Update

I haven't been here in sooo long. I'm sorry. I will try to update a little more often. Let's just say a lot of snow. A few goat deaths. Some possum killings and a lot of snow.

I  promise to work on this.

It's a BOY!

Lilly delivered a bouncing baby boy today! She had him all cleaned up, nursing and bouncing around by the time we got home. Chris figures sometime around 2 p.m. was the event as that is when he heard strange noises from the pasture. Didn't phase him much because they are always making some sort of commotion. He is adorable of course and has some really cool markings on his face. A bit larger than the prior kids with a very thick compact body. Pictures to follow soon.

We're running out of room so somebody is inevitably going to be sold soon. Lucky has a local vet that is very interested in having him as a farm pet. He'll be perfect as I've spoiled him to death and he loves the attention. The twins will be of age to sell in a couple of months. Just have to wait and see what happens.

Passing, eggs & activity

It's been a month and a lot has happened on the farm...

First and foremost we lost our precious Velvet. I came home to find her huddled in a corner and so bloated you could have poked her with a pin and she would have popped. What she got is actually called "bloat". It is common in ruminants as they require the ability to allow the excess gas to escape and usually they are great at burping and passing it but in some cases they get into either excess amounts of grain or lush grass and this can occur. The large animal portion of Vet Med attempted to relieve the gas by normal means but this did not help. Shortly after us leaving her in their care she went down hill and surgery was her only option. They pulled over 10 lbs of grass and grain from her rumin. She came through the surgery fine but then stopped breathing and they couldn't bring her back. We had taken Lucky, her kid, over to be with her but he never got to see her. When I went to pick him up the next morning he was hoarse from crying for her. It took almost a week for his voice to come back. It was a very sad day on the farm...at least for everyone except maybe Mike as he doesn't get attached to anything. They are all my babies and I do get attached.

Onto happier items of news...we have some layers finally. Brown eggs are finally on the menu. I know we have 3 of our 7 hens laying. We are getting a consistent 3 eggs a day now. Once they all get into the groove we'll have more eggs than we will know what to do with.

Garden is planted...corn, green beans, carrots, watermelon, cantelope and pumpkins are in the big garden with room for the squash once the fence is up. Otherwise the goats will just eat it before it has a chance. In my flower garden which has corners of completed areas I've added a spot for the tomatoes, banana peppers, chili peppers and golden bell peppers. I figured to keep them closer since once those start growing it will be a daily task to harvest. Hopefully this years attempt will get us something instead of go to weeds like last year. We were much more organized.

I don't think I've missed anything new except to report that all kids are doing fine. I enjoy going in every night and getting my nibbles and hugs from all.

Kids R Us

Twins have arrived...Brownie is a great mom too! A girl and a boy. Maybe Stormy and Windy since I think the storm scared these kids out of her. :) Our boy has a bit of an issue with standing up right but Rachel is taking care of him to help get that straightened out. I've said this before and I'm sure to say it many more times...we are blessed to have her around.

Vet Med Training

One of the University of Illinois' vet med classes stopped by the farm tonite. They were there to see a chiropratic demostration and some benefits of acupuncture on large animals. 

I have to admit that I never knew the animals (any kind) needed chiropractic care but then I have never been to a chiropractor before either. I guess I fall into that "they're not real doctors" group. I listened intently and she (the vet) was very well informed, personable and truly a delight to listen to. 

With just a few pokes, rubs and prods Hobbitt (the horse) could move his head farther to the right than he ever could before. Rachel will testify to this. 

Anyway, here are some photos from the demonstration.

Video might be available later after I get it cleared. And find my transfer cable - Sony has to be different in cable connections.

5:30 feeding

Hopefully only one more feeding this afternoon that I need to do and Velvet will totally take over. She is doing much better this morning with her mothering duties. While I was feeding Lucky the colostrum we initially milked from her, she was right there making sure all things were going well. After I got done, he nursed like he was supposed to and she seemed to be ok with it. I think the initial stress of it all and Saint being there made things a bit bumpy. This is Valentino's first...at least now we know he is capable of getting the job done. Now to watch Brownie more closely as we think she is due soon too.

Name that goat...

We have a new goat. 

unexpected.

boy.

about 3 hours old in this picture taken at 7:30pm.

Our first kid was a female named Lightning and first impressions or to name this one Thunder. They have different parents but for the first two born on th e farm... Maybe?

Things are getting done...

The chicken coop is done and occupied! Yippee!! The house no longer smells like chickens and the noise level has reduced dramatically too. I helped a little on the coop when the weather was tolerable, but Michael had the vision and perseverance. The chickens actually started venturing out of their little hatch last week. I think they are finally feeling at home since he put up the fence around it to keep the dog out. He thought it was a giant dog house with friends inside. HAHA!

Speaking of the dog..he got beautified yesterday! He is so clean, looks great and you can tell he knows it! It was funny though that when Mike found out I was taking him there, he thought it was ridiculous, but when we went to pick him up he wasn't about to let me hold the leash as he wanted full credit for the wonderful dog! Typical man! Here are pictures of our clean white ball of fluff!

I also thought everyone would like an updated baby picture of Lightening! She is filling out quite nicely and thrives on the attention of all. She likes getting her lovins in the evening, or just about any time you're around. Mama is to her left and Lilly is never far behind.

various pix from my camera

  1984 Illini and Lou

 Being an angel for a time

 The boyscout

 I needed a hug

 Game time during Super Bowl

 Deep Super Bowl conversationalists

 Meeting the new girl

 Birthday boy

 Saint's new hair color

Bookcase

I spent 4 hours in the cold, cold, cold man-cave cutting up a whole bunch of oak. I now have almost 50 pieces of oak all scattered about. Now I got to figure out how they all get together to look like a bookcase and not just a bunch of boards. Hopefully, I can get the building process started this week. 

On another note, the chicken coop is closed in except for the doors and I few cracks that need sealed.  I hope to get it sealed this week and the chickens out there this weekend. Have to run power out there for the brooderlamp and hwated water jug. Damn weather just to cold for water.

Get that done and then I have to keep working on the attic room. It is actually looking pretty good. Still a long way to go. I am putting up cheap tongue in groove pine boards (the real thin ones you buy in 14 square foot packages). It looks really good but it a bitch to install. Some of the pieces are curved, some have the grooves or tongues messed up. But the idea was to keep costs done and that was how I chose to do it. Afterall, I think Ally has gone through 6 or 7 quarts of stain so far at $10 a quart. Hell, that;s $4o a gallon. i've never paid more than $25/gallon for paint. 

Hear that sucking noise - so do I!!!

Promised pictures

Here is the newest member of my extended family. Early consensus has her named Lightning - for how fast she was born. Mama has been good to her. She is about 4 hours old in pictures. We put a little doggie sweater on her. I figure she is about 2 pounds in picture.

Only one kid but cute as can be!

I call her wee one, Mike wants to call her Justina afer a guy at work that has been asking daily if the kids have arrived. Our horse boarder that was instrumental in her arrival wants to call her lightening because she came fast and furious. About 3:20 p.m. is the time of delivery. By 7ish that evening we decided there wouldn't be a second. Evidently this happens and we shouldn't be worried about it.

Pictures will be posted soon. She is adorable!

Pictures to enjoy...

Master Saing...what a beast! He isn't done growing yet! You can tell by the picture of him and Chris wrestling just how big he is. Mike thought the ceiling was going to come down on him when they were doing this. tee-hee!

Valenino...the stud!

Valentino, Lilly, Velvet and Brownie

The coop...got the black paper on yesterday with all that cold and wind...almost inhabitable.

Mama....she still hasn't dropped the twins. We're patiently waiting.

Here's our barn kittens...Grey is our gal and black is our guy. We're sure to have others with these love birds.

Time passes...

Well I figured I'd take a bit to put a little update in here on what's happened on the farm the past couple of months. Mike has been trying to get the coop done in between wind, rain, sleet and snow. Currently Saint thinks it is a great big dog house. He wouldn't even come out of there this morning when I called him to come back in the house. Just peaked around the corner at me. All that's left is getting the black paper and shingles on the roof, a door and some interior beautification and heat. We need to get the chickens out there because they are out growing their current quarters and starting to kill eachother off.

Projects in the house have been at a stand still for quite some time. I think we just need to regroup and use our time more wisely with good weather for outside projects and bad weather for inside projects. Spring will come at us quicker than we think which will be good for getting a lot more done.

Mama is still making us wait on the twins. She should deliver any day. Signs that I've read about having completely happened yet so I suspect it will be a few more days at least. I'm sure we'll have pictures to post once they arrive. Maybe she is just waiting on us to be completely ready for this event.

Hobbitt, our boarded horse and Rachel have turned out to be great to have around. She helps in the barn, turns out the goats in the morning and locks them down at night if we haven't. We help her too when she needs to go home or to a vet activity. Chris and Hobbitt are good pals now. Mike has had his chance too to take care of him while we were in Florida. Hobbitt knows when a newby is around. Isn't that right honey? Hobbitt didn't want to come in one night...gave him the business for a while.

The kittens are growing fast and appear to be doing their job because I really haven't seen many actually any mice around since a few days after they arrived. Either they are scaring them away or getting full bellies. Saint loves chasing them around the barn. They know how to stay just enough out of his reach to make him nuts.

I'm still having sad moments on a regular basis from missing my Bogie. I'm sure someday it will be easier to handle when I'm thinking about him.

Minimal decorating occured this year for Christmas. Hopefully next year we will be more organized and I can get the place really lit up and ready for friends to come over and enjoy the holiday with us.

Happy New Year everyone and thank you so much for your friendship!

Catch up or is it just time?

I haven't wrote since the end of October.

Why?

Too busy!! Nothing happening? Lazy!!

Probably lazy. Lackadaisical! Most likely.

Well, here I am. Today was a good day. Spent some time with my girlfriend.
Not sure she really want to traipse around town with me, but she did. I forgot all about going to VG to fix a pc for my friend's mom. Girlfriend just said drop me off and go. That was good. Though she would have been welcome.

Anyway. Been working a lot lately at the farm. Cleaning alot. Trying to decide what to throw away. Building.

Building!!!! Spending lots of money more like it. Building a chicken coop. Post and beam style. It will look good. And be good. Need to find a way to keep it 20 degrees or more in winter. That will be the hard part.

Got a vet med student boarding her horse at the farm. Works out well. When we leave for trips and stuff, I got someone to take care of the goats, chickens and dog. It is a wonderful trade off. Hell, today she rake all the hay and goat shit up. more than we would of done.

Back to VG. Fixed momma san's computer and drank her beer. Talked and had a good time. Then spent a lot of time with good friends.

I haven't spent that kind of time and talked to them in a long, long time. I feel really good about it. We talked about current events an we talked about the past. We talked about the future. Mainly we just shot the shit with each other knowing that whatever was said would be taken seriously but calmly. To coin a phrase from the past - "It's all good!".

And so it was. Hopefully some of what we mentioned will come to pass. That mainly is dictated by our resolve. Mine I know has been sorely lacking lately.

As some may now, my son is leaving to join the Army in July of 2009. I am proud of him for that. The Armed Services are a good thing. Yes, I would have preferred the Navy or Air Force, but his choice and I stand by his choice. I am proud of you, Jake.

Thanks for the conversation dudes. We should make it a habit to do it more often. it was good. I enjoyed it. there is never any... any... judgment on what we talk about it. i don't always get that and I enjoyed it.

Thank you.

It's with a very heavy heart....

....my sweet sweet Bogie had to be put down this past Friday. He was definately my third child and I feel great sorrow in my heart. For whatever reason he went behind my rear tire when I was moving my truck and his little lungs got bruised and was getting worse by the minute. Once the doctor said pain and still may not recover, Chris and I agreed to give him peace. We said our good-bye and shed many tears. The doctor confirmed we made the best decision for him as right after we saw him he turned even worse & there wouldn't have been any way for him to recover. The doctor took care to quickly eliminate his pain for us. We brought him home to lay in peace in our garden. It was the hardest decision I've ever made and cannot imagine how I will ever handle anyone else that is close to me passing. God will lead Chris and I through this and the hurt will fade, but the wonderful memories will never be gone.

Thank you to all my friends and family that have been so supportive.

Read this and though it was worth repeating

Because as I see it, we all have a choice: You can wake up pissed off or you can focus on everything you’re grateful for. You have to open your mind and your heart and accept everything that is happening to you, good and bad. Right now, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. I’m living a no-bullshit kind of life. Just waking up every day is an orgasm — an emotional orgasm. I know there are more ahead of me. I live for that.

Death

Sadness
Despair
Blackness
Scary
Dark
Gone
Tears
Broken
Silence
Relief
Remembered
Free

There were many a good times that I will remember because only in memory can the order and goodness that you were prevail.

Rest well, Hook!!!

Catch up

A month and a half and no posts most mean that nothing is happening at the farm. Au contraire!!!

Goats - Added two more goats for a total of 5 or is that 7. Yes, one of the goats has twins and is due December 29. Christmas goats. On a sadder note, Papa George restaurant closed. Now who to sell goats too?

Dogs - Saint is getting big. 57.5 lbs this week and still growing. Another 50 pounds to go. Bogey is bogey, small and always cold.

Kitchen - about 90% done. Cabinet baseboard, window/door trim and some type of back splash yet. And the shelf unit idea I have for over the brick chimney.

Attic Room - Got some of the pine planking going up on the walls. Already three quarts of stain - unbelievable. I thought two cans would do all of it and not even half way done. Most of the electrical is done - just one more track light, a few outlets and switches to add. Ceiling fan eventually when I get that high. I'll have to think about what to do with the floor. Sand and stain or cover it. Hmmm.

Man Cave - made a small seating and TV area. It works great for having the guys over to watch a game. Starting to get chilly now and I will have to look at heating options. Maybe those bar type patio heaters or a kerosene heater. Right now I got a torpedo but the burning kerosene tends to get obnoxious.

Chickens - Yes, chickens are coming. They should have been here this week but the hatchery had an issue. They should be here on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. I will have to create a coop for them. Or simply let them live with the goats. Anyway, I have to keep them at 95 degrees for a few weeks.

Well, there is the catch up.

Things progressing on the farm...

I don't have any new pictures to put up right now, but just to keep you up to date on things, Saint is growing before our eyes, the goats are getting along great! We tried to match up Valentino and Lilly but she wanted NOTHING to do with that. She is a little bigger than he is so he really couldn't over power her. Oh, well we'll get it done when the time is right.

Mike got one more light up in the kitchen, we purchased the toe kick and the tile for the bathroom but nothing further has happened there. One more light, crown moulding, trim around everything and the backsplash are also still hanging out there. Maybe he is holding those up for winter projects...tee hee.

The house is getting more in shape as I keep working on emptying boxes. I hope the weather cooperates this weekend so I can start getting the things that got dumped in the garage sorted, put away or trashed (burned). I want us to park in the garage this winter and that is NOT happening until I get this done. By the end of a regular work day I just don't have the energy to think about going out there and it has been so hot and sticky. This rain is supposed to cool things off, so here's hoping!

Well I think that gets the major updates done.