Obediah's Adventure

One of the things about being a farmer is cultivating and growing things, only to let them go. This is certainly true about breeding livestock. We work with the best livestock we can find, and do our best to match them with others who will complement them in the best interests of the breed standard and future generations.  Some, we train to visit nursing homes and schools, some are show animals who are also breeding stock. Some of the little ones are sold as show animal projects for 4Hers, or as breeding stock for other farms.

One of the hardest things we do is to say goodbye to these friends who are certainly a part of our farm family, but in order to move forward with our breeding goals, or to function as a farm, we have to say goodbye and let them move on. Some animals will grow old with us, like the rather senile and goofy Treasure, or Huey who happily lived out his years with us. This fall, Obediah moved on to another 4-H family.

Obediah loved being an uncle and cousin at Patriot’s Dream, but he loves to go to shows and meet people, too. Since Bailey has been working more with the therapy animal program, he wasn't getting to do as much of the travelling and visiting and showing that he loves.   Obediah moved on to live with friends of ours, where he will be shown in 4-H and is doted on by four youth and their parents. He has also become buddies with a miniature horse named Frankie.

When Obediah first moved, it was a big change for him. He had never seen a miniature horse before! Within a week, though, they were teaming up to pull pranks and sneak into the chicken feed. While this sounds crazy, pranks are a hallmark of the pygmy goat personality, and let us know he was settling in just fine. The family’s neighbors had somehow no idea that a goat and horse lived there.  I find this quite surprising, since Obediah had long known to come running when called\. This means that anytime we stop by. or anyone comes through the yard and says Obediah, he runs to the gate of their pen talking and demanding an ear scratch!

At Patriot’s Dream, we free feed alfalfa pellets, so that there is always food available. So Obediah has never worried for food, he would just go get a mouthful when hungry, then go back to playing with his buddies. Some of you likely know that this doesn’t always work with horses, and Frankie gained weight having Obediah around. So he new family put the boys on a feeding schedule.

Frankie takes his food very seriously, and Obediah takes fun pretty seriously, so he started dragging the feed bucket while Frankie was trying to dig in! Obe’s new mama asked whether he was being a bully, or something was going on. They had already asked that anytime we were by, Bailey check and make sure he wasn’t getting too chubby or skinny with the adjustment to life in his new home.

It turns out Obediah had lost a little weight with this feeding schedule thing, so how were they to up Obe’s feed without letting Frankie get too fat? These are the moments that my friend Kate talks about being a flock or herd social director! We came up with a plan of stashing some pellets in a spot where Frankie could not get tot hem, but Obediah could get them anytime. Unfortunately, either Obediah was helping Frankie get tot hem, or something else was off kilter there, so Obediah’s new family as giving him extra a couple of times a day by himself. Frankie isn't too sure about this notion, but Obediah loves the extra attention, so there is a good bit of attention for the animals to keep everyone happy!

Another thing Obediah is loving about his new home is that there are several chickens who wander his pen every day. He and Huey used to let chickens ride around on their heads. After hawks moved in to the field down the road from us, we had to keep the chickens under a much closer guard, where they are only free ranging under supervision. So Obediah is enjoying have chickens around again, he loves anyone to play with. Before he left our house, he gave some young Polish pullets a ride...

So as much as we would love to have our animals with us forever, for others to enjoy the love and fun of goats, there have to be breeders, and for the animals to have full lives, they need homes with devoted families. And we are glad that Obediah has found a special one. I heard someone talking that they will be looking for a friend for him, too…

Monday Evening Fun

Charlie and I went to get the kids at camp last Friday and Wyatt couldn't wait to get home to his dog! Excuse the very grainy photo, but it was dark, and I am still learning the flash on the phone camera =) Shadow and Wyatt were so happy to see each other! Shadow was crying and jumping and just so happy to have him home.

Shadow was happy to see Bailey, too, but there is just nothing like Wyatt Clay in her world. When we went to pick up the kids, we were met with counselors who invited her to stay for the remainder of the summer to be a counselor in training, getting her ready to be a counselor next year. Wow! So excited, but lots of time away. She will be home most weekends though. So after attending an all day college class Saturday, we washed everything and she went back to camp, leaving her animals with Wyatt and I until Friday!

Wyatt likes to tell everyone he doesn't like the goats, but we know the truth. Really, he just likes the bucks, and 4-H won't allow him to show just them, so he enjoys them here at home. While Let Your Light Shine is the crazy friendly bottle baby who is completely at home in the house, Freedom's Prayer is Wyatt's favorite, hands down.

During evening chores, I tend to let the boys out. Shine gets a couple bottles of milk, and the boys all get to visit with the other animals around the farm as they wander.

Uncle Obediah and Daddy Powerstroke watch the young bucklings as they explore and play. Shadow loves this time too, since some if the boys play with her and pretend to let her herd them.

When Shadow herds Shine or Obediah,  the run for the pen, and then when she turns to get Powerstroke or Freedom's Prayer,  they pretend to run up behind her like they are going to head butt her in the rear end.

Below is Obediah, pretending to jog for the gate to the boys' pen. This was right before he and Shine dashed together after silly Shadow. 

Once back in the pen, the boys play together, wrestling, butting heads, or turning their plastic houses into toys. 

While Uncle Obediah prefers to play  turtle, the bucklings like king of the mountain, or in this case, Freedom's Prayer was in the mood for rock the boat. 

Sometimes when I catch the animals playing, they stop and stare at me as though they are trying to look innocent. This time, though, Freedom's Prayer posed for the camera! 

The boys are growing up fast, but I think they have also been great fun for the rest of the herd and the whole farm! 

Playtime for the Little Bucks

Sometimes, you just have to rest up for the fun, right? 

After a nap in the computer chair, followed by a bottle or two,   Patriots Dream Let Your Light Shine was ready to go back out to play with his friends in the buck pen.

Obediah believes that playing turtle with parts from a plastic house is th best game ever. Second, in his opinion?  Hide and seek with the same thing!  Still, he is a good uncle and plays head but softly with the young bucklings too.

Daddy Powerstroke let's them play balance on his back, but I can't seem to get a picture of it!

Funny how they don't want to have their photos done with the fun stuff, as soon as I pick up the camera, they stand up and stare at me! 

Playtime With the Big Boys

Shine is too old to play with the does now without constant supervision, but really loves to play with the big boys. Daddy Powerstroke is kind and cuddly, and Uncle Obediah is the goofy rough and tumble uncle. Bailey was working in the doe pen yesterday, and I was seeing to ,y grow out pen a nd geese nearby, so snapped these photos through the fence (they all just want pet if we are inside the fence, so from outside was the only way to catch the fun!

Obediah rears up on his back legs, and Shine rears up too. Then Obediah drops to all four a few inches shy of a head but, and lets Shine heat but him.

Obediah allows Let Your Light Shine to push him all over the pen, as though he is winning  a great wrestling match! Shine loves every minute of it, going like gangbusters, racing around and acting all goofy tough. They talk and ma and play in the cool morning hours with great abandon.

Here, Obediah allows Shine to shove him, shoulder to shoulder, moving in a circle like he is spun off balance by the little one. Shine really needs the time with other goats, Obediah and Powerstroke are really missing their old buddy Huey. The play time is really important for all of them!

Every so often, they take a short break for a snack at the hay feeder. The bog boys share one side, leaving the other for the little one to have room. Shine just thinks he is such a big boy like his daddy and uncle! He prances around in between mouthfuls, tail wagging and singing to us as if to say, "Did you see that? I am BIG!" You just have to love the youthful exuberance the little ones bring to the herd!

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.

Mis-Adventures of a Farm Mama...

Sitting at Auntie's care home today, Bailey filled out show forms and we laughed with auntie about wind and the coming baby goats. Bailey told her about the baby chicken that slept in a box in her bed last night, since the baby was too young for all the other groups of babies, and she was lonely and wanting to cuddle with Bailey all the time.

Soon, in came a barefoot Wyatt Clay, whose shoes had been packed where he couldn't reach them by his exuberant Daddy , excited for the youth hunt this weekend.  The kids kissed their great auntie goodbye, and I promised again to watch their animals well.  Bailey was particularly worried to leave Glory, since she is due to kid any day.

I visited with Auntie for a bit longer, then headed to return the tripods Charlie had borrowed from Teddy. Teddy always has a smile for everyone. He was getting ready to head to work, I asked how he was enjoying being a boss with the present government shutdown.  Teddy has been in the same unit as Charlie since before they went to boot camp, well over twenty years ago.  He agreed, this is not the time to be a boss.

They are full-time National Guardsmen, federal workers during the week, military on the weekend, and when they travel, which is generally a lot, since their unit's chief mission is training the military.  The state has come up with the money to pay them through this week, but then no one knows what will happen.

Teddy and I agreed that when there is lots to juggle, it is time to hit the gym. So I headed for the gym, and left him to head to do the same before work.  With the allergies leaving my throat so raw and painful, I just did five miles on the elliptical, then headed home to the animals waiting for me.

When I got home today, I locked the front gate behind me, the first outward sign that I would be on my own here for a bit.  I grabbed the first load from the car, and headed in the front door, where Shadow rushed out, ran around the porch and circled back to let me know she noticed I was alone.

"Where is your brother?" I asked. She danced in circles, leading me back to the kitchen, where old man Vegas lay at the back door, watching the world go by.  Shadow vocalized all her weird noises at me, letting me know she missed me, but disapproved of my returning, sans children.  They had been here to watch the boys load up this morning, and both knew that they were headed for a hunt.

Somehow, the dogs always know the difference between them loading up for a hunt, and when we load Charlie's car for him to head out on a duty assignment. And when he goes hunting, they greet him back and wait for their present from the hunt- hooves, horns, etc, - we don't believe in wasting the life and the bounty provided. And the dogs know it, and love the reward for looking after the farm well in the hunters' absence.

I offered up some turkey from the fridge to appease them, and gave Vegas some aspirin since the wind had not only left Bailey and I miserable in allergy issues, it also had his joints more stiff. He is seventeen, and has happily given over many of the day to day farm dog duties to his little sister, Shadow.  He keeps me company, and looks after his Bailey, but only really pitches in for guard dog duty and the occasional babysitting of a baby animal brought into the house.

We headed out to check on the animals, glancing in on the back porch crowd- sick bay and young animals live there, when they are recovering from an injury or getting big enough to join the older animals in the grow out or bigger pens. The bantam pen looked fine, and I headed straight for the doe pen- for Glory to be exact.

The others came to greet me, hoping to visit with their friend, as Glory is always the head of the herd.  She ambled out of her house, and turned to let me check her sides and udder. She didn't feel much further along. It seems like the babies are moving up and back a bit, but her udder is still fairly soft. That said, Glory can move along pretty fast once she gets going into labor.  I will still be headed out for a late night check tonight, and will save extra time to get a good check of her in the morning.

Satisfied that all was well, I came out of her pen and turned to head to the feed to top off the does' hay. I think Silver may have taken in her breeding, and they eat in spurts.  We always make sure feed is available.

As I turned left, though, I found Shadow on alert, fifteen feet back from the bantam Cochin pen, where the door had come unlatched and open in the gusting wind.  Her tail was going, she wanted me to fix the issue without her getting close enough to spook the poultry inside, as she had when watching Wyatt too closely one day in the d'Uccle pen. She still hadn't lived that day down.  I counted beaks and checked the feed and water, latched the pen and headed to the feed shed.

After topping off the doe feed, I went to do the same in the buck pen and found old Huey at the gate, awaiting me for a back and ear scratch.  Obediah and Powerstroke stood a couple steps behind him, clearly proud of themselves for getting him up a second time already today.  Huey is over ten, beyond the life span expected for a buck. He is among several geriatric animals toddling around here, living out their years in retirement.

Huey is in decline, but still seems to be holding his own, though likely only because the other two bucks are dedicated to it. They stand, one on each side of him, and boost him up, then nudging him to walk across the pen a few times a day.  Watching the way the animals look after one another makes me really love getting to be a part of their lives. It isn't always so nice, and they can sometimes be mean and need intervention, but the bucks are proud to look after each other, just as the does look after each other and help team up to raise the babies as a group.  I know the time is drawing nearer for Huey, but for now he still seems happy, and he is blessed by the kinship of Powerstroke and Obediah.

A quick look around, setting a few windblown items to right, and I was satisfied things would hold until the evening feeding, and grabbed the last items from the car and went inside. I thought perhaps a nap might help me feel more able to manage it all with the allergies, especially since I would need a late night check for Glory, so I did a little computer work then laid down for a nap.

I woke up with my throat worse, but at almost six!  This found me heading out as it turned to dusk, with all the chores ahead of me. I managed to grab one of the only flashlights Charlie didn't replace the batteries on before leaving, but began with the back porch, then gathering eggs in the bantam pen, checking on the breeding pens and heading to the goats. I was feeling pretty confident for the afternoon round that the animals were going to behave. Seriously? How many times have I done this? Don't I know every animal here wants their regular caretaker? Don't I know just how seriously the goats take that prankster quality that is part of the pygmy personality?

Bailey had carefully cleaned the pen before leaving, but managed to leave all of the spools the goats love to play with on end. So the gusting wind had them rolling up by the gate to Glory's kidding pen. I rolled them back and headed in to top of her hay, and one rolled back and smacked the gate into my back as the wind started in again.  I was just checking Glory as it happened, and she automatically took advantage and escaped from the kidding pen.  I let her go for a moment, and shoved the spool back, turning to feed the chickens in the next pen and get their water to clean. Another spool blocked me in.  I decided to grab the eggs before fussing with it, but all of the birds told me off for being the wrong caretaker while I was at it. I was thankful as I headed out in the doe area that none of them had tried to sneak into the chicken area, but they were too entertained running with Glory.

I flipped a spool back over to keep the other spools from rolling too close to the kidding pen, and started through the feeding and watering, alternating between cleaning out waters and letting them fill while I filled feeders.  The boys brought me Huey again, the young-ens in the grow out pen were already cuddled up for the night.  The A pen was a mess again, I set houses back to right and realized what Wyatt has been talking about with the setup of that pen, and understood why he wants that one to be the first to get the new treadle feeders.

I muscled my way through the Buckeyes and the Big Pen, upset one of the Brahmas trying to get the eggs from her. Wyatt would have helped her down from the house if he had been there, he says it is the same as when he offers me an elbow going down the hill in heels in the church parking lot.  I managed to lose the egg basket twice, and left my phone in random places, but Shadow split her time between barking at the fence line and checking on me.  The geese, (AKA- the farm busy-bodies) followed me around honking disapprovingly.

It's not as though I have never done this before!

I put away the feed cups and stopped in my shed for a basket to put together for the science club auction coming up.  Shadow met up with me again, and we headed to the back door so I could set the eggs down and begin watering.

Shadow settled Vegas in for a snack.  It's funny, since we free feed, but Shadow wants to make sure that the food bowl is never completely empty and no one forgets to let Vegas in immediately when he wants the door opened.  Since she has appointed herself my assistant, she also makes sure he sits down near the food bowl a couple times a day, whether he eats or not. This time, he humored her, and laid by the food bowl and watched us begin the watering.

I water by hand, I think it keeps me from missing things and having it go wrong in our extreme weather.  But it means a solid half hour plus of carrying buckets each night.  Shadow would run off at top speed, and then disappear for a bit, while i tended the plants, then just as I got to wondering, she would appear back by Vegas, checking on him then coming to see me before heading off to bark at anything she found suspicious.

As seriously as she is taking her farm/ guard dog duties, only hours into them being gone, the neighbors will be loving me soon! I see cookies and bread going over the fence shortly...

Bailey called, they have made it safely to where they had left the hunting stuff after Charlie's last hunt, and I assured her that the animals were fine.  I gave her a couple more strategies for the allergies, since she left the meds in the back of my car today, and encouraged her to take the medication she had and get some sleep.

Shadow  watched me harvest several pounds of pomegranates, we left the spit ones down for the geese to enjoy tomorrow (they think I don't know they sneak up the retaining wall to raid the tree) and I scratched Vegas' ears on the way in the back door.

It had only taken a couple hours to get through it all, and by the time they get home, I will have it all organized, but tomorrow night, I definitely want to get it all done before dark!

I came inside, and as Shadow alternated between barking like a lunatic at every sound and demanding attention, I settled in to cuddling Tiny, the baby that came in the house a couple days ago. She really wanted Bailey, and kept hollering despite being cuddled, so I gave her a stuffed animal, which she snuggled up to right away, and stopped complaining. I feel so loved.

Now here I am, typing away and listening to the news, drinking tons to try to appease my throat. The eggs are packed away, the dishwasher started. Just as I thought I was getting it under control, Shadow disappeared into Wyatt's room, I called her back and tried to get her to play fetch, she ignored me. I typed a little more, then realized she had stolen my pin cushion and run for her dog bed, to pull the pins out and throw the on the floor.

Yup, feeling loved.

Well, things are temporarily quiet. Vegas has settled into his bed, and Shadow has jumped up on my bed, where she sleeps when Wyatt is away. I suppose that means it is time to get her riled up again and go out and check on Glory one last time for tonight.

I've got this all under control, right? I am sure glad the feed order came in yesterday and Bailey helped me unload it all and put it up, even if I was a little late for the farmers market!

You all have a great night!

Our Wild Weekend!

Bailey and I headed out on an adventure this weekend, and left the farm in the capable hands of Charlie and Wyatt, with help from my parents who were in to help auntie move.  All the way up to Cottonwood we drove, but had to be home in time for me to teach this morning. After class, the kids and I did a walk around to make sure we hadn't missed anything with all the rain overnight.

Look what we found!

This new baby Silkie is actually black for now, but of partridge lineage, and settled right in to the brooder, taking a nap just a few minutes after meeting "her" new friends!

While we were up in Cottonwood, we participated in three goat shows, one on Saturday and two on Sunday. We participated in showmanship, a competition of our goat knowledge and skill in showing, as well as breed classes. The majority of the does stayed home to keep everything on track for the coming kidding season, but little Versie came along. Since she and Powerstroke didn't get their paperwork changeover in time to truly compete this weekend, we were fortunate to have wonderful judges that helped Bailey look at where they would truly stand and work on herd planning. Great folks and fun!

Bailey even challenged me to compete in adult showmanship...

This is a common sight when competing in open shows where breeders bring lots of their top animals, and end up looking like big city dog walkers! Sometimes there are ten goats in hand waiting to go in, just from one breeder.Then they have to figure out which lead to separate. The youth are always glad to help show and learn.

Obediah was hungry from being crazy and vocal with all the other testosterone in the barn.

The kids enjoyed hanging out with and showing with and against their good friends. 

A favorite activity in the down time- cuddling babies! Sure makes us ready for the next batch of babies here!

This was the last youth showmanship class. The youth are really amazing with their knowledge and poise!

The big boy bucks. So many different body styles represented! It might seem subtle to the naked eye, but the scorecard reveals a lot of fine detail aspects in breeding.

Another thing awaiting me when I returned home- posting the contest winners for the fall contest! Here it is:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations tot he winners and a big thank you to all who entered!

Next Adventure!

It's hard to get rolling on a Saturday morning, but we are off to the races, so to speak. Bailey and I are loading up Powerstroke and Obediah and little Versie to head up to Cottonwood for a goat show! We won't be back until late tomorrow, so we are leaving the place int he capable hands of Charlie and Wyatt, as well as the farm dogs =).

Presently there are ten baby chicken in the house, five Brahmas, two Silkies, two Cochins and a d'Uccle.  The tiny Cochin front and center, as well as the little Silkie better seen on the right in the lower photo seem to ave the makings of being visiting chickens. They love being held and played with and jump right into your hand to go for a look around.

These group of them seems to like the camera, too! The remaining Brahmas hide when the camera comes around!

We have had five straight days with rain storms. Not all day, but at least once or twice a day. The geese are loving it, but the mud and the craziness have laying a bit off. The Ameraucana who laid this tiny green egg is two years old!

Well, with Bailey and I heading off, I thought I would share the contest one last time, and remind you to enter, we will draw winners shortly after we get back!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Share with friends and have a great holiday weekend, cuddle your animals and stay safe!

Starting the Week Off Right

I cannot help it- I LOVE these monsoon sunsets! Funny, because the opposite direction from this, it was dark. And we are presently having RAIN out there!!! Barrels are out, and excitement is in my blood!

Gosh, the angle on this makes the whip portion look particularly bad! But the breakfast treat of the week- bowls of honeydew and Chinese cantaloupe with chia coconut granola and a little whip on top!  I think I have a chia thing going on these days!

Shadow is looking a little TOO comfortable while Wyatt works on math on my bed- AGAIN...

The hen in the Big Pen loft has now lost her eggs twice. I had a talk with her about shaken baby syndrome, but she wanted her eggs back so I let her have them.

She immediately gathered the remaining three back under, then later the two. I shudder to think where the others have gone after two weeks...

For those of you who follow us on Facebook, you have likely already seen these photos. I went out with Wyatt today to check on chores, and found Huey, having wedged himself under the top of a plastic dog house at the edge of his pen. At first I was worried, 

but then realized that he was just fine there. It is funny, the animal kingdom. When Huey just wants to lay around and not do anything, if Bailey puts food in their buck, even if there was already some there (and the almost always is) Powerstroke pushes Huey gently to his feet and grunts until he walks over to eat.

Shadow was having some goofy of her own, out chasing squirrels in the woodpile.

Well, I guess that is about all for today. Lots to do, and a big delivery coming tomorrow!!!  I will share photos and tell you all about it!