Homestead Life

I think one of the reasons I enjoy winter so much besides the cold weather is I get to slow down. I have time to really enjoy and spend time with each animal or farm project. Once spring rolls around I get overwhelmed. There are so many projects and chores I don't know which way to turn or what to do first. Animals don't seem to get as much snuggle time and we all miss that. Lil Vicki had her twin boys that I posted about. Well the next morning I went out to feed and she was laying with her babies enjoy the morning. I went back to give her fresh water when she stood up and walked toward me and fell over dead. Don't know if it was a blood clot, heart, or what but that left us feeding 2 baby goats 4 times a day. My heart was breaking because Lil Vicki was my baby.She was the c section baby from Olivia and had always been spoiled. We are keeping one of her boys Lil Victor and Leonardo will be going to one of the grands in the mountains. While all of this was going on Buttons decided to have her babies which were 3 boys and a girl. The runt boy had a lot of fluid in his lungs so we had to suction and work with him. Another one was so crammed inside her that his front feet were bent back at the hoofs. We massaged and worked with him 4 times a day until he is finally walking and doing everything normal. Can't tell he even had a problem. We named him Andy. The one with fluid in his lungs we named Happy because he always seemed to be smiling. He didn't make it. He lived about a week with us suctioning and giving antibiotics but his lungs were just too weak. Buttons had rejected both of these babies so we were having to bottle feed them along with Lil Vicki babies. Her other two which we named Caesar and Cleopatra are her pride and joy. She nurses and loves on them all the time. Rosemary decided it was time for her to have her babies right on her due date. First kidding for her and she had a boy and a girl. She decided she only wanted the little girl we named MeMe as it looks just like its grandma (Mammy so mini me). Lil John her boy is a bottle baby now too. Mammy who we thought was due end of May kidded last week of April with a little girl. She had it right in the middle of the goat pen with Buster the guardian dog helping her clean it before we got there. Buster thought since he cleaned it the baby girl was his and wanted to fight Mammy for her. We put Mammy in her own pen and he tried to dig in and tried to jump the fence to get to baby. Now he just lays at the gate and watches it. He lets all the goat babies climb on him but he still wants Snow White because its his. Mammy has huge teats so her baby can't nurse ... another bottle baby. We milk Rosemary, Mammy, and Buttons to give their babies their milk. Trying to make sure we give the right milk to right baby is a chore in itself. We feed Lil Vicki babies goat milk replacer but will gradually switch them over to regular goat milk since we are getting plenty of milk from the goats. I start a chore or project and have to stop to go feed 5 babies their bottles. I go back to project and it is time to feed and water the animals. A little more chore or project and it is time for bottles again. The last feeding is at 11 at night. If you ever saw the commercial where the guy met himself in the doorway saying its time to make the donuts you will understand when its time to fix the bottles we tell each other its time to make the donuts. Seems that is all we are doing. Gardening is getting done here and there. Had to replant my broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and spinach because we had a hard freeze come after week of 80 and above temps. Was busy feeding bottles and make sure baby goats were warm and forgot to cover plants. Have beans, okra, cucumbers, peppers, radishes, and lettuce coming up and looking good. Have more to plant and the whole garden to mulch but not sure when I will get to it. The handyman business is keeping William busy and some days I am needed to help. He has a young man helping him now and I truly hope he works out. We had a couple of others helping and they even stayed with us but they enjoyed partying too much and staying out all night. Ended up not being responsible or trustworthy so let them go. Was given a box of jalapeno peppers that I finally found time to make and can into cowboy candy. Hoping I can make some dandelion jelly this evening. Along with everything else we have a momma fox and her babies trying to take all of our chickens. She comes out at 2:30 every morning. Buster who is in the goat pen starts barking and going crazy at the fence. Bella who patrolling the whole property starts heading to the property behind us where the fox and babies are and chasing them. You would think the fox would get wise and move on somewhere else but she does this every night. All the neighborhood dogs start barking including our dogs in the house so it is a barking party for about 20 minutes.   Our hens that decided to become broody are coming off their nests with baby chicks. I am catching hen and chicks and putting them in brooder houses to keep them safe till chicks are older. Running out of places to put them as there are so many hatching. We are still getting 4 dz or more eggs a day. We sold some hens and roosters last week (19) and have more to sell when I get them caught. Try to catch them at night when they are roosting but with all the rain we had got behind. Have some that are free ranging I need to catch as they are getting into neighbors garden. Hopefully will get them tonight. My grandson Woody is getting his blue infantry cord next Thursday and graduating from AIT next Friday. He will be heading to Ft. Stewart which is about 4 hours from here. Hope he comes to visit on some of his free weekends.  I won't be going to his graduation as its 6 hrs away and we have baby bottles to feed and goats to milk. No problem finding someone to feed and water but to feed bottles 4 times a day and milk is impossible. William will be making a trip to Lexington, NC really soon as his daughter Lisa's husband is in hospice care. He is in the final stage of colon and liver cancer. He wants to visit with his son in law and be there for his daughter. I talk with her on phone and facebook but will stay here to take care of animals in case he wants to spend the night. Please keep this family in your prayers. Ken is only 28 yrs old. His son Harvey (6 yrs old) is having a rough time understanding and accepting what is going on with his daddy. Lisa and the family as a whole are having a rough time and could use everyone's prayers. My daughter Melody is having some tests done. They think she might has MS but we are praying and hoping it will be something simple. Please say a prayer for her. As you can tell so much is going on so I haven't posted in awhile. I try to read a few blogs each evening or early morning to keep up with what is going on in your part of the world. I post on facebook throughout the day as I can do it quickly from my phone while I am out and about the homestead. The link is on the sidebar. Have not had time to finish reading books from my list but have finished 2 I need to post about soon. Can't say things will slow down anytime soon but will try to post again soon with some pictures of all our cutie baby goats. Have a blessed one.