A personal need has come up to go off line for awhile. I appreciate every one of you, and your support and dedication to my blog.
Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart. I hope to be back soon.
Keep chasing butterflies.
~Becky
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
The power of the people
I am so blessed to have so many people who care about me, and want to be apart of my farm dream.
I've had several visitors to my farm in the last month, and I love seeing the joy on their face, when they see what I am fortunate to see every day.
My nephew Tyler (Bubba) who is about 20 months old, came out with his Daddy, James to see the "new" barn and the goats. He didn't know what to think at first... he had just been to the game farm the previous day, and was getting pretty good with his animal names. At first, he called the goats "sheep". And when we told him "goat", he called them "sheepdoats". So freaking cute... So he pet the sheepdoats, and followed them around outside for a little bit. When we walked around the barn to see the chickens, he saw my John Deere riding lawn mower and called it a "tractor". Smart boy. He sat up in the seat for a few minutes with his hands on the wheel, and said "Drive tractor." I asked him if he wanted to go get eggs with me, and he nodded his head, so I helped him down. We went into the barn, and he let me pick up when we went in the coop. After I showed him how, Bubba grabbed the eggs out of the nesting boxes and put them in the carton. And then Wynnona decided to jump up on my arm, like a parrot, and scared him. So he cried and I let James collect the rest of the eggs. When they left I tried to get a kiss goodbye from Tyler...and I won't lie, I had to bribe him with a ride on the tractor next time he comes...but I got my kiss. :)
Another day, my friend Mike (the barn straightener) came back to visit with his daughter AB and wife Cheryl. I showed them all of the remodeling I'd had done to the barn, and all of the antiques I had just hung in it from my favorite antique store. They too fell in love with my new kids. AB, who is almost 6 had tons of intellectual questions about the goats. What they liked to eat, where they slept, etc. She then let me know that she set up a "food test" for them. She placed a piece of straw, a blade of grass, and a piece of wheat just outside of their pen. She asked me to let her know what they ate first. They also brought me two tomato plants...so I can say I have a garden this year! ;)
My good friend Karen and her husband Tim road their Harleys out one day to see the babies, and now that the goats are here, my neighbors Bruce and Chris are frequent visitors.
This past weekend was a pretty incredible one for me. I had a "fence post" party, and about ten guys from my crew at work, came out and helped me put in 50 fence posts for the future goat pen and garden. My neighbor Bruce dug out about half of the holes with his 1951 tractor, (until it broke down.) And then my guys dug the rest of the holes by hand. I learned quite a bit! We set corner 4x6 posts, and ran string between them so we'd have a straight fence line. Then the strapping young bucks started digging. They dug over about 30 holes about 2 feet deep, put in 53 posts and used 57 bags of concrete in 8 hours. I had Famous Dave's bring us lunch, and provided the beer and drinks. It was truly amazing for so many people to come out and give me a hand with my dream. Every day it is starting to look more and more like I picture it in my head, and it is such an overwhelming rush. Thank you again to Bruce, Larry, Mike, Keyan, Arnie, Chris, Hodge, Ian, and Teddy for lending a hand. There is no way I could have done it without you...
We are already talking about the "Fence stretching" party...this one we'll light up the fire pit to celebrate.
I've had several visitors to my farm in the last month, and I love seeing the joy on their face, when they see what I am fortunate to see every day.
My nephew Tyler (Bubba) who is about 20 months old, came out with his Daddy, James to see the "new" barn and the goats. He didn't know what to think at first... he had just been to the game farm the previous day, and was getting pretty good with his animal names. At first, he called the goats "sheep". And when we told him "goat", he called them "sheepdoats". So freaking cute... So he pet the sheepdoats, and followed them around outside for a little bit. When we walked around the barn to see the chickens, he saw my John Deere riding lawn mower and called it a "tractor". Smart boy. He sat up in the seat for a few minutes with his hands on the wheel, and said "Drive tractor." I asked him if he wanted to go get eggs with me, and he nodded his head, so I helped him down. We went into the barn, and he let me pick up when we went in the coop. After I showed him how, Bubba grabbed the eggs out of the nesting boxes and put them in the carton. And then Wynnona decided to jump up on my arm, like a parrot, and scared him. So he cried and I let James collect the rest of the eggs. When they left I tried to get a kiss goodbye from Tyler...and I won't lie, I had to bribe him with a ride on the tractor next time he comes...but I got my kiss. :)
Another day, my friend Mike (the barn straightener) came back to visit with his daughter AB and wife Cheryl. I showed them all of the remodeling I'd had done to the barn, and all of the antiques I had just hung in it from my favorite antique store. They too fell in love with my new kids. AB, who is almost 6 had tons of intellectual questions about the goats. What they liked to eat, where they slept, etc. She then let me know that she set up a "food test" for them. She placed a piece of straw, a blade of grass, and a piece of wheat just outside of their pen. She asked me to let her know what they ate first. They also brought me two tomato plants...so I can say I have a garden this year! ;)
My good friend Karen and her husband Tim road their Harleys out one day to see the babies, and now that the goats are here, my neighbors Bruce and Chris are frequent visitors.
This past weekend was a pretty incredible one for me. I had a "fence post" party, and about ten guys from my crew at work, came out and helped me put in 50 fence posts for the future goat pen and garden. My neighbor Bruce dug out about half of the holes with his 1951 tractor, (until it broke down.) And then my guys dug the rest of the holes by hand. I learned quite a bit! We set corner 4x6 posts, and ran string between them so we'd have a straight fence line. Then the strapping young bucks started digging. They dug over about 30 holes about 2 feet deep, put in 53 posts and used 57 bags of concrete in 8 hours. I had Famous Dave's bring us lunch, and provided the beer and drinks. It was truly amazing for so many people to come out and give me a hand with my dream. Every day it is starting to look more and more like I picture it in my head, and it is such an overwhelming rush. Thank you again to Bruce, Larry, Mike, Keyan, Arnie, Chris, Hodge, Ian, and Teddy for lending a hand. There is no way I could have done it without you...
We are already talking about the "Fence stretching" party...this one we'll light up the fire pit to celebrate.
Little Goat Field Trips
Well, for the first two weeks the goats were home, I kept them in their stall in the barn so they could get used to me, and know who mom was and where home was. After that we went on our first little goat field trip. I opened their gate and walked out toward the pasture. They were a little timid, but they followed me...like ducks in a row out toward the fire pit. When I got to the middle of the field, they all stood around my legs...not at all exploring. So I walked a little more, and they got back in line, but as soon as I stopped, they again gathered around my feet. I couldn't help but wonder if I could get them to walk in formation, like the Blue Angels...but just a little different. I was a little disappointed that no one was trying out the field grass. It was quite long, (about to my knees) and I expected them to start putting a dent in their new found shmorgazboard. Not so much...
Lucy picked up a pinecone in her mouth and carried it for a few seconds. Then a little stick like she was a dog. I couldn't help but sigh. As their mama did I need to get down on my hands and knees and show them what they should be doing?? I picked a blade of grass, and tried giving it to Apollo. He looked at me. "BAA!" Ok...grass sucks...I get it..how bout some clover? "BAA!" When he opened his mouth, the clover stuck to his lip, and then it fell, and he looked down at it....nothing. So I continued on our field trip, up the hill and around the big tree...After that they ran back into the barn. I guessed the field trip was over...and was glad they recognized where home was.
On the second field trip, we took the same path out toward the firepit. The goats stayed close behind me because they couldn't see over the grass. Once we got to the firepit, they got a little braver, but didn't stray more than a foot or two away from me. Still, no grass eating. Lucy, must have realized she had legs, because she bolted full speed to the barn, like a little deer. When I called her to come back she rounded the truck and came flying back ears flying out at the sides. It was, honest to God, one of the cutest things I had ever seen. She kept running and darting, and the boys would look at me, and look at her, and then back again. Little Apollo had a "Mom, is Lucy adopted?" look on his face. We went back around the big tree again, and Lucy actually tried a blade of grass...and then picked up a stick.
The goats have been out several times now. I tell them, "Let's go for a field trip," and they get excited. Sometimes, they run into the work room when I'm not looking, and I have to shoo them out. I ended up mowing the field to make it a little easier for them to explore, and now they all eat grass. Although...it is only one blade at a time. Maybe I need more goats...
Lucy picked up a pinecone in her mouth and carried it for a few seconds. Then a little stick like she was a dog. I couldn't help but sigh. As their mama did I need to get down on my hands and knees and show them what they should be doing?? I picked a blade of grass, and tried giving it to Apollo. He looked at me. "BAA!" Ok...grass sucks...I get it..how bout some clover? "BAA!" When he opened his mouth, the clover stuck to his lip, and then it fell, and he looked down at it....nothing. So I continued on our field trip, up the hill and around the big tree...After that they ran back into the barn. I guessed the field trip was over...and was glad they recognized where home was.
On the second field trip, we took the same path out toward the firepit. The goats stayed close behind me because they couldn't see over the grass. Once we got to the firepit, they got a little braver, but didn't stray more than a foot or two away from me. Still, no grass eating. Lucy, must have realized she had legs, because she bolted full speed to the barn, like a little deer. When I called her to come back she rounded the truck and came flying back ears flying out at the sides. It was, honest to God, one of the cutest things I had ever seen. She kept running and darting, and the boys would look at me, and look at her, and then back again. Little Apollo had a "Mom, is Lucy adopted?" look on his face. We went back around the big tree again, and Lucy actually tried a blade of grass...and then picked up a stick.
The goats have been out several times now. I tell them, "Let's go for a field trip," and they get excited. Sometimes, they run into the work room when I'm not looking, and I have to shoo them out. I ended up mowing the field to make it a little easier for them to explore, and now they all eat grass. Although...it is only one blade at a time. Maybe I need more goats...
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Goat Care and Little Goat Discipline
GOAT CARE:
A week after the goats came home, the 3 boys were due for vaccines. My mom came over to lend a hand, and asked if I had an orange to practice on... How hard could it be? There's resistance, and then it gives, and then you empty the syringe right? So I filled my syringe, and my mom taught me how to tap out the air bubbles and "squirt" to make sure they were all out...just like on tv..
I grabbed Apollo first because he was the smallest, (Youngest goes first!! My sister used to yell when we were kids...) and tried pinching the back of his hip to create a "tent" to insert the needle. Well he wasn't in the mood...so my mom had to WWF his little goat butt...and I was impressed. She got on her knees, grabbed the stuffed my little pony, and yelled, "Go!" Oh shit... So I grabbed his skin and pushed the needle in. He started to scream as I emptied the syringe. I was actually alright...wasn't too emotional...and apologized to him, wishing I had a little treasure box for him like they do at the dentist's office. Instead, I gave him a little grain.
Next was Dante...I did one, so I felt I was a pro by the second one. TAP TAP TAP for the airbubbles, and a small squirt, you guessed it, just like on tv... I got my mom knee pads to make her more comfortable, and she tackled Dante to the floor. "Go!" she yelled. So I pulled the skin out on his back leg and stuck the needle in. He screamed and jumped and knocked the needle out of his back leg. I had to stick him 3 times to give him his full injection. I had bad visions of accidently stabbing myself, or even worse, giving my mom a tetanus shot. I gave Dante his grain, and apologized 3 times since I had to stab him that many times.
My mom offered to do Mr. Fibbs, and I let her. She was definitely a lot more professional looking with the tapping and squirting...like a real MD compared to a first time soon to be junky. Mr. Fibbs went real quick, and he got his grain. I'm thankful every day that injections only come once a year!!! Would practicing on an orange have helped? Only if I was in the back of a jeep going 4 wheeling down a road full of potholes going 40 miles an hour!
Several times the boys have ended up with hay and straw in their eyes....like WAY back in their eyeball. Shortly after I brought them home, Apollo got something in his eye...and I tried and tried to get it with no luck. It looked like a small piece of wheat, and the wheat was facing the direction I needed to pull...not good.
So mom and super steve came over one night and provided a few extra pairs of hands while I got it out of his eye. He sat in Steve's lap and was totally calm like he was watching the latest Twilight movie...just needed a little goat popcorn. ANYWAY, my mom held open his eye, and I pulled the straw out. It was over an inch long, and barely an 1/8 of an inch had been showing!!! I put some Eye ointment on him, from my super duper goat first aid kit I made, and he was good as new.
Scours...Scours is the same as goat diarreah. You can tell anything about a goat by their poop. If they are healthy and happy, they poop little berries. If their poop is anything but berries, something isn't right. So every day, I check their poops. Well about a week ago, I noticed Dante was shooting split pea soup...not good. So I gave him some Probios, which is good bacteria to help digestion in goat tummies. For 3 days I would go down to the barn, and the back of his legs were covered with poop...I literally had to cut the hair on the back of his legs to get it off. That, and LOTS of baby wipes. So, let me tell you WHY he was crapping his little brains out...(Because he doesn't want to talk about it right now.) Dante learned to suck the nipples on Lucy's bucket, and was butting her out of the way and drinking her milk. ANY sudden change in a goat's diet will make them extremely sick. Since then, he has managed to wipe his ass on everyone, so everyone is getting summer haircuts this weekend...
But back to Dante, which brings me to Little Goat Discipline...
He is the naughtiest of all naughty little goats. When I first caught him in Lucy's bucket, I clapped my hands at him and said NO! I think he laughed at me. So I went to the internet, and looked up naughty goats...and what to do. Well, mother goats head butt their children when they do something not acceptable, and I certainly wasn't going to do that!!! (I know some of you thought that's where I was going with this...) Anyway, I read to pull their tail, or ear, or punt them in the chest..(with your hand, NOT like a football...) So I tried that...every time I saw him go to the bucket, I pulled his tail. He turned around and stomped at me with this goofy grin he always has on his face, and I stomped back. Mind you....this goat comes to my knees with the top of his head...And we're stomping at each other like a bunch of two year olds...Then he went back to the bucket. So I got a squirt bottle. And he does NOT like that. Goats do not like to get wet. So the second he would go for the bucket, I would squirt him in the face. Again, he would stomp at me...but then he would walk away. BUT he would watch me for the second I turned my back, and he would be back at the bucket. Goats are extremely smart. So, in the mean time, for the safety of his stomach, Lucy only gets her bucket while I am down there...I let her drink as much as she can, and then remove it. The first time I did it...he stomped at me.
A week after the goats came home, the 3 boys were due for vaccines. My mom came over to lend a hand, and asked if I had an orange to practice on... How hard could it be? There's resistance, and then it gives, and then you empty the syringe right? So I filled my syringe, and my mom taught me how to tap out the air bubbles and "squirt" to make sure they were all out...just like on tv..
I grabbed Apollo first because he was the smallest, (Youngest goes first!! My sister used to yell when we were kids...) and tried pinching the back of his hip to create a "tent" to insert the needle. Well he wasn't in the mood...so my mom had to WWF his little goat butt...and I was impressed. She got on her knees, grabbed the stuffed my little pony, and yelled, "Go!" Oh shit... So I grabbed his skin and pushed the needle in. He started to scream as I emptied the syringe. I was actually alright...wasn't too emotional...and apologized to him, wishing I had a little treasure box for him like they do at the dentist's office. Instead, I gave him a little grain.
Next was Dante...I did one, so I felt I was a pro by the second one. TAP TAP TAP for the airbubbles, and a small squirt, you guessed it, just like on tv... I got my mom knee pads to make her more comfortable, and she tackled Dante to the floor. "Go!" she yelled. So I pulled the skin out on his back leg and stuck the needle in. He screamed and jumped and knocked the needle out of his back leg. I had to stick him 3 times to give him his full injection. I had bad visions of accidently stabbing myself, or even worse, giving my mom a tetanus shot. I gave Dante his grain, and apologized 3 times since I had to stab him that many times.
My mom offered to do Mr. Fibbs, and I let her. She was definitely a lot more professional looking with the tapping and squirting...like a real MD compared to a first time soon to be junky. Mr. Fibbs went real quick, and he got his grain. I'm thankful every day that injections only come once a year!!! Would practicing on an orange have helped? Only if I was in the back of a jeep going 4 wheeling down a road full of potholes going 40 miles an hour!
Several times the boys have ended up with hay and straw in their eyes....like WAY back in their eyeball. Shortly after I brought them home, Apollo got something in his eye...and I tried and tried to get it with no luck. It looked like a small piece of wheat, and the wheat was facing the direction I needed to pull...not good.
So mom and super steve came over one night and provided a few extra pairs of hands while I got it out of his eye. He sat in Steve's lap and was totally calm like he was watching the latest Twilight movie...just needed a little goat popcorn. ANYWAY, my mom held open his eye, and I pulled the straw out. It was over an inch long, and barely an 1/8 of an inch had been showing!!! I put some Eye ointment on him, from my super duper goat first aid kit I made, and he was good as new.
Scours...Scours is the same as goat diarreah. You can tell anything about a goat by their poop. If they are healthy and happy, they poop little berries. If their poop is anything but berries, something isn't right. So every day, I check their poops. Well about a week ago, I noticed Dante was shooting split pea soup...not good. So I gave him some Probios, which is good bacteria to help digestion in goat tummies. For 3 days I would go down to the barn, and the back of his legs were covered with poop...I literally had to cut the hair on the back of his legs to get it off. That, and LOTS of baby wipes. So, let me tell you WHY he was crapping his little brains out...(Because he doesn't want to talk about it right now.) Dante learned to suck the nipples on Lucy's bucket, and was butting her out of the way and drinking her milk. ANY sudden change in a goat's diet will make them extremely sick. Since then, he has managed to wipe his ass on everyone, so everyone is getting summer haircuts this weekend...
But back to Dante, which brings me to Little Goat Discipline...
He is the naughtiest of all naughty little goats. When I first caught him in Lucy's bucket, I clapped my hands at him and said NO! I think he laughed at me. So I went to the internet, and looked up naughty goats...and what to do. Well, mother goats head butt their children when they do something not acceptable, and I certainly wasn't going to do that!!! (I know some of you thought that's where I was going with this...) Anyway, I read to pull their tail, or ear, or punt them in the chest..(with your hand, NOT like a football...) So I tried that...every time I saw him go to the bucket, I pulled his tail. He turned around and stomped at me with this goofy grin he always has on his face, and I stomped back. Mind you....this goat comes to my knees with the top of his head...And we're stomping at each other like a bunch of two year olds...Then he went back to the bucket. So I got a squirt bottle. And he does NOT like that. Goats do not like to get wet. So the second he would go for the bucket, I would squirt him in the face. Again, he would stomp at me...but then he would walk away. BUT he would watch me for the second I turned my back, and he would be back at the bucket. Goats are extremely smart. So, in the mean time, for the safety of his stomach, Lucy only gets her bucket while I am down there...I let her drink as much as she can, and then remove it. The first time I did it...he stomped at me.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Me and the Queen Bee
A few weeks ago, I noticed a queen was building a paper hive at the entrance to the barn, inside...and I knew I had to take care of it...but I didn't want to spray it, because it was right around the babies...
So I would watch this thing get bigger...watching the queen go in and out...
And then finally, Saturday night when I was leaving the barn, I saw her leave and this motherly instinct took over...With a dozen eggs in one hand, and my 6 ft level in the other, I smashed it against a rafter...(It was about the size of a lemon). For a second I was devastated it smashed, because I wanted to take it to the house to show M...and then the next second, I saw a yellow jacket climb out of the smashed hut....WHEN THE F*$& did she get a roommate?! So the yellow jacket started to fly, and I assumed it was after me...so with my eggs tucked under my arm like a football, I started to run. I ran a circle around the Tahoe before diving into the passenger seat and slamming the door...waiting to see if the bee would be stinging my window...I climbed into the driver's seat and looked around to see if the bee was circling my car...looking for a way in. I even closed the air vents just in case.
I then worried all night that she was going to sting the babies just to get back at me for demolishing her condo...
So I would watch this thing get bigger...watching the queen go in and out...
And then finally, Saturday night when I was leaving the barn, I saw her leave and this motherly instinct took over...With a dozen eggs in one hand, and my 6 ft level in the other, I smashed it against a rafter...(It was about the size of a lemon). For a second I was devastated it smashed, because I wanted to take it to the house to show M...and then the next second, I saw a yellow jacket climb out of the smashed hut....WHEN THE F*$& did she get a roommate?! So the yellow jacket started to fly, and I assumed it was after me...so with my eggs tucked under my arm like a football, I started to run. I ran a circle around the Tahoe before diving into the passenger seat and slamming the door...waiting to see if the bee would be stinging my window...I climbed into the driver's seat and looked around to see if the bee was circling my car...looking for a way in. I even closed the air vents just in case.
I then worried all night that she was going to sting the babies just to get back at me for demolishing her condo...
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