Claire is 10 Weeks Old

Baby Claire

Well she's not really a baby anymore, she can barely fit in my lap.  I have called her Baby Claire since she was born and the name just stuck.

Claire is doing really well, super big.  She eats grain mostly from the creep feeder in the morning and evening when the big goats are eating their grain.  It's funny, as soon as the big goats start coming out to the milking stands she runs into the creep feeder and starts eating her grain.

I'm really enjoying my time with Claire since she will be going to her new home soon.  I am really going to miss this little girl.

Here are some other cute pictures I took while spending some time with her in the pasture the other day.

Claire peeking around my back

Claire relaxing sitting with me

Claire playing on her bucket



Calves Week 9

Chuck & Tbone waiting for their bottles in the morning

Weaning is going great!! Much better than I expected.  This past week the boys received 1/2 bottle, 1 quart in the morning and then 1/2 bottle, 1 quart in the evening.  After they finish eating there bottles they get to eat grain.

Chuck is eating almost all of what we give him.  Tbone is not eating as much but that is expected because we really believe he is 1 week younger than Chuck.

They spend most of their day out in the pasture now.  If they aren't grazing on the grass they are relaxing laying in the shade.  I think they finally figured out that its nicer to be outside then to be laying in the barn all day, so now I don't need to lock them out of the barn anymore.

They also are drinking lots of water, which is great.  It's a true sign that they are ready to weaned and of course it's great because it has been so HOT here.

Here are some other cute pics of them.

Tbone & Chuck out in the pasture

Chuck eating some grain

Tbone looking good, FINALLY no ribs showing

Tbone - he's such a cute baby



Claire is 9 Weeks Old

Claire with Bruschi

Claire is 9 weeks old now.  As you can see in the picture above she has everyone wrapped around her little hoof.  No seriously, all the adults love her.  Windy her mom takes great care of her.  But Whimsey, Windy's sister loves to take care of Claire too.  Claire loves her auntie Whimsey and loves to cuddle with her.  Priscilla also shared with Windy watching the babies when they were all together.  Maddy & Bruschi like to get little Claire to play with them.  It amazes me that they know to be gentle with her.

Claire is the only baby in the big pasture now that Chloe has gone to her new home, so we kinda let her do what she wants.  Claire wanted to come out to the milking area during feeding time the other day and she kept trying to get auntie Whimsey's food.  I ended up giving her some grain in her own bucket and she nibbled on it a bit.

She is doing really well eating grain.  She has grain in the creep feeder for her to eat whenever she wants during the day and then at night we put a bucket of grain in the pen with her for her to eat if she wants.

Claire & Whimsey at feeding time

I'm not sure if I mentioned it before but Claire is sold.  As a matter of fact she has been sold for quite awhile now.  She will be going to a new home that already has 3 other does, girls.  Also Carter will be going to the same home too.  They will be separated because they are too little to breed but I'm glad that they will be going to the same home together.  Claire and Carter will be going to their new home in 2 weeks.

Gorgeous Claire



Calves - Week 8

Tbone & Chuck eating their grain

The boys are doing GREAT!!!!  They are staying super healthy and growing really well.  Weaning is going alot easier than I thought.  This week they are still getting 1 full bottle in the morning which is a 1/2 gallon of milk. Then in the evening they are only getting 1/2 of a bottle which is 1 quart of milk.

After they finish their bottles they get to eat as much sweet feed grain as they would like.  At first it was just a little bit but now that they have a taste for it they are starting to eat more.

The first few days were hysterical.  I would put two of the goats on the milking stands for them to eat and then go into the pasture to feed the cows.  Well once the other goats that were still in the pasture got a smell of the sweet feed in the bucket they would not leave me alone and it was becoming a struggle to keep them away.

Well, I finally figured out what to do.  I put all the goats in the barn and locked the door that goes out to the pasture.  Chuck and Tbone are out in the pasture and I go and feed them their bottles and then they eat their feed from the buckets that I hang on the fence, shown in the picture above.  It works out great.  They can eat without being bothered and I don't have to stand their the whole time and can get the other goats fed.

Tbone eating some grain

Chuck posing for the picture, LOL

Hailey standing next to the calves to show you how much they have grown.

Next week we will be reducing the morning bottle to half, check back and see how they do.

Spicy Pickled Eggs

Spicy Pickled Eggs

We have been getting lots of eggs here.  Almost an egg from each hen a day, so that makes 6 eggs a day.

We usually don't cook eggs for breakfast except on the weekends when we have extra time.  Even then it's not many because Drew still doesn't eat them and I will only eat them scrambled.

With so many eggs I have been looking for other ways to use them up.  I have frozen some for when production goes down.  We have also given some away to friends.  Some of our friends eat them and some of them hatch them since our eggs are fertilized by our rooster.

I decided to try to make spicy pickled eggs.  Bonus part is it used up 4 dozen eggs I had in the fridge.  The recipe below is for a dozen hard boiled eggs but I just doubled the recipe.  I also have 1 hen that lays small eggs, that's why I was able to use 4 dozen for a double recipe.

Step 1 is to hard boil your eggs, let cool and then peel them.

Peeled, hard boiled eggs

Step 2 is to prepare your broth

Here are your ingredients. Combine all of these in a sauce pan:

All ingredients simmering

 

1) 2 Cups of White Vinegar

2) 1/2 Cup of Water

3) 1/2 Cup of White Sugar

4) 1 teaspoonful of salt

5) 1 teaspoonful pickling spice

6) 1 teaspoonful red pepper flakes

7) 4-5 cloves

8) 1 Cinammon Stick

9) 2-3 Habanero Peppers (orange color) cut into rings (discard stems). Include the seeds as well. BEWARE: the oils from the surface of these can really burn. I usually use the grocery bag they come in to hold them while slicing and cleaning. Wash your hands with soap and water after handling them.

10) 2-3 Green Jalapeno Peppers cut into slices

11) 1/2 Red Pepper cut into strips

12) A few rings of a freshly cut White Onion

Allow all ingredients to simmer on the stove for at least 10-15 minutes. Stir occasionally while simmering.  You can also double this recipe and use more than a dozen eggs.

 

Step 3 is Combine Eggs and Broth

 

Remove the broth from the heat and scoop some of the peppers/onions into a Quart sized Mason Jar. Add 3 eggs. Scoop some more of the peppers/onions/spices into the jar. Add 3 more eggs. Continue to add the peppers/onions/spices and eggs. When done, pour the remaining broth into the Mason Jar, using a funnel if you like, to within a quarter inch of the top. You may have some leftover broth, depending on the size of the eggs and peppers, etc. If you are short on broth, just top off with vinegar.  Also if you would like your eggs to taste a little bit spicier you can take a toothpick and push it through the center of your hard boiled egg before you put them in the mason jar.  This way the spicy pickling broth will penetrate the center of the egg faster.

Hand tighten a lid and ring on the Mason Jar and let it cool. Then place it in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks. This is a long time to wait try them but I'm sure Jamie will love them since he likes anything spicy.

I will make sure to let you all know how they taste.

First to Go

Chloe

This is the hardest part about having baby goats.  I'm sure having baby anything when you can't keep them all is hard to give them up.  I've been very honest with any of the potential buyers that have called inquiring about buying one of my babies and all I can do is hope they are being honest with me about what type of home they are going to provide.

Chloe was the first baby to go to her new home.  All of the babies have been sold but some are staying here for a couple of weeks more for different reasons.

Chloe was the first to leave for her new home on Saturday.

She is actually a gift for Father's Day. The father who will be receiving her, I've been told has wanted goats for awhile and has been preparing his land with shelter and fencing and just has finished it. he knew that he wanted a Nubian as he and his wife hopes to eventually milk their does.  His daughter decided to get him his first goat as a gift and just fell in love with Chloe, how could she not?

We spent quite a bit of time on the phone, actually over an hour discussing what type of home Chloe would be going to and if she would have any other goats with her.  Chloe will be his first goat but she will have a golden retriever as a pasture buddy until they find their second goat, which Chloe will love since she is used to having Matilda with her.  They also have young daughters ages 9 and 13 that will be there to spend time with Chloe. 

They seemed like really sweet people and I should be getting a call soon from the father on what they would like to name her so I can go ahead and get Chloe registered in the name they would like.

I just really hope that she is doing well and being taken care of the way I took care of her.

Priscilla is doing okay. She was a little lost this morning, actually calling for Chloe and standing by the pen door this morning thinking that Chloe was in there since that is where she usually is in the morning.  I hope over the next few days the she will be fine.

Claire on the other hand is NOT happy she has lost her play friend.  Claire cried all night being in the pen overnight by herself even though she can see her mama and all the other goats through the door.  Claire seems to be doing fine today but I'm sure she will miss her buddy Chloe.

Priscilla's Babies are 12 Weeks old

Cole & Carter

This will be that last weekly update I will do on Priscilla's babies.  Their really isn't much to update on them now. 

Cole & Carter have been moved over to the buck pen for a couple of weeks now and are doing great.  They are still growing well and are eating their grain, hay and pasture.

Chloe out in the pasture with mama and Claire

Chloe is also doing well. She is really enjoying spending the time by herself with her mama.  Chloe is also really enjoying getting all the milk she wants now that she doesn't have to share.

Chloe & Claire are becoming best buddies as they are the only 2 little goats over in the big pasture.  They are also locked up at night in the pen so I can milk the mama's in the morning.

I will be sure to update all of you when Cole, Carter and Chloe go to their new homes.



Claire is 8 Weeks Old.

Claire with mama Windy

Claire is doing super.  She has become best buddies with Chloe since moving the boys over into the buck pen.

Claire is big enough now to share her mama's milk with me so she is put in a pen with Chloe overnight so I can milk Windy in the morning.

Claire & Chloe waiting to get out of the pen in the morning

There is not too much to update on so here are some cute pictures of Claire.

Claire stretching to be able to reach to nurse because she is so big now

Claire hanging out with mama in the pasture

Claire hanging with her buddy Chloe

How to Freeze Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

A friend of ours had given us a large bag of sweet potatoes.  We actually have just started eating sweet potatoes.  Jamie & I like them but not the kids so much.

So I decided to freeze the sweet potatoes.  I found a really simple recipe where I didn't even have to blanch them first so I decided to use that one.

First you take the sweet potato and peel them.

peeled sweet potato

Then after peeling the sweet potato just chop how you would like.  I chopped mine two ways. The first is for fries and the other is in cubes for roasting.

Sweet Potatoes for fries

Sweet Potatoes chopped in cubes for roasting

Once everything is chopped or sliced then you just soak them in water and lemon juice.  The ratio is 1 quart of water to 1/2 cup of lemon juice.  Once they have soaked for 5 minutes, you put the sweet potatoes on a dish towel and pat dry.

Now all you have to do is package for freezing.  We have a vacuum sealer that we use for all our packaging for freezing.

Sweet Potatoes ready for the freezer

We ended up with 5 packages for fries and 6 packages for roasting.  I'm sure they are going to taste yummy later on.



Garden - 1st month

Garden all tilled and ready for planting

It seems as if updating this blog is getting harder and harder each day since this is such our busy time of year.  So I'm going to try not to do weekly updates anymore, especially on the garden.

So this will be my first update on our 2012 garden.  Hopefully I will do this monthly unless I get lots at harvest time and then I will post pictures of all the veggies.

This year we were a little late with planting the garden as our tiller wasn't working very well. So we needed to wait to get that fixed and then finally get the planting done.  We were able to get everything planted by May 1st.

We have planted this year:

Sweet Corn

Cucumbers

Pickling Cucumbers

Summer Squash

Zucchini

Watermelon

Green Beans

Radishes

White Onions

Red Onions

Green Onions

Garlic

6 types of Lettuce

Mesclun, Microgreens, Giant Caesar, Simpson Elite, Grand Rapids & Black Seeded Simpson

6 types of Tomatoes

Big Boy, Lemon Boy, Better Boy, Red Beafsteak, Huskey Cherry Red & Sweet 100

7 Types of Pepper

Green Bell, Red Bell, Yellow Bell, Jalapeno, Banana, Cayenne & Thai Hot

We also have planted some herbs including Cilantro, Basil, Parsley & Dill

Garden at about 5 weeks after planting

Here are some up close pictures

Zucchini

Banana Peppers

Tomatoes

Hopefully we will get a good harvest this year.  We have also gotten extra seeds to try to do a second planting on some things.

 

Calves - Week 7

Tbone & Chuck hanging in the pasture

I am so happy to say that both of the calves are doing wonderful!!!  They have adjusted well with moving into the big pasture with the goats.

They still like to stay in the barn, so as long as the weather is good for the day I lock them all out of the barn.  They have plenty of fresh water outside and also other areas where they can find shade to cool off.

Since we didn't know the boys exact age when we got them we are just  guessing they were only 1 week old when we got them.  So know they are 8 weeks old and are eating great.  They both love their bottles and they are eating more grain at each feeding. They have also started drinking water which is a good sign that they are ready to start to wean.

Tbone finally looking good after putting some weight on

Chuck looking good, still needs more meat on his ribs

Tbone & Chuck are enjoying running in the pasture and just eating all the grass.

Check back next week. We are going to start weaning them from their bottles.



Priscilla's Babies Turn 11 Weeks Old

Cole & Carter

Priscilla's babies are doing great.  We have moved Carter & Cole over with the boys. They are old enough to make babies now and we don't want any unplanned breeding's to happen.  They weren't too happy about it and cried for a couple of days but now they are doing great.  Brady their dad has accepted them immediately.  He just stood there and looked at them, it was funny.  Welker on the other hand is showing his dominance and trying to push the boys around.  They aren't putting up with it much and trying to head butt him back.

Brady, Welker, Cole & Carter

Brady sharing some hay with his boys

Chloe is doing well. She doesn't really miss her brothers.  She has become best buddies with Claire since they have been moved.  The best thing is she has her mama all to herself.  When all 3 babies were still with mama, the boys tended to push her out of the way at nursing time.  Now Chloe

 gets to have all the milk.  She is still eating grain which is good to.

Chloe looking for some grain

Claire & Chloe waiting to get out of the pen

Chloe & Claire get locked up in the pen overnight so I can milk both of their mama's in the morning

Chloe being silly

Italian Round Bread

A loaf of Italian Round Bread

This recipe comes from a friend's blog, All Because Two People Fell In Love.  I made it for the first time the other night.  It is super fast, no waiting around for hours for it to rise and it is delicious.

Here is the recipe.

2 tablespoons active dry yeast

2-3/4 cups water at 110 degrees                                                 

1/2 cup dry milk

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1-1/2 teaspoons salt

1/3 cup vegetable oil

7-1/2 cups flour

olive oil

whatever herbs you have on hand

How to make it

---

• Sprinkle yeast on water then stir to dissolve then add dry milk, sugar, salt, oil and 3 cups flour.
• Beat with mixer until smooth about 3 minutes.
• Gradually add enough of remaining flour to make a soft dough that leaves sides of bowl.
• Cover and let rest 15 minutes then knead until smooth and satiny about 5 minutes.
• Divide dough in half and shape into flat circles about 10" across.
• Place loaves onto cookie sheet which has been oiled with olive oil.
• Rub tops of loaves with olive oil then sprinkle with any herbs on hand
• Bake at 350 for 25 minutes then served with herb butter

I decided to put Parmesan cheese and rosemary on the top of mine.  This bread was really soft and airy inside and not too crusty on the outside.  This recipe makes two really large loaves.  My family of 4 only ate 1/2 of one loaf and that was with me eating 2 1/2 pieces before I stopped myself.  We kept the other half out to eat over the next week but we decided to freeze the other one.

Don't forget to check out Jen's blog at All Because Two People Fell In Love. She has some great recipes for you to try.

Claire is 7 Weeks Old!!

Claire hanging with Bruschi

Claire is 7 weeks old now and doing great.  She is a big girl so we decided it was time to separate her from her mom at night so I can milk mom, Windy in the morning.  She is in the pen at night with Chloe and she is doing wonderful so far.  I haven't even heard her cry once.  Claire is also a very quiet Nubian like her mom.

The big news is we have found a new home for Claire.  She will be going to her new home the beginning of July after she finishes all of her worming and shots.  This was another reason why we are separating her from mom at night so we can start to wean her and have her eating grain real well by the time she goes to her new home.  She is already eating hay and pasture real good.

Claire having sharing some hay with the calves

Claire standing to get hay, they always think it tastes better at the top

Claire has become best buddies with Chloe since we have moved Cole & Carter over to the buck pen.  They go off into the pasture with the big goats and they love to run and play.

Sweet Claire

Claire taking a nap in the afternoon sunshine