Walking Therein

Too Tired to Sleep... Goat Kidding and Horses 101

7:08 PM, Sunday, February 25, 2007 .. Posted in Living Learning Moments, A Dixon Home Education .. 4 comments .. Link

-Or is that 201??

At 8:00 this morning, as we were watching our new goat kids in the goat pen... since 2am, mind you... Jocelyn remarked that she hadn't done algebra or writing or much 'school' lately, "though I did finish my Grammar book in entirety last month," she reminded me. At this point, I was too tired to sleep or think or do much of anything but just keep going.
I said, "Well, we did do a lot of measuring and using power tools and building and planning and research and..." At which point she adds, "And I suppose researching all about the goats and delivering 3 kids probably counts for something; what is that called again?". "Goat midwifery," I replied. Thank God for homeschooling. Goat Midwifery - Whoda' thunk? Thank God for allowing us to let our children learn *real math*, *real responsibility*, *real life*, just by doing what he has given us to do at this time.
EDIT: It's funny, my Mom told Jocelyn that watching goats kid was biology enough!! lol I agree! Especially since we participated, not just watched!

Don't tell me you won't use what we're learning,my dear children!!

    I will let her tell you all about it, but, I will tell you that I said to the girls at 12 midnight last night that, since we were expecting a horrendous, power-failure-producing ice storm, and this was most likely going to be the worst winter weather we would have, they *had* to check on Chloe in an hour-and-a-half. (Goats are apparently notorious for kidding on *the* worst night of the year). I dozed off a bit later, and was awakened by, "Mom, Chloe has a bunch of stuff on her, and she is going to deliver soon." EXACTLY!   Glad I got those 20-30 minutes of shut-eye! (Though I did sleep on the hay bales off and on in the barn!)
EDIT: Which were *already* there, btw; I did *not* "make a bed" out of them.... ( :

    When we walked into the stall and Jocelyn says, "Watch out: there's a baby goat right there; don't step on it," (it was in the *doorway* of all places), it was just the beginning. Until about 8am. She cleaned up all 3, and the one came out breech, and she had to tear the sac and pull him out a bit. Go Jocelyn!! She even helped the kids nurse, so I guess all those breastfeeding moments in with our own little ones taught her something!
    There were a few comments made that *my birth* better not take so long! Um, yeah... LOL!!! Though it did make me think about it and how much I am looking forward to it. It is so fast-approaching! I don't think I have had enough time lately to even think about it! Just enough to lift up my little prayers all day as I work and Baby moves!
    Now, I neglected to tell you that I was down in the barn from 11 am yesterday until about 9:30pm, because we got *our new fillies* in the afternoon. We had been out there until late the night before, ... read about it on Amanda's entry. I was dog-tired, then, too. Yesterday, we went out to finish-up building stall doors, adding gates, hinges & locks, bailing hay, moving dirt, etc. before they brought them, and then we stayed out with them putting up the last 2x4s and remaining stall gate.
    All of our children got to meet and spend time with the horses; it was so fun to watch! Amanda brought down the Littles to ooh and ahh over them. Precious! Everyone cooperated and did a lot of work. Jocelyn - Susie-Homemaker, Indoors- kept the boys, cooked lunch and dinner, cleaned up, was on puppy-duty, etc. while we were in the barn. Amanda, Susie-Homemaker, Outdoors- helped me keep the rest of them busy, working. She helped me hammer, drill, cut.

YIKES! Am I really due in 6 WEEKS??

    Then I came in and read my dear friend, Jenefer's post about her dh and Coie and Ryann, who got to go to a *Goat Convention*... I was *truly* jealous... LOL! It sure woulda' come in handy when we found that kid in the doorway last night!! I will say, though, that the Yahoo! Goat webring her dh, Geoff, gave us info on sure did come in handy last night!! We have been reading everything we could on it in anticipation!!
    So, our non-socialized, non-public-educated, homeschooled children have learned so many diverse things in the past few weeks. I cannot imagine trying to have fit it all in between hours of homework, socializing and extra-curriculars! - Not to mention all the time we would have to spend re-training and fighting about clothing, etc. -Been there, done that with other stuff!! Homeschooling is family-bonding living. Thank God for bringing it into our lives early on. (Though it's never too late to start!)
    Well, thank you for reading another long post on all we are doing in our very unconventional homeschool setting!!

May God Greatly Bless you as you educate your children for Him, His way!!
-Jacque

Now, I wonder if we can get anyone to knit us some of those nifty little Goat Kid Sweaters!   LOL!

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Recent Homestead Posts:
Out in the Barn Again
*2 pregnant does, 1 who will be kidding any day
My Own Homemade Enchiladas, Beans, Rice and Tortillas

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9:12 AM, Monday, February 26, 2007 .. Posted by babymakers
Wow! That is so exciting! We have two pygmy goats but they are brother and sister and the boy is no longer capable of reproducing. That is a good thing anyhow. We had a billy goat once and boy did he sure stink!

You Have a Great Family...

11:10 PM, Monday, February 26, 2007 .. Posted by 4evrHischild
I just this week met two of your daughters when they left comments on my blog. I didn't know they were related but after reading amanda's blog about the horses and then going over to jocelyn's blog and reading it again I realized they must be related. Then I came across your blog and realized you were all part of the same family. You're growing a great family there and it's still growing. I am envious of that, as we will not be having anymore. We do have five, the first in college, then a sophomore in high school, a fifth grader, second grader and preschooler. Real life is definitely the best teacher of all.

Edited by 4evrHischild on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 8:25 AM

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12:55 AM, Tuesday, February 27, 2007 .. Posted by Heart n Soul
You've "goat" to be kidding!! heheee

wow I need a nap after reading all that. Have fun with your new ponies! DD will be so envious -err- excited for you :)

blessings
Denise T
/HeartnSoul

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1:33 AM, Tuesday, February 27, 2007 .. Posted by drewsfamilytx
Sorry, no sweaters from me since I cannot knit...yet... :-)

You know what I like about homeschooling? That it IS unconventional...I absolutely love being able to switch things around to suit the different learning styles, take days off, have school on Sat and take Mon off instead, spend time with my kids, do FAMILY activities-- even during the week!, and tons of other stuff. And best of all, being different is a lot more FUN than being "normal."

I hope you get some rest after all that excitement!

Blessings,
Marsha

PS You have such a great family-- honest! Truly blessed...

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