8 total, still waiting on 1 or 2 (or 3)

Molly gave us 2 today, and I think both are boys. The little one in the front in the last photo is also a boy, from Sharon, yesterday. I will do a better job of figuring this all out when we take them for disbudding this week. And they will get their first shots as well.

For now, my best guess is 4 boys and 4 girls. I am holding out hope that the "red" one in the back is a girl so we can name her Red Betty, for Elizabeth, the biggest long distance fan of our baby goats!

An update on the little kid with the bloody head: we had a visit from Dr Pam earlier this week. I was worried that she was wrapped a little too tight around her throat, but Pam said she was fine. And she was. About an hour after we checked on her I went out and the bandage was on the floor. I guess it wasn't too tight after all.

Winter is not done

This post is for all of my New Jersey friends and family who have been complaining about not getting any snow this year. We have plenty and still more on the way. Feel free to come up for a visit!

I will even let you kiss and hug the baby goats while you're here.

They are all doing well in spite of the snow. The adults don't mind it at all, the little ones tend to hide in the barns. The first 2 eked out a space under the hay manger. You wouldn't even know they were in there if I didn't tell you.

New kid in the night

A fifth new one in the middle of the night. Pretty sure she came from Lizzie, but also pretty sure Lizzie is not being the best mom. Little girl was too shy for her debut photo. Kept showing me her poopy little butt. She was outside most of today calling for mom. This is Rachel, one of the newbies from last year, consoling her. We might have to put her in the milking room with mom until they figure it out.

I am thankful that a vet friend of ours, Dr Pam, is coming by tomorrow morning (to return my chicken book after a trip to Honduras where she helped set up a chicken farm). She can help me figure out what to do about the first little one with the bandage on her head, and maybe help me figure out what is going on with this one.

Bella gives us 2 more

February is all about the goats. I think we might see a few more before March kicks in. Bella had these 2 little cuties this morning. A quick check says they are both girls, but they are still a bit messy so I am not sure.

Coming back down the driveway I see all of my chickens under (and in) the fir tree. Usually there are a few at a time out there, but today I think they are all hanging out together. Little Roo is still behaving (in the background). Big Roo standing watch in the front.

Goaties and the water test

We took the first 2 goat kids today to be disbudded. That means something horrible, but necessary, getting their little horn buds burned off. In our almost 8 years of having goats there has never been a problem—until today when there was some bleeding on one of them. Too much. She now has her cute little head wrapped in gauze and we are hoping she will be just fine. I will spare you the ugly pictures I sent to June, our goat lady friend, when I was scared it wouldn't stop. Little girl was much better after we got back home and cleaned her up a bit.

I had taken the water samples in the creek before we left with the goats. Thanks to much warmer temperatures, there were no frozen fingers this time.

Did my science project bit in the kitchen after we got back. I still don't have the quality control results from last month to see if we are doing this right. Have to assume I am the perfect geek.

Winter light

We don't get the pretty sunsets like we do in the summer, but the setting sun on the snow makes for some beautiful winter light.

Only 2 goat kids so far. They were lucky enough to be born the day after the temps were in single digits. They had a few short days to warm up, and then we're back to frigid again. At least we are supposed to warm up this weekend, just in time for another water sampling in the creek...if it melts enough that we can get back there safely.

I hope it stays warm enough to melt the big ice slick that goes the whole length of the driveway. I have been neglecting my dog-walking duties because of it. I can put grippers on my shoes, but the dogs are still slipping and sliding their way to the road. Off the driveway, it is still too difficult to walk in the deep snow with an icy crust on top.

We are all happy for the big fence in the back. The boys have enough paths worn through so that at least they can get some exercise out there. Old Woody and his old mom still prefer the living room with the wood stove all fired up, but young Cyrus enjoys the snow and the cold. When he isn't making snow dog angels, he just lies down. Even in single-digit weather he will lay out there as long as I let him.

The rest of us are ready for spring.

Turkeys, cat, dogs, goats

I thought I got a full count in the turkey parade on Sunday, but a larger parade today makes me think I missed a few. I was sitting at the computer with a purring Monkey, when Cyrus loudly pointed out that today's parade had begun, again just outside the living room windows. Purring Monkey turned into Piercing Monkey fleeing my lap and leaving his mark(s). This time I counted more than 30 turkeys fleeing the unseen barking monsters in the house.

The boys had a good run in the fenced yard hoping that a big bird might have been left behind. There is still quite a bit of snow out there making for a difficult run, so they got a good workout.

Peace has now returned to the living room, dogs sleeping again, cat back in my lap. These photos were taken on Sunday just minutes after the crazy dogs photo that I posted. They always look so innocent after being so monstrous!

The two little goats are doing well.

So many distractions!

Just one little chair, that was all I was trying to do, finish one little chair... It took about a week, 3 or 4 hours a day, and I was just getting near the end yesterday when the boys lost patience with me. So we got them out for a much-needed walk and I started again this morning, caning the rocking chair.

By noon, I was very close to finishing. Then a turkey parade passes by the living room windows, 24 of them that the boys need to bark at. Then we all settle down again and I am weaving the last 2 canes when Husband comes in to say that one of our goats, Susan, has given birth.

So I go out to take pics of the new kid, now there are 2 kids, and I see the eagle in the tree behind the house.

So much fun. At least the chair is done!!!

In defense of the tree hugger

It was a battle in Palmyra just to save this very old oak tree when they redesigned Legion Field.

I just read an article in the NY Times about the World Economic Forum’s One Trillion Trees initiative. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/10/opinion/trillion-trees-trump-climate.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article

I have been a tree hugger since childhood when my dad planted oak and maple trees around the edge of our little suburban NJ property. We also helped dad cut down a willow tree that was sending roots into our sewer pipes, so I was aware of "problem trees" as well.

Jump ahead to my working with the Palmyra (NJ) Shade Tree Committee in 1999. I wrote a grant proposal that won about $18,000 for planting trees in town, mostly on the Borough-owned strip between the sidewalk and the street. I was a bit naive (only a bit) about how the rest of the world did not necessarily think trees were a good thing, but I was truly unprepared for the angry responses from those who most definitely DID NOT WANT a tree in front of their house...even if it was a Borough tree planted on Borough property.

In 2001, I was elected to Borough Council and continued my tree-hugging agenda. Working with some dedicated Shade Tree Committee members, we officially changed the Tree Committee to a Tree Commission, worked to create a Community Forestry Management Program for Palmyra, and all of that qualified us to be an official Tree City USA.

About a year after I left office in 2004, the Mayor and Borough Council undid all of our accomplishments. I am sure they had reasons that made sense to all of them, but I just don't get it. And yes, I am still bitter.

All this to say it will do no good to plant a trillion trees around the world until you educate the tree haters of the world about the benefits of trees. If a trillion trees were planted today, even if they did survive, it would take several decades for them to have a positive environmental impact. But they will not survive unless every human can learn to hug a tree, every tree.

Arbor Day is coming soon. Get ready to start hugging and planting.

Snow, rain, ice, crazy snow

We had a few inches of snow left on the ground. Then lots of rain yesterday and more this morning. Frozen icy slick on top of the half-melted snow. Then about 9 am, the rain changed to snow. And now, at 11:30 am, crazy snow with wind.

I decided it was in everyone's best interests that I stay home rather than go into work (where Tara took the cool slo-mo video). Tim is coming home soon as well. They are pretty good at clearing the roads quickly up here, but the snow is coming down fast.

So instead of work, I am re-caning the second rocking chair for the front porch. I finished the first one 2? years ago, and finally got around to starting the second one yesterday. Getting started is the hardest part. Once I get into the rhythm of it, it is easy, though still time-consuming.

Look at that...it is even snowing on the covered back porch.