On Cloud Nine

Aspen at aprox 6 am this morning gave birth to two beautiful kids. A boy and a girl. They are the light of my life right now! I am so thrilled with twins I could reach the sky.

Of course she had to choose the wettest day we have had in a long time. It poured all day long.

It was so peaceful just sitting there for hours playing with the kids, having them sleep in my lap, next to me or jumping on my legs.

Watching Aspen mother them and try to keep her eyes on each of the kids was so much fun. They didn't seem to mind that they were being cooped up because of the rain their 4x4 space seemed to keep them occupied.

So I now have added one girl and one boy to my herd. Above is Hans my handsome little guy. And to the right is Miss Minuet.

Minuet and Hans -- loving siblings =)

Pictures

This is Tennesee the horse I ride. I thought you might enjoy seeing him.

This is Jasper my wether. He loves to give me kisses. Jasper is almost 2 years old. He is a mutt goat and I love him to death

Me and the girls. From left to right; Mia, Aspen, Destiny and Misty

"so mom how do I get down?"

The goats current pen and shelter. New barn is coming soon!!!!!

"All in a days work"

The above statement was made by my grandmother as I walked slowly past her deck on my way inside. Darkness had descended a while before and it was getting hard to see simple things.

My brothers and I had worked feverishly to clean out the goatshed as daylight drew to an end, I cleaned up the tools after our hard labor relieved that everything is now ready for kids to arrive. As I dished out feed for each goat I was scrapping the bottom of the barrel. So as they ate I was off to the shed, first to take some old lumber to the pile, then inside to grab a hook to fix the hay manger. I placed the bags of feed in the wheel barrow and back to the goats. I am mixing feed to save money so as the girls enjoyed the alfalfa pellets I gave them I scooped out feed and mixed it by hand in the barrel. Now we are past dusk as I grab water buckets, dump them and start scubbing. As the last little flicker of light is going I am able to see enough to know that each bucket is full of clean fresh water I put the scrub brush away, grab the fly spray bottle and its refil concentrate and off into the house. Not enough light to read the mixing directions, will have to do that inside.

Yes she is right.........."it's all in a days work"

Oh am I in heaven?

I was able to go riding yet again this week! This ride was longer and a faster pace. The morning was beautiful it is so hard to describe!

Later on I tried out my new milking stand. None of the girls (or Jasper) were to thrilled with it. I litterally had to pick each goat up and place it on the stand. Misty just about made me loose my sanctification! UGH dumb goat.

But boy did the milking stand save my back..........hmm or did it since I had to pick each one up at around or above 55lbs each! Well it was certainly less of a dance with each goat as I was able to stand and pick up their hooves, trim each one and their head was restrained. Of course they got extra grain to keep them happy while they stood there, if they chose to eat it. Some of them were to worried about trying to get out then eating. I never will understand a goat. *shakes head*

10 days till Aspen and Sweet Pea are due! I can't believe End of The Line Farm's first kids will be on the ground soon! check out my website http://www.endofthelinefarm.com/ These of course are not my very first kids but the first registered kids with my farm name!

I also just made the decision to purchase another registered doe. It is a big decision for me and I still haven't written out the deposit check and mailed it but I hope to do that tomorrow. I am hoping I am making a good decision purchasing her sight unseen. But her picture is so cute and her lines are really good and her kids look awesome. I can't afford to take a trip to NY just to check her out so I have to make this decision based on what I can see via pictures and pedigree. She looks promising and I purchased Sweet Pea sight unseen too and for some reason that wasn't as hard to do as this one. I get excited one moment and then concerned the next. I think the gas price is what is making it so hard. She is 3 hours from me. Oh well I just need to stop worrying. I have prayed about it but not sure about the answer! Oh why can't things just be clear.

Uh oh I am rambling, not good.

Unfortunately that was the end of my beautiful day as work took up the rest of it till now. Tomorrow is another day though and I have lots to do.

Early April Musings

Oh how I love warm weather! the things I can get accomplished are numerous!

For starters I got half the goat pen cleaned out. That took me 2 days to accomplish. I expect the back pen and the shed to take me a couple more days. It is back breaking work but I enjoy it....maybe I will gain some arm muscules while I am at it, can't beat that. :D

12 days till my first does are due! I can't believe it is almost here! But I certainly am not ready. Still need to clean out the kidding stalls and get my kidding supplies ready. I try to be organized and ready.

Spring life isnt' all about the goats though. The garden preparation is in full swing. Working in the garden with the sun on your back is such an awesome thing, makes me almost giddy with excitement for the warmer days ahead. I missed the garden last year and though it is a lot of work I wouldn't trade it in for anything. Today I was able to finnish making trellis netting for all the trellises. This will make growing tomatoes, beans and squashes much easier as they grow up it instead of all on the ground.

Along with gardening there are short and long trail rides on horse back to be enjoyed. The forrest still looks like winter as you ride on through unless you take it a bit slower and look really close and then you can see the leaf buds on the ends of the huckleberry bushes and brush, in no time the forrest will be bursting alive with bright green color, it is like one day you wake up to it. That always sends a thrill through me.

But until then the anticipation will have to hold me over. There is a lot to anticipate, warm continuous weather, kids, green forrest..........oh how I love spring!