New Kid In Town

J took off with the stock trailer to the goat farmer that we've gotten some billy goats from in the past. 

 He picked out a 3/4 Kiko buck that was born in December.

 Emma, the resident greeter, had to check him out thoroughly.

He has a very cute face. 

We'll keep him up in the barn for a couple of weeks until we're ready for him to get with the nannies.  J's aiming for mid April for the kidding to start so hopefully, the snow will be over by then.

Good Fences #32

I never get tired of the view in front of my house as long as there is a horse in it. 

And Hank is one special horse. 

For more Good Fences click HERE.

Trail Cam #4

J is really enjoying his new hobby of trail cam picture taking.  He set it up is another location to see what he would get on top of the ridge under the oak trees. 

 This was the first raccoon sighting with the trail cam.

 He got a picture of another nice buck,

 and doe.

And this one was interesting with both the deer and raccoon.  E's friend that wants to hunt here called to ask specifically where J had set up the trail cam.  I believe he is interested in spotting that buck.

Arabian National's Results

E left for Tulsa Tuesday and made it back home safely Sunday.  She had a very successful and memorable trip.

The Princesses

Just look at all of the ribbons these talented girls won.

The team was High Team Overall.  They brought home some very nice Montana Silversmith trophy belt buckles.

They were also high team in performance, second in reasons and second in halter.  E was 9th over all, 9th in performance, and 8th in reasons.  She won some cool prizes that she promised I could take her picture with later but I know some of you were anxious for the results.  More to follow.

Continuing Education

I'm spending a beautiful weekend stuck inside but listening to so very interesting lectures.  This is what I'm getting to look at right before lunch.  Yum.

On a more unusual note, yesterday at the provided lunch I sat at a table with 3 other vets.  One asked me where I worked, the name of the clinic and the location.  I thought this was being pretty specific for casual conversation until she said she thought she recognized me.  Apparently, several years ago, she was moving from Delaware to Texas with her 15 year old dog when his breathing condition worsed while passing through southwest Virginia.  She stopped at our clinic for treatment.  What a small world that now several years later, she sat at my table at a CE meeting in North Carolina.  And even more unsual that even though I didn't recognize her, I did at least remember the case.  Vets don't often have to go to the vet. 

Good Fences #31 and Just Kit Sunday #68

 I've had these pictures for a month now and I have been torn as to whether to use them for Good Fences or Just Kit Sunday.  Well, since I will be at a CE meeting this weekend I thought I would do Just Kit Sunday early and use the pictures for both.  Enjoy.

For more Good Fences click HERE.

Counting

We are going to be selling our baby goats soon so J asked me to go count them so we could tell the order buyer how many to expect.  I thought this would be a great opportunity to take Hank our for a little ride.  

 Some of the goats were in the old hay field.

 Some were in the woods.

 Some were on the backside of the first hill. And yes, those are some more way down in the bottom.  They were literally spread out from one end of the farm to the other.   Needless to say, I didn't get them counted.

 But I did enjoy a very nice ride.

 And got some pictures of some cool clouds.

By the evening all the goats were together and J went out and counted.  110 total, more or less (that includes  the 42 nannies).

4-H Fall Ride

I had had a very good 4-H meeting a couple of weeks ago with 7 kids.  Three of my regulars couldn't come.  I have decided instead of an event at each meeting we would just have meetings and plan 3-4 events for the year.  There was a lot of interest in a fall trail ride, so that is what we planned with the 7 that were at the meeting.

 Well, only the 3 regulars that couldn't make the planning meeting showed up for the trail ride.

 We had 6 adults and 3 kids.  That's a pretty good ratio.   What on earth are all of the kids doing?  E didn't go because first, she doesn't like trail riding for some unexplainable reason and second, she will be missing 4 days of school next week traveling with the State 4-H Horse Judging Team to Arabian Nationals in Oklahoma!  She felt she needed to make sure she was as caught up as possible in all of her classes.

 Everyone else missed a beautiful day for a ride.

 These were some trails I hadn't been on before.  The footing was very good, not near as rocky as a lot of places we ride.  And there were no long climbs or real step terrain.

 Brother was a little uppity at the beginning but did fine as soon as we got off the linear parkway past all of the houses with pigs, chickens, dogs and whatnot going on.   And Jessica did good for J except for the spook at a round bale, like she has never seen one of those before.  I thought the corn field would be more of a bother but they didn't give it a second look.

 Two other adults were both riding 2 year olds and they did great.  I was glad to see 2 of the 4-Hers showed up with their helmets.  

The old train trestle is always a little scary for me but the horses handled it fine.  At least we didn't have to cross the really long one that goes across the river.   Everyone had a good time and got back in one piece so another successful ride.

Just Kit Sunday #67

We have never gotten our shed at the red barn repaired since the wind damaged it last year.  The hay wagon is stored out there and it was starting to get in the weather some where the roof has blown off.  So J decided to pull it out and move it to a shed at the farm up the road.

 After some tire pumping we pulled it to the house where I could sweep the goat poop off.  The baby goats love to jump up on it and play (and poop).   Kit decided to check things out while it was in the yard.

This is a wagon I helped my grandfather rebuild the bed on.  I loaded many a hay bale on it back in the day.  Since we don't bale our own hay anymore we really don't have much use for it.  But it will stay dry until we might need it for something else.

First Jar Of Honey

J called our bee man to have him come out and take the honey off for us.  The bee man was surprised J had not done it himself since he took the bee keeping class.  J's excuse was he doesn't have a bee suit.  (Guess what someone might be getting for his Birthday)

 The bee man thought it might be a little late for the honey.  He had gone to someone else's hive and said the bees had already eaten it all.  Last year he didn't come until October 29th so I really don't know what the difference is.

 Anyway, ours had honey.

 He took the frames out one by one and brushed the bees off.

 Then he placed them in a different super for transport.  This time the transport was into my house.  He let us use his filtration bucket so I have to do it myself.

 The super is very heavy when it's full of honey.

 His bucket has a series of 2 filters then a spigot to get the honey out.

 First I had to cut the honey out of the frames.

 Then E helped by breaking up the comb to allow the honey to drain out.

 The filter filled up and I still have 3 frames left.  I guess I will let it drain down some then add the rest.  The bee man said 2 frames were darker honey and he didn't recommend mixing it with the rest because it would make it all dark.  He said it didn't taste different but some people don't want dark honey.  So I think I will let this drain down, pull out the light honey then do the darker ones on top so it will be separate.

Here's the first jar.  Yum.

Good Fences #30

We moved the cattle again on Monday during a break in the torrential rains we've been having. 

 At some time someone picked up a broken hay rake tine and stuck in the fence.

 Once last mouth full before heading to new territory.

 J usually just has to call and the cattle come running.  They are very well trained to their rotation.

 Uh oh, last one through the gate.

Now down the hill and across the river to that field for a few days.
For more Good Fences click HERE.

Trail Cam #3

J got a little better variety of wildlife this time on his trail cam.

 Our first little critter was a squirrel.

 J got a beautiful picture of some turkeys.

 They did a little sprucing up.

 And then one took a selfie.

 At 3:44 one morning a spike buck walked by.

And then another squirrel.  I'm still waiting on a picture of a bear.  I've been told one crosses the road at our farm but I've never seen it yet.