Almost There!!! Pigs turn 6 months.

Well the corn must be working the pigs are getting huge!!!!  Yesterday Jamie measured them since they turned 6 months old.  I am happy to say they grew tons!!!

The girl pigs weight came in at 202lbs, that's a gain of a whopping 66lbs in one month.  The boys weight came in at 180lbs, with a huge gain of 64lbs in the last month.

Girl Pig, 6 months old

Boy Pig, 6 months old

I just stocked up on corn and bought 4 bags not realizing the pigs would have grown that much in one month.  We will be feeding them the rest of the corn which should last us about 2 more weeks and we will measure them again. We are hoping that they will be ready to go to the butcher by the end of February.

Besides their weight gain, they are doing great health wise.  Happy pigs, very sociable.  They love when we come down for feeding time obviously, but they also love to have pats and scratches.

It's been raining quite a bit here for the past couple of weeks, so Jamie and I spent an hour or so cleaning out their pen over the weekend, getting rid of all the muddy, wet hay.  Once done, we put down about 2 bales of hay for them to lay on.  They were so happy flipping the hay in the air and laying down rubbing in it.

I took a few pictures of Jamie measuring the pigs. 

Jamie with the pigs 1-29-12

Jamie measuring the boy pig 1-29-12

Jamie measuring the boy pig 1-29-12



Brady turns 1!!!!

Brady as a baby

Brady turned 1 today.  It's funny how he and best friend, Bruschi were only born 1 day apart and actually have spent everyday together since that first day.  They are best friends.

Brady is doing well.  These days he's all about the girls.  He is still experiencing his first rut, thankfully its not in full swing anymore.  It makes me a little sad he doesn't think of me as his mama anymore. I'm considered a girl to him.  I take care of the girl goats first so when by the time I go into the boys pen I smell like the girls.  Brady is fine running to his feed dish but if I spend any excessive time in the pen then I have to watch out. He's comes on over to me looking for pats and rubs but then starts smelling the girls smells and then its over for me.  He will start making mating noises at me and you know it, will try to mount me.

Most of the time Brady will get his pats and rubs through the fence so I don't have to worry about this and possibly be taken off guard and get hurt.

For all of you who don't know, we are originally from New England and of course are big Patriots fans.  That is how Brady got his name.  He is named after The Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady.  Brady is an American Nubian and is currently our herd sire.  We are expecting some of Brady's babies in March and April.

Here are some pictures I took of Brady today.

Brady enjoying the wind in his face

Brady nibbling at the cedar post

Brady

Brady and his best friend Bruschi

I can't believe how fast time goes by and the boys are already 1 years old.

Homemade Soft Pretzels

When Jamie was little he loved to cook, still loves to cook.  Thankfully his mom encouraged him to learn how to cook and when he was around 11 years old his mom bought him a cook book.  We still have this cookbook and use it quite often.

Jamie's childhood cookbook

Jamie asked the kids if they would like to make homemade soft pretzels and they were all for it.

This is the recipe.

1 package yeast

1 1/2 cups warm water

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon sugar

4 cups flour

1 egg, beaten

coarse or sea salt

First measure the warm water into a large mixing bowl.  Sprinkle on the yeast and stir until combined.  Add salt, sugar and flour.  Mix and knead dough.  Next roll a small amount of dough into a long snake to twist into pretzels or any shape you would like.  Place on greased cookie sheets.

Drew making his pretzels

Hailey making her pretzels

Once all the pretzels are on the cookie sheets you want to brush the pretzels with the beaten egg and sprinkle with the coarse or sea salt.

Drew & Hailey adding the egg wash and salt

Next you bake the pretzels at 425 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.  Once done enjoy!!

Cooked Soft Pretzels

Homemade Soft Pretzel

The pretzels came out delicious.  I like to eat mine with mustard.  The pretzels freeze really well to.  Just pop them in the microwave and they come out warm and soft again.

Jamie also took some of the dough and wrapped it around a hotdog and baked it with the other pretzels.  Those came out real yummy too.  Might be a yummy snack to have while watching a football game.

Bruschi turns 1

Bruschi as a baby -only 3 months old

Today is Bruschi's birthday. He is now 1 years old.  Bruschi is our wether which means he can't have babies.  We bought him to keep our buck Brady company.  They truly are best friends and if they are separated for any amount of time they start hollering back and forth for each other.

Bruschi is a little boy at heart still.  He loves his pats and rubs. Bruschi is a silly boy and still loves to run sideways and kick up his legs like he did when he was little.

He has gotten quite big in the last year and is the biggest goat we have here.  Bruschi is a Nubian LaMancha cross.  That is why he has those cute little ears.  They are called airplane ears.  Those ears where actually the reason why we got him. We just couldn't resist his sweet little face and those silly ears that stick out.

Here are some pictures taken today.

Bruschi

Bruschi

Bruschi - this is a good one of his cute ears

Bruschi saying hello

Bruschi checking out Chelsea

Bruschi chowing down on some hay

Bruschi's close up

Bruschi with his best friend Brady

Happy Birthday Bruschi, we love you!!!

Homemade Granola

Hailey & I love granola cereal, especially the ones with nuts and fruit in it.  We decided to try to make our own.  I searched recipes online and decided to use 1 recipe but just add in what we like to it.  Here is the recipe.

8 cups of oats

1 1/2 cups of milled flax seed

1 1/2 cups coconut

1 1/2 cups chopped raw almonds

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup maple syrup

3/4 cup honey

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

raisins, dates, dried cherries, blueberries & cranberries

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Combine oats, flax seed, coconut and almonds in a large bowl.  In a saucepan, stir together salt, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, cinnamon & vanilla.  Bring to a boil over medium heat and then pour over the dry ingredients.  Stir well to make sure everything is coated.

Spread mixture onto baking sheets evenly.  Bake in oven for approximately 30 minutes, stirring a few times.  Your granola will still be soft but as it cools it will crisp up.

Granola ready for baking

 Let cool and stir in the raisins, dates and dried fruit.  Store in an air tight container.

Finished Granola

I did try to figure out the comparison cost wise.  It works itself out pretty equally to what I would spend if I bought a box of granola cereal at the store.  So there really isn't much savings to make it yourself but it tastes absolutely yummy and it makes the house smell really good while your making it.  Plus it was some nice time Hailey and I spent together, she loves to cook.

                                    

Priscilla is 3 months along.

Priscilla is 3 months along today.  She is doing wonderfully.  I have noticed some changes in her.  She is eating lots.  Every time I bring in hay she goes at it crazy, like she is starving.  She is also becoming extremely friendly.  All my goats are friendly but since I haven't had Priscilla since she was a baby she is usually the last one to come looking for lovins.  She now is usually the first to come over for her pets and is starting to love to be cuddled and hugged.

As I have told all of you before, I have her babies from last year. Priscilla had two doelings Abby & Maddie.  We hope she has two girls again but are just really hoping for healthy babies.

Here are some pictures of her today, January 20th 2012 at 3 months along.  I took these pictures this morning to make sure she didn't have any extra weight on her from eating and grazing all day.  You can really see her baby bumps in the 2 bottom pictures.  I'm pretty sure she has 2 babies in her but possibly could have more.  Goats are known for having twins and triplets quite often.  Also for those that don't know, goats are only pregnant for 5 months so we are already more than halfway there.

Full view of Priscilla

Priscilla eating her grain on the milking stand

Priscilla eating alfalfa hay

Check back next month on the 20th for her progress.

A Little Piece of Heaven

A little piece of heaven right in our back yard.

Waterfall

I was walking around on our property a couple of weeks ago.  Jamie had told me this waterfall was here but I had never seen it.  I'm glad I found it.  It was beautiful and peaceful.  While sitting there looking at it and the surrounding woods I felt like the modern world didn't even exist.  Some day's I wish for that, but then Jamie reminds me that they didn't have running water or working toilets back then. 

Visit to MA

We finally were able to find someone to take care of our animals for us to be able to go visit family and friends.  We decided to go to MA when Jamie had 2 vacation days he needed to use.  He was also able to work one Sunday to have Friday off. The kids had a long weekend from school and we just had them miss the extra two days.  It only ended up being 1 as school in TN was closed due to snow.  The one time TN got snow so far this year and we weren't even here. Go Figure.

We left Thursday late afternoon and Jamie drove straight through to Abington.  It took us 17 hours.  The kids did really well though and slept most of the way.  We first went to my mom's house and had a nice visit there.  Jamie went to sleep for a while and the kids and I visited with my mom and brothers and sisters.  Friday night my mom watched the kids and Jamie & I went out and visited with old friends, some we haven't seen in years.  It was so nice seeing everyone.  Saturday morning most of my brothers and sisters with their kids came for breakfast.

My mom & me

Hailey & her cousin Cassie

Hailey & her cousin little Charlie

Hailey & her cousin Kaitlyn

Hailey & her Auntie Niki

Hailey & Drew with Auntie Taren

Hailey & her Aunt Kelly (only 5 yrs diff.)

(F) Drew, Luke, Allison, Kaitlyn, Hailey -(B) Kelly & Brynda

Drew & Hailey with Gramma

After breakfast Saturday morning we went and met Jamie's sister Lisa and her kids for lunch at one of our favorite restaurants, Christo's.  We all had Greek salads and pizza. Thinking of Jamie's parents, who are in FL, we sat in the Gold Room, which is the room we always requested when we went there for family dinners.

Hailey & her cousin Alyssa

Drew & his cousin Russell

Hailey with her Auntie Lisa

It was great to see everyone at lunch and catch up on what everyone has been up too.  We then went and saw Jamie's parents new home they recently bought.  We ended up taking a picture of everyone.

Drew, Kelsey, Joe, Jamie, Lisa, Russell, Alyssa & Hailey

After lunch we went and headed to my best friend Jackie's house.  The best part about this was she had no idea that we were coming to visit, neither did her kids.  Once we knew we were going to be able to go to MA, I got in touch with Jackie's husband Brian and he helped plan everything for us to come.

We just pulled into the drive way and went to the door.  It was wonderful to surprise everyone.  I think Paige & Trent were in shock.  I wish I thought to take pics as I was walking in.

We had a wonderful time hanging out together.  Just doing lots of things we can't do now since we live so far away.  Of course we watched the Pats beat the Broncos and we played some cards.  Really just got to spend time with each other since we haven't seen them for 6 months now.

Drew, Hailey, Paige & Trent

Drew & Trent

Hailey & Paige

Jackie & I

Of course we brought Lou & Bryce with us.  Their friend Zoey was very happy to see them too.

Zoey, Lou & Bryce

We had a wonderful trip and loved seeing everyone but its defiantly nice to be back home.



Lou & Bryce turn 4!!

Lou & Bryce

This has been a busy month so far and I made a promise to try to get the blog updated on the specific day it needs to be done but I didn't get this one done on time.

Lou & Bryce turned 4 years old on Saturday, January 7th.  They are both doing so well.  They still have lots of spunk and love chasing each other around the house but they both love to snuggle up on the coach or in front of the wood stove and have a nap.  They also got their first teeth cleaning done last month and that makes a big difference with their breath being stinky.

Hailey and I made some homemade dog biscuits for their birthday.

Hailey with the dog biscuits we made

Bryce & Lou relaxing