Here we are, at the end of January, and we're moving forward on so many fronts!
The house is now almost completely framed and the roof is supposed to be installed on Monday with the remaining "outside" things completed by the end of February. They are telling us that move in is currently scheduled for "about" the second week of April!
We are expecting kids ANYTIME. Nutmeg, a first timer, has an udder that looks like it's about to pop! I've checked the ligaments, but she doesn't seem quite ready, which makes me feel really sad for her, she's almost having to straddle the bag! The other girls are all looking very pregnant and we should be having babies through the month of February!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
New Buck & Doeling
Wow! We have just purchased, over the weekend, a PHENOMENAL new buck! His name is Adam (altho he has a much longer REAL name) CRI HLAR - Copper Creek "Adam". What a beautiful young buck! He is going to be put in with 4 of my girls, hoping to add some serious bone and "mass" to the herd.
We also were blessed to be allowed to purchase a beautiful doeling: Heavens Lil’ Acres “Mesha” This is a doeling that is going to also be bringing some serious size to our herd.
I feel very honored that Heaven's Lil Acres, Graham, WA, was willing to allow us to bring these two beautiful boer goats home!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
We also were blessed to be allowed to purchase a beautiful doeling: Heavens Lil’ Acres “Mesha” This is a doeling that is going to also be bringing some serious size to our herd.
I feel very honored that Heaven's Lil Acres, Graham, WA, was willing to allow us to bring these two beautiful boer goats home!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Saturday, September 6, 2008
The First Time
This past week has been an interesting one for us. We determined it was time to take our wethers to the butcher. So, Jim did what he needed to do in order to get the boys in the condition they needed to be in to take them in (translation available for those that need it). Then we gave one of the wethers to a friend of ours that owns a Mexican Restaurant, knowing that he'd know exactly how to cook it, and also because we wanted to see what he thought.
Well, let me tell you, it was terrific! It was so tender - it just melted in your mouth. We had it Colorado style, so it was a little spicier than I would have liked, but it was excellent nonetheless.
On Monday I took the other two carcasses in to the butcher and we're just waiting for the meat in white packages to be returned.
We have one more boy that is going in today. He's an older guy and we've decided to turn him into hamburger, pepperoni and jerky. We'll see how it goes. We may also have some sausage done, just so we can try it. I made some phone calls, but nobody seems to know much about how a goat that is 20 months old tastes, so I guess we'll find out.
We are down to only two does from our 2008 kids left to sell - and nobody else. As we begin into the 2009 kidding season, we're making some more serious decisions about the kids that we get. We're not keeping them "just because" or "maybe they will ..." The fact is, we want to raise high quality show animals, as well as high quality market animals - and the two offer some fairly clearly lines. If the animal that we have is not show, it's for market - the emotional attachment has to be removed or we're never going to get where I want to be.
Amd lastly, we're now to breeding season for 2009 kids! Capriole's GD Excursion is in with all the girls and we'll pull him out at the end of the month and then figure out if anybody comes back into heat. At least this way I'll have a pretty good idea as to when to expect kids (much better than our 2008 kids!)
Until the next time!
Well, let me tell you, it was terrific! It was so tender - it just melted in your mouth. We had it Colorado style, so it was a little spicier than I would have liked, but it was excellent nonetheless.
On Monday I took the other two carcasses in to the butcher and we're just waiting for the meat in white packages to be returned.
We have one more boy that is going in today. He's an older guy and we've decided to turn him into hamburger, pepperoni and jerky. We'll see how it goes. We may also have some sausage done, just so we can try it. I made some phone calls, but nobody seems to know much about how a goat that is 20 months old tastes, so I guess we'll find out.
We are down to only two does from our 2008 kids left to sell - and nobody else. As we begin into the 2009 kidding season, we're making some more serious decisions about the kids that we get. We're not keeping them "just because" or "maybe they will ..." The fact is, we want to raise high quality show animals, as well as high quality market animals - and the two offer some fairly clearly lines. If the animal that we have is not show, it's for market - the emotional attachment has to be removed or we're never going to get where I want to be.
Amd lastly, we're now to breeding season for 2009 kids! Capriole's GD Excursion is in with all the girls and we'll pull him out at the end of the month and then figure out if anybody comes back into heat. At least this way I'll have a pretty good idea as to when to expect kids (much better than our 2008 kids!)
Until the next time!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
The Saddest Day Of All
On June 14, 2008 I lost my very best friend to a tragic accident on Hwy. 42 in Coquille, Oregon.
Crystal Renee Barrett was driving to Coos Bay and a tree fell on her car. That's the accident, and something that I will always remember, but that is NOT who Kristi was.
Kristi was the one that always had a smile and a positive word to share. Kristi was the one that I could call for no reason at all and yet talk to for hours.
I have known Kristi for more than 24 years and while we could go for long periods without talking, we never drifted apart.
Kristi was Tanner's mom, and he was the light of her life! There wasn't anything that she wouldn't do for him ... and there's nothing he wouldn't have done for her. They came to Port Angeles every year during Tanner's spring break and we would spend time just hanging out, going to the Olympic Game Farm, trying to get to Hurricane Ridge, and we planned to go to Victoria next year, after Tanner got his passport.
I learned a lot from Kristi while she was alive, and I've learned the most important lesson about life since her death ... you need to tell the people you care about, that you do. You never know when your time is ... and to live each day as if it were your last is not a "cliche", but rather something that we should all do.
I will miss her forever ... she was the sister that I would have chosen if I could have .. but more than that, she was the woman that I admired over all others.
Kristi left behind so many people who loved her and whom she loved. Mark, the love of her life; Marilyn, her mom; Debbie, her sister and serious partner in crime; Julie, her childhood friend that went with her everywhere when they were growing up; Julie's kids, who knew her as "Aunt Kristi"; my kids, who also knew her as Aunt Kristi (and none of these kids ever questioned HOW was she their aunt); Jim, (Tanner's dad) whom she stayed friends with from the beginning to the end; Ryan, her nephew, whom she spoke of so lovingly, even when telling the stories about him doing the things he shouldn't have; and all of you other friends and relatives, that I don't have enough time or space to mention. I can tell you that everyone that was loved by Kristi knew it - she made sure of it!
Yesterday, July 11, was Kristi's 43rd birthday - and today we're honoring her with a bbq ... and hopefully every year from hereon out, we will continue the tradition!
The world is a little lonelier now ... but there is a star that shines brighter, and we all have another angel watching over us!
I love you and I miss you Kristi!!!
Crystal Renee Barrett was driving to Coos Bay and a tree fell on her car. That's the accident, and something that I will always remember, but that is NOT who Kristi was.
Kristi was the one that always had a smile and a positive word to share. Kristi was the one that I could call for no reason at all and yet talk to for hours.
I have known Kristi for more than 24 years and while we could go for long periods without talking, we never drifted apart.
Kristi was Tanner's mom, and he was the light of her life! There wasn't anything that she wouldn't do for him ... and there's nothing he wouldn't have done for her. They came to Port Angeles every year during Tanner's spring break and we would spend time just hanging out, going to the Olympic Game Farm, trying to get to Hurricane Ridge, and we planned to go to Victoria next year, after Tanner got his passport.
I learned a lot from Kristi while she was alive, and I've learned the most important lesson about life since her death ... you need to tell the people you care about, that you do. You never know when your time is ... and to live each day as if it were your last is not a "cliche", but rather something that we should all do.
I will miss her forever ... she was the sister that I would have chosen if I could have .. but more than that, she was the woman that I admired over all others.
Kristi left behind so many people who loved her and whom she loved. Mark, the love of her life; Marilyn, her mom; Debbie, her sister and serious partner in crime; Julie, her childhood friend that went with her everywhere when they were growing up; Julie's kids, who knew her as "Aunt Kristi"; my kids, who also knew her as Aunt Kristi (and none of these kids ever questioned HOW was she their aunt); Jim, (Tanner's dad) whom she stayed friends with from the beginning to the end; Ryan, her nephew, whom she spoke of so lovingly, even when telling the stories about him doing the things he shouldn't have; and all of you other friends and relatives, that I don't have enough time or space to mention. I can tell you that everyone that was loved by Kristi knew it - she made sure of it!
Yesterday, July 11, was Kristi's 43rd birthday - and today we're honoring her with a bbq ... and hopefully every year from hereon out, we will continue the tradition!
The world is a little lonelier now ... but there is a star that shines brighter, and we all have another angel watching over us!
I love you and I miss you Kristi!!!
The Long and Sad Story
It's been a tough summer. We have lost a couple of our girls this summer, and in both cases, we're not completely sure why.
We lost Bluebonnet the first part of June for some unknown reason.
Then Parker's Gourmet Cinnamon, who was due to deliver her boer goat kids on July 2 died two weeks before her due date. We found her outside, just laying around, and she didn't want to get up. We tried all of her favorite treats, but she just wasn't interested.
We checked her for injuries and there was nothing present that we could see, but you could tell she was in distress. When we got her moved, we saw that she had either begun to lose her plug, or she may have started into labor. We checked her, and saw that she had lost all of her ligaments, but she had not dilated at all. We started giving her water (using a turkey baster) and offering her food. She drank a lot, but wasn't interested in food.
We discussed what our options were: 1) we could continue to try to get her moving (and save her); 2) we could euthanize her and try to save her babies. We opted for the first choice,for now. At some point we called the vet and she provided me with some electrolytes, as well as penicillin (she thought it would be better than the LA-200 that I used with another doe after we checked her.) While Cinnamon seemed to be doing better, she still wasn't doing "good".
The vet finally came out around 5:30pm and we decided to give her some fluids via IV and Oxytocin to get her labor going again (it was quite obvious at some point that she was in labor, but not progressing). As soon as we got the IV in, she died. The decision was made to immediately open her up and try to save her babies.
I'm sorry to say that we couldn't save any of them. She had four beautiful babies, two boys and two girls. All of whom were gorgeous. It was a tough day for everyone.
Hayley asked for permission to watch the vet try to save the babies, and we decided that if she wanted to, she could. She came back in the house after they found the babies were also gone and said that it was very interesting (she said she started to say cool, but thought that was just rude!) and that she was glad that she'd watched.
I want to thank Heather at Sequim Animal Clinic for EVERYTHING that she did to help us to save our goats.
We have decided that if this were to happen again that we would probably have to seriously consider all aspects and maybe euthanize the doe sooner to try to save kids.
We lost Bluebonnet the first part of June for some unknown reason.
Then Parker's Gourmet Cinnamon, who was due to deliver her boer goat kids on July 2 died two weeks before her due date. We found her outside, just laying around, and she didn't want to get up. We tried all of her favorite treats, but she just wasn't interested.
We checked her for injuries and there was nothing present that we could see, but you could tell she was in distress. When we got her moved, we saw that she had either begun to lose her plug, or she may have started into labor. We checked her, and saw that she had lost all of her ligaments, but she had not dilated at all. We started giving her water (using a turkey baster) and offering her food. She drank a lot, but wasn't interested in food.
We discussed what our options were: 1) we could continue to try to get her moving (and save her); 2) we could euthanize her and try to save her babies. We opted for the first choice,for now. At some point we called the vet and she provided me with some electrolytes, as well as penicillin (she thought it would be better than the LA-200 that I used with another doe after we checked her.) While Cinnamon seemed to be doing better, she still wasn't doing "good".
The vet finally came out around 5:30pm and we decided to give her some fluids via IV and Oxytocin to get her labor going again (it was quite obvious at some point that she was in labor, but not progressing). As soon as we got the IV in, she died. The decision was made to immediately open her up and try to save her babies.
I'm sorry to say that we couldn't save any of them. She had four beautiful babies, two boys and two girls. All of whom were gorgeous. It was a tough day for everyone.
Hayley asked for permission to watch the vet try to save the babies, and we decided that if she wanted to, she could. She came back in the house after they found the babies were also gone and said that it was very interesting (she said she started to say cool, but thought that was just rude!) and that she was glad that she'd watched.
I want to thank Heather at Sequim Animal Clinic for EVERYTHING that she did to help us to save our goats.
We have decided that if this were to happen again that we would probably have to seriously consider all aspects and maybe euthanize the doe sooner to try to save kids.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Finally!
Okay, we finally have kids! We have two new doelings out of Jitterbug (doe) and Showdown (Cabernet Creek Farm buck). These two doelings were each almost 8 lbs. Unfortunately, we lost a buckling due to not being aware of the fact that he was in the wrong position and Jitter just labored too long (he was bigger than the girls).
For those that may not know, I travel a good part of my job, and unfortunately, this is one of those times. So, I was on the cell phone with Jim coaching him through what to do (as if I'm the expert) and then we finally resorted to call my Goat Mentor and having her come over to help. By the time she got there, Jim had managed to remove the buckling and it was a matter of watching and waiting for the doelings.
I understand that the doelings are very cute (but have you EVER seen an ugly baby?) I'm just waiting on photos from those that are at home and working to do clean up and such!
Jim did give Jitter a shot of Antibiotic as he did have to go in and push the buckling back (he thought there were two feet and a nose, but instead it was three feet.) Anyway, he is giving LA-200 for the next 4 days to keep mom from getting sick from having the germs introduced.
I'm so proud of Jim and Hayley - they both stuck it out - Hayley wasn't going to miss goat labor and delivery for anything. While I was on the phone and the first one was delivered, Hayley said, "Wow, that's cool!" - and being the mom ... THAT is cool. I want her to understand and to be so enthralled with these animals that no matter what is happening, she's excited to participate.
Well, this proud mama is off for now ... and hopefully Jitterbug is getting the grain and warm water that I promised her when she delivered.
For those that may not know, I travel a good part of my job, and unfortunately, this is one of those times. So, I was on the cell phone with Jim coaching him through what to do (as if I'm the expert) and then we finally resorted to call my Goat Mentor and having her come over to help. By the time she got there, Jim had managed to remove the buckling and it was a matter of watching and waiting for the doelings.
I understand that the doelings are very cute (but have you EVER seen an ugly baby?) I'm just waiting on photos from those that are at home and working to do clean up and such!
Jim did give Jitter a shot of Antibiotic as he did have to go in and push the buckling back (he thought there were two feet and a nose, but instead it was three feet.) Anyway, he is giving LA-200 for the next 4 days to keep mom from getting sick from having the germs introduced.
I'm so proud of Jim and Hayley - they both stuck it out - Hayley wasn't going to miss goat labor and delivery for anything. While I was on the phone and the first one was delivered, Hayley said, "Wow, that's cool!" - and being the mom ... THAT is cool. I want her to understand and to be so enthralled with these animals that no matter what is happening, she's excited to participate.
Well, this proud mama is off for now ... and hopefully Jitterbug is getting the grain and warm water that I promised her when she delivered.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Close doesn't count!
Well, as you know, we picked up three new does the first of the month (thankfully we got through Snoqualmie Pass before the snow began and just kept coming. Anyway, as those of you who have been following this blog, know that I made some serious errors in knowing WHEN my original does are due to kid. So, one of these new does that we got, she was OBVIOUSLY in heat (hanging through the fence - calling the boys - shaking her tail) and I decided that I was going to see what would happen if I paid attention.
Well, let me tell you! We let Showdown in with her and he immediately bred her! Then he continued to chase her - we watched them for a little while and it finally became obvious that she was bred (we can discuss this at another place and time!) Anyway, she then was just following him around (different than him chasing her) and leaning on him (Oooh, I love you ... Oooh, baby!)
After about two hours, I went out and was watching and you knew the party was over - he was at one end of the yard and she was off doing her own thing. Another afternoon delight that ended without speaking!
So, while we're STILL waiting on these boer goat kids from the fall breeding, I know that on July 2 (or thereabouts) we should find ourselves with more kids!
My daughter is doing 4-H this year with her Boer Goats at the Clallam County Fair! We are very excited as we await the arrival of these kids - she's anxious to see which kid is going to be going to the fair with her.
She is also the owner of one of the boer goat does that we're waiting for kids on, and she's anxious to see if she's got any kids that are worth something that she wants to show.
So, still we wait ... but we're a lot smarter than we were before!
Well, let me tell you! We let Showdown in with her and he immediately bred her! Then he continued to chase her - we watched them for a little while and it finally became obvious that she was bred (we can discuss this at another place and time!) Anyway, she then was just following him around (different than him chasing her) and leaning on him (Oooh, I love you ... Oooh, baby!)
After about two hours, I went out and was watching and you knew the party was over - he was at one end of the yard and she was off doing her own thing. Another afternoon delight that ended without speaking!
So, while we're STILL waiting on these boer goat kids from the fall breeding, I know that on July 2 (or thereabouts) we should find ourselves with more kids!
My daughter is doing 4-H this year with her Boer Goats at the Clallam County Fair! We are very excited as we await the arrival of these kids - she's anxious to see which kid is going to be going to the fair with her.
She is also the owner of one of the boer goat does that we're waiting for kids on, and she's anxious to see if she's got any kids that are worth something that she wants to show.
So, still we wait ... but we're a lot smarter than we were before!
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