Happy Halloween

On our way to get the billy goats last week we pasted by this great display.  

 Luckily, I had my camera with me.  So one the way back I told J to slow down so I could get a picture.

Isn't is amazing.  I just love the full size horse skeleton.

Farmercising

I had my first visitors for the Farm Spa (thanks for that term A).

 M and V came to help do some farm work/yard work.

 V said it was much better for her back to do some physical work instead of sitting at a desk all day.

 J and I had already spread one load of mulch, but with such willing help, I got two more loads spread.

 M coined the term "Farmercising"  to describe the great workout you get from farm work.

Since M and J worked on it while me and V went to get the second load of mulch, I didn't get any pictures of M cutting and splitting wood.  I think that was maybe more of a workout than the mulch.  Anyway, we were able to get our stove started and now we have some real heat in the house.  J tried to start the stove a few days ago, but the blower didn't work.  The stove guy came out Saturday and replaced it along with fixing a leak. With the temperature not making it out of the 30's today, the heat is nice.   Hopefully, we are good for the winter.

Just Kit Sunday #124

I didn't realize it had been so long since I shared Kit Kat with everyone.  

Looks like he is getting ready for his next hunt.

Great Goat Day

Today was the day for the Great Goat Roundup. 

 We started at the crack of dawn.

 J as usual had done all the prep work yesterday and had all of the goats in the field behind the barn.

 This is what a 130 head goat herd drive looks like.

 Everyone was very cooperative.  Our new permanent fence lane makes things so much easier.

 They all went right into the barn lot,

 and on into the barn.

 We sorted out some nannies in the big part of the barn, then kept moving them to progressively smaller rooms.  This made catching and sorting easier.  When they are crowded, they can't run away from you.

 They also loaded on the trailer with no drama.  I think we might be getting this goat thing down pat.

 While J was hauling them to the market to get weighed, I took the opportunity while we still had the ones we were keeping up, to do a little herd maintenance.  I think this nanny missed out on getting her feet trimmed last spring.  This was before,

 And this was after.  I caught her, put a halter on and tied her up.  Then I just lifted her feet like a horse and trimmed them.  Those foot trimmers are from when my sister had sheep back in the late 70's.

After J got back from hauling the goats, we went to the farm where we got the puppies and picked out 2 billy goats.  The farm couple are in their 80's and still raise Great Pyrenees dogs, and Kiko goats.  The white one is a pure bred kiko, and the brown/black one is 1/2 kiko, 1/2 spanish meat goat.  We decided on two this year because we are upping our herd from 50 last year to 64 this year.  We culled 6 nannies, kept 20 female weanlings that should be suitable to breed, plus Tiny.  We ended up selling 59 kids that averaged 57 pounds.  Now we can start working for next year.

Water Gaps, Again

With 3 inches of rain falling yesterday, it was not a surprise that 3 water gaps washed out.

 And since this is where the cattle are now, it was imperative that they get put back quickly.

It doesn't matter how much grass is on there side of the fence, some cattle just go around looking for an excuse to cause trouble.  

 It looks like this clump of debris is what took out this gap.

 J tied a longer piece of wire to what was left,

and headed on across the creek.  

 One down, two to go, but the others can wait until the water goes down a little more.  This was the critical one for today.

Nature Confusion

I guess I could have titled this, In Bloom at the 4R''s. 

Because this day lily is really confused.  The rest of them finished blooming in June.  It's nice to be able to enjoy a little surprise every now and then.  

 It is also time to start working on mulch.  This is a monumental job for my yard.  Next to the house I use pine needles.  It would be nice to just go out and buy a bale of needles but that is just not in my nature when there are free ones to be had.  Unfortunately, the free ones are on the steepest parts of the farm.   And pine needles are really slick.  It is a work out carrying a bucket of needles up the hill to the 4-wheeler then heading back down for more.  I often think about how useless it is for people to work out in gyms.  There is so much work to do here.  Maybe I could find a way for people to pay me to come workout.

Anyway, it always looks nice afterwards.  I have gotten one truck load of regular mulch that J helped me spread, but it looks like I might be needing at least one or maybe two more.  Maybe next weekend we can finish that job up.

Four Random Things

I saw this plant stand on Pinterest and thought it had a nice mid-century vibe.  

 E has lots of plants in her apartment so I thought she might could use a interesting plant stand to spruce things up a bit.  I went to the shop and put one together with some scrap wood.

 She must have liked it because she went ahead and painted it when she was home a couple of weeks ago.

I think it looks pretty nice in her room.

 I love balloons as much as anyone, maybe more than most.  But what I don't like is when people release balloons for various occasions.   Where do you think they end up?

 This one didn't make it to Raymond and Jaunita forever in heaven.  It only made it to one of our pasture fields.  J has pick up several of these over the years, very annoying.

 I have been noticing that the squirrels around here don't seem to be all that skittish.  When I was catching my horse yesterday, this one just about let me touch it.   Granted, it may have been pretty focused on that hickory nut.

 Then lastly, we have some roof repairs.  The old barn is constantly leaking.  J managed to scavenge some old tin from somewhere to try to repair it again.

 Then, more importantly, we had a leak in the garage around the flue.  Hopefully, a bunch of caulk around the flashing will help.

Shopping Haul

As anyone who knows me knows, I don't buy clothes very often.  Let alone new clothes.  But a local clothing factory is going out of business so I thought I would see what they had.  A hour later I came out with a lined jacket, 2 pairs of pants (one is missing from the picture because I am wearing them, they are so comfortable), a lined skirt, 2 men's shirts and 2 long sleeved tee shirts.  All for.........

 $12!  Unbelievable!

 And retail prices were pretty high.   All total $392 retail.

 The only problem was that there were no dressing rooms.  I asked about trying things on and was told even though there were signs saying not to, I could go into the small toilet area.  They were like Sargent Schultz, "I see nothing."  So even though I could try things on there was no mirror so pretty much guess work.  I guess I guessed ok, because stuff looked fine when I got home with it.  Now I think I need to make another trip before it closes.

More Fires and Goat Observation

J mentioned that he didn't like all of the fallen branches on a road we have through a section of woods.  He doesn't like driving the 4 wheeler over them and having them pop up.  So yesterday afternoon I said that I would go pile up some branches.  

 J expanded on the idea and suggested we go ahead and burn them as we went.  We made a total of 3 fires to deal with all of the limbs along this section of road.

 The cows were still in this field.  They were curious but didn't get too close.   J is happier with his newly cleared road now.

On the way back to the house I noticed this nanny with her baby, who is nearly as big as she is.  J said maybe we should have a hundred goats if they can wean their own weight.  I'd like to see a cow do that.

Heifer Trouble

The fall cows are about done calving but there were two heifers left to calve that J has been watching closely.  Sunday morning he was greeted by this heifer presenting two feet and a nose but no longer trying to push.  She was calm enough that J just put the chains on in the field and pulled, but then it got hip locked.  He had to go back to the truck and get the calf jack to finish pulling the calf.  Amazingly, the heifer let him do this all out in the open. 

Then, Sunday afternoon, we went back to make sure the calf was up and nursing.

Which it wasn't.

So we mixed up the powdered colostrum to see if it would nurse.

Which it didn't.  Next up was me tubing it with the esophageal feeder.  J has never liked using that so it has stayed my job.  It is starting to nurse on its own now so hopefully out of the woods on this one.

In Bloom at the 4R's

This time of year and with the drought, there isn't much going on in the was of flowers.  

 But my zinnia's have been out doing themselves.  I have planted them here for several years now and they seem very happy.

 It also makes me happy every time I come and go because they are right by the garage door.  I just love the pinks and reds and oranges together.

And my hydrangea continues to bloom.   J said we had a frost last week but it must have not been too bad because this is the most tender plant.  Any hint of frost and it usually dies right then.  Looks like we will get to enjoy it for a while longer yet.