David has had his work cut out for him lately – three of the girls went into heat in quick succession. Little April was the first to cycle. Her dad’s African Pygmy genes came out in her, so she is very short compared to David. It would have been comic if goat foreplay didn’t look…
Alive
Yesterday we got out to the farm and all the cows came running over and shouted at us. They had hardly touched their hay, but they looked thin. We couldn’t figure out why at first. Just before I got Matilda for milking, Ethan discovered someone had tripped over the water hose and yanked it so…
In the garden: Purple Carrots
My purple carrots were small and stunted this year – I don’t think they liked all the heat. They still tasted good. The garden has had a hard time of it lately. One evening when we drove up the cows had busted in somehow. I thought everything would be eaten to nubs, but they had…
Working on Dreams
We have so many plans and dreams this year. Things that will make our life so much easier, and solve so many little, nagging problems. Last year I struggled to figure out solutions. This year I know what I want, but we haven’t been able to make it happen yet – which I find almost…
Homeschooling and Conflicts of Interest
You know how children seem to be attracted to whatever their parents don’t really like? I thought it couldn’t possibly happen to me – I’m fairly laid-back about most things. But Mirin has managed to hit on an interest that does indeed make me cringe – guns. I’ve never liked guns. Even when I was…
Yarn Along: Second Cuff, Second Time
I think I finally got the pattern I’m working on right the second knit-up. Rose has already claimed the first, large-and-floppy cuff for a legwarmer, so I’ll have to knit a second one of those for her, as well as a second, better-fitting one for myself. Confusing! But I do think I’ll have a free…
First Attempt At Bacon
Inspired by the River Cottage Curing and Smoking Handbook, Ethan cured some bacon last week. It’s good, but not quite what we expected – it’s a little heavy on the juniper berries and bay leaf. Not bad at all, but I guess we’re used to Southern-style bacon. We’re going to try it again with…
News From Explorer and Milking Matilda Again
It’s been a week since Explorer left, and we got some news that he’s been some trouble. Apparently when he got off the trailer he did a lot of snorting and bucking around (the trailer really pissed him off), but he calmed down after a little while. And instead of getting down to business and…
Handmade Mayonnaise
As soon as Christmas was over, the chickens decided it was spring and started laying. We don’t usually get that many eggs so early in the year. They were such beautiful shades of pink and brown I had to get a picture. My little lettuce plants are finally just big enough to start getting salads. …
Explorer Off
Sampson and Nutty, the two biggest bulls now, spar to see who’s the biggest Some big changes have happened recently – we lost Night Hawk, we got a new buck (he’s even stinkier than before – the girls are still not going for it), and our big bull Explorer went off to a new farm…
Yarn Along: Wrist Warmers with Colorwork
Rug space in front of the window is in really high demand It’s been awhile since I’ve picked up any knitting. I think it took that long for my brain to recover from the anaesthesia. For a few weeks now I’ve been glancing at my yarn stash, wondering when I would feel up for it…
Toadstools And Fairy Rings 