Randomization is the pattern here

Trying to keep blogging although I still have trouble finding something worthy to say - last day of November 2009 - we had turkey vegetable soup from final chunk of Thanksgiving turkey breast .

Last week we waved a fond and rewarding farewell to 13 of our goats - 2 more to be sold this week. Will have at least 9 or 10 new kids in January or February. We are deliberately trying to keep the herd much smaller. Market isn't that good and we are needing to cut back on expenses (hay round bales are currently $60)

Freeze warning for this week so I cut all the remaining peace rose blossoms - can you believe it - this bowl of fragrant flowers on November 30!?

On the walking website I use Walker Tracker- I participated in a challenge - the reward of the challenge was for each ranking (from least steps to most steps walked during a specific time) to send a home made craft, art work or baked item to the person finishing ahead of you. I was blessed with this nifty knitted dishcloth from a walking pal in Norway! You can see the pattern of a goat's head knit into the cloth. Pretty cool huh?

Next is a picture of my beloved DH - working in his shop to install a new (larger) pet door for our barn cat Moe. The sparks were pretty impressive - Moe didn't stick around for this part.

So that's it - from soup to nuts - or goats to grinders! It is good on Buhlaland - God has blessed us with a beautiful place and the sense to enjoy it! Hope it is good where you are too.

"Worry doesn't empty tomorrow of it's sorrows, it empties today of it's strength." Corrie Ten Boom

Don't worry - be healthy!

What a difference a day makes

Day by day there are changes - this time of year is one of the biggest single events. The past few years - January has been our birthing month and that is a big change - June is typically our "go to market" month. When you raise animals for meat - the day comes when they go to market and the herd changes radically in size and make up. Never fear - Mikey and Rocky are definitely here and Boudreaux's fate has yet to be determined (he hasn't been neutered yet) - Nubie's little boy is destined to go to a friend's growing herd as a breeder.



So the top picture is yesterday and today we have 10 less goats. Today's picture is taken at an angle that shows our neighbors barn and corner of their house. They were all spread out so it is a little deceptive - but walking in the pasture makes me know that there are fewer animals. Only males left are Mikey, Rocky, Boudreaux and Nubie's boy. Our sweet does are OK with their boys being gone - it was past time to wean. Bananna continues to struggle with what we thought was a snake bite injury - she continues to have a big problem and we are out of options. We tried penicillin injections but she honestly seems to get worse - so for now - we'll do the old "wait and see" - hoping that her basically strong body will overcome the problem. Selling her little wether might help a bit - no matter how big those boys are - they'll still nurse as long as they can reach the mama. Tonight they all got a big ration of grain and goat feed. When we took the trailer of wethers in to town - I was a little sad but had a moment of pride as the meat inspector looked at our little guys and said they were the best looking animals he'd seen there. Life in the country isn't easy - it is good and fulfilling and exhausting --but you stay in touch with what is real.