July 30, 2009

I got up and checked on the typing that I was supposed to do last night. The doctor's office was having problems with their computer and did not get it to download until this morning. I got the house picked up and then began typing.

Dusty worked around the barn in the morning and continued to work on the shearing. He quits when the sheep get too stressed or hot.

Just after noon, the power went out. Thankfully, I had just sent in the files to the doctor's office. The house got pretty stuffy. The humidity was really high and it was warm outside.

Dusty left to get silage and corn for the feeding. I went ahead and fed. While I was feeding, it began to rain so I had to wait until it quit so I could finish feeding.

The power finally came back on around 5pm and I got supper ready before beginning typing. Donny and Dusty went to the horse auction and I typed until close to 11pm.

July 29, 2009

Wednesday. I got up and did the normal things before washing clothes and putting the last round of beans into the canner.

It has been raining off and on all week so we have been having to do the outside chores around the rain. The horses are staying up out of the rain and they are getting restless.

Dusty went to get silage and corn and he ran some errands while out. When he got back, he worked in the horse barn and sheared a sheep.

July 28, 2009

Tuesday. I did not go to the Cradle today. I picked up the house and then began breaking beans. That took most of the day. Feeding went well and everyone is doing the same. Dusty began shearing some of the sheep since the shearer has not been here yet. He is using hand shears and doing a pretty good job.

I canned one round of the beans before going to bed and I will have one more round to do tomorrow.

July 27, 2009

Monday. I got up and fed the dogs. I picked up the house and then started freezing the corn. I worked on that until noon and then began canning the green beans. By the end of the day I will have put up around 300+ ears of corn and and 45+ quarts of beans.

Dusty worked around the barn rebuilding a partition between the stalls that Flash (his barrel horse) had kicked a hole in. The hole started out pretty small on Saturday but by the time Flash chewed on it, it was a huge hole that she could stick her head through. Dusty put up a double wall so maybe this will stop the destruction. After he got through with that, he went to get silage for the night. I fed and went ahead and put the horses up.

When Dusty got back, he went to the garden and picked more beans. Donny worked on breaking them when he got home. We had left overs tonight since the kitchen is full of canners and such.

July 26, 2009

Sunday and Tony's birthday. I got up and started cooking and cleaning for tonight's birthday dinner for Tony. Donny went to do the morning feeding and spread some shavings in the barn. Since it is hot, the sheep, goats and cow lay in the barn with the fan and it does get messy in there. Donny worked on the beans while I got a run going in the canner. Some family came over to visit and Donny took them to the barn to see all the animals while I stayed in the house with the canner.

Later on, Donny went to get the silage and pick some fresh corn for tonight's supper. I got the house cleaned up and most of the meal prepared while they were gone. When they got back, they worked on the beans. Savannah came early and helped finish up the beans.

Dinner was ham, chicken, beans, potato salad, squash, corn, cake and cupcakes. We had a nice time visiting.

July 25, 2009

Saturday. Donny and Dusty were off today so we got up early and began farm chores. Donny went and picked up more corn for us to freeze while he was out getting the silage and groceries. I got the house picked up and went out to mow the grass and pick up around the yard. I was hot and muggy. Donny and Dusty got back home and picked a bushel of beans. We will be working on beans and corn tonight and tomorrow.

I went to feed in the late afternoon. The wind picked up and it began thundering so I went ahead and put the horses up since they do not like to get wet. While I was at the barn, I cleaned all the feed bags up and picked up around the barn yard. The potbellied pigs, Priscilla and Presley played around the yard. Spud got in trouble chasing them around. I think he likes to hear them squeal. Priscella was feeling under the weather but she is fine now.

Dusty's friend Savannah came over and they went dancing.

July 24, 2009

Friday. Worked with corn and beans today. Dusty worked around the horse barn and ran some errands. Feeding went well with no surprises. Kodiak and Emma Lee continue to get their bottles and are quite happy about it.

Dusty finished up early so he could go the horse show.

July 23, 2009

Thursday. I fed the dogs, picked up the house and then began working on the beans. I got all of them broken and canned by early afternoon. I also put a pot of the beans on the stove for supper. It kept looking like it was going to rain all afternoon so I went to feed early. Everyone is doing okay. Kodiak is still the same but is eating better. I have put him back on a bottle and he is really enjoying that. Dusty and Courtney left in the evening to feed the neighbors horse and go to the horse show. Donny brought home another bag of corn so we shucked and silked that before going to bed.

July 23, 2009

Wednesday. It rained on and off today. I cleaned up the house and began washing clothes. I also froze a batch of corn. It rained on and off all day. Dusty spent most of the day moving round bales of hay and got soaked in the process. We waited until the rain stopped before feeding. Donny picked beans before it got dark and we started working on them.

July 21, 2009

Tuesday. I went to the Cradle and did some quilting. The mice are chewing a bit on the threads so we will have to do something about that. After leaving the Cradle, I stopped by the grocery store before coming home.

Dusty spent the day working on the horse ring and riding. He then worked on their feet for awhile.

Donny came in after work so we fed, had supper and spent the rest of the evening shucking corn. Dusty went to the Saddlebred Horse show.

July 20, 2009

Monday. I cleaned house today and put up more squash. Dusty and Donny left in the morning to to and bale hay.

I fed early in the afternoon and did some typing. Lanie was very weak and would not take her bottle. Dusty came home later in the afternoon and found her dead and buried her.

Donny finally got in at dark. The hay baling did not go very well but they finally to it all up, around 100 round bales. We will feed this to the cattle, sheep and goats. We have one more field to go and we will be through with the hay for awhile.

July 19, 2009

Sunday. It was cool when we got up and expected to stay cool so I opened the windows and turned the air off. I got the dogs fed while Donny went to check on things at the barn and feed hay. Lanie seemed to be okay this morning.

Donny left to go to the hayfield and Dusty went to get the silage and grab a few ears of corn. This corn is a little different than what we usually freeze so we will try some tonight to see if we like it. I got the house picked up and a mess of squash put in the freezer. I then went out and planted my Daylilies and worked in the yard a bit.

I put Emma Lee and Kodiak out in a small pen to get some air and nibble the grass. Emma Lee is still not happy, she still thinks she should be in the house with me. I fed them their bottles and gave Lanie her bottle before feeding. They seem to be doing okay so far. I got everything fed and let the horses out to play. I filled the bird feeders while I was out. I have about 10 feeders and the birds can empty them fast.

Dusty came in later in the day to finish up feeding and shuck the corn. Donny was having troubles with the baler so he was late getting in.

July 18, 2009

Saturday. I went down to Donny's store and picked up 30 more Daylilies. I think that this will be enough for me to finish the side garden. I also got them to bring me home a couple of hanging baskets. I came in long enough to unload that and turn out the horses before running to Lowes for a couple of things. When I got back home, I let the dogs out and did some typing before going to feed. Dusty and Donny had to work today. Dusty came on home after work but Donny went to the hayfield.

When I went to feed, Lanie did not act well at all so I gave her a shot of antibiotics. I will just be wait and see. She did finally take her bottle before I finished feeding and seemed to have perked up.

When I finished feeding, BB and I went to my parents. Dusty and his friends were going to a dance.

July 17, 2009

Friday. I got up and got the house cleaned up and the dogs fed so that I could run a few errand. I got some Tagamet and Geritol to start Kodiak on. Hopefully the Tagamet will soothe his stomach and the Geritol will give him some iron and energy, it is worth a try.

I got back home later in the afternoon and started on the typing that was due for that day.

I fed later on in the evening. Kodiak is drinking his Gatorade and taking his Geritol and Tagamet. Emma Lee is getting a little bottle so she can take her preventative medicine and so she does not feel left out. Lanie gets a little bottle with her antibiotic in it. It looks like I am going to have someone on a bottle all year.

Donny went to the hay field after work to start cutting the hale for round bales. I hope it stays dry long enough to get it up.

July 16, 2009

Thursday. I worked around the house all day and then did some work outside. Dusty worked on the horse stalls. Later on when we went to feed, we found Puddin dead. I think she had some heart problems and she just gave out. Kodiak and Lanie are now our only sick ones; although Priscilla the potbellied pig is not acting like she feels well. It seems like problems come in clusters.

July 15, 2009

Wednesday. I got out early to do some work outside before it got to warm. I planted some Jewel weed in my garden. Hopefully it will grow and I will have something to help with the poison oak and ivy that I always seem to get. I also put out some Day Lilly plants in the side yard. I fed the horses while I was out and checked on everyone.

Back in the house I finished up the washing. A friend came to fix the pump last night so hopefully it will be okay. I fixed a cheese cake for supper while I was in the house.

I went down a bit early to feed since I knew I would need to type in the evening. Puddin is still droopy and I noticed a little drainage from one eye so we will put her on PCN tonight. Lanie's foot seems a bit better but she now has a not around her umbilical cord so she will definitely go on antibiotics.

Roxy was not doing well at all in the evening and died quickly. Kodiak is still holding on but remains a bit weak. I will start him on Gatorade and put him back on the iron. I think he may also need some Vitamins.

July 14, 2009

Tuesday. I was up early to get my morning jobs done so that I could go to the Cradle of Forestry and quilt. The quilt was set up in one of the houses and ready to go. This quilt will be both tied and quilted. I noticed that the mice had also found the quilt so it will have to be covered while not being quilted on. The room was fairly dark so I did not quilt that long. I will have to bring a lamp with me next time I go.

I run in the grocery store and picked up lunch on the way home. After lunch, I started typing on the days work. I fixed a quick supper in between typing and waited on Donny to come home before going to feed.

Roxy is still scouring and Kodiak is still weak so we will continue treatment on both of them. Lanie the lamb has a sore foot so we worked on it a bit. She has had this since she was born so I don't know if it will ever be normal. We will start her on antibiotics just in case it is some sort or infection. I also noticed that Puddin, a Nigerian goat kid is looking sluggish. She always looks droopy eyed but I think that her white eyelashes make her look like that. We may start some sort of treatment on her.

July 13, 2009

Monday. I got up and fed the dogs before starting to clean the house. I froze some more squash in the middle of cleaing too.

Dusty left to run some errands and pick up feed.

While washing, I noticed that the water pressure was low so I turned all the water off. We have been having trouble with something on the pump so I will have to wait until Dusty gets home to fix it.

I started typing when the files came in and continued doing that off an on until bedtime.

Feeding was normal as usual. The dogs can't wait to go so they can hunt for mice. Someone always seems to get one. Everyone seems to be doing okay but I did notice that Roxy is having some scouring so we will have to start treating her.

July 12,2009

Sunday. Up at the usual time. The dogs were fed and the house picked up. Donny and Dusty left to pick up tractor that they need for cutting hay and took it to the field.

I mowed the lawn and cleaned up the yard. I checked on my raspberries and weeded them. I may have some in the fall if I am lucky and I can keep the goats out of them.

Donny and Dusty got back later in the afternoon. Feeding went well and we worked around the house until dark.

July 11,2009

Saturday. Up at the usual time. BB had been sick during the night so we were up with her. She probably at a frog which she has been known to do. I got the house picked up and the dogs fed. Donny went to the meat locker to get some meat for us. Dusty went to help some friends with their truck. When they got back they left to tow one of our old trucks to the mechanic.

I took the dogs and went to do some work at the barn. I cleaned out the feed room and picked up all the old bags. Donny will try to plug some more holes so the rain cannot seep into the feed room. While cleaning Hope and Spud killed a rat and BB did to. Spud is learning but he takes his hunting seriously. BB killed a rat just about as long as she is.

I let the Nigerian babies and mamas out of their pen. I will put the little boys in their pen since they are getting big enough to be interested in the girls. I went ahead and fed while I was out since it kept acting like it was going to rain.

I got back in the house and started some typing that needed to be done. I also fixed supper. Donny and Dusty finished up feeding, ate and left for a barrel race. Dusty decided he was still a bit too sore to run barrels tonight so he would just watch.

July 10, 2009

Friday. I got up and got things picked up and the dogs fed so I could run some errands. I did not get home until afternoon. Dusty worked in the pastures this morning getting rid of weeds before they went to seed. He went to get silage and feed for the weekend.

Feeding went well. Everyone seems okay. All the babies are doing well. Emma Lee is still very upset about being away from me and she wiggles all over when she sees me. She can got to the lot in a couple of days.

July 9, 2009

Thursday. Dusty went for his checkup today and was released to go back to his old routine. The little lamb was in bad shape. I brought her in and tube fed her but she died soon after. The mama ewe was very upset that I took her.

I worked in the house and froze squash until time to feed. The mama ewe was still fussing about her baby. I turned her back in with the other sheep so hopefully she will soon forget. Everyone else was doing okay.

Donny and I will go to the Cradle of Forestry tonight for supper. Dusty is going to a horse show and to look at a trailer.

June 8,2009

Wednesday. Up to morning routine. One of our old ewe had a lamb this morning. We will have to watch her. I put Emma Lee in the stock trailor with two other bottle babies that we are keeping an eye on. This will give her a chance to bond with them before going out in the lot. I think if I just put her in a lot, she would get out and come to the front door. She has been crying some especially when she hears my voice.

I worked on the computer some until and put a roast and vegatables in the oven so supper will be done before going to feed. My father is having sugery today so I have been keeping in touch with that. I started on the typing for the day.

When I went to feed, I found the baby very weak so I went back to the house for a bottle for her and also one for Lanie, the other lamb. Both lambs drank but I am not sure if this newest one will pull through. All the other baby lambs and goats are doing fine. I will leave Emma Lee and the other goats feeding for Donny to do so Emma Lee will not get so upset if she sees me.

Donny came in and he and Dusty went to finish up feeding. The neighbors horse had eaten too much clover and was having some trouble so they went to see about him. I went back to the barn around dark and fed the lamb again.

July 7,2009

Tuesday. I got up and fed the dogs and Emma Lee then ran to the store. Dusty was up early to get to the horse barn and wait on the farrier. I ran to the grocery store and got back just at noon.

I put a roast in the oven and started on some typing. When Donny came in we went to feed and found that the pygmy had had twins. They seemed to be doing very well. Feeding went fast and we got back in to eat. Donny and gone to eat with Tony and his grandparents so he came in later.

July 6,2009

Monday. I got up and did the usual morning routine. Emma Lee is getting into more stuff in the house so I will have to start preparing myself to let her go out with the other goats. We moved two young bottle babies into the stock trailer for awhile so we could make sure they were okay and I believe I will put her in there with them for a while. If I put her anywhere else, she will just get out and come to the house. It is time for her to start being a goat.

I started typing in the afternoon and stopped long enough to go feed. Everyone seems to be doing okay. Mamas and babies are doing fine. The horses are enjoying being able to be out some. It has rained some but not enough to really hurt them.

July 5, 2009

Sunday. We were up early as usual. The dogs were fed and Emily had her bottle. Donny and Dusty left to pick up silage and run some errands. It was raining a bit but not enough to really wet the ground.

We spent most of the day just resting until it was time to feed. When we went to feed, we found that one of the Nigerians, Sasha had delivered a little boy. He was up and running around. We put her in with Cecily, Shelly and their babies. We keep getting these little surprises all along. It has been an unusual year for lambing and kidding. The black ewe that had her baby on Friday was feeling poorly so we put her on antibiotics. She seemed better today. Her lamb did not really want the bottle we offered so hopefully she is getting enough milk to fill her up.

July 4, 2009

Saturday, the 4th of July. Dusty and Donny left early to help put up the neighbor's hay. I did some cooking for the evening and cleaned the house.

They got through with unloading the square bales in the early afternoon so Donny ran to the store to get some things for the cookout. Dusty went back and helped a bit with the round bales.

We went to feed when Donny got back and noticed that one of the goats, Goldie, had had two bucks. She was taking very good care of them so we left them alone. After feeding, Donny and Dusty went back to finish up with the round bales.

We cooked hamburgers on the grill and watched the fireworks display from our front porch. The dogs are not really thrill with the noise but Spud did watch as long as someone was holding him. Dusty and Tony kept a close eye on the horses to make sure that they did not spook.

July 3, 2009

Friday. Donny and Dusty left early for work today. They will be hauling hay to a horse customer.
I got the house picked up and turned the horses out and made sure everyone had enough water. I planted some flowers and mowed the grass. Dusty came in and went to the hay field to help with the neighbor's hay.

When I went to feed I found a ewe in labor with a large lamb. I helped her deliver it and got the lamb cleaned up a bit and put it beside the mother. She must have had a hard delivery since she seemed wore out and would not get up. I left them alone while she bonded with the baby. I got through feeding and the ewe had still not got up yet. I went on the the house and started supper. Donny came in for a minute and went on to the hay field. I went back to check on the sheep and baby and she was up and the baby seemed to be nursing. This sheep is fairly old and does not have the best udder so I went back to the house and fixed a bottle for the lamb. She really did not want to take the bottle and tummy was full. I will keep offering it to her every now and then just in case. I got all the dogs back in the house and went to help unload hay. We got a small portion done so the rest will have to be done tomorrow. Dusty left with friends to to to the rodeo.

July 2, 2009

Thursday. I picked up the house and ran out to do some errands. I picked up some groceries and a couple of plants while I was out.

One of the old Boer does seems sluggish so I mixed up some molasses, corn oil and corn syrup for her and Dusty gave her a dose. We will also give her some Vitamin B to help stimulate her appetite and get her going again.

While feeding, we noticed that Puddin, one of the Nigerian babies was a little sluggish so we checked her out. She seems a little bit bloated so we will watch her. I may give her a bit of Kaopectate if she still has a tummy ache.

Donny found a box of chicks up in the barn loft. I had been hearing them when feeding so he went to check them out. The hen wouldn't let him get that close so I guess they will join the rest when they are able.

After feeding I began the typing for the night. Donny and Dusty worked on the well. I heard a siren and got to the window in time to see the ambulance coming up our road. Our neighbor had been shoeing a horse and was kicked in the face. Donny and Dusty were there and got the rest of his hay unloaded with friends while he went to the hospital.

July 1, 2009

Wednesday. After the dogs were fed and Emma Lee had her bottle, I went to the side yard to work some. I upset a bee's nest and got stung several times so I decided to wait on that for a while. I had to take Benadryl for the stings so I know that I will feel sleepy the rest of the day.

Dusty ran errands and I cleaned and washed the rest of the day. It would have been nice to take a nap but I never got around to that.

Feeding went well. Everyone seems healthy and happy. Calamity has finally learned how to take treats out of my hand and she has decided that she really likes the Peppermint treats. The other horses love them to and so does Lilly the sheep.

June 30, 2009

Tuesday. I did the usual routine in the house then worked in the yard. I got most most of the Daylillies planted but will save some for the side yard. I will probably pick up some more for some other places on the farm. I also got my Muscadine grape plants in and started up the trellis. I weeded the raspberries while I was out and checked to see if the weedkiller was starting to work.

Dusty left in the afteroon to help with hay. He will be supervising and driving the truck. I think it will all be baled today and picked up.