of that has been photographed recently. Well pump goes in this week and that's exciting for me since hauling water gets old fast.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MauUqAaEBubK74GXHvbMQB8amPe1c354FkZmO-2_AyvXIBX-Qu8C6cf-XFVRDwQrHalZGiB1Il_eZweazEnVYhGgXwcHK6PGqKzDCdKBiRDaNGS9IZvPfzr0wol6NvrvDjeszWohsw/s1600/barn36X66.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MauUqAaEBubK74GXHvbMQB8amPe1c354FkZmO-2_AyvXIBX-Qu8C6cf-XFVRDwQrHalZGiB1Il_eZweazEnVYhGgXwcHK6PGqKzDCdKBiRDaNGS9IZvPfzr0wol6NvrvDjeszWohsw/s320/barn36X66.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_RIYB2CxecR_icUNcR08pHwSIXoG8LdFRbF3Z-SmYHlqvxBrNrzSV-5ZEdzJqxcR1fY8WWQgcW-SXU_zVYjWE2zYJlGEXkvE8uB-8l76nDeRXLVCm2u44zM-5KI6rpB5rx0v-cerEg/s1600/barnback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_RIYB2CxecR_icUNcR08pHwSIXoG8LdFRbF3Z-SmYHlqvxBrNrzSV-5ZEdzJqxcR1fY8WWQgcW-SXU_zVYjWE2zYJlGEXkvE8uB-8l76nDeRXLVCm2u44zM-5KI6rpB5rx0v-cerEg/s320/barnback.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-37021679301538361852011-10-15T20:09:00.000-07:002011-10-15T20:23:00.873-07:00Barn Building Progress<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSPkBZxmGFqM_9IvoWcyrEegnnKsBqDTpGQwXnotD_Y787-V0w-YqZ5Y1ajkPV_MrBbnbiSqakfdr3wBGHkOTUlkTBWIQbbpIehmekFMQodVHzEOmaSCYF-RAgrxUZ9YY06WyFQTXVA/s1600/goat+stall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSPkBZxmGFqM_9IvoWcyrEegnnKsBqDTpGQwXnotD_Y787-V0w-YqZ5Y1ajkPV_MrBbnbiSqakfdr3wBGHkOTUlkTBWIQbbpIehmekFMQodVHzEOmaSCYF-RAgrxUZ9YY06WyFQTXVA/s320/goat+stall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So here's the progress report on the new barn. The goat stalls are finished. These consist of a main stall about 16X10' for day use and next to it a 16X6' stall to put kids in overnight when I'll be milking the does in the morning. These stalls have a removable panel in between them so kids will be able to see their moms and even sleep with just a wire panel between them. If it proves better to have complete separation I have other stalls at the south end of the barn that can be kid overnight stalls. The name of the game with this barn is flexibility so the kid overnight stall has 2 hay mangers placed in such a way that it could be divided in half if need be. Beyond the kid stall there is a row of 4 kidding/lambing stalls and they are created by dividers that are created as needed by dropping 2X6" boards into metal tracks. This means I can have 1 big stall, 2 slightly smaller stalls for 4 individual stalls. Each has it's own gate (or will have when my brother Jeff gets back from sailing his boat south) and the aisle itself will be usable in a pinch for yet another kidding place. Can you tell we were low on room last year? <br />
<br />
Here's the kid overnight stall.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJunD9s7QaaWfKMIR_80cJSmqZNtmAkOGrOdJoJxNq_yLRQxrnI9k7jik6TBp3bZG6f_i5jWWN7u12oi3RWg6qar6P1mwnrKNQF4kSFGSo_Gha-2OthzgjQ7S5RbcUbUVxLzoPolP4sw/s1600/kid+stall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJunD9s7QaaWfKMIR_80cJSmqZNtmAkOGrOdJoJxNq_yLRQxrnI9k7jik6TBp3bZG6f_i5jWWN7u12oi3RWg6qar6P1mwnrKNQF4kSFGSo_Gha-2OthzgjQ7S5RbcUbUVxLzoPolP4sw/s320/kid+stall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Notice that we have yet another style of manger here. Jeff and I designed and built this on the spot starting with a length of 2X6 screwed from the other side as the bottom. We created both sides by taking 3 pieces of 2X6 and sawing one of them diagonally in half to form the slant for each side. Pieces of scrap livestock panel were attached with fencing staples, a piece of shiplap siding provided a handy groove to cover the sharp ends of the top of the wire and provide some height. Strips of shiplap edges covered the other wire edges at bottom and sides. Here's a closer shot:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNe6rp-x9gB_OfN05lzvx8BwgvkABr822N40zpjpf9wffmTemiA_B_WNl6RE2UZWUd-uG-llaHmcREx6QPJGKj9bVjcIvrb2wT0KM1FPztQuaa1y0SywsZfS2Mpj6ZK4wJlXX4sJ_ug/s1600/manger4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNe6rp-x9gB_OfN05lzvx8BwgvkABr822N40zpjpf9wffmTemiA_B_WNl6RE2UZWUd-uG-llaHmcREx6QPJGKj9bVjcIvrb2wT0KM1FPztQuaa1y0SywsZfS2Mpj6ZK4wJlXX4sJ_ug/s320/manger4.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Notice the peek gap in the stall partitions? It's so that animals can peek in and out to see what's going on. When the dogs are in the center aisle instead of with the goats they'll want to keep an eye on stuff and the goats certainly like to look out to see what's happening. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNxvufskD20SfJCM0JnWIvj6wSKjdWSBbAm_c68W90xeO8f5miU1k5lLJYCxYJnz5Rd7wN5_VyqGEPAPI_H0q0846GxOJYFmrh00kmm1_P7gXZAXolZzM1DkiUqeliGKdNbmw4ZVCOQ/s1600/stall+with+peek-a-boo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNxvufskD20SfJCM0JnWIvj6wSKjdWSBbAm_c68W90xeO8f5miU1k5lLJYCxYJnz5Rd7wN5_VyqGEPAPI_H0q0846GxOJYFmrh00kmm1_P7gXZAXolZzM1DkiUqeliGKdNbmw4ZVCOQ/s320/stall+with+peek-a-boo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Outside the main herd stall is a 16X16' run-in shed area. It's got openings to the north and west. Since the wind whips across this field from the north we'll have a sliding barn door to keep the chill out during the cold months. During summer the breezes will help keep everyone cool. The floor of this run-in area is sand and gravel. We'll build some platforms for here and in the stalls. Goats love to jump up on stuff and they especially like to have somewhere to jump up onto when the guardian dogs are feeling frisky and playful. The windows haven't been put in yet. Still waiting on that except for the buck stall which is already occupied by a full grow buck, a full grown wether and 2 young wethers.<br />
Here's the run-in area.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XzX-cL3i4Qo8NZAtNJzgp1PQBLmsjP9uGeOpmrgdbXNn0dmG7heoEyxB1zpWv_F4ZWgKU-Ye9myLMWvxYcJ7D_rJNyFrREqbix8lk0FYuxOYCEz-Oq-iOroEk2b_tuO11QGaMOY5pQ/s1600/goat+run-in.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XzX-cL3i4Qo8NZAtNJzgp1PQBLmsjP9uGeOpmrgdbXNn0dmG7heoEyxB1zpWv_F4ZWgKU-Ye9myLMWvxYcJ7D_rJNyFrREqbix8lk0FYuxOYCEz-Oq-iOroEk2b_tuO11QGaMOY5pQ/s320/goat+run-in.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This run-in area is across a center aisle from the sheep run-in area which is designed and built the same way. With long spans of 16' for the walls we had to figure out a system to stabilize the walls. We framed them up and then hammered a 5' piece of conduit pipe and attached the wall to it like this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qu0zM0UwkhRaqql6aM6dLSVwKCZa729sA7m_v57PHdonxh0aRKcqatLu2KxIAy82TouVavjsVEuLW8Pe1tfsTYj_jmCjGmiBwvh3c34ra_5eCyuzodFymXWKEpYxwWmU2pH6HQ5XcA/s1600/stability+pole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qu0zM0UwkhRaqql6aM6dLSVwKCZa729sA7m_v57PHdonxh0aRKcqatLu2KxIAy82TouVavjsVEuLW8Pe1tfsTYj_jmCjGmiBwvh3c34ra_5eCyuzodFymXWKEpYxwWmU2pH6HQ5XcA/s320/stability+pole.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We used cedar boards as apron boards along the bottom to keep drafts out. The cedar is resistant to rot of course and can be replaced easily if needed. The sill of the wall is more than 6" off the ground.Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-44724219141833205612011-10-11T20:29:00.000-07:002011-10-11T20:39:59.680-07:00Warm now to keep us warm later<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRwSlIAbqVc2lV6G6ecWp1mkjKQA2dXIqObczMr3ApwWbWOz7S2pOF8XtxA5uw67VMXv7d9IkkHtKesdqDCa8X-JwZTBvkad0AKYFCMnsV44tUM1oZFbl6C7xXFdbTpF2p94DSDLeYg/s1600/DSC_1180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRwSlIAbqVc2lV6G6ecWp1mkjKQA2dXIqObczMr3ApwWbWOz7S2pOF8XtxA5uw67VMXv7d9IkkHtKesdqDCa8X-JwZTBvkad0AKYFCMnsV44tUM1oZFbl6C7xXFdbTpF2p94DSDLeYg/s320/DSC_1180.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
Winter is coming and Joseph is working hard and sweaty to catch up with the firewood splitting and stacking for winter. We've got more wood down than we can keep up with. With the amount of land we have we can't even keep up with what comes down in wind storms. We're hoping to afford an old beater pick-up truck for hauling wood out of the forest. For now we work it close to home or drag it during the winter using the tractor so that it slides on snow and doesn't get full of the grit that will dull a chainsaw blade so quickly.Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-29622067722198143072011-10-07T20:11:00.000-07:002011-10-07T20:15:28.237-07:00Dogs and Goats<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzLYzPk4rEwvTadE5Tq363lRBMcpd7eYAcYA7UKAlSQUc3DXGYGhJzrk1pGCDIztAOqD517_luxK0ajRCV18gBxiK7br1YyoIBblYw_JrudVwt_7qemQzNUSucMFNEy43QeYbSeT_Hw/s1600/goats+on+wall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzLYzPk4rEwvTadE5Tq363lRBMcpd7eYAcYA7UKAlSQUc3DXGYGhJzrk1pGCDIztAOqD517_luxK0ajRCV18gBxiK7br1YyoIBblYw_JrudVwt_7qemQzNUSucMFNEy43QeYbSeT_Hw/s400/goats+on+wall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660954637885268562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnNq2C2prYwji08CtU8n27jlGht3ljKGnFXY4yAALM8MAk-bGdh7RTtYFwPb79gnMQNZtnAe1anzszRJGEVL6Yl1iYgYbyhjoJVOAW9X8QM7DQdkksnUl2Srr65ZwYedCh-FPQY6LQg/s1600/tao%253Avera.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnNq2C2prYwji08CtU8n27jlGht3ljKGnFXY4yAALM8MAk-bGdh7RTtYFwPb79gnMQNZtnAe1anzszRJGEVL6Yl1iYgYbyhjoJVOAW9X8QM7DQdkksnUl2Srr65ZwYedCh-FPQY6LQg/s400/tao%253Avera.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660954635452469106" border="0" /></a><br />Our goat herd have been loving the pasture, the sun and the stone walls they get to climb on. Our Livestock Guardian Maremma dogs have been hanging out with their charges. Great photo of Tao and Luna (young goats) hanging out with Vera the Maremma.Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-45994795426455400382011-10-07T20:02:00.000-07:002011-10-07T20:07:57.596-07:00Hay Manger Design Improvements<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DxpvDKdH1F1iQTZfj19Apc2xRc6dDI8hqWGAfjJ9OOjCtzbONIcDICqGQOPWXWpX9MrdrlCxNLBuBrhr41OP3p1tE801ezGmeMlw-fycdQAndpp1hZgEmTLnEOyjMM6QIAH7CTwxnA/s1600/haymanger2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DxpvDKdH1F1iQTZfj19Apc2xRc6dDI8hqWGAfjJ9OOjCtzbONIcDICqGQOPWXWpX9MrdrlCxNLBuBrhr41OP3p1tE801ezGmeMlw-fycdQAndpp1hZgEmTLnEOyjMM6QIAH7CTwxnA/s400/haymanger2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660952620566818210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQVbixgLhzibOaQe_-Bl7nRXr9-FmnrvhOWgkRsF4Rx2nvfCYhwiYsoALJU8GSBfSOW4AXrMvxKi9SM_NhkCVFuR6Cs2hIpJ1XfSG3x8t_o73G64DOBpKaOIKf69H07zNC3vE95-seQ/s1600/haymanger1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQVbixgLhzibOaQe_-Bl7nRXr9-FmnrvhOWgkRsF4Rx2nvfCYhwiYsoALJU8GSBfSOW4AXrMvxKi9SM_NhkCVFuR6Cs2hIpJ1XfSG3x8t_o73G64DOBpKaOIKf69H07zNC3vE95-seQ/s400/haymanger1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660952616880937282" border="0" /></a><br />My brother said it was a pain to make the manger the way he did the first one with the routed out 2X4 so this time we pre-bent the section of panel by screwing one end of a 2X4 to a barn post at floor level with the panel under it. We maneuvered the panel until we had the "bend line" where we wanted it under the 2X4 and then I stood on that (my participation) while he bent the panel for the side bend. We repeated it on the other side and then used large barbed fence staples to attach it to the 2X6 wall. You can see the photos attached.Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-79743292880945861052011-10-07T05:17:00.000-07:002011-10-07T07:40:58.588-07:00Ewe Lambs Arrive!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjojjIgS2b8BRRri3Pbs-wj2W5cDPKH_7NWP_8Xv8gQhoKhWDieKAWd9-ku3eFkieIY5xiWh-XbFePTkczLnhpMRhZpbaFgckNmjKUmisjwZNoeG-sn0sLzlWBrCdiXKitjL4OAlBJ2A/s1600/Lorelei.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjojjIgS2b8BRRri3Pbs-wj2W5cDPKH_7NWP_8Xv8gQhoKhWDieKAWd9-ku3eFkieIY5xiWh-XbFePTkczLnhpMRhZpbaFgckNmjKUmisjwZNoeG-sn0sLzlWBrCdiXKitjL4OAlBJ2A/s400/Lorelei.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660725512265138002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXNjfwyVuiX0eSdSDf7dlBjYjNwpSk9PnwvV9C8KzDdW0OkA4wMszYe_8WCp4j8AbbQ3Or-wimvrDkbus5Q1IEUtJOdZDq_O0yTLrAamI0T-9skBI-mkEA3lAHtLYgHv1BMDenrPtTw/s1600/Lola.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXNjfwyVuiX0eSdSDf7dlBjYjNwpSk9PnwvV9C8KzDdW0OkA4wMszYe_8WCp4j8AbbQ3Or-wimvrDkbus5Q1IEUtJOdZDq_O0yTLrAamI0T-9skBI-mkEA3lAHtLYgHv1BMDenrPtTw/s400/Lola.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660724056616135538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAQjjrBPCx4EnkDhnCEg1iDhY5v6UM5Z35tF2yrcsHearJuLsq8GPlKDdt2HYOvLjKCtlNnLl0a55Wh6HpKHdk4l_3zg8bVVQUvIUOAZ22GDfC3zWjTpDGMTz3-zzESyKB5YsdgqUKg/s1600/Lisette.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAQjjrBPCx4EnkDhnCEg1iDhY5v6UM5Z35tF2yrcsHearJuLsq8GPlKDdt2HYOvLjKCtlNnLl0a55Wh6HpKHdk4l_3zg8bVVQUvIUOAZ22GDfC3zWjTpDGMTz3-zzESyKB5YsdgqUKg/s400/Lisette.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660724053286470722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64Tn45NPgfWmHfg2QLsK6oecPpLRwbo6cYKJ96Tx-SLAbnyVl8khjVukfqh-pirbMA89WZEBzTs1bwHUIbm3HYAi_jSirf3wQEgRi0Es2Y_phJtDsVy5IhBJUzy5jEyM-xk8-fvA8Fw/s1600/Lilibeth.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64Tn45NPgfWmHfg2QLsK6oecPpLRwbo6cYKJ96Tx-SLAbnyVl8khjVukfqh-pirbMA89WZEBzTs1bwHUIbm3HYAi_jSirf3wQEgRi0Es2Y_phJtDsVy5IhBJUzy5jEyM-xk8-fvA8Fw/s400/Lilibeth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660724045724801074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnESSZJvosrwMG8BuaoKUaAiH4xsQ14xGq5t7uNwJ8DV7evZewAVhV8ftIPWsxOuCgF3uraj6kiw0G1bZbLuUXYCb7cdeI24FQ4KYc3CSlHkXBwxm_Z-wpeknrgCLBhYF4icccDYdPw/s1600/Laughter+in+the+Rain.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnESSZJvosrwMG8BuaoKUaAiH4xsQ14xGq5t7uNwJ8DV7evZewAVhV8ftIPWsxOuCgF3uraj6kiw0G1bZbLuUXYCb7cdeI24FQ4KYc3CSlHkXBwxm_Z-wpeknrgCLBhYF4icccDYdPw/s400/Laughter+in+the+Rain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660724043643446594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-uHTqfaxWJKXDRI8UK-RWyWlAF5ID3FV7UV5bKP9xBbqFFv2Q3O9X_vpvjSuug1CvIhe8n8ZOQqxhT52utlldBkymo4nXUzsM6ic5T4xABx7L_EdJ7Y3Ze8JXjZTaalbpupgLyZXnw/s1600/Lady+of+the+Lake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-uHTqfaxWJKXDRI8UK-RWyWlAF5ID3FV7UV5bKP9xBbqFFv2Q3O9X_vpvjSuug1CvIhe8n8ZOQqxhT52utlldBkymo4nXUzsM6ic5T4xABx7L_EdJ7Y3Ze8JXjZTaalbpupgLyZXnw/s400/Lady+of+the+Lake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660724037017251442" border="0" /></a><br />Here are our ewe lambs from Greener Pastures Farm. They arrived a week or so ago and are settling in nicely. From top to bottom they are named (remember, it's an "L" year for Greener Pasture's Farm!): Lorelei, Lola, Lisette, Lilibeth, Laughter in the Rain, and Lady of the Lake.Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-63412112356358176982011-10-06T07:28:00.000-07:002012-07-07T20:28:30.731-07:00Fencing Detail and Design<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQJkjBNeRfcwnKmL5N7-JeHBkE_kDXZ7nWUTUmG8O3Eke9NVerFS3o9Ms_odocCx6JDr0GDHsYUzTr7wh0IhkLGiQjCUSCzwLvvsadcNF8kTavUy4OoropnTvfzh_MxZ7ZGbDrGnfFQ/s1600/tree+protection+detail.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660720896212761250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQJkjBNeRfcwnKmL5N7-JeHBkE_kDXZ7nWUTUmG8O3Eke9NVerFS3o9Ms_odocCx6JDr0GDHsYUzTr7wh0IhkLGiQjCUSCzwLvvsadcNF8kTavUy4OoropnTvfzh_MxZ7ZGbDrGnfFQ/s400/tree+protection+detail.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3uwwSP-JFUN2y8ifBUaHHHeBFzAJXzRVllj1OOegJYvBAaswOwN8BecFznB2Lrp9Kex6dK_Tv2G_yPInyxxxX190rZGqF6360b_ULuDgZ83hdxXlhgBwBZyJs91u8Sq_a8OIzknpIg/s1600/tree+protection.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660720890572643378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3uwwSP-JFUN2y8ifBUaHHHeBFzAJXzRVllj1OOegJYvBAaswOwN8BecFznB2Lrp9Kex6dK_Tv2G_yPInyxxxX190rZGqF6360b_ULuDgZ83hdxXlhgBwBZyJs91u8Sq_a8OIzknpIg/s400/tree+protection.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Our pasture system is not a regular rotational grazing system. We've also integrated a medicinal hedgerow and some sylvopasture research experiments. Sylvopasture combines pasture and livestock production with trees. The trees we're using are mostly Ashworth Honey Locust trees. They are a variety developed before chemical fertilizers when the USDA was looking for high protein livestock feed options. These honey locust bear seeded pods that can be fed to sheep, goats and chickens. The leaves can be fed to livestock and they are a nitrogen-fixing tree so their roots will nourish the pasture grass growth. Not only that but their leaves are finely cut compound leaves that will not cast a dense shadow and not smother grasses when they fall. We'll be growing some of these full size and also experimenting with coppicing some of them. Coppicing means cutting the tree down and letting suckers grow from the stump to harvest on a schedule determined by the size of growth that best suits your needs.<br />
<br />
Our medicinal hedgerow experiment consists of a 6 foot alley pasture between 2 other pastures. This is being planted with herbs that, once they grow enough to stick into the pasture on each side, will be available for grazing by flocks. I'll be doing research on what immune boosting, deworming, etc. herbs are helpful. For now there are gingko and sea buckthorn planted down the center. Both produce palatable nourishing fruit.<br />
<br />
Our fencing system also includes some areas that aren't meant to be grazed but are food production areas that the dogs will be able to guard against fruit predators such as bear, raccoon, etc. We have Russian quince, persimmon pear and mulberry so far. We'll be adding some apples and persimmons trees from our nursery beds once it's a good season for transplanting.<br />
<br />
We've put honey locust trees into corners of many of our rotational grazing plots. We've protected them with livestock panels that are attached to the corner brace fence posts using eye-hooks and re-bar. You can see it in the photos.Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739182809102635884.post-12884389455349717602011-10-03T10:40:00.000-07:002011-10-03T10:46:12.175-07:00Hay Manger Design<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU89JYGd-7TOxw4aZ46GfpCs1ZHjc_oF0iEQJCh0SzP-w9CqlgQEL0QxhgmPrJy9povBzeXwfWH-c9vc3nJfOzCrL1LQ0ZcyfdPURdb9QBw3K1Bhh9qMbF6qnU06uDwrOlOGiYqXWrAQ/s1600/stall1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU89JYGd-7TOxw4aZ46GfpCs1ZHjc_oF0iEQJCh0SzP-w9CqlgQEL0QxhgmPrJy9povBzeXwfWH-c9vc3nJfOzCrL1LQ0ZcyfdPURdb9QBw3K1Bhh9qMbF6qnU06uDwrOlOGiYqXWrAQ/s400/stall1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659322343712888850" /></a>Here is a photo of our hay manger created using a piece of hog panel and 2X4 edges. The 2X4 edges were cut on a table saw to create a place for the wire to get held securely. The 4X4 mesh of the hog panel is perfect in that no one can get their head stuck and it's all rigid enough to be very solid and, we hope, indestructible.Kathrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18286940121544745617noreply@blogger.com3