Spring?

It has been a very long time since I have blogged.  Life again just got in the way.  My little muffin was born on November 27.  Isn't she adorable?

Her name is Phoenix Marie and my daughter is doing fine.

Christmas came and went without much fanfare.  We got together at my mom's and also at our house.  Now with the kids getting older it is harder to get together with their in-laws and jobs getting in the way.  We still managed.

January came and the guys had a brilliant idea of buying more goats to increase the herd and hopefully have enough that my brother and husband could quit their jobs and farm full time.  They purchased 3 different sets of goats--8 at one place, 79 at another place and 39 at the last place.  Unfortunately the funding didn't come through and my brother had to back out.  Now we have about 240 goats and I"m mostly managing on my own with their kidding.  Thankfully Rachel came home from college and is helping me.  I think at last count we had 110 babies.

Here are some of the little trouble makers.

Spring was very late.. we had winter, then spring, then winter again.  At this point I think we may finally have spring.  We are suppose to be at 20° for the next few days anyway.
I haven't yet started planting my seeds.  I never seem to be in the house for longer than 2 hours at a time and I don't want to start a project like that with a time limit.  Hopefully at some point this weekend.

Easter came and went much like Christmas--for the first time ever the Easter Bunny did not leave lots of chocolate and candy.  Wow!  I'm sure having Phoenix around next year will make up for that..

Grad plans are in the making and a visit from Brad's mom is suppose to be happening shortly.

For the BIG news.. I now own a needlework business called Nimble Fingers Needlework Supplies.  I don't have many customers, but hopefully the word will spread and they will come.
Crafting has been slow lately.  My friend Wilena came up and we went to a quilt retreat together in town.  I accomplished a few things.  I have also finished my nephew's quilt.

 It is suppose to go home with mom.
I've been slowly trucking along on my various quilting projects as well as slowly stitching.  Once kidding has stopped and bottle feeding gets on a three times a day schedule I should be able to work a little more on my stuff.  I have 12 quilting projects I aim to finish this year so I better get with it.

Well until next time..

Losing Steam

Winter is upon us although it is still Autumn.  This week coming is suppose to be a week of snow.. Yuk.  I'm usually quite excited about the snow, but this year, I really wish we could be snowbirds and go south for the winter.

 My trip to Texas went well.  It was hot and muggy, but quite refreshing.  Anytime away is like that for me I think.  Change of scenery.  We saw the Japanese Tea Garden, the Riverwalk, the Alamo, Guiness Book of Records museum a bit of Houston and Hobby Lobby.  We went to the Women of Faith conference and otherwise, mostly stayed at the house and visited.

We're still awaiting on the arrival of the little grandbaby.  Here mama is at 37 weeks

Sorry it is a little dark.  I'm looking forward to finding out what it is  boy or girl.

I have managed to get up to Sept. done on our block of the month.  We may get through this quilt yet.. Trying to co-ordinate times is difficult.  I'm really trying to clean up the craft stuff I have in my room. I don't want to start any new quilts until the ones I have on the go are done.  I just have to finish up the binding on one and it will be done.  I have the outside border to finish on another then I can take it to be quilted.  I believe then I'll only have 6 or 7 to finish before I can start my son's and nephew's.  Busy busy.  I also have to finish up two sweaters that I started.  Hopefully before winter is over.

I'm starting to plan my Christmas baking and thinking about getting my Christmas cards ready.  The season is soon upon us.

The barn news lately isn't so good.  We have 3 mamas not long for this world.  The stupid Johnnes has now destroyed half our herd.  We have 4 little babies trying to hold their own, but we'll see if they make it through the winter.  They are quite small and not too strong.  They are separate from the rest to allow them full access to hay and grain without having to fight for it.  The desire to give up and not farm livestock is in the front of my brain.  Brad is taking a little more time to convince.  He has grand plans for the future.  On the up side, my hen who has not layed since early Oct. has now given me eggs 3 days in a row.  Woohoo.  I'm getting 9 a day now, so if you live in the near area and want eggs give me a shout.

Well that is all for now.  Hopefully my next post will have baby pictures of the human kind..

Summer's End

Well here we are almost at the end of summer.  it sure has been a busy one.  It has also been very very hot.  The Canada Day weekend saw company coming out to the farm.  2 of the kids and Robyn and I went to town and took in some celebration action.  The kids had fun swimming and playing on the inflatable things, then the day ended with some fireworks.

July was pretty much same old same old.. nothing really changed.  My garden produced and it was quite exciting.  Lots of zucchini

The cucumbers didn't really work out and at last look the peppers and tomatoes were coming along nicely.  The pumpkin is looking wonderful.

Our 23rd anniversary came and went without much fanfare.  Most of the family went to the beach to spend the day, but Brad stayed home to do hay.

Justine had a pregnancy photo update..she sure is getting big.

So far August has been spent canning fruit and vegetable and making pickles.

There are many more jars, but I won't bore you with all I have.

Brad and my birthday happened and Robyn brought me out an ice cream cake

It was sooooo good.


Amanda and I haven't really been too busy with our quilt blocks.  I have gotten 2 done.  Here is one:

Hopefully when we are done we'll be able to put it together in some way that all the colours work.

This weekend coming is chicken butchering.  This picture is some of the little wonders that will be put in our freezer.

We also had some puppies born.. I have never witnessed puppies being born and missed this time also.  The mommy Lyra disappeared to have them.  It took us 3 days to find her.  Anyway this is her batch.

And this is them a week later.

Well that is a bit of a summer update.  If I think of anything I really forgot I'll edit this post.  Ta-ta for now

Almost Summer

Here we are again after a long pause in my updates.  We are less than 2 weeks from summer.  My garden isn't even fully in.  Hopefully this upcoming week it will get done.  I'll try to post again with some pictures.
In the barn we are pretty much done kidding now.  There are 4 remaining does but there is no indication that they are pregnant; however; they do have till the end of the month to present us with something.
Here are some pictures

Our newest animals are my little chicks.  I just picked them up this morning.  I got 25 Cornish Giants, 10 Heavy White Turkeys and 6 Leghorns.  I'm very nervous about raising the turkeys because I have heard they are difficult to raise.
Here are my little ones

We've had some company again a couple weekends and so life is busy busy.  The weather has been mild, but dry.  We are very much needing a couple days of rain.  Brad's crops are in and he really would like some moisture so they'll grow.  Brad's mom arrives next week for her annual visit, so I'll get some much needed help with cleaning and gardening..  I'm glad someone likes doing it.

On the craft front...

Amanda and I have stalled out on our block of the month.  We've both been quite busy.  I'm hoping we can get back at it soon and stay on track.  I did finish the top of Courtney's quilt and I'm planning on getting it quilted before Brad's mom leaves so she can take it with her.  That way I can save on postage.  I aim to get one more quilt top done and then a baby quilt, then I want to stop quilting for the summer and make me some dresses and Taylor a couple pairs of shorts.  So so much to do and sooo little time.

Well I guess I'm out of talk now.. till next time.

Happy Spring

Well it sure has been a while.  Wow..

The snow has now gone and it the weather is more consistently mild. The most exciting news is that I´m going to be a Nana is November.. woohoo.. I´m planning to get busy making baby stuff.
The quilt I started for my niece is almost done--well the piecing is.  Danielle´s quilt is just waiting for the binding to be put on and it will be done.  My block of the month from last year is underway with me on installment #5.  I aim to get those 3 things done and then complete one baby quilt.  After that is accomplished I want to get back into scrapbooking for a bit.  Justine´s scrapbook really should get finished since she is now starting her own family.

At the barn things are hopping.  We have already birthed 100 baby goats with a few more to go.  We had a few preemies and a few accidents from moms, but so far all is well.  Hopefully we can keep it that way.  I´m debating whether or not to get chicks this year.  I´m not sure it is economical when I don´t sell the chickens or the eggs for profit.  It would probably be cheaper for me to just buy eggs when I need them.  I do like the home raised chicken meat though... urgh!! decisions decisions.

Amanda and I are anxiously awaiting planting time.  We both spent quite a bit of money on Heritage Seeds for an awesome garden each and have high hopes of doing alot of canning and freezing this fall.  I hope it works out.  It is almost time to start the little seedlings indoors.

My computer crashed and then just as we figured that all out it actually died.  Brad is awaiting a part now to see if he can fix it.  The part should be arriving on Thurs..  so no pictures until then.. So... it will probably be my next update before any new pictures get put on.  Should be some Easter ones.  Maybe a picture of Danielle´s quilt if I get my butt into gear.

Well I guess with that I will close.. It has been awhile, but there isn´t a whole lot new to tell you.  Till next time.

Brrrr!

I suppose a lot of blogs are starting with that title right about now.  For 3 days already we've been in the -20°Cs.  Today we hit a big low at -35°C.  For any Americans that is about -35°F also.  There is a slight wind making it even colder.  I tell you it was a long chilly 1/4 mile walk to the barn this morning.  Usually I take the quad down, but yesterday and today it wouldn't start. 

New Year's went well.  We had company for the 4 day holiday.  I got sick on the day after New Years Day.  I was out for 24 hours and then tried to recover the next day yet, from exhaustion.  Brad got it about 2 days after me. However; we are all well now and life is back to normal.

I discovered at the barn, this morning, that the goats hadn't been out for water in a couple days.  (no tracks to the waterer) I guess they find it too chilly to walk to the other side of the barn.  I filled an inside water bucket today for them and did they ever crowd around the water cooler.  All my chickens wanted out into the goat pen this morning so they'll be good and hungry tomorrow because their food is in their pen, not the goat pen. 

The weather is suppose to warm up this weekend and get back to above normal temps, so the only sustaining idea is that it is only temperary.
Brad has been coyote shooting with Kevin, but they haven't shot many thus far.
Danielle is gearing up for writing first semester exams next week.  Her and Taylor have both been working an average of 3 shifts/week at A&W.  Taylor is quite proud of his paychecks (first job)  We've also begun to plunge into 4H.  It isn't something I 'chose' to do, but 'had' to do.  They needed adult leaders and there weren't enough kids--hense not enough parents--to get out of it.  So I am now general leader of our small little group and I know nothing about it.  I'm too old to start into something like that.  Girl Guides would've been no problem as I'm familiar with that having been a leader before.

I've started a 15 project challenge being part of a facebook group.  The idea was to start or continue with a project each day for 15 days, then try to complete those projects during the rest of 2012. I have made a good start I think and will definitely be done at least 2--hoping for all 15.
I spent a few hours at the quilt shop last night, while Taylor was at work so I didn't have to make the trip to town twice.  I got the binding on my coffee mat--just have to stitch it closed now. 

                                      

I also completed a pillow case.  There will be a matching baby quilt to go with it eventually.

A good start was made on my niece's quilt also.  It is a quilt using 20 fat quarters.  I got 8 cut to size last night.

Taylor's  My puppy is growing by leaps and bounds..but can be quite lazy.  See how she lays down to eat.

She is almost housebroken.  Her cousin has been staying with us due to issues with my daughter at the moment and they have been getting along quite well.  I'm going out of my mind with 2 puppies though.

Well I suppose that is all I have on this cold cold day.  I think I need a bit of a snack and I need to check on my child that is supposed to be doing school..hmmmm

Take care,

Christmas Time is Coming

Well our predicted little ones came at the beginning of the month.

Thankfully only one mom was caught in July.  They were healthy and a good size.  We may end up keeping both of them.  One male and one female.  Brad has managed to de construct the walls in the barn so it is basically 2 rooms now with 4 pens in the middle for birthing.  We have put the new mom and babies in with the 4 smallest ones that we had and they occupy one room and the rest of the goats occupy the other.  I'm regularily getting 1-2 eggs now which is plenty for us.

Taylor asked for a computer or dog for Christmas, so we got him his dog, that he has wanted since we knew we were moving to the acreage.  After 3 days he decided it was too much work and wanted us to take her back..Ugh!  So guess who is looking after a  10 week old puppy?  She is cute though.

Our house has been decorated also.  The girls put the lights on and Rachel and I decorated it.

They actually did a fairly good job.  It is our first 'real' tree in several years.  I forgot the mess the needles make.












Now if I could just get the house cleaned before the Day...I'm not sure that will happen with this many animals... Geesh!  I'm really hoping my strength by next spring will be such that I can oust all these animals except the one dog (lack of hair for outside life).  I just can't stand the meowing at the door.  Tomorrow is baking day.  Amanda and the girls and mom, Danielle and I are planning on baking here.  Now mom sounds like she is backing out.. We'll see if she shows up.  I have to get to town today to buy baking supplies and also to get Taylor's paperwork for his job in so he can start.  Although it is snowing pretty good right now. I hope it doesn't continue too long.

On Sunday we celebrated Justine's 21st birthday.  She is quite excited to be that age.

 

Well I better get off to get chores done so we can head to town.  Till next time.

Winter is Arriving

Another month since I posted.  Oh my goodness...

Construction or should I say destruction down at the barn.  Brad is removing walls and stalls.  He just wants a big open barn that is better for cleaning.  He can use the bobcat then instead of  3 or 4 of us with shovels.  He plans to leave one or two stalls for birthing.  I have done a head count at the barn and we have lost more goats than have been recorded.  I'm not sure how but nonetheless there are 12 less than we thought.  We have kept back 4 little ones.. An aquaintance of mine was suppose to take two for pets, but she never showed up to take them, so they will be staying.  They were just too little at the time to send to market.  They will have to wait until the next round.
Well I am routinely getting at least 3 eggs a day.  Awesome!  I don't have to buy eggs anymore..There is still something in barn trying to eat them though because there is usually a hole in one of them.

Today the wind is howling, well all night really.  There is a skift of snow on the ground and it looks soooo cold.  It is suppose to go down to -27°C tomorrow night so we'll have to wait and see.  I can see it happening and I always feel so bad for the outdoor animals when it does that.  If the temps are dipping that low already it is definitely going to be a bitterly cold winter.  Yikes.  I wish we had stalls in the upper barn for the horses.

Nothing has been done with any crafts except the purchase of new items.. Geesh! I'm going to take my mom's quilt in to be quilted soon.  That will be one of her gifts for Christmas.  I also found a cross stitch that I made for her quite a while ago.  It just needs framing, so that will be her other half.  I did join two Christmas Ornament Exchanges.  I have one finished and sent off and the other is at least started.  Mail date is Dec. 4 I believe.  Better get busy on it.  Hopefully some more progress on something will be done on this terribly snowy/windy day.

The two remaining kittens are gone now.  The house is back to normal if you can call it normal.  Rachel has applied to college, so we are hoping to hear in the next couple weeks whether she is in or not.  She'll stay living at home working this winter and next summer, then head off in the fall.  She has found a job for the winter and so has her boyfriend.  They are set.   Danielle is going for her road test next week.  She wants a job and doesn't want me to have to drive her.  Our play was good.  People enjoyed it anyway.  We had 6 performances--wasn't sold out at any but a good turnout.  I'm glad it's over, but am interested to see what play is picked for next year.

I guess that is it for now.  Hopefully I'll have some pictures for next update.  It think it adds to the blurb.

Update

It's been a little while since I've updated again.  Boy time sure slips away.  The yard is covered in leaves and the trees and pretty much bare.  The days are chilly with a titch of warmth left in them.  Halloween is coming upon us soon and I'm not sure if my kids are doing anything this year or not.

The final batch of baby goats are being shipped tomorrow.  The barn will then be emptier awaiting the arrival in the spring of the new babies.  I haven't been as attached lately to this batch.  They go out to the pasture all day and I really don't see much of them anymore. An aquaintance of mine has requested to buy 2 babies from us for herself as pets.  Brad would like her to pick them up right away--so I guess I better call her today.

My new chickens have started laying eggs--well at least one of them.  Our eggs are all peewee size and we do have some tweeking to do with the nest box as some of the eggs are getting crushed.  They are suppose to roll away so they don't get crushed, but the weight of the chicken pushes the other end of the wire mesh up and squashes the egg on the wooden perch.  Very exciting.

We have 1 outdoor kitten out of 7 that has survived thus far.  We'll see if he makes it all winter.  Of the 3 I brought in I still have 2.. I was hoping they would be gone.  Surprising really that they are still here, they are so cute.  Well they'll have to go out in the spring if noone takes them.

I took a quilt class and made a little wall hanging.  It isn't quite done yet.  I just bought a button for his nose yesterday. I also have to create the hanging case for it.  Maybe today.. I also just ordered a bunch of little cross stitch tucks.  6 of them.  I'm going to make them up and have them for the Christmas Market next year.  I always say I'm going to have stuff and never have it.  I'm bound and determined this year coming to make stuff for 2012s market.  Dishcloths, cards (stitch and paper), tucks, and who knows what else.  I'm even going to have a special storage space for it all., then I can book a table early spring and go for it.  I'm going to start a dishcloth today.
Justine and Eddie's wedding quilt won first prize at the fair for the category -first quilt ever, machine stitched--  It was the only entry in that category but who cares.  I also won for my paintings.  It was quite enjoyable and that brings me to my crafting goals number 2.  I aim to create for as many categories as I can to enter next year.  Cross your fingers that I havne't made too lofty of goals.

I think Rachel wishes to stay home for the next little bit.  She was going to move in with friends a couple hours away and just work, but I think she has now just decided to stay home.  She aims to go back to college in the fall, so she'll move then.  Woohoo...

Danielle and I are in a musical drama and the performances are coming up quickly.  I'm not sure about pulling it off.  I havne't had a chance yet to practice my part on stage--hopefully on Sunday that will happen.  I really should learn my scene and rehearse my lines.

Taylor is coming along with school.  Not are energetic as I'd like, but nonetheless it is getting done.

That's all for now..

Autumn

Well a definite chill is in the air.  We are dropping to 0°C at night.  Brrrr!  Actually right now we are at -1°C.  It is suppose to go up to 19°C at some point today.  The trees are all starting to shed their summer glory.

It is sad really, but wonderful at the same time.

My darling daughter number 2 has decided to move out and live with friends until next May when she'll pop back in to repeat her summer job.  Not sure when that is happening, but I imagine before Halloween.

We also have a repeat customer at our house.  Ember has come back to live with us.  She is having issues regarding her house training and my eldest is tired of it.  So Justine passed the problem on to me.  Hopefully we can fix it or I'm not sure what is going to happen.  Changing diapers on a dog is not happening.
This is Ember

We also had a neglected batch of kittens come in the house to be bottle fed.  We're not even sure who they belong to outside, but we have an idea.  At any rate another week or so and they'll be ready for new homes.  I hope I can find some homes for them.

On the farm end:  We lost another mama goat. She died the same way as most of the others that have died.  Just wasted away.  She lost her baby quite a while ago from neglect and I wonder if she didn't know that she wasn't well and that's why she let her baby die.  Who knows.  It's almost time to put the bucks back in with the gals, so we need to get rid of the rest of the babies soon whether they are up to weight or not.
The last of our roosters will be butchered in a couple weeks.  It is time.  We don't plan to heat the chicken coop and it is getting quite cold out there.

Crafting?  Well I have managed to put a few stitches in a couple projects.  Today I will complete page one of my Love Is project for Justine's anniversary.

I should also make a bit of progress on my quilt.  I really would like to see it finished and put on the spare bed.  Andrew's vacating the spare room and my finished quilt could be timed to match, but I doubt it.  He'll be gone within a month and there is no way that quilt will be done that fast.  I'm taking a quilt wall hanging class on Sat.  Hopefully I'll complete it there and have a finished project to brag about. 

Well I'm off to check the animals.. See you next time.

Time for an Update

Well where to begin.  I guess I last left off with the wedding.  Since then we've shipped 46 kids to market with the rest heading there sometime around Oct. 1.  We've had a few minor illnesses with some but nothing serious.  The nice pasture grass is pretty much dead and Brad put in the hay bales.  So things are getting back to busy.  We'll be aiming to breed at least half sometime this month.

We said goodbye to 19 broiler chickens.  We had a nice day with friends and family butchering.

The first lucky contestant

 On we go...

All the pretty birds in a row

 

 

 

 

Having a wiener roast after.

And that was that.  We're having another butchering day in Oct.  Kevin and Amanda's birds will be ready and so will our roosters.  I saved back 13 hens and 2 roosters, but we may keep less than that.

Mom, Danielle and I spent a couple hours last week making some cards.  This is the start of the monthly meetings that were suppose to happen starting last January, but somehow never did.  Anyhow ...

The first card is one of the 2 we made.  Danielle has the other card picture on her camera.  The second card is one I made after I got home.  These are from a kit from Annie's Attic.  Each kit makes 8 I believe, so there will be enough to split.  Amanda may join us too.

Speaking of Amanda.  We're going to the city this week to finally get to a health food store, knitting store, teacher's store and homeschooling store.  woohoo.. going to be a busy day.  We have projects that we need to get supplies for.  All the stores are entered into my GPS already so we should be good to go.

Danielle and I also auditioned for a musical/play in the nearby town and we both got in.  We went to a practise last night to do a read through.  Our parts will be emailed to us this week.  Quite exciting really.

Well I guess that is as updated as it gets for now.  Time to get on with the day.