A year's worth of surprise

We are off to see the wizard! This is the humble beginning of a quilt for my dear daughter for her 33 rd birthday. 
And this raises some serious questions. Such as how did I get to the point I have a 33 year old daughter? Wasn't she just 2? And why has it taken me a year to get it together? Well I guess if we follow this humble blog in reverse we could find a completely  logical explanation for at least one of those questions.
The quilt is a combination of her loves Wizard of Oz and the pattern is from a book called State Fair Quilts and is the Carousel quilt. Since Annie loved the carousel at the county fair where she exhibited her lovely Toggenburg Dairy goats in 4-H this seemed to be an appropriate combination.

Now just promise you won't say a word to her because she won't be gifted until June.

Berrie's Big Adventure

"About time you heard us we would like to go into the barn please, getting a bit too rainy and cold for our liking."

"Kids, kids stay together now that may well be a predator garden hose, one never knows!" We all know how cautious Nubian's are.  And look they made it past the garden hose and the hanging basket. Well done Berrie and family.

Made it into the barn but another new obstacle in the way. Not new pen but formerly empty. Now filled with possible Nubian eating LaManchas. Oh bother, we all know LaManchas only eat Nubian ears out of jealousy!

"Finally, good job kids we are safe now . At least until tomorrow when we have to do it all over again. "

Catch up !

As much as I admire many other blogs for the their creativity , etc The Pioneer Woman , Hooves and Hounds, Farmer's Daughter to name a few, I am afraid that my blog will remain a chronicle of day to day living. A virtual diary as it were. I don't ever seem to find much time in the day to do blog type stuff or perhaps I am just not of that ilk. So here it is read it  and weep or laugh, it is nice to know that others get a giggle or a tear out of life here at Walnetto Farm.

We had kids on Saturday the first LaManchas born this year. The Nubian kids of a previous blog are almost 8 weeks old. Berrie their dam is just about at the "if I have to spend one more day in this pen with these children I will scream" stage. They all go out during the day to a larger area and it is a hoot to watch the four kids trailing behind Mom like ducklings heading for their day out or night trip back to the safety of the barn. I will make an attempt to remember my camera tonight to get a picture for this blog. Ears flying , leaping like tiny reindeer they are a sight for sure. I often think they resemble a field trip with group of 5 year olds and I am tempted to attach name tags and give them a length of yarn to grasp so they won't get out of line!

Only 1 more doe to kid this year another LaMancha due in mid May. I bred very few this year anticipating moving by now but with the escrow ending in no sale we are now once again playing the waiting game. So this marks the least amount of kids born on the farm in years. But with less comes more and I will be going to a few shows this year the first one next month in Red Bluff, not far from where we are moving and I am really looking forward to it. Oh and when I get photos of the "field trip kids" I will get one of the new additions a buck and a doe with the boy looking just like his sire Walnetto-Farm NRKM Longfellow.

With all the updates I am now back at the clinic working 2 days a week. They called mid February and asked me to help fill in at front desk (reception) and some days in back as nurse. It is really different as I don't have the responsibility of being there daily and I appreciate that. So I will continue until we get relocated the extra $$$ are nice and I enjoy seeing the clients and their critters. My plan is still to begin a commercial artisan cheese production when we move. I will not give up the dream so if anyone out there knows of someone looking for a nice little spread in Mendocino Co. at a more then reasonable price have them look us up!

My girls came up over Easter vacation. Emily and Claire (now 11 and 8 ) the week before Easter. I love this photo of them in particular Claire on the right who has such a classic look about her in it. They love to knit and Em is getting pretty good on her own now. The girls are a study in genetics as Em looks very much like her Dad and Claire is identical to Annie, my daughter her Mom. I will never get over how it all comes together. As when we have all four girls together you can see the similarities and still the individuality.

Aubrey came the week after Easter and we enjoyed her very much. She is maturing fast, will begin Jr. High this Fall. I am sure her parents are thrilled about that prospect! The group photo from Christmas time last year in Fresno has Emily (the tallest of the bunch) Aubrey on the right (the oldest of them) Claire to the left and Genna pretty in pink.

We are getting more rain today and we are loving it. After rationing last year it is nice to have more and even tho we need another year or two like this to put an official end to the drought having an above average year is 

wonderful! The clouds last night were just begging to have their photo snapped. Off to the barn. Have a wonderful day!

Spring , always a good thing!

Well out of the dark has come light. To be accurate more like a 2000 watt bulb and here she is.

 Now don't let this sweet profile fool you. Under the soft English Setter puppy exterior lays the heart of a masterful, high energy canine!

As you can tell by the thoughtful pose the little vixen has assumed in the photo below. Casual to lure one into a false sense of security but all the while planning her next move to steal her way into your heart.

I am ignoring you because you are stating rude and unfair things about me, a small innocent puppy, well I never!  And she has progressed since these photos were taken about 2 months ago. She is now 5 months 

and full of it. A bit more doggie, the awkward adolesent stage is beginning. And she has discovered the water at the lake and the ocean. She is the only one of all the English we have had that has delighted in water somewhere other than in a dish. She hops like a rabbit and growls at it. Rolls over on her back and wiggles. Attracting much attention from the folks who have made the trip to Lake Mendocino to appreciate the wealth of water we have this year.

I will get some more recent photos of the "child" and make a good effort to update her progress in the months to come.

And tonight we celebrate life!

 

I present Walnetto Farm Logan's Berrie and her 3 hour old kids. Two bucks and two does. Healthy, happy and just what we need!

 

Kelsey 1/2004 - 1/2010

I thank you my "little dog" you came to do a job and when you were done you left for home.

You won my heart you saved my soul and you will always be my"best girl". 

God's speed Kelsey see you soon.

THE DANCE 

by Garth Brooks

Looking back on the memory of The dance we shared beneath the stars above For a moment all the world was right How could I have known you'd ever say goodbye And now I'm glad I didn't know The way it all would end the way it all would go Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain But I'd of had to miss the dance . Holding you I held everything For a moment wasn't I the king   But if I'd only known how the king would fall. Hey who's to say you know I might have changed it all. And now I'm glad I didn't know The way it all would end the way it all would go. Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain But I'd of had to miss the dance. Yes my life is better left to chance. I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance.

Bear with me please

I will continue my ramblings at a later date. For now I am begging off due to Kelsey in last post is very ill. She has a compressed cervical disc and since we cannot afford the 5-7K surgery we are working with her on bed rest and pain relief and sedation.

I can honestly say that at this point the out come is not rosy. We had the first acupuncture treatment yesterday and the next one is set for Wednesday. But today she is not doing well as she was yesterday. I really don't believe it was a lack of effectiveness from the acupuncture but the pace of the pressure shifting. I see small signs that she is better but more ataxic (think of a drunken snake walking) then before.

We are praying, wishing, hoping. This is my "little dog" well not little as she is 59.6 #. But I got her when I was in tech. school 6 years back and she is my "pick up truck" partner, my all around farm dog and damn nice companion. She got me through some very rough times in life when there were huge family issues. So I am doing what I can do while still allowing the thoughts that enough is enough and she will not be stripped of her dignity.

So good energy, prayers, thoughts, dpns whatever please send one up for this dog "my best girl" tonight. See you later.