More Additions to Seldom Seen Acres

My Nanny Goat finally had her babies on Monday morning. She is a sneaking little brat. I had been checking her every night before I went to bed along with several other times throughout the day but Sunday night I hadn't, because she didn't seem any closer then she had been and I was extra tired. So wouldn't you know the night that I didn't check is when she decided to kid. She had twin girls (her first set, she has always had singles). *T* named them ShyAnn (the darker one) and Sabrina (the lighter one.



I had gotten an email from the lady who sold Mimi (my milk goat) to me on Saturday asking if I'd be interested in a Lamancha buck. I really wasn't but for the price I couldn't resist and he can be registered too. I just couldn't pass up the chance, because I know by this fall I'll probably be wishing that I'd gotten a Lamancha to breed Mimi to. So last evening *T* and I went to pick up our newest addition. He is a month old today, so he still needs a bottle. But, with all the milk Mimi gives we deffinatly have enough to share. Oh my gosh, he is so cute. I'm still not used to the Lamancha look, they just look like something is missing. His name is Blaze.


I almost forgot... we had two more calves born over the weekend too. That makes a total of 8 calves and 1 more to come. *H* has moved the cows across the road to Mom's place now so they aren't here on my land now but still close. Mom and I think it's kind of nice not having the burden of taking care of the cows but still get to enjoy them being here on the property. She said she almost wishes she'd sold them a long time ago. But not everyone would have left them here to graze either.
Well I really have to get some housework done today.... so I have to go for now.

Another week is gone

I dread this time of the week. I really do. Wednesday is usually the day that I sit down and figure out which bills will get paid this week and which ones will get put off another week... or two.
I just wish I had enough to pay all of the bills off for one month and be caught up then maybe I could stay caught up, at least for a while.

On a better note...
We had another new calf born here on Saturday evening, that makes six total, with three more to be born at some point in the near future.
I'm still waiting for the arrival of Nannie's baby, I think that goat hears me coming to the barn and calls everything off. At least a week ago I was so sure that she was ready to deliver that I even went out at 2 a.m. to check on her. Since then I haven't seen any signs of her being ready other than she is getting bigger by the day and her udder looks like it's about to explode.
I continue to get a gallon of milk per day from my new goat. I have been able to use or give away all of it so far. I've got to get some rennett and start making cheese. I did try yogurt today but I think I killed my culture because it didn't turn out and I did notice (to late) that the milk had gotten too hot.

Eggs, Meat,... and now Milk!!!

We (or should I say "I") am getting closer to getting most of our food from right here on the farm. We have beef grown here, I just got some rabbits that I plan on breeding and raising the babies for meat. We have had laying hens for a long time. And now I have a goat that is milking. So we have milk too :-)
I went to get Mimi (the milker) last evening and she had already been milked when I got there, so this morning was the first I milked her. She stands so good and is so easy to milk (unlike several others I have had). After work today I tasted this morning's milk and it is awesome. I started out with just a sip then I took another ... then another until I'd drank the whole glass. I guess I was kind of in shock that it was so good. Even though I've been telling *T* how good goat milk is I sorta forgot...oops! I took a quart over to Mom and Dad and they really liked it too. This morning I got 3# 13oz., tonight I got 3# 15oz. from her, a total of 7# 12oz. for the day. I'm so happy with her so far. Hopefully my happiness with continue.

Where has the week gone

On April 30th we got some more bunnies. I have been looking for more does so I can start raising them for our own meat, but haven't had much luck. Well last week I was on the Pennswoods Classifieds and saw an ad for bunnies. They only wanted $2 for the big ones and $1 for little ones. I emailed the owner to find out what breed they were and got a reply saying "just plain bunnies"... LOL.. After reading the email I realized that the girl who has the rabbits is the daughter of the guy who reads our gas meter [you know you live in a rural area when...] And they live not too far from here. The day after I emailed then about the bunnies just happened to be the day *L* came to read the gas meter, so I asked him about the bunnies and told him we'd probably be over to look at them the next night (Thursday). That evening I got a phone call from *L* and he said someone might be coming from a couple of hours away the next day, to get rabbits, and they said that for the price they would take all of the ones they could. So *L* wanted to let me know that I'd better go that night and get the ones I wanted. We ended up getting three does. So hopefully in a few months we will be having babies. I want to give them a little time to get used to us before I stress them more with babies. I will tell you that my buck rabbits is happy to see that he has new neighbors and he is not the only rabbit left on earth.

I'm going to look at a milk goat on Wednesday. I am so excited.... I can hardly wait... I don't know why but I feel like a little kid getting a Birthday or Christmas present, last week was my Birthday so can I just consider this a late Birthday gift?
I don't think I have *T* convinced that having a milking goat is a good idea. But then he didn't think butchering the turkeys was a good idea either, but loved the taste of the meat. So maybe he will come around after a few batches of cheese and ice cream. I am currently looking for cheese recipes that are not too hard... so if any of you have any send them my way, please!

I've got to close this for now and get to bed... 5 a.m. comes real early.