Well tis the season...we are anticipating lots of new babies anytime.
One of our ducks hatched 10 of 12 eggs she was sitting on just recently. 9 of them survived. With all the new lil ducks and geese we turned out to pasture recently, our goose decided she wanted to sit on an egg. She there she sat for what seemed like eternity. We began to think that she was sitting on a dud. Thursday, the egg was gone but no baby. :/ We felt bad for her. Then Friday we were loading our calves to take to the vet and in the pasture was the teeny baby goose. YAY he made it! :)
Our lil duck is again sitting on 12 eggs due to hatch anyday now. But now another one of our ducks is sitting on 5 eggs and a chicken egg.
Our nanny goat is about to pop. Not sure if shes carrying 1 or 2. But we cant wait for them to get here. Any day now also.
"Jenny", our donkey, is about to explode also. She is so big we are questioning whether she might be carrying twins also. If it is not twins, it is one LARGE baby! Im excited but concerned.
We had one tabby who had a litter of kittens a couple of days ago, and "spots" had her litter last night. We have lots of field mice waiting on those babies to get bigger.
And last but not least, "Bonnie" our lop rabbit, is about to have another litter any moment. The last litter she had was just gorgeous. Cant wait to see what this one brings.
We also brought home 3 new baby girl boer goats yesterday. They are just adorable too.
Thats all on the baby homefront for now. :) Will put up pictures soon.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Lost in Missouri
By the way...if you are ever traveling on Hwy 71 in Missouri around Lamar. There is a convenient store that has maps for sale. However there is a crabby old woman that works in that store that doesnt like you to look at the maps to figure out where you are if you are lost.
I did not get her name, but youll know her. She very rudely asked me if that was "my map". I replied no. So she proceeded to tell me that I need to put it back because if I put a crease in it she cant sell it. (As if maps dont have creases)
Anyways, my husband bought that map...then tossed it to her and told her to stick it where the sun dont shine (thats the nice version). So the moral of the story is...if you are ever there and you are lost...stop in and use the map. Cuz it IS mine and I am telling you that you can use it to find your way!
I did not get her name, but youll know her. She very rudely asked me if that was "my map". I replied no. So she proceeded to tell me that I need to put it back because if I put a crease in it she cant sell it. (As if maps dont have creases)
Anyways, my husband bought that map...then tossed it to her and told her to stick it where the sun dont shine (thats the nice version). So the moral of the story is...if you are ever there and you are lost...stop in and use the map. Cuz it IS mine and I am telling you that you can use it to find your way!
Trip to the twilight zone
I am a Texan...I love Texas. But we had to make the trip to Iowa for my stepdaughters graduation. The drive took about 13 hours when you figure in tinkle stops, fuel fills, and meals. Not a whole lot to look at. Most of the drive was turnpike. Now that part was most definitely boring! Except for paying a large chunk of our retirement at every toll booth. Always fun.
Make sure if you see a gas station that you fill all the way up cuz there may not be another one for an eternity. And if mother nature calls out there, youre screwed!
I must say Des Moines sucks. I did not find one thing about that town that I liked. (except for my husbands friends) The neighborhods are crowded and cluttered. Every neighborhood looks like a ghetto. One way roads EVERYWHERE! We traveled with a Garmin, which in most cases is a nice tool to have. But between the road construction and the new roads, the Garmin had no clue where to tell us to go. It was telling us to take roads that were closed off by concrete baracades. "Look kids, Big Ben...Parliament" However, after 3 days the Garmin was so tired of this place that it literally told us to drive off an overpass! TWICE!
Then I had a dream that no matter how many times and ways we tried to leave, we were stuck in Des Moines! Nightmare! So we travel on our way home. Garmin gives us a different route back. Which strangely enough seemed to all be heading back to Des Moines. We did finally make it out of that craphole place after lots of wrong turns. Thank God!
If I never have to go back, it will be too soon!
Make sure if you see a gas station that you fill all the way up cuz there may not be another one for an eternity. And if mother nature calls out there, youre screwed!
I must say Des Moines sucks. I did not find one thing about that town that I liked. (except for my husbands friends) The neighborhods are crowded and cluttered. Every neighborhood looks like a ghetto. One way roads EVERYWHERE! We traveled with a Garmin, which in most cases is a nice tool to have. But between the road construction and the new roads, the Garmin had no clue where to tell us to go. It was telling us to take roads that were closed off by concrete baracades. "Look kids, Big Ben...Parliament"
Then I had a dream that no matter how many times and ways we tried to leave, we were stuck in Des Moines! Nightmare! So we travel on our way home. Garmin gives us a different route back. Which strangely enough seemed to all be heading back to Des Moines. We did finally make it out of that craphole place after lots of wrong turns. Thank God!
If I never have to go back, it will be too soon!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Oh Poor Babies
DDAY...the day I have been dreading for a long time. We had to take our heifers and our lil bull calves in to have them dehorned. UGH! Our cows are like huge puppy dogs...and we have done all the shots and worming at home. They have been healthy so no need for vet trips yet. So they were freaked out when they had to go today.
I have seen the vet dehorn cows before so that wasn't a shocker. I know for our safety and the safety of the oher cows, that they needed it. We even had the vet give them lidocaine and pain meds. But it was still hard. Its like the feeling when you take your baby into the pedi doc to get shots and you cringe.
The made it thru alright, altho they are sulking. "Nita" (our brahma heifer) wont have anything to do with me at the moment other than takin the feed. Other than that she is still pissed. The lil boys arent that mad. I think they have a shorter memory span.
The weather is supposed to be nice for at least 7 more days, so we are praying for no complications. I hope by in the morning, Nita is back to her lovable lil self.
I have seen the vet dehorn cows before so that wasn't a shocker. I know for our safety and the safety of the oher cows, that they needed it. We even had the vet give them lidocaine and pain meds. But it was still hard. Its like the feeling when you take your baby into the pedi doc to get shots and you cringe.
The made it thru alright, altho they are sulking. "Nita" (our brahma heifer) wont have anything to do with me at the moment other than takin the feed. Other than that she is still pissed.
The weather is supposed to be nice for at least 7 more days, so we are praying for no complications. I hope by in the morning, Nita is back to her lovable lil self.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Do good things and it comes back to you
On a lighter note, I always teach my kids to do good things for others. I love the movie "pay it forward". That was just an excellent idea.
My son with his emotional instability, in convinced that the world is bad and you shouldn't do good because it gets you nowhere. Where he came up with this I'll never understand.
We were driving down the interstate a week ago or so. There was a severe storm moving through. We saw a vehicle stopped on the side of the road and a gentleman under the hood tinkering around. We decided to turn around and see if they needed help. (I am always nervous about that. As much as I want to help everyone, nowadays, there are just too many dangerous people)
My husband is a mechanic so I was confident that we could be of some assistance. The sky was dark from the heavy storm cloud. Rain was falling so hard you could barely see the road. Turns out a belt was broken and the couple couldn't get a signal on their cell phones to call for roadside assistance. They were on their way to his mother's funeral.
The gentleman said that we were the answer he had been praying for. We got them out of the rain and my husband took the gentleman into town to help him get a belt.
They were a very sweet couple from AR. We hope that they made it to their destination safely and wish them the best.
The next day, totally unrelated, my daughter and I were carrying out a cart of feed for the animals. We always lift these 50# bags of feed never thinking anything of it. An older gentleman followed us over to the truck and said he would get them for us. I thanked him and told him I could get them. But he insisted. This gentleman had a brace on his wrist and a brace on his back, and wasn't walking that well, but he was adamant about helping us get the feed into the truck. I was very appreciative.
I do notice all the little nice things that people do for us. Was a small thing, but I thought it was a very nice gesture.
My son with his emotional instability, in convinced that the world is bad and you shouldn't do good because it gets you nowhere. Where he came up with this I'll never understand.
We were driving down the interstate a week ago or so. There was a severe storm moving through. We saw a vehicle stopped on the side of the road and a gentleman under the hood tinkering around. We decided to turn around and see if they needed help. (I am always nervous about that. As much as I want to help everyone, nowadays, there are just too many dangerous people)
My husband is a mechanic so I was confident that we could be of some assistance. The sky was dark from the heavy storm cloud. Rain was falling so hard you could barely see the road. Turns out a belt was broken and the couple couldn't get a signal on their cell phones to call for roadside assistance. They were on their way to his mother's funeral.
The gentleman said that we were the answer he had been praying for. We got them out of the rain and my husband took the gentleman into town to help him get a belt.
They were a very sweet couple from AR. We hope that they made it to their destination safely and wish them the best.
The next day, totally unrelated, my daughter and I were carrying out a cart of feed for the animals. We always lift these 50# bags of feed never thinking anything of it. An older gentleman followed us over to the truck and said he would get them for us. I thanked him and told him I could get them. But he insisted. This gentleman had a brace on his wrist and a brace on his back, and wasn't walking that well, but he was adamant about helping us get the feed into the truck. I was very appreciative.
I do notice all the little nice things that people do for us. Was a small thing, but I thought it was a very nice gesture.
I never would have thought
This is Nellie, our green quaker. We got her and a slew of other birds from a lady in Missouri. Nellie is one that thinks shes a person and not a bird. She also has become the "other woman" with my husband. She is obsessed with him. No one can touch her if he is around. If he is gone, she is just fine with anyone else. But let him come home and if you touch him she will attack.She is very smart and talks up a storm. She will say "give me a kiss", "merry christmas", and even meow like a cat. Nelie's favorite thing to do (besides obsess over my husband) was to fly up to the ceiling fan blade and use it as her personal merry go round. The fan would be off. Nellie would get on the end of th blade and bounce up and down to make the fan move. Then shewould walk to the inside of the blade and start bouncing and make the fan stop and turn the other direction. Pretty cute to watch.
I posted several personal videos of some of our animals on youtube. But I never thought that the video of Nellie on the fan would be the most popular.
CALGON! Help me!
This is a very hard and touchy subject to deal with. My son is 14 and has bipolar disorder which is comorbid with numerous other disorders. He started showing signs at age 4. However he wasn't diagnosed until age 5. We have been fighting this battle every since.
It was hard enough when he was a small boy having rages all the time. I did tons of research on bipolar disorder. I read over family histories. I read so much I could quote the PDR by heart.
Over the years I have fought with the schools for his rights. I have ridden the roller coaster right beside him. And I don't like roller coasters. He was homeschooled for 3 years after being kicked out of one school for threatening to stab a teacher. But it got to where I could not teach him. He would manipulate and defy me when it came to the school work.
I finally decided to put him back into public school. I desperately needed the break. He had more problems. Then he was hospitalized for the 8th time. I have exhausted all the resources at my disposal (meds, counseling, etc). Nothing seems to help this boy. He is now physically bigger than I am and totally refuses to comply with anything. Everything sets him off. I have reached the point where I can not handle him anymore but I have nowhere to turn.
I desperately need a vacation and a solution.
It was hard enough when he was a small boy having rages all the time. I did tons of research on bipolar disorder. I read over family histories. I read so much I could quote the PDR by heart.
Over the years I have fought with the schools for his rights. I have ridden the roller coaster right beside him. And I don't like roller coasters. He was homeschooled for 3 years after being kicked out of one school for threatening to stab a teacher. But it got to where I could not teach him. He would manipulate and defy me when it came to the school work.
I finally decided to put him back into public school. I desperately needed the break. He had more problems. Then he was hospitalized for the 8th time. I have exhausted all the resources at my disposal (meds, counseling, etc). Nothing seems to help this boy. He is now physically bigger than I am and totally refuses to comply with anything. Everything sets him off. I have reached the point where I can not handle him anymore but I have nowhere to turn.
I desperately need a vacation and a solution.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Rain rain go away
I hate to complain about the rain, however we have had so much rain in the last month that we are about to float away. Our pastures are flooded. If the weather keeps going this way, then my husband will need to start building an arc.
The good part is that our pastures are the most beautiful green you have ever seen. The cows are loving all the green grass. But the flip side is that it has been so wet we cant get anything done. We need to dehorn the cows, but we cant because of the amount of severe weather we have had. We need to move calves out of the pen they are in to the pasture, but we cant because we cant move the cows yet. All my sheep, goats, chickens, ducks and geese are wading in about 3 feet of watered down poo. (the ducks and geese like it tho) Its so nasty, but there has been no way to dry anything out. Everyday is the same forecast. It has become very frustrating. Again I hate to complain because I know just a couple years ago we were desperate for rain. Pastures were dead and to get good hay people had to get it from other states. I dont want a drought, but a reprieve would be great. At least long enough to let things dry out so we arent wading thru knee deep poo!
Our ponds are nice and full though :) The only problem is our little geese and ducks are so spoiled they dont want to hang out in the pond. They want to hang out by the house waiting for me.
The good part is that our pastures are the most beautiful green you have ever seen. The cows are loving all the green grass. But the flip side is that it has been so wet we cant get anything done. We need to dehorn the cows, but we cant because of the amount of severe weather we have had. We need to move calves out of the pen they are in to the pasture, but we cant because we cant move the cows yet. All my sheep, goats, chickens, ducks and geese are wading in about 3 feet of watered down poo. (the ducks and geese like it tho) Its so nasty, but there has been no way to dry anything out. Everyday is the same forecast. It has become very frustrating. Again I hate to complain because I know just a couple years ago we were desperate for rain. Pastures were dead and to get good hay people had to get it from other states. I dont want a drought, but a reprieve would be great. At least long enough to let things dry out so we arent wading thru knee deep poo!
Our ponds are nice and full though :) The only problem is our little geese and ducks are so spoiled they dont want to hang out in the pond. They want to hang out by the house waiting for me.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
New Addition
(Donna-Bellas sister)Well due to the circumstances with the coyotes returning, we talked to a few people that also had goats and sheep and they recommended getting a flock guard. They said that we need to raise it up with the flock.
So we searched for someone locally that had any Great Pyrenees pups. We had not been able to find any. However, we came across some people who did refer us to a man who did just happen to have a litter of pups. His pups were 6 weeks old and are 1/4 Anatolian Shepherd and 3/4 Great Pyrenees. Both of which are supposed to be excellent livestock guards. So yesterday we brought home our newest addition "Bella". She is currently rooming with a boer kid who we got the day before, "Sammy". She is the prettiest thing and we are saying some prayers that this does the trick.
(Sammy and the girls)Meanwhile, we are taking every other precaution to try and deter the predators and ward them off.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Sad week on the farm
I usually try to find the silver lining in every cloud. But sometimes there is just a time when you just can't find it.
Earlier this week one of our rabbits (who had a litter of 8 of the CUTEST babies in the world) decided for some unknown reason to start attacking her babies. They were 2 weeks old. She has had litters before. We are still unsure as to what her reason was. 5 were killed. We took the other 3 away from her, fearing that they would hold the same fate if left with her. We brought them inside to bottle feed them. The first day everything went ok. Then oe of the girls started not eating. She just refused to drink. She got weak and passed away. But the ONLY light at the end of the tunnel is that we do have 2 very cute, very healthy babies left. They are growing like weeds.
Just when we thought the worst was behind us...
We had a 2 month old boer goat we have raised from day 1 on a bottle. He was the cutest thing. When we got him he was very sick and very weak. We werent even sure that he was going to make the ride home. But he did. My son named him "Hammy". Appropriate name as he was a HAM! He did not think he was a goat. He thought he was one of us. He would follow us everywhere we went. If you called his name he would come running. He wasnt happy unless he was getting your attention, then he was the happiest goat in the world...even tho he didnt think he was a goat.
We went out this morning to feed all the animals and Hammy was no where to be found. We called and called. I started to panic. Wasn't sure if he got out of the pen and ran off looking for us...or if he got "taken". We kept calling for him. I walked the whole pen. As I got towards the back end of the pen, I saw what looked like a rock...after further investigation...I realized what it was (I will not go into details b/c it was NOT a pretty sight!). I started to cry. But I was angry at the same time. Mom came around asking if I had found him. I let her in on what I had discovered. She was upset too. But both of us knew that it was going to really kill my son. I walked around the pen to chase the baby geese back in and on the other side of the fence, I found the spot where the coyotes dug under the fence and beside the whole was a gruesome discovery (again I will not disclose what was found). But it boils down to...our precious Hammy was gone! :*(
This has been a difficult week, but a tremendously difficult day.
We did meet some nice people today who gave us one of their boer billy babies. He is a cute thing. A little nervous around people. But he is lightening up. I think he will be a good goat, but he is no Hammy.
They did put us in contact with some people who have great pyrenees puppies. We are getting one tomorrow for a herd dog. I have been told they are the best at guarding the herd. I HOPE SO! I can ot take another loss because of the coyotes.
We had a 2 month old boer goat we have raised from day 1 on a bottle. He was the cutest thing. When we got him he was very sick and very weak. We werent even sure that he was going to make the ride home. But he did. My son named him "Hammy". Appropriate name as he was a HAM! He did not think he was a goat. He thought he was one of us. He would follow us everywhere we went. If you called his name he would come running. He wasnt happy unless he was getting your attention, then he was the happiest goat in the world...even tho he didnt think he was a goat.
We went out this morning to feed all the animals and Hammy was no where to be found. We called and called. I started to panic. Wasn't sure if he got out of the pen and ran off looking for us...or if he got "taken". We kept calling for him. I walked the whole pen. As I got towards the back end of the pen, I saw what looked like a rock...after further investigation...I realized what it was (I will not go into details b/c it was NOT a pretty sight!). I started to cry. But I was angry at the same time. Mom came around asking if I had found him. I let her in on what I had discovered. She was upset too. But both of us knew that it was going to really kill my son. I walked around the pen to chase the baby geese back in and on the other side of the fence, I found the spot where the coyotes dug under the fence and beside the whole was a gruesome discovery (again I will not disclose what was found). But it boils down to...our precious Hammy was gone! :*(
This has been a difficult week, but a tremendously difficult day.
We did meet some nice people today who gave us one of their boer billy babies. He is a cute thing. A little nervous around people. But he is lightening up. I think he will be a good goat, but he is no Hammy.
They did put us in contact with some people who have great pyrenees puppies. We are getting one tomorrow for a herd dog. I have been told they are the best at guarding the herd. I HOPE SO! I can ot take another loss because of the coyotes.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Our Press Release
Our press release went out just recently and I am totally thrilled with it. Things have been going good lately. I attribute my faith to that. I turned everything over to Him.
Here is the press release that went out for us recently:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The Truth About How to Make Money Working From Home
Pickton, Texas, (PRWEB) April 23, 2009. -- A new website has been created that cuts through the endless layers of hype and false promises, and offers solid information on how to find work-from-home jobs that pay real money.
The Ultimate Job Directory lists nearly 1,000 work from home companies and business opportunities that have been thoroughly checked out and verified as legitimate. Listings include companies that hire telecommuters for customer service and sales, hundreds of direct selling companies and mystery shopping companies, transcription jobs and more. All information is checked regularly, and is constantly updated.
"Working from home is coming into its own," says Amber Scanlon, creator of The Ultimate Job Directory. "The daily commute just costs more time and money than a lot of families can afford -- plus, parents want to spend more time with their kids, rather than turning them over to day care and hoping for the best. Working from home is the perfect solution -- IF you can find real jobs that pay enough."
Scanlon, who spent years as a single mom, has always chosen to work from home, and knows all too well that most "work from home opportunities" are not opportunities at all.
"People get disillusioned," she says. "They answer an ad, and it turns out to be either a dead end or an expensive mistake."
With that in mind, Scanlon set out to create a resource that people could trust. A detective at heart, she did months of research, weeding out schemes and scams, and "zeroing in on the good stuff".
"If it's a come-on," she says, "it's not in there. And, if it's in there, you can bet it's for real."
For additional information, go to http://www.ultimatejobdirectory.com/.
Here is the press release that went out for us recently:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The Truth About How to Make Money Working From Home
Pickton, Texas, (PRWEB) April 23, 2009. -- A new website has been created that cuts through the endless layers of hype and false promises, and offers solid information on how to find work-from-home jobs that pay real money.
The Ultimate Job Directory lists nearly 1,000 work from home companies and business opportunities that have been thoroughly checked out and verified as legitimate. Listings include companies that hire telecommuters for customer service and sales, hundreds of direct selling companies and mystery shopping companies, transcription jobs and more. All information is checked regularly, and is constantly updated.
"Working from home is coming into its own," says Amber Scanlon, creator of The Ultimate Job Directory. "The daily commute just costs more time and money than a lot of families can afford -- plus, parents want to spend more time with their kids, rather than turning them over to day care and hoping for the best. Working from home is the perfect solution -- IF you can find real jobs that pay enough."
Scanlon, who spent years as a single mom, has always chosen to work from home, and knows all too well that most "work from home opportunities" are not opportunities at all.
"People get disillusioned," she says. "They answer an ad, and it turns out to be either a dead end or an expensive mistake."
With that in mind, Scanlon set out to create a resource that people could trust. A detective at heart, she did months of research, weeding out schemes and scams, and "zeroing in on the good stuff".
"If it's a come-on," she says, "it's not in there. And, if it's in there, you can bet it's for real."
For additional information, go to http://www.ultimatejobdirectory.com/.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)