Easter

Introducing "Easter" with her mama "Queenie".

This little one was born on, you guessed it, Easter Sunday.  Also, if you look straight down onto the back of her head, she has a cross shape in the dark colouring of her hair.  She also has a black ring around her tail and a random black spot on her back.  (I like to think of it as the empty tomb and stone rolled away.  Definitely an Easter goat!)

Wind and rain

What a wind storm last night!

I almost expected to see the barn half blown away when the sun came up this morning.  But, thankful everything is intact as it should be.

Nathan did not enjoy the sound of the rain battering outside his room, so we were up too long in the night.  Poor little guy!

One good thing is that we now know what trees and bushes and other things we need to trim or tighten down before the winter storms arrive.

So much rain fell in the last day that the creek is now more small pond-ish.  And the fencing project for the weekend may be postponed since it's too wet out there.  On the other hand, maybe this crazy wind will dry everything up!

Perhaps we should have named the farm "Muddle Puddle Ranch"?

Brrr!

Brrr!
It's cold out there!
I'm so thankful for a warm house that has stood through many stormy, windy and cold days.

Goat Chores

Al wasn't feeling well today, so I went out to check on the goats.

I entered the field and suddenly there were 30 pairs of eyes staring at me.  "What's she doing in here?  Is she allowed to come in here?"

Most of them stayed away from me, but one came up within a foot of my knees, tilted her head up and stared into my eyes.  She was a friendly one and seemed to smile, then seemed a little sad when I walked away to break up a fight.

Can you imagine fighting over a strand of hay?  Well, it apparently happens even though there was more than enough for every goat for the next week in their field.  Silly goats.

In the barn, the remaining goats "meh" 'd their greetings and the boy goats just ignored my presence ... well until I refilled their water.  I turned on the hose and all of a sudden the bucket was mobbed by 10 thirsty goats.  The boys muscled their way in to get a drink first.  Apparently having long horns has advantages.

I talked to the girls for a bit and hand fed a few friendly ones.  Then I topped of the water and locked up for the day. 

Barn cat was having his dinner and since he doesn't trust me yet, I made sure I left him alone.

Fencing Extravaganza - Reprise (Day 2)

Since yesterday didn't go quite as planned and the fence posts didn't get upright, today was a workday at the farm.

Al and Mark worked hard this morning to get the post pounder working properly and the first run of post in.  David arrived just before lunch and helped them out with the last few posts before lunch break.

David patched up the sheet metal on the goat barn that had loosened in the last windstorm, then took over for Mark with post pounding.

By nightfall (which happens way too early these days, by the way!), the guys had 3/4 of the perimeter finished. 

It was a pretty windy and sometimes stormy day.  But God blessed us with a beautiful painted sky tonight!

 

 

Big thanks today to Mark and David for all their hard work.  We hope you aren't sore tomorrow!

Fencing Extravaganza - Reprise

Since last weeks fencing adventure was so fun, we decided to continue today!  Well, we really need to get the fence up since the goats and winter will be here soon.

Al arranged to rent a tractor for the weekend.  But while we waited for it to arrive, the crew started clearing around the old running sheds and readying them for repair.  They also loaded up the back of the truck and delivered fence posts into the field.

Once the tractor arrived, they discovered that the fence post pounder did not fit this tractor either, so off the guys went to TSC to get the needed parts.  The girls continued to deliver the fence posts until it got too dark.

The work day ended with finally getting the fence pounder attached to the tractor.  Unfortunately, this had to be done in the dark.  But at least it's ready to pound some posts into the ground!

Special thanks today to Mark, Liz and Ruth.  And to Anna who kept me smiling and helped me with the boys so I could get supper ready!

You know you live in the country when ...

You know you live in the country when ... 
the used farm equipment store lets you borrow a tractor and then delivers it - without even checking if they have the right house or asking anyone to sign for it's delivery.