Barn-Goats-Dogs

My DH and I have been doing battle with a cold/flu bug this Christmas Season... One thing that has to continue on is taking care of the critters.  The three young goats are barn brats.  The little one closest is a very "special" little girl, she only weighed maybe a pound when she was born, but what a fighter..  She is blind in one eye and has partial sight in the other...she rules the barn lot!

Below is our Beka..140+ pounds of pure love and devotion, maybe mixed in with a little bit of silly and a dash of mean! (Only if you mess with her goats)  I tried to get a picture of Trance but she was busy trying to knock me down to get attention..

Christmas 2012 Rural Missouri

My trip to work is always in the dark this time of the year.  Normally all I see that is interesting is the deer and occasional raccoon and a few night birds..  This time of the year things are a lot more interesting and enjoyable.

Richland Main Street A brightly lite Christmas Tree in every window..sometimes two.

 Rural Farm House

 Same Rural Farm House.

Don't you just love Christmas... even when it's 60 degrees...

Red Squirrel

I went out to the feed room in the barn to get grain for the horse.  I heard some scratching noise in the room. Between the dogs and me, the poor thing didn't know which way to turn.

I'm invisible right???

 I know you can't see me.. right?

Thanksgiving "Holiday" History

There would be no Thanksgiving if not for Sarah Josepha Hale...   When we think of Thanksgiving, the traditional story of Plymouth's Pilgrims and Native Americans coming together to give thanks for a bountiful harvest most often comes to mind. This celebration occurred in 1621, while the U.S. was still a colony under British rule.   However, long after America earned her independence, the significance of Thanksgiving remained unrealized. In 1827, Sarah Josepha Hale began a 40-year campaign, lobbying five presidents to designate Thanksgiving a national holiday. Finally, in 1863, her persistence paid off, when Abraham Lincoln issued his Thanksgiving Proclamation declaring the last Thursday of every November a national day of thanks.   Hale's legacy remains with us in many other ways to be celebrated this Thanksgiving. Widowed and penniless at the age of thirty-four with five small children to raise, Hale was determined to ensure her family's survival. She became the first editor of the first national woman's magazine, Godey's Lady's Book. She was the first to start daycare nurseries for working women, and the first to campaign for equal education for girls, helping to organize Vassar College. Hale insisted on the term "domestic science" to decribe the noble art of housewifery, and introduced the word "lingerie" into the English language as a way to catergorize a woman's underwardrobe. She raised money both to complete the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown, Massachusetts, and to preserve Mount Vernon as a national historic site. The author of numerous books and poems, perhaps her most famous remains "Mary Had a Little Lamb."   Hale died on April 30, 1879 at the ripe old age of ninety, and was interred in Laurel Hill's Section X, Lot 61. Without question, Sarah Josepha Hale has earned our thanks this Thanksgiving for her remarkable contributions to man, woman and country.

During this season of thanks and giving, the Friends of Laurel Hill thank youfor your support and interest in Laurel Hill Cemetery, and extend our very best wishes for a happy, healthy and memorable Thanksgiving holiday.

Laurel Hill Cemetery will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, and will reopen on Friday, November 23. Join us at 10am for our Fourth Friday Walking Tour.

Deer Season Missouri

We just got back from a 15 mile 4-wheeler gravel road trip.  A perfect day for November.. As you can see it's 82 degrees with lots of sun.  Very unusual for this time of the year.  We have put the goats and dogs in the pasture closest to the house trying to protect them from the deer hunters...Our billy goats have been in serious rutt for a while now.. We finally let them in with the girls today.  We are officially under construction for 2013 Kidding Season.

Goat... a very spoiled goat!

Fall Colors 2012

Goats for Sale Spring 2012

We have 30+ Doelings that were born Spring of 2012.  I will be adding more pictures as I can.

New Heated Water Tank

This poor old thing was installed back in 1990.  It has watered many a goat...dogs and horses.  It has survived drought and blizzards. But all good things must come to an end.

In with the new.  All (almost) plastic and heated.  It was interesting to see how something this size could upset the entire place.  Goats were scared and the dogs barked at it for 10 minutes!

Goats - Bucks on the Ranch

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

The Good--General Sterling Price (Old Pap)

The Bad-- Bubby (Spoiled Bottle Baby)

The Ugly-- Lucas McCain (The Rifleman)

House Work

We are finally taking the time to work on the house...Too hot and dry outside to do anything... 

New front entry room..

Deer Family

Finished up supper, walked in the living room for a quick chat with John.. Guess who was checking us out and listening to the TV.

This is the view from my kitchen window.  The rest of the family..

Check out those spots! 

Deer Hot and Dry

I went outside to take a picture of these clouds

It is still HOT and DRY..

As I was taking the pictures, this doe came out of the woods and went straight to the extra water tank we put out for the critters..She took a really long drink and started grazing what little grass we have left.  She did not care that I was standing in the yard with a camera.

Deer and Turtle

It is still very dry here, but on a good note, today it's cloudy keeping the temps in the mid 80's.  All the ponds are dried up now and the wild life in the area are searching for water.  We have put out an extra water tank in the yard for the critters.  It's been very interesting to see what comes to the water.  These two deer were at it first thing this morning.  We also have two other stock tanks that are very busy.  Our pond still has water, but the dogs won't let anything but their goats drink out of it.

Red Tail Hawk Baby Hawk Video

Barn Guest Again..

John found this little guy today in the woods.  Must have fell out of his nest.  It was having problems with bugs and bees by the time I got home.  Put it in the bucket and feed it some red meat.  Really getting an attitude by dark.  Think it may be a baby hawk.

Update:  Baby Hawk was picked up by Missouri Dept. of Conservation and taken to a rescue home.  Little guy started eating on it's own before it left.  Thanks Eric!! After all it was 100 degrees.

Barn Brats 2012

This years group of Barn Brats.  Actually they are the second group of brats this year.  Standing at the gate promising to be good if I let them out.. Sorry guys!  They have a perfectly good 10 acre pasture to roam in.

Baby Goats Maybe the last????

This is Bell's boy.  Born Saturday June 2.  He was born right after we moved the goats to the summer pasture.  Needless to say she and the baby came back to the house and barn area.

This little guy belongs to Princess, a total surprise.  I had just checked her before we moved the goats, no signs of a kidding at all.  He was born Tuesday June 5.  He and mom are back at the the house and barn area.  He is a beauty, sure wish he was a she.  

The Commander Back in the Day

We went to the Lake this weekend to check out a BBQ contest.  The visit was a walk down memory lane.  40 years ago this June 24 my DH and I were engaged... does the rusty old tub say something about 40 years of bliss??

http://www.commandercruises.com

> Like the old boat " I'm out here rusting in the rain " JJW II <

Gravel Road

About 4 miles on the gravel, maybe 1.5 miles as the Falcon flies from our house is a man made lake (40 acres.. filled in one rain season) that the owner is into extreme skiing.. The top photo shows a ski jump for one of their events.

 Their house is at the top of the knoll.