Cutting By Half

We got a call last night that our goat buyer was picking up today.  A little scrambling and we were able to get the goats in the smaller field before dark.  

 Then this morning we went out to round them up and get them to the barn for the big sorting.  

 J went one way,

 and I wen the other and we met back at the barn with the goats.

 Bumble and Bea were there watching over things.  They are amazing dogs.

 The goats were pretty cooperative and didn't offer up too much resistance.  After 15 years I think we have finally figured out how to work with them.

 We sorted out 4 cull nannies including Spray Paint.  She was one of my bottle goats last year.  J didn't want to keep her because he said she was ugly but I was a softy when it came to my bottle babies so we kept her.  I admit now that it was a mistake.  Not only is she ugly, she got mean.  I am convinced that she is a hermaphrodite (producing both male and female hormones).   She had female external parts but in all other respects she looked  and acted like a billy goat.  She had to leave.

 We ended up selling 54 kids, 5 of which went to someone that had bought some of our females a couple of years ago and wanted some more.

 We also scheduled a pick up of a new billy goat at the same time we dropped off the other goats.  A busy day but it all worked out.  The kids averaged 61 pounds at 6-7 months old.  We ended up keeping 38 nannies and 12 replacement females.  A couple were just because they were too small to sell so hopefully we will have around 45-48 to kid in the spring.

And just a tease here, I might have something to say about this one next weekend.

Two More Sales

Friday J and I attended the Hokie Harvest Sale at Virginia Tech.  E is taking the marketing class and was involved with the sale, we were interested in the horses that were selling and there was Block and Bridle barbecue.  Who could say no to all that. 

 The horses were there but the auction was over the internet.  The one we were interested in went for $2550, a little more than we wanted to pay for a yearling.   The range for the 5 was $1300 to $3600.

 E did a good job manning her station.

 J checked out the cattle prior to the sale.

There was a capacity crowd but prices were way off from last year.  All lots together averaged about $2500.   We came home empty handed again.

Then J went to a local Angus sale the next day.  He was very disappointed with the quality that they were selling so strike three.

Long Season

We have had a couple of frosts so far but no hard freeze yet.  

 That means I am still getting tommy toes out of the garden!

These are going to be delicious in my salad for lunch today.

Bad Horse For Sale Pictures #30

I know that some of you have been anxiously awaiting a new bad picture post, so much so that a coworker tagged me in a Facebook post just to show me this one. 

 I've only include about half of the pictures that they had.   I guess they were really wanting to show him off from every angle except one that was useful.

Could you count how many different people posed with him?  Looks like he loads ok.  Another cutie (the horse that is).  Hope he can find an new home.

Scarf Addiction

I guess I should clarify my addiction.  It would be a "25 cent scarf addiction".  I could completely stop buying them if they were more expensive. 

 But who could pass these up for just 25 cents each?

 Several are labeled Pashmina which is a type of cashmere.

 They had just put out a new bunch at the State Surplus store and I scored 5 new ones.

I really like how this one is reversible.  I guess when the container I'm storing them in gets full I should stop.  Otherwise my children are labeling me a hoarder.  I pretty sure there is room for a few more.  Plus, it's a very inexpensive hobby.  Maybe I could just resell a few on Ebay to make room for more.

Cattle Auction And A Few Horses

V and E came to visit and V brought Mike with her so J and I took the lot out for the day to a cattle auction.  

 Cattle prices are waaaay down this year so J was interested to see how these 300 bred heifers would sell.   Last year they averaged $2185.  This year was closer to $1425.  J got a number but never used it.

 We finally got seats halfway through the auction.

 They provided a free chuck wagon lunch which was delicious.

 There was also a quarter horse herd dispersal.  There were weanlings, yearlings, two year olds, brood mares and stallions.  I don't think any of them had been handled much.  The yearlings were pretty big.

I thought I might have been able to handle one of the orphan weanlings but decided I wasn't in love with any of them so we didn't stay for the horse auction.  A pleasant afternoon to visit with people we don't see much and we didn't even spend any money.

Freak Accident

Remember the bridge that we just had repaired?  Looks like it is costing us more than we thought. 

 J went to check the cattle a few days ago and found a calf in the creek.  J thought it's foot was stuck between two rocks and it was laying down with it's head just out of the water.  He got it out and it was too cold to stand.  He came home and got me and we went back with warm electrolytes and towels.  When we got back it was drying off and warming up but still couldn't stand.  After tubing her with the fluids and drying her off more we left for lunch and came back a couple of hours later.   When she still couldn't stand I asked J what the possibility was that it had fallen off the bridge.  Well, it was laying pretty close to the bridge and it was a big enough calf that should have been still standing even if it's foot was stuck.

 My new diagnosis was traumatic spinal cord injury.

 Her left rear leg continues to cross over her right rear leg.  If she tried to walk she knuckles over on both legs then falls down.  Her front end works fine.

 If we get all her legs under her she can stand, just not walk.  I've had her on an anti inflammatory medicine for several days now and she has been sucking from the bottle well but not making very much progress.  We are probably not going to be able to keep working with a 175 pound calf that can't get up on it's own.

And it is a double shame because this was a beautiful first calf heifer she is out of.  I just bought a new bag of milk replacer so we will keep trying for now.

Repurposing

I am trying to be better prepared for the arts and crafts show in my sister's neighborhood this year.  Last year I just sort of threw things together.  It worked out but I thought I could make it more appealing to shoppers this time.  

See that sign in the corner?  I made it to display photos of all the activities our 4-H Horse Club was doing.  Since the girls are out of 4-H and there is no longer even a club, I decided to reuse the framework for Wrangler's art. 

 I removed the cardboard and replaced it with clothes line.  That way I can arrange multiple paintings of different sizes.  I can also display paintings on both sides to attract customers coming from either direction.  I can also hang my barb wire wreaths, wooden stars  and horse shoe jewelry holders.

 Oh look!  I have my first customer.

Kit Kat will take any opportunity to be the star.

The Autumn of Brother

Looks like the Summer of Brother has continued on into the Autumn of Brother.  

 Sunday, J and I took off trail riding on Horse Heaven.

 The weather couldn't have been better.

 And the leaves were just starting towards spectacular.

 Brother out did himself on behaving this time.  I don't think he even thought about flinching at anything.

Glad me and Otoelene can be along for the ride on Brother's second epic season.

This One's For E

With E off at college, Pep hasn't been getting much attention lately.  E asked me yesterday if I could at least look at her to make sure she was ok.  Well, of course I have been looking at her and she is ok.

 But today I went ahead and caught her, cleaned her up and went for a little ride.  Her mane really grew out this year without having to cut it for western pleasure.  She looks like a little reining horse now.

I rode her in the barn and outside.  She even got a little frisky outside to the point I had to hold her back.

And E, here is a little video to prove I rode her and she isn't even lame.  The last time E tried to ride her I think she was favoring 3 out of 4 feet.