Saturday, May 31, 2014

Patriot's Dream Let Your Light Shine

My name is Patriot's Dream Let Your Light Shine, Shine's my nickname though. I am a bottle baby indoor goat. I like to cause trouble and play with Shadow Paws, the farm puppy. I love stealing food from the humans and cuddling up next to them. Sometimes, I pretend I just want to nuzzle, when really, I want to chew on hair. My caramel fur looks white, and the stockings give off the look of an x, when seen from the front. I follow Bailey wherever she goes, or at least try to, but she won’t take me to Youth Group.



I want to be a therapy goat, getting to go to fair and nuzzle with kind people was fun. Bailey once took me to Children’s Church, that made everyone happy and I got to make lots of new friends. My friend Daniel likes to tell people that I’m a Chihuahua, but I like to be a little goat.

I was born on March 26th, 2014. My dam is Get Er Dunn Silver and my sire is Jaune Ranch Powerstroke.

Patriot's Dream Freedom's Prayer

My name is Patriot’s Dream Freedom’s Prayer, Freedom for short.  My dam is Get Er Dunn Silver and my sire is Jaune Ranch Powerstroke. I was born on March 26th, 2014 with Patriot’s Dream Let Your Light Shine. I like to climb up the nursery house and jump on buckets. My brother and I also race the farm dog, Shadow. Since I’m not quite ready to leave Mama Silver, I play with Treasure through the fence. At the fair, the judge said that, even though I wasn’t cooperating, I was a more promising buckling than a buck from a longtime breeder! I liked chewing on the fancy purple ribbon and making Bailey carry me since I wouldn’t walk. When I grow up, I’ll be a striking gray agouti, just like my dad, Powerstroke.  I’m looking forward to attending my next show in August, while Shine is a light caramel just like our dam.



I get to come in the house for health checks with Bailey and my brother, Let Your Light Shine.  Shine is a bottle baby, because he got a scratch on his neck when we tried to visit the buck pen. Bailey had to take him in the house to keep him healthy.

Patriot's Dream Obediah


My name is Obediah, I am a three and a half year old wether that was born on Patriot’s Dream. I like to get pet, rub against humans, and play with Powerstroke. I was born October 26, 2010, while Bailey was preparing for a large theatre production of Guys and Dolls. This led to being named after the gambler turned missionary, Obediah Masterson. I have a better personality for a wether, but being with the big boys, I sometimes let out bucky attitude.

As a kid, I spent a good bit of time in the house. At the time, my half-brother, Nathan was living in the house as a bottle baby. As a half-brother, we share a dad(sire), Huey, who still lives with me in the buck pen. I was sad when Nathan went off to be a herd buck at another farm, but I was really excited for him.


The few times I’ve gotten to go to shows, I was still a buck. Based on my personality, I really was meant to be a wether. Still my favorite part of the shows is the obstacle course.  I am hoping to return to the show circuit and maybe become someone’s showmanship wether, because sharing Bailey with the babies isn’t as much fun.

Friday, May 30, 2014

Our Old Friend Huey

This is our old friend, Knee-High Nibblers Lil' Huey, born March 7th, 2003. This was the night he came home to live with us on May 27, 2007. It is hard to believe it was that long ago.


He came to us as one of our first herd bucks, along with this sweet guy, Steely. While our does can be a bit fussy, the bucks were always sweet and glad for a back scratch and a little one on one attention. Wyatt Clay turned five that summer, and was glad to help see to the friendly boys, so when it came to them showing at shows, Bailey let Wyatt show them.


Here he was with April Seiler, his first time in showmanship.  We are pretty sure that all he said was that he was a sweet buck and his name was Huey and he had a rumen...


Huey, aka Hubert, as everyone around here has at least one nickname, settled in well to life here at Patriot's Dream, and enjoyed his life as a herd sire, seeing to the does and helping to raise the baby kids.


 Huey and Wyatt continued to show together, and even attended the National pygmy goat convention in Cottonwood. Each showmanship class, there was Wyatt with his buddy Huey, Bailey rooting him on from the gate, people shaking their heads at the young child showing the big buck. About a year ago, I saw photos of the two of them from the convention pop up on another person's facebook page, laughing about the little boy with his buddy from way back at that convention in Arizona.


Even without a proper hold on the lead, there stood silly Huey, right at Wyatt's side. As the years went on, Huey sired sweet kids, and loved wandering the property. When the young silkies would squeeze out of their pen and into the buck area, we would find them riding around on his funky twisted scurs.


As he grew old, the arthritis began to set in, he still ambled around the property, He looked after the new young bucklings, and talked with them at the fence. When they got out of pen time for Bailey to clean their pen, he still wandered the hill on the east side of the house.  He was slowing down, and losing muscle tone, but still a happy old man.


We have known for some time that old Huey, was getting old. Bucks are generally expected to be around from eight to ten years. But despite stiffness, every time I would walk by worrying about him, Powerstroke would make sure he was standing up and eating, looking me in the eye to make sure I noticed that his buddy was just fine.

Then this week, Huey took a really hard turn. One of the hardest things to know is when it is time. We watched him carefully and did more work around the pens. Thursday he had had a bad spell, and the only reason he got up at all was because Bailey stood him up. We thought we would let him rest overnight. This morning he got up and moved around a little, but not well. Each time, Bailey moved his own bowls of food and water along with him.  Sweet old Huey passed away this afternoon, in his favorite spot,  on his own terms.  We will miss our sweet old Huey, a truly special guy. Rest in Peace, dear friend.


Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Where Did the Weekend Go?

I think these photos were left over from Saturday. I was really enjoying the sunset while the kids and I were working on our special pen project and watering and doing evening chores.


I was also really enjoying the way the last rays of sun were extending further into the sky with each picture.


We didn't get much finished, but did make a little progress.



Okay, this one is likely my favorite shot of them...



Or maybe this one...


Charlie and Wyatt were supposed to be putting things away when it got too late to work. Then they talked me into trying on this hunting vest and Wyatt started messing around making funny horns with the cow horns we have been threatening to affix to Bailey's truck.


Okay, here is the vest. How much could I lose in all of those pockets?

I was working on putting some things away and the box from some leftover fabric had disintegrated. As a temporary patch, I used a big old ammo can.  It got me thinking, I could hide a lot of craft supplies in ammo cans and Charlie might not notice it was even there... 


The sunsets really are amazing out here. For those who accuse me of ADHD behavior, I don't know where you are getting it from...


On Sunday, we made a few stops on the way home from church. One was Bookman's, where Wyatt found a couple books. We also picked up a soaker hose. That project will be coming along later this week But while we were at Bookman's, we found a pigeon that is really fancy and doesn't require any feed. We thought it was perfect for a new 4-H project, but apparently it doesn't meet the breed standard.  Picky, picky...


We also stopped for tortillas. Wyatt was really enjoying the architecture a the El Rio bakery.


Once we finally got home and got things rolling, we did finish the main structure and roof of the special pen project. This will hold for a week or so while we select the right primer, but it is almost ready! In fact, the chickens moved in, and seem to like it for now. I look forward to not only checking this project off the list once and for all, but also sharing the photos of the final project. The kids have something fun planned for the next stage!


This is the hole in the kids' bathroom wall. The towel racks just don't do well in there. The kids have finally decided what to try next, and they think they like their Grandma's idea of going to well secured hooks. That being decided, Wyatt is learning to patch the wall. When all is said and done, I will share a separate post with photos of the learning process on this one!


Charlie is going to exchange some wood tomorrow, and we should get back on task with the doe barn project when it comes home. Because of that, all of the walls are not yet complete. We have had some extra bracing at the edges of the wood panels, and Shine has taken advantage of them to go visit the pens and come back tot he house. What a spoiled little guy! So Bailey got you all a couple videos to enjoy!


He is sure enjoying having the best of both worlds- the companionship of the goats, but the great house like alongside the dog and kids!


Well, that is not to say that we didn't take time to appreciate the reasons why we are free to be as silly and independent as we are.  We know all too well that we are the lucky ones. As a military family, we are blessed to be together and to have each other to drive crazy!  Our family has been military in nearly every generation since the war for independence, so our military tradition is a proud one, spanning several branches of service.

Well, we finished off the weekend with a much appreciated family dinner of elk round steak, roadkill potatoes and melon. I have also been trying hard to reorganize the house completely, so Charlie and the kids brought this into the house temporarily for me to work with along the way this summer.


As well as it will keep a lot of things organized, it is rather big, so hopefully I will be ready for it to move out soon.

Well, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Hug a veteran, love your family, and enjoy the coming week for all of the promise that it is. Love to all.
me


Monday, May 26, 2014

Growing Young Polish- the first to hatch here!

This little goofball hatched a little before county fair.For some time, the chick only had a little pompapour poof as it ran around the brooder in the living room.


These days, the little White Crested Polish chick with a little dark in front has been working on growing a rather fancy "do", with the poof continuing to grow. It has also moved out tot he back porch brooder, with a few others.  It seems to have a rather dominant personality thus far.


I always hold out hope for girls, especially since these are part of a project for help out the other 4-Hers, and they typically need hens to balance out males they already have, or often aren't allowed roosters where they live.  What do you think? Pullet or Cockerel? I still think it is young enough that the feathers could tell us either way!

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Baby Buckling Update- 8 Weeks Old

It is hard to believe that the precious duo is now two months old!

On Thursday, Bailey got their hooves done again, but they refused to cooperate to get on the scale on Friday afternoon. Here are some updated photos and their weights....


Let Your Light Shine is Mr Curious. Since he still spends about half of his time in the house, he is very comfortable inside. He has gotten into several capers lately, from trying to sneak onto the counter to steal cookie dough to jumping on Bailey's back to sneak a ride to


borrowing from Shadow Paws' book and sleeping with his head on Bailey's pillow.


Let Your Light Shine weighed in at 19.74 pounds, And he is trying hard to catch up to his brother!


At least we know all that milk is actually going somewhere!


He also loves a good ear scratching...


And chin scratching! He knows he has it good!


Freedom's prayer, his mama Silver's favorite, isn't too sure about the house though, so we had a harder time getting any decent photos!


He did ask to go out and return to his hollering mama from the get-go!


Freedom's Prayer weighed in at 20.6 pounds! Still growing beautifully, and while he really didn't show it off in the house, he is growing beautifully and maintaining the great looks that earned him the first title in his prospect buckling class.


Even if he won't stand still for the scale!


I do love the goofy look he gave here though!


We feel very blessed to have them doing so well and Shadow is loving have Shine in the house to play with!

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Monday Night Chore Time- And A Tiny Bit of Headway on the Coop Project

After a thirteen hour day at work today, I came home and cleaned the kitchen floor. That was SO on my list before bed. But then again, I uploaded these photos last night, after we got in a little sunset- time work done in the new special pen project. So, I stopped by the computer to share our iddy bit of progress with you!

First, this is the door Wyatt made for the back section of the project. It is on, but we are still trouble shooting the closure mechanism.  I am rather thinking of using something similar to what is on the wooden door at the front, but having Bailey play with the JB Weld to affix the d-ring side to the metal frame.


I had brought this home with me to put here on the wooden door, and to see whether Bailey thought the JB Weld would work. Since it is zinc, and the frame is aluminum, I don't want to take stupid chances by trying a regular weld.


We made a little forward progress on the roof, and are down to the funky area. Nevertheless, the wind returned today, so I will see what needs reinforcing tomorrow when we work on this!


This is the triangular shaped open space. We are planning to allow the metal to overlap some in order to frame out an area for the bucks' favorite feeder to stay out of the rain!


This area could prove to be a challenge, as we designed it with a slight curve to help with wind resistance, since wind wreaks such havoc i our area. I am thinking that using a plank of wood, attached through the metal roof into the support structure on the from and in the roof may work. Wyatt liked the idea, and thinks he has an idea as to which wood to use. Bailey seemed to agree as well, so I am not sure whether that is a good or a bad thing!


This open area will be the next area to tackle and we are hoping to get through it Wednesday night.


Shine has been learning about taking over the house from Shadow Paws.  Here, he was perched on the pile of blankets on the sofa.


Apparently, she has also taught him that the more space you take up, the fewer humans try to share the sofa with you and the more ear scratching you get!


Well, I do wish I had more progress to share, but with school work, work and the grading that comes with the end of the semester, I am learning that I may only have small windows of time when the heat isn't too stifling and there is time unspoken for! We will catch you up more tomorrow!