And the Goaties...

Alright, it's time for updates on the goaties.  Remember those tiny kids we bought home a year ago?  Not so tiny anymore!  Here's a handsome shot of our first goat, Burger.

He's gotten a lot bigger this past year.
Do you remember Heidi?

Be on the lookout for pictures of her kids in March.  Isn't she a pretty girl?  I can't wait to see her babies.

Then there's Ginger.  Sadly we will not be getting any babies from her this year but we're already looking forward to next year's breeding.  

Sam came to us when my mother had to move and couldn't take her little wether with her.  He's been here for months now and is quite the little character.  He's one of the most playful goats I've seen.  I don't like keeping lots of wethers though, so I'd like to see him rehomed.  In the process of looking for a new place for him we have discovered that there's a lot of people who say they want goats but don't really want them.  That's fine, I refuse to send him off to people who won't love him so, for now, he can stay.

Enjoy this pic of him with a chicken!

The Holidays

I love the holidays! Usually Christmas is my favorite but this year I volunteered to host Thanksgiving for my family.  I LOVED doing it!  We had such a good time and good food too.  I think I may host it again this year.  I hope they won't mind me putting this family picture up since it has already been all over Facebook.

For Christmas we did something really outrageous.  We went to my sister's.  I know, that doesn't really sound very outrageous but every year we either go to my in-law's house or we host something so when my sister suggested it we were a little apprehensive.  After discussing it a while I realized that I, except for a Christmas Eve dinner I hosted several years ago I haven't spent a Christmas with this sister since we were kids.  So I called her back and agreed to the plan.  I'm so glad I did too!  We spent the day cooking together and talking around the kitchen and I realized I missed that a lot more than I knew.

Two days after Christmas we crossed something off of my bucket list.  For years I have been wanting to see Six Flags Holiday in the Park.  Since we bought ourselves season passes with our tax return we decided this was our best and probably last opportunity.  Here's the kids being photobombed by the man in the background.  The trip was every bit as beautiful as I had hoped!

  

We had some fun with the goaties at Christmas too.  Here's a couple pics of Ginger since she was the most cooperative.

Invaders of the Fuzzy and Furry Kind

I guess I should apologize for taking such a long time to post anything.  I can't use the excuse that the holiday season has kept me so busy since it's been over for a month now.  There's a lot to catch everyone up on.  To save confusion I will use separate posts.

The Fuzzy Invaders

About the same time I last posted I bought half a dozen pullets to aid in egg production this spring, along with them I purchased some pekin ducklings.  So far the pekins have been my favorite of the ducks but I plan to get some rouens this spring.  This is them at a few weeks old.

This is them today.  Well, some of them at least.  The little duck in the middle isn't new.  All the little leghorn chicks will be in a stew later.  Sorry, that's what happens when you order birds online and they add "chicks for warmth".  I don't need that many males.

Go ahead and save this pic for future Easter pics. Yes, I took it. Yes, the baby was on me snoozing away.  I'm starting to wonder if the ducks are here for eggs and entertainment.

We had some furry invaders too.  We went out to feed animals one morning and these four were in our back yard just hanging out so we did what anyone in our situation would do.

We brought them carrots.  I love living out here!