New Goat Stand

I am new to tending goats and need all the help I can get with these squirming, kicking, free spirits. I have put together a goat milking stand which also can be used to examin, medicate, hold 'em for their hoof trimming which has to be done on a regular basis, as well as (we hope) milking the little darlings. This was the first time for me trimming the hoofs of goats and it was the first time they had it done by me. So it was a good test of the strength of the stand as these goats didn't want to have their feet messed with by the rank beginner (Me). The goats got trimmed I learned what I need to do to make the stand more efficient. The goats got a treat, so they would think better of the contraption later. We shall see the next time I put them in the goat milking stand :)

Fall is on its way

Fall is on it way to the farm. Time to reflect as to what we accomplished and what we didn't accomplish this year. Time to get the wood in and split some kindlin for the stove.
Lots of thinking going on here as to what to do for the winter and what projects to get done before the cold wind blows that white stuff around. Time to think about the future and what it will bring. Summer went by so fast I look back and wonder were did it go?
I am glad that things did get done that I wanted like getting electricity in the first floor rooms, we now have hot water, a real bathroom, the kitchen has cabinets, the barn has a new door to protect the goats.
I wonder what next year will bring?

Test of photo program

This is a test of the photo program

Me and my big friend

This is Princess and me having a little chat she is staying here at the farm while her owner is away on business. Princess is a big draft horse very calm and friendly she likes attention and will follow you about the pasture to see what your doing and sniff the equipment and look in the pick-up truck to see if there is anything there of interest.

Kentucky Hay Ride

Today I got up close and personal with a hay wagon I got to buck hay with two youngsters will being driven around the hayfield pulled by a tractor. This was my first time bucking hay and I had fun. I have always wanted to buck hay and now I have, it is a lot of work lifting those bales and those kids did a fine job. I could only keep up with them for one wagon load they did the rest of the bales on their own and had a fine talk with one another while they worked. The lad was from my next door neighbor's farm who has seven children so they felt they could spare one for the afternoon. The young lady came from down the road her Father shares in my hay and she loves to work with her Dad in the fields. If this is the kind of youngster they are growing here things don't look to bad for the future.

The hay is now in the barn so I have about two tons of hay to get me through the winter and that should give me a few bales to sell to help pay for the grain I feed the goats now and then.'
It won't be long and it will be breeding time for the goats so we will have spring kids and fresh milk and cheese.

The hens have been doing well laying from six to ten eggs a day, that will decrease as the days get shorter, but we will always have some eggs as long as we have birds.

Yup, fall is coming on quick got to get things ready for winter before I know it I will be lighting the stoves and hauling wood again.