It has been a blog drought, no? After the fair things just got "stranger and stranger" said Alice.
My short reunion with the clinic has ended and I am now on unemployment with the great or not so great state of California. It has been an adventure as in many years of working I have never, never claimed before. I want only what is coming to me and the state can breath a sigh of relief to know that I will not seek never ending benifits.
Then came the sale, yes folks one house down and one to go, of the Cayucos house. It went from 0 to 60 in about as many seconds. 15 day escrow, cash in hand, done. Well it sounds easier then it looks. The whole process dredged up allot of old feelings and memories for both Geoffrey, myself and our children. Many trips to the beach there with Grandpa and Grandma when our two were little.
After that Christmas came and went , so did I. Left the Sunday after Christmas spending 3 days with my kids, assorted grandchildren in Fresno. Then spent Wednesday to Friday in Cottonwood with my friends Donna and Dallas at their ranch.
So now home and getting ready slowly for kidding to begin end of March. Have bred 10 does (just LaManchas this time) and had two come back in. Bred Tawny again last week. So if she takes we will have 9 does kid between the last two weeks of March and first two of April.
A twist this year as we will be bottle raising all the doe kids and perhaps a buck kid. Working hard on getting them user friendly and hopefully will sell a good number of them to others. I sort of miss the bottle babies so would someone who is reading this please copy that statement and remind me oh, say, around May 1st of what I said? ;-)
We have had lots of rain, ice and cold. I have become very spoiled with winter as we dried off the last two does end of December and now all I do is throw hay and hugs twice a day. Geoffrey keeps providing great warm fires nightly. Altho we are both looking forward to a wood stove when we move.
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers. This will be the year of the move but we need all the help God and our angels can provide in that direction.
Trust that everyone had a lovely Christmas and New Year. I will make every effort to get photos and post more often. The bees by the way are doing fine. On rare dry, sunny days we get a chance to see them and with some help from our Rosemary bush they are flying into the hive with pollen ladden legs on those days.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Going to the Fair
I am done. The goats are clipped, the trailer packed, the truck packed. I am done, oh yeah I am also redundant. Tomorrow at about 9 ish the four LaMancha does and I will leave for the fair in Fresno. It has been at least 5 years since we have shown at the Fresno Fair. Or as the "voice of the fair" likes to say in a booming voice "The time at the BIG FRESNO FAIR is blah,blah,blah." (Deb will appreciate that one)
One of the delights of showing at fairs besides the wave of humanity who is offering your stock everything from beer and soft tacos to carnival game prizes on a stick to eat; is getting penned in the barn right under the loud speakers. And after they have called for Suzie Q to her class ring side for the 20th time you could probably not get your drivers license renewed because you are legally deaf.
Yesterday while I was doing battle with my portable milking/grooming stand I told my husband that if he wanted to he could remind me I am crazy to load up, groom 4 goats, travel least 6 hours each way with a livestock trailer behind me that no one in the entire state on the same freeway sees but me(especially when using an on ramp or changing lanes) to spend only two days at a fair showing nothing but Junior does. He just smiled and said "I already have". But no more whining I am doing this for a higher calling. I have two granddaughters waiting to show these goats. They haven't been to a show in 4 years and are just about ready to pee with excitement. I have received multiple phone calls in the last two weeks reminding me just how excited they are.
So being the good Gammie I am tomorrow we are off and running. Did I mention spending $$$$ in fuel since with a trailer it sucks the life out of your truck and takes longer. Whoops, NO WHINING! The reward will be priceless.
One of the delights of showing at fairs besides the wave of humanity who is offering your stock everything from beer and soft tacos to carnival game prizes on a stick to eat; is getting penned in the barn right under the loud speakers. And after they have called for Suzie Q to her class ring side for the 20th time you could probably not get your drivers license renewed because you are legally deaf.
Yesterday while I was doing battle with my portable milking/grooming stand I told my husband that if he wanted to he could remind me I am crazy to load up, groom 4 goats, travel least 6 hours each way with a livestock trailer behind me that no one in the entire state on the same freeway sees but me(especially when using an on ramp or changing lanes) to spend only two days at a fair showing nothing but Junior does. He just smiled and said "I already have". But no more whining I am doing this for a higher calling. I have two granddaughters waiting to show these goats. They haven't been to a show in 4 years and are just about ready to pee with excitement. I have received multiple phone calls in the last two weeks reminding me just how excited they are.
So being the good Gammie I am tomorrow we are off and running. Did I mention spending $$$$ in fuel since with a trailer it sucks the life out of your truck and takes longer. Whoops, NO WHINING! The reward will be priceless.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
First Sunday of October
This day has been spent a bit disjointed and a bit of a whirlwind. I am getting ready to leave on Wednesday to go to Fresno with four of the does for my granddaughters to show at the Fresno Fair. So I have been tying up loose ends, getting stuff ready to go in the trailer tomorrow. Clipped a couple of kids and so forth.
Then I took Spinner for a walk. Not unusual, do it every day. She is coming on 10 years in a week and for a giant breed dog that is a nice senior age. So every day she gets a walk out of the farm, she has been our trusted livestock guardian since she came at 4 months of age in training. Now at ten she deserves.
Yesterday when we set out on our walk we had gotten to the top of the drive and I spied a sight that sent chills through me. A small white furry lifeless body on the opposite side of the road. Could it be our Snowy River, one of the two remaining barn cats? She never seemed to venture that far but then . .
So I picked up the white fluff and carried her down the hill toward the house. Shaken but taking note- wait this cat had a medium haired tail with a spot of blond on it. She also had a blond spot on her nose.Breathing a sigh of relief I realized this wasn't our Snowy. I put the lifeless body in a small bag with a note to Geoffrey(he was out walking Ari) that it was a hit by car cat but not ours. He buried the nameless kitten and that was that.
Until today, on our walk. I was inspecting the skeletal structure of a house across the street by our mail box. It is an older home and being rehabbed by the current owner. I had always wondered what the insides were like and since the windows are missing I took the liberty of a peek inside. While I was nosing round a neighbor child , boy of about ten; you know the two front teeth were plunging into adulthood but the rest of them were still baby teeth; came riding up on his bike.
His smile was slow and I, somewhat embarrassed at my act of snooping, smiled back and mumbled something about how I was always curious about this house. We chatted a few moments and as he put down the kickstand on his bike rather awkwardly asked if I had seen a white cat. My heart sank, his eyes were wide with hope. How do I tell him, this child with hope in his heart.
I dug deep inside and told him the bitter truth. How I had found her , I now know her name Zoey, and how we buried her not knowing where she lived. His eyes dropped, his chin quivered, as he drew himself up as if standing taller would make him stronger. I went on "I work at a veterinary hospital and from her injuries I would say she didn't suffer, was dead when the vehicle struck her, so don't worry about that." Boy, did my words ring hollow in my ears. "It's o.k." he bravely replied , chin quivering and tears welling up in his eyes. "No" said to him "it is not o.k. May I give you a hug?" He nodded and I hugged him and shared with him how we had lost two of our dogs this year. "I am so sorry" I mumbled. He thanked me and climbed on his bike heading home.
It was an amazing meeting. He so young yet so strong. Me older and as the day wore on sadder. I thought of how this is just the beginning of this dance for him, there will be other cats and other heartbreaks. But I trust that he took some comfort knowing that she was cared for in her end of life. And I took some comfort in knowing that young man didn't have to come upon her and could remember Zoey for who she was.
Then I took Spinner for a walk. Not unusual, do it every day. She is coming on 10 years in a week and for a giant breed dog that is a nice senior age. So every day she gets a walk out of the farm, she has been our trusted livestock guardian since she came at 4 months of age in training. Now at ten she deserves.
Yesterday when we set out on our walk we had gotten to the top of the drive and I spied a sight that sent chills through me. A small white furry lifeless body on the opposite side of the road. Could it be our Snowy River, one of the two remaining barn cats? She never seemed to venture that far but then . .
So I picked up the white fluff and carried her down the hill toward the house. Shaken but taking note- wait this cat had a medium haired tail with a spot of blond on it. She also had a blond spot on her nose.Breathing a sigh of relief I realized this wasn't our Snowy. I put the lifeless body in a small bag with a note to Geoffrey(he was out walking Ari) that it was a hit by car cat but not ours. He buried the nameless kitten and that was that.
Until today, on our walk. I was inspecting the skeletal structure of a house across the street by our mail box. It is an older home and being rehabbed by the current owner. I had always wondered what the insides were like and since the windows are missing I took the liberty of a peek inside. While I was nosing round a neighbor child , boy of about ten; you know the two front teeth were plunging into adulthood but the rest of them were still baby teeth; came riding up on his bike.
His smile was slow and I, somewhat embarrassed at my act of snooping, smiled back and mumbled something about how I was always curious about this house. We chatted a few moments and as he put down the kickstand on his bike rather awkwardly asked if I had seen a white cat. My heart sank, his eyes were wide with hope. How do I tell him, this child with hope in his heart.
I dug deep inside and told him the bitter truth. How I had found her , I now know her name Zoey, and how we buried her not knowing where she lived. His eyes dropped, his chin quivered, as he drew himself up as if standing taller would make him stronger. I went on "I work at a veterinary hospital and from her injuries I would say she didn't suffer, was dead when the vehicle struck her, so don't worry about that." Boy, did my words ring hollow in my ears. "It's o.k." he bravely replied , chin quivering and tears welling up in his eyes. "No" said to him "it is not o.k. May I give you a hug?" He nodded and I hugged him and shared with him how we had lost two of our dogs this year. "I am so sorry" I mumbled. He thanked me and climbed on his bike heading home.
It was an amazing meeting. He so young yet so strong. Me older and as the day wore on sadder. I thought of how this is just the beginning of this dance for him, there will be other cats and other heartbreaks. But I trust that he took some comfort knowing that she was cared for in her end of life. And I took some comfort in knowing that young man didn't have to come upon her and could remember Zoey for who she was.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
More on our food supply.
MetroFarm Online
Food has always been of a large concern to me. From the time our children were born and before. Yes I have popped a high anti foaming agent laden Chicken McNugget on past occasions and no I am not the paragon of virtue in food choices.
Each year we grow more of our own food. Each year we buy more from people whose face is across the table from us at farmers markets. And each year we try to live more simply, more honestly and use less, waste less and share more.
This journey has lead us from being vegetarians to meat eaters and back again. We try to make our diet one that our body dictates. And as we age we find our bodies need less in portion size and even less in number of meals a day.
I like feeling good and I live feeling good about the choices my family makes to build a cleaner, safer world for ours and others children and grandchildren. So this link is my one little addition to our food awareness for the day. Set your goals to not be overwhelming, do your homework and we can make change occur. You need to make the change, you need to make the difference. If not you who?
Food has always been of a large concern to me. From the time our children were born and before. Yes I have popped a high anti foaming agent laden Chicken McNugget on past occasions and no I am not the paragon of virtue in food choices.
Each year we grow more of our own food. Each year we buy more from people whose face is across the table from us at farmers markets. And each year we try to live more simply, more honestly and use less, waste less and share more.
This journey has lead us from being vegetarians to meat eaters and back again. We try to make our diet one that our body dictates. And as we age we find our bodies need less in portion size and even less in number of meals a day.
I like feeling good and I live feeling good about the choices my family makes to build a cleaner, safer world for ours and others children and grandchildren. So this link is my one little addition to our food awareness for the day. Set your goals to not be overwhelming, do your homework and we can make change occur. You need to make the change, you need to make the difference. If not you who?
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
It is time for reason and responsibility to prevail!
http://kellesneverdonefarm.blogspot.com/2010/09/attack-on-raw-milk-and-small-farms-one.html
Freedom of choice is floating out the window on a daily basis.
Freedom of choice is floating out the window on a daily basis.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Swarming
In the days past from our busy bee activities there have been episodes of swarming. Katrina's hive split not once but twice and swarmed. So did Marie's. Then today a call from a friend who had a neighbor who had a swarm in their Crepe Myrtle tree. So who did I call ? My bee mentors of course. Katrina was otherwise occupied but Marie came to the rescue.
The swarm above in the tree. It had been there about one week according to the Olsen's.
The Olsen's and Marie while she explains her plan of action. When bee's swarm they gorge themselves on the honey stores, which often leaves the swarm lazy and full. Therefore an easy target to take command of.
Our swarm was eager to jump into the box after Marie gave them a gentle brushing. But not for long. They entered and swarmed again at least twice while we were there.
Finally Marie decided that the best plan of action was to let the swarm and box sit tight until sunset. The light and the mild breeze was not helping our cause.
This all took place at about 4 PM today. At 7 ish I got a call from Marie advising me that she had gone back to the Olsen residence and the bees had swarmed again onto a branch on a nearby Redwood tree. Mr. Olsen gave Marie the go ahead to clip away the branch therefore securing the swarm and she proceeded to take them back with her to the Frey ranch where Marie resides.
The bees will need feeding through the winter since they don't have the needed amount of honey at the ready to survive a winter. The Olsen's gracefully offered to help with the cost of keeping them in feed and Geoffrey and I will help where needed.
Considering the plight of honey bees around the globe I am going to bed feeling very good about this !
This all took place at about 4 PM today. At 7 ish I got a call from Marie advising me that she had gone back to the Olsen residence and the bees had swarmed again onto a branch on a nearby Redwood tree. Mr. Olsen gave Marie the go ahead to clip away the branch therefore securing the swarm and she proceeded to take them back with her to the Frey ranch where Marie resides.
The bees will need feeding through the winter since they don't have the needed amount of honey at the ready to survive a winter. The Olsen's gracefully offered to help with the cost of keeping them in feed and Geoffrey and I will help where needed.
Considering the plight of honey bees around the globe I am going to bed feeling very good about this !
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Bee Move In Progress
I have been checking on the bee's daily. By Thursday at night fall they had calmed down and appeared to be accessing the hive and settling in. On Friday morning at day break there was no activity yet and this didn't cause me worry as the temperature was only 42 degrees. On checking back mid morning the hive was a buzz and the bees were making "pollen gathering missions" on a regular basis.
This morning before heading to work I checked the hive again a bit after sunrise. We have had warmer temperatures the last two days and the activity was increased. I began to quietly gather up some of the older frames and took them up the hill to the barn.
At work I spoke with Marie, both she and Katrina were busy Friday and through this weekend with the local Sol Fest
So they won't be able to return until next week with the self feeder and some input as to if the space we have chosen is the best for the bees. Geoffrey has already planned a bee lean to so to speak and is wanting to get it started. There is much to do at the farm in the Fall and we also need to get a brooder going for the chicks that will arrive sometime next month.
Thanks to Ramil and Treasure Evermore for their visits and comments. Now it is time for bed as it has been a long day. More bee business to come!
This morning before heading to work I checked the hive again a bit after sunrise. We have had warmer temperatures the last two days and the activity was increased. I began to quietly gather up some of the older frames and took them up the hill to the barn.
At work I spoke with Marie, both she and Katrina were busy Friday and through this weekend with the local Sol Fest
So they won't be able to return until next week with the self feeder and some input as to if the space we have chosen is the best for the bees. Geoffrey has already planned a bee lean to so to speak and is wanting to get it started. There is much to do at the farm in the Fall and we also need to get a brooder going for the chicks that will arrive sometime next month.
Thanks to Ramil and Treasure Evermore for their visits and comments. Now it is time for bed as it has been a long day. More bee business to come!
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