The day my world came crashing down

I feel like my world ended today. Disclaimer: SAD, Dont read if you might get weepy, also I'm not taking calls right now (texts, Facebook messages or comments to this picture are fine. Didn't see my blind old man this mornin heading out to church, but sometimes he's on the other side of property and hidden from view. After church, I walked toward the back of the property, about halfway back I noticed a blanket hanging on the fence (2 nights ago I noticed the neighbors 35 year old Arabian mare down at the back, when I went to bring Apache up for the night. It was cold, she was old and dying, so I laid a spare blanket over the old girl and gave her a flake of hay to eat) as I looked toward the blanket my heart dropped! I saw a bright blue spot in the pond. I hit the ground, praying it wasn't what I knew it was. I gathered myself and ran (those who know me, know I'm not a runner!) around the very large pond. As I got to the other side, I had some sense to remove my phone from my pocket and toss it on dry ground as I ran into the pond. As I got to the blanket, I dove atop him grasping for his halter, I couldn't stand to see his face underwater (tears well up just picturing it). I pulled his face out of the water and pulled him (waist deep in the pond, shin deep in thick, thick mud...my shoes and jeans may not recover from this) to the island (he was about 4 foot from the bank or the island, but facing the island) I sat on the edge of the island with his head in my lap and wailed into his neck and apologized over and over. I had a horrible migraine last night when I got home and didn't bring him in. There were other nights that he didn't get brought up, but he always stayed away from the large pond, it often got him "stuck" at the back of the property. The ground is kinda wavy and he wouldn't go far, just in a small circle between the road bed around the pond and the neighbor's fence. Chad must have heard me and came. He helped me get him to the side of the pond so he could be gotten out. Shelby and I had spent 2 days a couple weeks ago building him a pen, but it didn't have any shelter yet, and the T Posts hadn't been capped, so he wasn't in it. He is buried at the back of the property and will soon have a cross. It's a cross we had already, either for Lil Man or for Stormy (sorry Shelby) Old man had been blind for 7 weeks.

A&M Gets to Saw Em Off

Mator our newest goat, a pygmy, has horns! And he knows how to use them! So we have an appointment with Dr. Hooper on Thursday to have them removed. I intend to use this post to chronicle his recovery as a learning tool.. So Mater has a long story...His story...he wandered to a friend's house, who kept him all afternoon trying to find his owner with no luck. He brought him to us knowing we would know how to care for him better.  Chad fell in love with the little guy, just adored him!! Almost as much as he loves Daisy (maybe a little more...he is a boy!) When it seemed like he had been dumped we decided we would keep him....well about 10 minutes after deciding to keep him we get a call from the friend that found him saying the owners called him and would be over shortly. Boo Hoo so we had to let him go...this was March 8th that they came to get him. About 3 weeks ago I was browsing craigslist when I saw a $100 Pygmy goat that looked like our little guy, so I called the lady and asked her if her goats name was Mater, she said yes, I asked where she was, she said Tomball. My heart dropped...I knew it was him, but I wasn't about to pay $100 for a Pygmy goat! She asked how I knew his name, so I told her the story of how we just loved the little booger. She asked if I wanted him...I told her I would have to discuss the price with my husband and she asked why...and said she would give him to us. She only put a price so he would get a home and not become food or neglected! So we got Mater back! Only problem he had horns! Last Thursday I took him to A&M to get them removed. $72 to dehorn a Pygmy and there are gaping holes in his head! Dr. Hooper is WONDERFUL.

1st pic. Mater when he visited us.


Mater when we got him as our own



Mater the day of surgery...poor baby cried the whole way home!


1 Week later....swelling has gone down, no bleeding. No discharge from his nose (like was warned) We were told to keep him away from other goats, but he just wouldn't crazy little bugger jumps every fence we have to get to his herd. Only had one issue...that was his first feeding time with a headache. He tried to butt Duke out of his food and cried as he did it. Hasn't butted anyone else! Go figure!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

baby pics

Elvis

Cassia and Duke (Cassia is Elvis' sister, they were born April 1st)

Duke thinks he can fly! 

Duke yet again

Scratch Scratch Scratch

First Kid of the Season

Lily kidded yesterday (3/6/09) a single buckling. AND I MISSED IT! LOL

Interesting Trip

Yesterday afternoon I set out to go to a friends house to pick up red top tubes to draw blood on the goats, then the bank and the grocery store. Routine stuff, so I thought! After seeing all the babies, it is kidding season afterall, my friend mentioned needing to disbud some of them, having never seen it I offered to help. I watched as they did two kids, I think I'll be paying to have mine done! While we werw disbudding, one of my friends two legged kids was checking a pregnant goat that appeared to be close to kidding, the determination was that this doe had an upside down kid and needed assistance! We were done disbudding despite the kids that hadn't been done yet! I observed as the oldest of my friend's kids went in an decided the kid was no longer upside down, the cervix wasn't quite open all the way, and mom should be fine on her own. After many pushes and much waiting, she went in again to find the cervix open and 2 feet with what felt like a HUGE head. After some medicine to help with momma's energy and contractions the baby, a huge buck, was delivered! It was decided that going back in to check for more babies was needed. My friend's oldest went back in and felt something "gross and creepy". It was bones, this momma had twins, but one had died very young.I got there in the afternoon and didn't leave until after 9PM!

And I didn't forget the tunes I went there to get!

Meet Cinnamon!

I am looking at buying this new doe....(Feb 16th) As of 4-5pm (2/17) she was paid for and in the truck on her way home! Around 7pm she decided she was comfortable and NOT getting out of the truck!! Took until almost 8pm to get her out and into her isolation pen.  Tomorrow she gets the joy of blood drawn, vaccines, worming, and hooves trimmed!! Poor girl! 

Her "pending" name is "Sun" Hill Acres Sassi's Cinnamon.

Her mom's name is "Sun" Hill Acres Sassifrass.....she will be added to the website in the not to distant future.

More info later

Who knew a broke down truck could get you a job...

My truck decided to hate me on Saturday (1/24) and later that evening I got a call from my neighbor offering me 4 hours a day milking her 10 goats and 4 cows, cleaning the equipment, and feeding the animals. (She has bad arthritis and just can't keep doing it by herself). She has a milk machine for the cows and the goats, so I pretty much get paid to wait! Wait for the milker to finish that cow (or pair of goats) until I am finished with all of them, then I filter the milk (which is waiting for the milk to strain through the filter!) I play the waiting game from 8am to around noon! I love it. I can't wait until my goats are back in milk...I need to save to buy my own milk machine...it is SOOOOOO nice! After using one for 4 days now I can't imagine milking with out one!!! 

Happy New Year

Welcome to the new year with the Laughter Herd.  My goals for this year are to have healthy, happy goat kids and mommas, a dozen eggs a day (laid in the coop, not the hay), have some Serama or banty babies, have the goat barn complete and maybe the horse stalls started on! We shall see!!! 

My main goal this year is to have 5 does in milk and to help with that we purchased a buckling in Dec. Four of the girls (Ginger, Rosey, Lily, and Chouli) were all bred in October, November, and maybe December to some lovely boys from Swede Farm. We decided Daisy hadn't quite grown enough to be bred, so are hoping when Luke is old enough, Daisy will be big enough.  In March, we should have registered 4th generation (tiny) Mini Lamancha kids and registered (recorded grade) Lamancha kids. In April, we should have registered (Purebred) Nubian kids. Ginger was taken to be bred in October, but looked like she didn't take so was taken back in December. She could be due in March or May...she will be having 3/4 Lamancha and 1/4 Nubian kids. These kids will not be able to be registered as Ginger and her daddy aren't.  

Chickens....the laying flock consists of 1 Golden Comet rooster, 3 Buff Orpington hens, 2 Barred Rock hens, 2 Ameraucan hens, 1 Rhode Island Red hen, 1 Golden Laced Wyandotte hen, 1 Golden Laced Polish hen (not laying yet), and 1 mixed breed hen that likes tp go broody far to often! I figure with 11 hens...I won't be getting a dozen eggs a day, but I can hope for eggs laid in the coop!! This spring I will order 10 replacement chicks to raise for next year's laying season.  The 3 Buff Orpingtons, 1 Barred Rock, and the mixed breed hen will all be looking for new homes or stew pots by the time the replacement chicks are old enough to lay. That will leave me with 6 hens and 10 chicks....Maybe I can get a dozen eggs a day out of 16 hens next year!!! 

The replacement chicks will consist of Ameraucanas for green eggs, brown egg layers, and maybe a white egg layer or 2.  

The dogs had a great year in 08 and I hope to get Jesse CGC tested (Canine Good Citizen) and get him tested through the Temperment Test Society.  

My NUMBER 1 goal for 2009 is to get the messy little buck out of my house...I am checking now to see if it is too cold to try to move him to the barn, he will have a stall next to the big girls with a hay floor to keep him warm......he pees forever!!!!!!!! He is the cutest thing until he chews on the computer cord or the couch pillows, or jumps on the couch, or pees!! lol

Hope you have a safe and happy 09!

Introducing The Gramen Farm Saint Luke (Luke for short)

I bought a new buckling tonight. He was born Dec 14th.  Enjoy!

Isn't he cute!!

"Moooommmmmaaaaa, where are you"

Here are some pictures added this morning....after I tried to get him to take a bottle....guess he wasn't hungry enough! 

"Hey, that's MY blanket!"

"What are you?"

"Where did it go?"

"Hmmmm, your a little big!"

The Banty Coop

My banty coop began with a FREE Serama Hen ad on craigslist. Shelby and I went to get her and on the way home decided her name should be Miranda (Lambert). 

With Miranda being so tiny (and not yet having a Banty Coop in mind I put Tina (Turner) in with Miranda and they became the best of buds!)

I soon decided Miranda needed a boyfriend and since the real Miranda is dating Blake Shelton, I decided it would only be right to give my Miranda her own Blake (Shelton)!

Blake is a Serama roo with Silkie feathering. (Miranda soon decided he wasn't to bad!)

The three became inseparable! 

Not too long after getting Blake I saw an add on Craigslist for three banty hens that needed a new home. It was obvious Tina missed her big friends and Blake would like more girlfriends! So I called on the hens, they were already spoken for. :(  After talking with the lady more we discovered that we were both members of the Pet Chickens of Texas site and she decided she knew they would have a good home with me and so here they are! These three do not have names yet, but I am working on it.!!

She looks like a Japanese Bantam to me?!? Maybe

After their quarantine period they were turned loose with Blake, Miranda, and Tina. Blake and Miranda took to them quickly, but Tina was very aggressive with the Black hen, so Tina got evicted and is now back in with the layer flock. She seems happier with the big flock! Here she is pestering me because I was taking pictures of these new girls instead of her!! 

Blake and two of his girls! 

Blake and his OTHER two girls! 

Johnny and June

Meet Mr. and Mrs. Cash

June is the Buff Silkie in the back and Johnny is the Splash Silkie in the front.

Meet Mr. and Mrs. Cash! 

Poor Lonely Batman!!

I helped Brad and Shana sell the Longhorn mamas last week and the guy came to get them yesterday. That was quite a fun ordeal! Wish I would have grabbed the camera and a saddle! Working cows bareback is kinda hard...would have been harder trying to document! We had thought we would pull the hay trailer out of the barn and get the cows in there to load them....NO GO The mommas wanted nothing to do with that barn...no matter how much feed and coaxing we did. Batman would go in and out (maybe he knew what was going on!) So we ran them into our rather large pen with trees and stuff for them to hide around, but the only place that would work. We need a working pen with chutes! So we block any opening and back the trailer up to a small opening. Shana in the Gator, me on Apache (what a good old man), and Chad on foot. We try for Dottie first. This was not a real big trailer and probably shouldn't have had all three in there. In our many attempts to get Dottie we decided the front of the trailer was slightly larger than the back half and that 2 would go in front (original plan was Dottie and Winnie, because poor Red is our fav and she gets picked on) and Red would go in the back. So after many failed attempts at Dottie, Emily came out with feed and coaxed Winnie into a small corral type area Chad and the buyer made in front of the trailer. Well with feed involved Red had to check it out! We get Winnie up front and shut that gate, the we get Red in the back. We attempt to open the middle gate and put her up front with Winnie...there is no room for her to turn and open the gate! What to do what to do! So the buyer has a rope (none of us can rope by the way...so we didn't use it for its intended use!) that we put around Red's horns and around a large pole in the ground and back her out. Chad goes in and gets Winnie by the horns and they come out and stand in a corner until we can get Red up front. We tie Red to the front so Chad can get Winnie back in. While getting Winnie back in she feels the urge to poop (when stressed cattle get the runs) and turn at the same time flinging nice runny poo on all around! Chad man handles Winnie back in! While working with Red and Winnie, Shana and Emily work on getting Dottie closer to the area. We have the buyer's wife hold a bag of feed outside the trailer, since nobody can get close to the back of the trailer with Dottie checking things out! We don't want to scare her! Dottie walks right in to check things out! So the guy got there at 8:30 am and we were trying to convince the girls to go in the barn! No luck! We got back to the house to wash poo off and get to work with other projects for the day (Shana laying tile in her house, she moves in by Thursday! Chad working on the back deck of Shana's house) at 10:15ish so not even 2 hours to load 3 longhorns into a rather small trailer without a working pen and chutes! Not to bad! 

So in memory here are some pictures of the Longhorns and their past calves! 

Dottie

Winnie

Red

Socrates, Dottie's first calf

pic coming soon

Dottie and her 2nd calf

Sir Cornwallis, Winnie's first calf

pic coming soon

Winnie and her second calf

pic coming soon

Batman, Red's first calf

pic coming soon

Red and her second calf (the only heifer!)

Our House

Here are some pictures of the house now that it is done.

Kitchen (please excuse my countertops...not enough storage for goat milking supplies, egg gathering, and soap making!)

Again excuse the box of milk jars!
Livingroom as seen from couch. Bathroom door is out of view to the left and "bedroom" is out of view to the right, altough you can see a tiny bit of the comforter.
Livingroom from front door
From laundry room looking through kitchen and livingroom into "bedroom"
Messy desk in laundry room
"closet" in laundry room
Don't mind the mess on top of the washer and dryer (not enough storage space for all my soapmaking stuff!)
"bedroom" originally we had the bed turned with the headboard against the windows and you could walk along both sides, but the foot stuck out into the livingroom area, so we turned it and it fits perfect and there is room between the bed and the wall to have a small nightstand (you can see my lampshade over there) and to make the bed.
Here is my little bathroom! 

So here are the few construction pics I have of our house.

Here is the wall Chad built up to cover the open loft, the kitchen, and the bathroom door. 

This is a view from the frontdoor

Here is Chad working on the wall of the loft area above the porch, his ladder is in our "bedroom"

Here is Chad putting the metal on top of the laundry room