Ready for Winter

Winter is coming so there are some thing that need to be done around the farm.

The goats have added a whole new layer of projects that need work.

One is finishing the goat house.

There is intention to get sawmill lumber siding put up on the walls.

Until that is ready I probably should get out there and put a coat of paint on it.

Another project has been this hay feeder.

Made out of old bed rails and cattle panel it holds a good amount of hay.

Saved us $$ from what they sell in the feed store. 

Sometimes I think FabHub wants the goats just so he can build stuff.

This time he got to weld!

The articles I have read say that goats prefer to reach up and get the hay.

That is Violet and Tulip showing that it works for them.

They are also picky about eating hay that has been laid on,

that is solved here too.

There is a bit of waste on the ground, but not as much as if we actually put the hay down.

They would eat what they wanted and then lay down on it to take a nap.

The roof of the building was built with an over hang to try and help keep things dry.

It should work.

Around the side of the building we installed a mineral feeder that they can reach.

We put in a salt/mineral block they can lick on and some loose minerals.

They seem to like it, most of the loose stuff was gone the next day.

That is Sweet Pea showing how it works 

and Daisy peeking from the ramp to see what there is to eat.

You can see below why we had to install the above type of mineral feeder.

This is Tyson showing how the mineral feeders made for cattle are just to big for them.

The goats have been known to jump in that tub and take a nap.

Why? We have no idea.

But at least now they have no reason to put their feet in the tray.

Here is FabHub playing the Pied Piper Snackmaster with an apple.

The apple tree is to the left, it drops apples that roll down the hill...

and get cleaned up by the crew.

Other winter projects include getting wood split and stacked up in the new shed. 

There should be plenty for this year with what is already cut.

The guys are doing some fence work that is going to bring in some more.

We can never have too much firewood since it is our main heat source.

It is great for the electric bill too.

This old wood pile is what is left from last year, actually older than that.

We are using it first this year to clean up the mess.

The plan is to empty a stall completely, rotating back and forth each year.

That will leave the other stall time to dry completely before the following year.

Hopefully, it won't be so cold we need to use more than that.

Jake is letting us know there is/has been a mouse or rabbit under the building.

We need to put some gravel in front of the pallets to keep him and Poochy from digging.

Poochy says - Who me? Dig? Yes, I love to dig after rodents.

In the meantime...

Slinky says - Dogs are so bad. If they wouldn't chase me there would be no rodents.

And...

Sweet Pea says - Hi ya! Got any Oatie Ohs?

Uncle Tommy Bought a House

When Uncle Tommy and Aunt Joyce decided to move to town 

they bought a house in a nice neighborhood.

The only problem was a group of five cruddy trees 

that were between their new house and the neighbor.

The neighbor said he didn't like them either, so cut them down.

FabHub and his brothers are pretty efficient when it comes to getting rid of trees.

They started cutting at about 1030 in the morning. 

This was on the same day we had our first snow.

At our house we had white butted frogs at 730am.

Luckily at Uncle Tommy's it was just wet.

The first four trees, two crab apples and two maples, 

are already cut out in this pic leaving just the biggest problem maple for last.

Nope, the neighbor didn't move the swing set before we got there - and 

it didn't get hit by falling limbs either.

One reason is because of BIL #2.

He makes a pretty good tree monkey.

The power lines didn't have anything to worry about.

BIL #2 works with them every day in his real job, 

which keeps him healthy and limber enough to do these tree jobs.

The rest of the crew had a full day of cleaning up the mess.

That trailer and a truck load of firewood had already been hauled back to the farm.

There were three more truck loads and a full trailer of brush to finish the day.

By about 3pm lunch had been eaten and they were at this point.

One ugly tree coming down.

By 5pm they were here.

Ready to head home again.

Like I said, they are quick.

Trees down and loaded, brush cleaned up, and ready to go.

Priceless.

And no, they can't be hired.

The work is only done to help family and feed our wood stoves.

Getting paid would make it a job and take all the fun out of it!

Working in California

Sometimes work can get strange.

Because we are sort of in between contracts at the office these days

I volunteered to work an inventory project in California for a new contract on an Air Force base.

This was an odd arrangement, but interesting to say the least.

As I post these photos of the trip I notice they seem to fit my state of mind lately.

So, don't read too much into it. I am just thinking out loud.

First sight seeing stop on the trip was Venice Beach.

Well, one end of it anyway. 

There is much that was missed, but it had been a long day.

Wide open spaces with nothing specific to look at, just dots and spots on the horizon.

Sometimes the way back from a project seems like a long trip.

Then when you make it back there are other people doing various things.

Out in the distance you can see real work happening, but getting there is kind of rough.

Turn around and you can see new horizons in the haze, but again, the trip is long.

The biggest problem sometimes can be the people around.

Those who are willing to poop on your head just because they can.

In the end you have to decide if the light leading down the pretty road is really meant for you.

Or a Dead End that doesn't lead anywhere but back where you came from in the first place.

We went to Redondo Beach one evening after work.

Again, there was much that was missed, but I really like the older less commercialized  and less crowded places that were encountered.

There are sometimes paths that seem to be less taken.

They can lead to old established businesses that don't seem to offer much.

Old Tony's on the beach. A restaurant that fits that description perfectly.

But inside those old establishments can be new and exciting views on old and exotic subjects. 

This is a Calamari steak.

Yes, Octopus steak, pounded out and prepared with pretty much the same idea and treatment as a schnitzel, country fried steak, or tenderloin sandwich meat.

But with capers.

No matter where you are in the world, coating the chosen protein and frying makes a good meal.

The fries could have used something other than ketchup though.

Maybe we need to step away from the old establishment and try something adventurous and new. 

The love boat in the bay.

Whatever the events, always watch out for pirates looking to take away the prize.

And always be aware of those head poopers, no matter how much they fit the picture. 

And just because something is sold as new, exciting, and perfect;

does not mean it is any better than the old, boring, and satisfactory.

Just keep looking up and dreaming. 

Eventually the Right outcome will be in Sight.

Like I said, don't read too much into this whole thing. 

It is just the way my brain is working today.

Now, off to get a Trading Journal and maybe some new goats!

New boy and New goat house

The girls need a boyfriend come January.
Meet Tyson.
He was named by the former owners.
There went my plans for sticking with flower names.
FabHub wasn't real happy with the "Sweet William" plan I had anyway.
So Tyson it is.

He is a full blooded 6 month old Boer.

The girls are going to like this guy when we put them together in January.
The girls will be a year old then and Spring baby goats are going to be Fun!
They came over to the fence to check him out.

He liked the looks of them too.

We have him in a fenced yard right next to the field the girls are in.

There is electric wire on the girl's side backed with woven wire on Tyson's side.

Unfortunately he is used to sticking his head through woven wire.

The woven wire we have is intended for handling cattle not goats so the holes are big.

He got zapped in the nose a few times before he learned to stay on his side.

Well, at least were there is electricity. He still does it were there is no electric wire.

Right now the fence is Girl Protection, but they can get to know each other.

This is Tyson and Daisy. We are pretty sure she is full Boer also.

She is doing much better at sticking up for herself these days.

She used to get knocked around by the other girls, but she has put on some weight and can knock them back when she needs to now.

This is Violet and Tulip with Tyson.

They are supposed to be half Boer half Nubian.

Sweet Pea is here too, she just wouldn't stand in a good place for a picture.

Notice how Tulip is grazing directly next to the electric wire.

They like to fence line graze and are careful about it.

I was watching Violet from the other side of the fence later this day. She always had an eye on the wire while she was biting the grass. Then I think one of the other girls bumped her.

Zap and a holler later she was 5 feet away.

This is the Taj Mahal goat house.

It has a nice red metal door with weather stripping and even a dead bolt!

The locking devices for the dead bolt and door knob are on the outside though.

Not to lock them in, but to keep them from locking us out!

No we aren't totally crazy, it is a recycle from Mom's house.

FabHub still needs to put the final siding on and then the hay feeders will be attached under that over hanging roof line. I am going to get some big flat rocks and put them under the feeder so they can file off their hoofs while shuffling around getting the hay.

We also have a window to put in.

The girls have definitely been spending time in here.

Looks like I need to get them a broom!

Right now they have the run of the place, but we plan to put up some short walls to create pens inside. They will be removable so we can clean the place out easier. There will also be a separate walled off piece for their grain and minerals. 

The ramp is a favorite plaything. They jump off and on like it is a spring board sometimes. It is made from some landscape timbers we had stored in the dry for years. Sort of forgot about them, but they came in handy now.

That fifth goat under the house - that is Buckwheat, the wether we are keeping for BIL while he is being weaned. He is taking most of the trouble that Daisy used to get, which explains why he is hiding.

Here is Violet in the favorite lounging spot.

I think they are pretty happy.

Last Week in the Yard

The sunflowers are all seeding.

The bees have been busy

But even on a misty day the sun can finally come through.

The grape vine was (and is again) full. 

So that this pot of grapes

becomes

this awesome juice.

The goat house is getting a roof.

More coming this weekend.

Come back later.