ield was pretty with the snowfall until Aslan, Snow, and Koda decided to play tag in it. After that it ended up being a mushy mess of course I got to walk through to go to the barn. They absolutely love it, rolling and throwing the snow up in the air. But then they hear a noise and they are on guard. When the thaw started, and the ice started falling from the trees sounding like glass breaking, they were all over the field trying to figure out who was doing the damage.
The barn held. I was so happy and impressed with the job my husband and his friend did. All we lack to finish it is installing the 3 windows we got from a demolished building, finish the siding on the left side, and then install the doors on either end. A neighbor has offered to do this for us, and when the weather gets warm we're giving him a call. The goats will appreciate it I'm sure! The dogs and geese, probably not so much. They won't have free access to it like they do now.
If you've never had a barn cam before, I urge you to do so. It saves many an unnecessary trip on many a cold night out to check on the goats. Turning the volume up let's me hear everything that is going on in the barn...and makes kidding time that much easier and more exciting without having to run to the barn every few minutes.
Taxes are done, plans are being made for the spring. First are about 3 loads of gravel, especially since the recent snows have demolished what was left here in the yard. It melded with the mud and now we have grass and not gravel. In 3 different places!! And I've already gotten the car stuck in the yard. Great....is it spring yet?
A couple of weeks ago we headed to my friend Dr. LaNita Flannary's office in Paducah KY to get BB castrated and get Esther the goat who was trapped under the hay bale checked out. Oh, did I forget to tell the tale of Esther and the hay bale? Well, on Jan. 20th it was pouring down rain. As
I pulled back into the drive after picking my daughter up at school I saw that the round hay bale out in the filed had fallen over on it's side. The goats having eaten out the side of it and the rain having soaked it to the point it just caved in. I said "I hope no goat was trapped under there, and as I went out to feed and count heads I realized 2 goats were missing. The oldest doe Paris and the newly acquired goat (October) Esther. At that point I just knew. So I went to the hay bale where Snow the LGD was already sniffing around. Lifted it a little...mind you it is probably about 300#. And heard a wheeze. With all the strength I have, which wasn't and isn't much, I rocked it, and got it off of her. Bless her heart....couldn't believe she was still alive. After about 15 minutes of letting her catch her breath somewhat I carried her into my kitchen and we took her temperature. 109! I have never had a goat with a temp that high. EVER. I ended up putting ice packs on her pulse points under her legs, and just kept the AC on her. Believe it or not, after about 4 hours it was back down to normal and holding. But no idea about the kid(s). Well good news is we saw a heartbeat on the ultrasound and it was beating very well and strong!
Now for what else has been happening around here. Last Wed. we had a nice surprise. Snow gave birth to 2 male and 7 female pups! Sadly one was crushed the next evening, but other than that they are doing fine. So now we have 1 male and 7 girls left, and they should be able to go to their new homes around April 17th. We are asking $100 each fo them and we'll post pics as they get older on the website. They have had their dewclaws removed, and will be dewormed and have their first vaccinations before they leave. They are 1/2 komondor and 1/2 pyrenese and will be raised with the goats until they go to their new homes.
This morning we started out our kidding season on a sad note. Olson Acres Whispering Storm kidded with twins, but only the doeling survived. She is a gorgeous little light paint and we are retaining her for the time being.
We also picked up Ruby, the nubian who is bred for an April delivery. She is quietly making herself home here. She is a wonderful and easy tempered goat we hope to milk when she kids.
And then last but not least little nubian Holiday Magic is coming to the farm the middle of March, to add to our mini nubian herd.
We have added to our chicken population with 5 americauna pullets, 5 cinnamon queen 
pullets, and this weekend 20 speckled sussex straight run chicks. I also have a friend who is getting some welsummer eggs and after they hatch we are getting some of them. We are selling our phoenix and mixes and concentrating on the silkies and the layers.As you can see things have already started hopping here at the farm..now if only spring would arrive!
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