Big cities, big plans, big birthdays and more...

Wow...has it really been a week and 1/2 since my last post? We've been on the go around here. It has been a constant battle with trying to make sure that Steve stays healthy and that Itty's leg continues to heal. On Friday, Mark took Itty into the vet to get her cast removed. We've been trying to get her in with the rest of her friends. But from time to time, she continues to favor that leg. She needs to get used to using it, so we can put her out regularly.
I observed that our livestock guard dog, Ollie, is being a little rough with Steve. I think it is getting to be Fall in the barnyard and we need to revisit the idea of getting all of our males castrated (neutered/chopped). Jester, our other male sheep, likes Flora, our young female dairy goat, a little too much. It's a little bit of a same-sex and mixed species love fest around (which we support lol, but just don't want any animals broken hearts and drama).
This video was taken tonight in the pasture. We let Steve out to play while everyone else (including Ollie) was locked up in their pens. He had a blast, although he was somewhat confused by the notion of it being just Steve!

I spent this past weekend in Detroit, visiting one of my dearest friends. Heather and I have known each other since we were in high school together and although life has led us in very different directions, we've always remained close. In fact, I had the amazing honor of officiating her wedding last fall, in Brooklyn. Her ceremony was at a beautiful venue, under the Brooklyn Bridge, looking back over the city. In February, Heather welcomed the newest member of our crew, London (http://raisinglondon.blogspot.com/) and I FINALLY was able to find a weekend that we were both free and I could make the trek up to Detroit and meet her little man. London, is a very handsome little boy and just such a joy to be around, with his drooly smile and batting his eye lashes - he's going to be a heart breaker. Sometimes I miss those little baby times, but then, when I hear those little 3AM whimpers over the baby monitor, it reminds me that I'm quite satisfied with five children and the youngest being 8! While I was in Detroit, we visited the most amazing Farmer's Market I've ever seen. Eastern Market...if you are ever in the area, this is a must see. I'm so thankful that Mark was able to take care of the kids and animals, without any issues. He encouraged me to go and I had a great time. It's always good to be missed too.

London - looks at those sweet lips!!

Oh did I mention that Heather has an au pair from Thailand? So cool, right? I learned so much about her culture and she even was wonderful enough to make Heather and me an authentic Thai meal before I left on Sunday. Fish, veggies, rice, soup (with pumpkin tips). DELICIOUS! And...how cool is the lettering on her toothbrush container?!

Is it creepy and nerdy that I got excited when I saw these letters? Beautiful right?

Tonight we went and picked up a bunch of hay. We can fit 9-10 bales of hay in our min-van...that's right, we still haven't added a pick up truck or open air trailer to the farm - both are in the greater plan...but down the road a bit. Tonight we shoved 10 bales in - we were worried that with all the crazy weather that we've been having...too much rain in the Spring...nearly drought conditions in the summer...it's really affecting crops (meaning the cost of hay as well). Each bale cost $5 - which mean $50 out of the budget this payday goes to hay, those 10 bales SHOULD last us about two months. Between the grain/pellets, open pasture and hay...our animals are happy campers.

Tomorrow - our oldest son, Gage, celebrates his 14th birthday. FOURTEEN!? How did that happen? He's an awesome kid. Incredibly intelligent, protective of his brothers and sisters, helpful (mostly) and I am loving watching him turn each day into more and more of a good grown up. I just love that kid. Happy Birthday Gage!!

Gage teaching Blue new tricks

Cora, Drake and Gage

Hoping to get back to roofing and siding the barn this weekend - probably on Sunday, since Gage's birthday party is scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Due to life and weather, any of our big projects have been on hold for a bit and it feels good to have a plan of getting back on track.

NKOTB

More to follow...but just wanted to let everyone know that Steve and Jester, our CVM Romeldale sheep, came to the farm yesterday. They are beautiful :-)

Milk

Oh my goodness...all this change. My last post was just one week ago, it's hard to believe. On Wednesday, I went to pick up the Angora Goats, Itty and Frankie from Spruce Hill Fiber Farm. The farm is wonderful. Will and Lisa are sweet friends and have been a huge part of our farm - they are where we got Josie and Blossom, our alpacas. While I was there, their last doe decided that it was time for her to give birth! She gave birth to a single, tiny, little white baby. UNBELIEVABLE! I was there to watch her find a spot off in the corner of the barn, away from the rest of the herd. I was there to see her lay down and watch the baby's nose come out, and then head with her floppy ears, and with a couple more pushes, the baby was out! That was an experience that I had never had before and I am honored that Mama decided to share that wonderful experience with me. I got Frankie and Itty home without too much stress - it was a long drive for them and I understand how they were a little stressed out. Once they got home, we got them settled into the existing alpaca/Ollie (our Great Pyrenees) smaller barn (since the big barn isn't quite ready yet). Everyone was getting along famously.
On Friday, I drove about an hour from here to pick up our two dairy goats, Alpines, Mabel and Flora. Mabel is our milker and Flora is just a little one. We are planning on switching back and forth with our breedings, so we can have a constant supply of milk. Friday night was our first milking. That poor Momma was probably wondering what she got herself into. Between my novice hands (prior to this, I had only squirted milk from a goat at a farm Mark worked at...and it was not a full milking...literally just a few squirts) and she being new to us and the fact that we hadn't had a chance to build our milking stand and had to rely on Mark holding her head while I milked...it literally took us and hour and a half or so to empty her. Now that I've done this a couple days, I don't even know that she was completely empty that first night. Saturday was much better..at about 1/2 hour each milking (twice per day). Sunday, Mother's Day, we spent building a milking stand which made life SO much better. SO MUCH BETTER. She's a stubborn goat, when it comes to being lead to the stand, but once she's in, she just eats as I milk and she's a good, good girl.
We made the decision to get a milk goat (ok, two milk goats) so that we could make cheese and soap etc. but we weren't even sure how we felt about drinking raw goats milk. Would it be different from the cow's milk we've been drinking? Would it taste "goaty"? What does that even mean? LOL On Friday night, we decided to make a batch of cookies and have cookies with a cold glass of goat milk to try it out. UM...IT.IS.DELICIOUS! It tastes JUST like vitamin D/whole cow's milk. It takes a second to get over the fact that it came from that {kinda stinky} goat in our backyard, but once you get past that...YUM!
This morning, I did the entire feeding of all the animals and milked Mabel (I milked her dry in 15 minutes!) and it was successful, tiring, but successful. It will be nice when everyone is moved into the new barn. The alpacas are in there now...that's a long story for another post...but they are settled in there, still waiting on Blossom's baby. But once everyone is moved, it will be easier to get in and out and feedings separated etc. Hopefully that will be soon.
At this point, I would be happy to switch completely to goat milk. I am thankful to the milking goat for giving me and my family such delicious and nutritious milk. It's a great experience for my children too.
Today...I am just thankful.