Old Sawmill Homestead

Feb. 7, 2006

Diary of having a goat kid....

I think we are going to have baby goats today. I thought it might be fun to make an online diary as the event unfolds.

10:00 a.m. - Megan reports that Paige is acting a little strange.

12:15 p.m. - Megan checks on Paige and she won't come to her even for a handful of grain. She seems to be breathing hard. Mucus is showing.

1:20 - I go to check, Paige won't look at me. Usually she is excited to see me and today she is laying and turns her head away. Her eyes, when I get where I can see, are far away looking. I don't see any contractions, but this is abnormal behaviour. I will check her again at 2:00.

2:00 pm - Paige came out for a treat. She had a contraction while out. At least that's what it looked like. All of the sudden she lifted one back leg like she was in pain. She had a funny look in her eyes and wanted back into her stall. She has white discharge.

3:45pm - DD just went out to check. We took warm water mixed with molasses and a little cider vinegar. I will go out in a minute. Paige has retreated far enough into her stall that I can't see her through the window with binoculars! Paige isn't interested in the molasses water and refuses to come out of her stall. She doesn't appear to be distressed, just busy.

5:25 pm - Megan and I went out to check on the goats. Paige was asking for food, and is now eating alfalfa. She is more noticably humped and is still discharging. She must not have been having a contraction as she was more with it. Still waiting. Tonight is supposed to be cold. I was hoping for a day time delivery.

8:53 pm - still waiting. I will check one more time before bed and see if it looks closer.

9:00 Wed. morning - nothing yet. Goats must be as miserable as people get that last couple of weeks. I don't know how many times a day we check them, but we are all still waiting.

Cheryl

http://www.rhoadescar.com/jumpshow.htm

Feb. 6, 2006

Transportation??

We will be having to get a new vehicle before long. The one we have is a lemon. We have replaced the transmission, and it didn't fix it. They can't figure out what IS wrong. I have been looking around for fuel efficient vehicles for our family of 7. Here are my two favorites.

First is a peddle car. Yes, we would have to modify it and make at least 4 people peddling, get a power assist set up for hills and make it long enough to seat 7 (we in one seat!) I would also need a 'trunk'. But just think NO GAS $$!! I don't know what we would do in bad weather or at night. I just think it would be FUN.

My second favorite option is actually the more practical. I found this one by typing in "vehicles 8 passenger". Oh, and we would need a horse or mule. :D

http://store.yahoo.com/wagon-wheel/motowa.html There are several places to get these wagons. Once I realised that we are only 4 miles from a town with most everything we would need, IF we went over the old wagon trail (used now by 4 wheel ATVs) I have been thinking, HMMMMMM. I mean COULD this be a possiblity?

Probably not, but fun to dream.

Joyfully,

Cheryl

p.s. No kids yet. Both goats are 'close' but I guess the old saying holds true, Close only counts in horseshoes and hand granades. :D

Jan. 31, 2006

Having kids

You would think, as nervous as I am, that I was about to become a grandmother. Yesterday, Megan came running in yelling, "Mom, something is happening to Snowflake! There is white gunk coming out of her behind." I threw on my coat, dashed out the door and went to check. Yes indeed, she has lost her mucus plug! I was so sure this meant, NOW, that I had Norm help me separate her out.

Here it is 24 hours later and she is still just cooking along. There are new signs now though. She is talking to her kids, looking back to converse and beginning to nest. She wants left alone. Her first due date is Thursday.

This miracle called birth is something else. It doesn't matter if you see it in the birth of puppies, goats, or your own children, it is a MIRACLE! It makes me excited and scared all at the same time. What if she has trouble? Will I know what to do? I have read all about the procedure. I have seen the pictures. I have things ready. I have people on call if I need help. But I am still nervous.

Joyfully,

Cheryl

Jan. 25, 2006

Mandy

I was just standing at the window this morning, after building a fire, watching my 8 year old daughter, Mandy. That girl is something else. When we got the chickens and the goats, one of the goats was hers. Each morning we would get up and go 'do chores'. One morning I heard singing outside, it was summer and my windows were open. I got up and looked out, then looked at the clock. It was 6:00 in the morning. This daughther of mine had gotten up and was out doing the chores by herself, singing!

I figured it would be a passing thing and kept an ear out for her. That was in June. This is now January. This precious daughter is still doing it! I had to ORDER her to not leave the house in cold weather until every one was up. I asked her siblings to help and she asked me to have them NOT help as it messes "with my system, and takes me tons longer, Mom."

In really cold weather, she did let me go help. But she really gets a lot of enjoyment out of doing this on her own. I never have to ask, I never have to remind, she just does it.

This morning, I was making the fire, and watching her dress. It is 23 F outside this morning. She is bundled up in a pair of snow pants ("They keep water off my legs"), her brothers jean coat, work gloves and a stocking cap. She filled and hauled 2 - 2 gallon buckets of water out the door and set them down. Then she went to the garage and filled 2 buckets with chicken and goat feed. She came back to her water, left one feed bucket. Took one water bucket and headed to the chicken house. She fed, watered and let them out. Came back for the other buckets, and left her empties. She has now fed, watered and checked on the goats. It took her all of 10 minutes, and she just came in SINGING!

Every once in a while you have a moment as a parent when you just thank God for letting you have a particular child. I get that moment every day with this special little girl.

Joyfully,

Cheryl

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Jan. 23, 2006

NAIS

I still don't like it. This whole thing rubs me the wrong way. HOWEVER, there does seem to be a ray of hope. I spoke with our state vet today. I also talked to my state representatives. There are no plans to make this mandatory at a state level until and unless the Feds do. WHEW!

However, BUT, I also found out that I am already registered as a premises, and it happened automatically when I bought livestock. Laws have been on the books in SD for 100 years to provide registration and tracking of poultry and for 50 years for Sheep and goats.

One day it will come. But now is the time to have your say! Let your Government Representatives know! Share your concerns, give them options and different ways of doing things, SPEAK UP!

Cheryl

Jan. 21, 2006

Today is the DAY!

It has been two weeks since we made cheese. Today was the official taste test!

Before I tell you HOW it tasted, let me share some things I learned. First, after a week, I need to wax it. The rind is too thick as I left it loosely covered with a cheese cloth. I think I almost over-pressed this kind of cheese. It won't be good for sliced cheese as it is a little crumbly, so I have to look that up and see what to do to solve that 'problem'. It did not stop the family from gathering around to have a taste.

As each one came running, reactions were mixed. Megan insisted that she would wait until someone else had tried it (probably remembering kifer which she hates). Julie just began, give me some, give me some. Melissa and Mandy had their hands hovering, ready to snitch.

The cheese has a wonderful, slightly tangy CHEESE taste. Even my husband was impressed. I will be getting more milk and cheese making will be becoming a part of our normal life routine!

One experiment that was a complete success!

Joyfully,

Cheryl

Jan. 17, 2006

Hanging Laundry

About 5 years ago the makeshift clothes line I had rigged up on some old posts in the ground fell down. My dh thought hanging clothes was extra work for me and never would put up a new line. He has come around and promised me a line SOON. Right after the barn is done for kidding.

Yesterday the dryer started making a horrid noise. The thingy that holds the drum sounds like it has let loose and the drum is flopping around. This did not upset me! I was so pleased.

The kids and I put our heads together and came up with solutions. I now have a temporary line from the porch to a tree, and an indoor line for things like socks made between two highbacked wooden kitchen chairs. Julie is very happy with this arrangement as it is just about her height. She took so much pleasure in hanging socks just so and checking them every few minutes to see if they were dry.

Yesterday was rainy/snowy, so we hung a line around the kitchen. You would have thought I was decorating a Christmas Tree! The kids were very excited. Julie, copying her big sisters, announced, "Now our house is ole fashion." The older children said that now they REALLY felt like homesteaders. And here I thought that gardening, chickens, and goats would do it. How funny to think that hanging laundry around the kitchen was all I really needed.

The previous post is something I wrote about 5 years ago, before the old posts fell down.

Cheryl

Jan. 17, 2006

Wash on the line

Seasons on the clothes line.
by Cheryl Eggers

"When are you going to get a dryer?" I smile and shrug, "We have one. I just don't use it." I like hanging clothes on the line. I enjoy the few minutes alone, I think, pray, and remember. I love the smells, the fragrence of the seasons in the laundry.

Hanging the clothes - Summer
Summer is alive with sounds, the meadowlarks singing across the fence in the valley, whiring wings of grasshoppers and grass rippling in the wind. Wildflowers bloom profusely making our valley a patchwork quilt of vibrant colors.

Summer, the clothes line is fuller because clothes get dirty faster as children run and play outside. Looking across the valley at the horses running the pasture, racing with the wind, "A strom must be on it's way", I say to myself. I almost miss the charcoal stain on my daughter's shorts, put there by fingers blackened with marshmellow goo.

Stargazing
Back on a perfect evening in the month of August we built a fire at the fire ring in the back yard and invited family over for supper. The evening wore on, children ran and played, and adults sat relaxing around the fire, laughing and talking, discussing nothing and everything. Waiting, darkness fell, and we called the children to us and lay back to see who could spot the first star. Anticipation grew, the adults watched, spotted many stars, but kept quiet, and gently encouraged the children to look above. Taking little hands in ours to point, guiding eyes to the sky, so softly, "Did you look over there, just above the trees?"

Waiting.

Children's eyes grew with wonder as they began to pick out the newly emerging points of light. We lay there for a while, but soon the children one by one, almost like the stars had appeared, popped up and then wandered away.
      Adults went back to watching the fire, softly speaking, pausing now and then to look at the sky above, and darkness slowly, steadily, grew. Finally the dark took over and the children once again emerged from the distance ready to find loving arms and snuggle down in the warm circle of light from the campfire. It was time now for blankets, songs, and perfectly, and not so perfectly, roasted marshmellows, slightly burned fingers to be kissed and made better, giggles, and tickles.
      As little eyes began to droop, we once again lay back on now dew covered grass to gaze at the stars. "Oh, Mommy, where did they all come from? How many are there?" Then magically, wonderfully, the show began, shooting stars! Moving so quickly that little eyes couldn't find them. Now the adults became the children, eagerly awaiting the next burst of pinpoint light that went flying across the heavens. "Did you see that one? That makes five for me, what you have only seen two?" Adults laughing and bragging like children over their great accomplishments. Gradually we settled down, children snuggled close, hands tucked in ours, wrapped closely in blankets, each one deep in the night, the stars and their own thoughts.
      Children fell asleep, lost in the stars and the night, close to the warmth of the fire, surrounded by parents love, and as the last little one struggled to keep eyes open, she whispered, "Mommy, someday I want to know all of the stars, can you teach me?"   I looked down at eyes sparkling in the firelight, and gazed at the most precious star of all, my daughter.

Hanging the clothes - Autumn

Autumn and it becomes harder to get the laundry dry. Days are becoming shorter and I must watch for days that are still left over from summer. Sweaters are brought out and long pants are added. But there is still that occasional day that is a last gift of summer, breeze gentle and sun warm. I stop, hand halted in mid-air as I watch the bubblebee searching for a late blooming flowers. Gently he darts among the grass. I glance down and sigh, unhook the clothes pin and drop the jeans back into the basket, "Grass stain" I think, "This is going to need some more work."

Tall grass

I can hear the mower. My husband's new 'toy", an 18.5 h.p.Yard Machine with an 48 inch cut. "Now I can really cut grass!" he exclaimed. My daughter and I watch as he goes round and round. Standing at the window, her hand slips into mine and as I look down into her little face, my heart takes me back to the last days of summer. It was a beautiful evening, the sun slipping beyond the hill, crickets begin calling as the wind dies away for the night...I smile sadly and remember a time that will never come again.
      There I am, standing at the kitchen window, I can just see three little heads bobbing and waving through the grass. It is tall now at the end of summer and has turned shades of rust and gold. I didn't mow my little bit of country, at least not beyond the area immediately surrounding the house. "Aren't you afraid of snakes?" No, not really, there have never been rattlers on this side of our little creek. They live on the other side and don't like to cross water, or bridges it seems. "Are you putting in a lawn?" the neighbors query. I am sure to them it looks unkempt, but that is not true, God created it just as it is, a beautiful meadow. I love our space. Through the summer the field grows fragrant with wild flowers. The sky shimmers with butterflies and pollen on the warm summer days. But the real reason I love this meadow is those three small heads.
      I remember my childhood, the wonder of exploring, finding hidden worlds that grownups never saw. The forest, a mere quarter acre of trees below my grandfathers house, that was to me and my sister a vast unexplored wilderness. Here we set up small bowers to accommodate our vivid imaginations. One summer it was a hospital,
nursing struggling kittens and receiving more scratches than we were able to heal. Other times it became a pioneer village, complete with stores, blacksmith shops, and houses.
      We now live next to a forest, but it is adult size and not a safe place for small adventurers to explore. But this summer the wonderful accident of the great unknown grew wild all around us. Then unable to cut the whole of our acre parcel, I settled for the fifty feet of area immediately surrounding the house, beyond that undefined space the valley grew as it always had. There my children found new games to play. At first they were content to hide until
someone noticed that they were gone. But as the giggles of hidden children, waiting, could be heard in the kitchen where I prepared their lunch, they were able to enjoy their game until I called them into the house to wash for their meal. Soon, they grew tired of merely hiding, and childhood's wonderful imagination took over. Whole houses grew. Rugs made out of blankets, tables out of bits of wood, and pretend food and dishes were fashioned from the plant life all around them.
      Now as the sun sinks beyond the forest covered hill, these three were on another mission. They were busy making beautiful jewelry to be proudly shown off at the supper table. Small arms had been extended to receive their treasured piece of masking tape, and now, tape sticky side out, they searched for just the right flower, perfect leaf, and small pinecone that would complete the fragrant bracelet. They would soon come back to my world, a world full of dirty dishes, rooms that needed dusted and the million other details that make up the inside world of our home, but they would come bearing intricately created gifts. For one quiet moment I watched the heads moving along, listening to the singing voices, calling and exclaiming over new found treasures, knowing that soon they would leave this world of fascination and see, as adults do, only the grass that needs to be mowed.
      Winter has come and gone, only the memory remains, old grass needs cut to allow the new to grow, just as childhood makes way for the adult world. Tonight, that first star begins to twinkle and my husband turns toward the house with glee, "This machine works great!" he calls. We wave back from the window, nodding, smiling. Small hand still gripping mine my daughter watches him turn the corner, then looks up and sighs, "Mommy now where will we play?"

Hanging the clothes - Winter

Winter has slipped up on me. One day it was warm, laundry snapping in the wind, drying quickly. Now the clothes come in from outside stiff and hard. I have strung a line in the basement near the woodstove to dry them more completely. Clothes now have a faint wood smoke smellthat is somehow comforting on cold winter days. I reach to take down the sweater, feel the warmth from the fire, the softness of the wool, smile at the snowflake pattern of white
upon white, pause, "Is that a hot chocolate stain?"

Snow Angels

There is a full moon tonight. I stand here at the window and watch the light play across the snow. The shadows revealing things long forgotten. There I can see the small hill, a bump really, that the children used as a mountain last summer. Across the yard a shadow moves, softly a deer steps across the snow, headed to the creek for water. We haven't seen as much of the deer this year, they have plenty of food in the high meadows, and our small meadow is not as appealing. Clearly outlined is a small tricycle, they were riding it only last week, now it is a beautiful snow scuplture.
As I watch the angels begin to take shape. The dark outlines of three little bodies and one larger one. I smile and remember.

The baby was asleep, oh how tired he and I were. Together we are struggling to cut two more teeth. He awoke, after a very sleepless night, at 5:30 this morning. Now he was finally asleep. But three small girls were tired of being quiet and while I dozed in the recliner they convinced their Dad that today was a perfect day for a walk. I heard the giggles as they tried to find mittens, boots and hats. Later I found that rather than wake me to help, my darling husband had used pairs of his socks as mittens for each of the girls. They were enthralled, informing me that now they "would never need mittens again!".
      I slept on, until the queit woke me and I went to the window to watch. Around and around, sometimes at a run, more often at a sedate walk, my husband had pulled the sled. I could see the path they had followed etched clearly in the snow. Their tracks led out the drive into the forest, "What wonders had they found there?"
I waited for their return, starting the tea pot, preparing the hot chocolate, it was cold today, cold hands would welcome the warmth.. "Did they dress warmly enough? Do they need me?" Irrational thoughts whirled around my head, things only a mother would even consider. The baby stirred, I tiptoed to the window. Ready to queit rowdy children.
      Out of the woods came my now snow frosted family, I could hear earnest voices, see the sled stop and everyone examine a new animal track on the snow. My family was home. I waited for their footsteps on the porch while I removed the tea pot from the stove, but they did not come. Going to the window I watched in amazement as they formed a circle and all fell over. Large and small arms and legs rose and fell in sweeping motions, and then oh so carefully, their father rose and cautiously lifted each girl from her white bed. Eyes shining, laughter tinkling, and there on the ground were four perfect angels. They turned towards the house, saw me in the window, waved and called. Jumping up and down they used game show gestures to show me their artwork.
      I waved back and motioned them inside. Raised a cup of chocolate and excited squeals could be heard before they even reached the door. They trouped into the living room, eager to tell of the beauty they had found, the fun they had shared. The baby woke and held up small arms, cooing to be picked up, laughing as his daddy's beard touched his cheek, reaching for the snowflakes rapidly melting away.
      Tomorrow the sun is supposed to warm the earth, and the snow angels will disappear. But when ever the moon is just right and the shadows grow long, I will stand at my window and see once again, my angels, hear in the night time silence the laughter, and smile.

Hanging the clothes - Spring

      Spring has come to the hills. I watch the gathering rain clouds, "Will the clothes get dry before I have to bring them in?' I wonder. As I hurry to remove the clothes from the line, I only glance at the valley just beginning to turn green. Quickly, impatiently, I remove the pins. Backing I almost trip over a small figure, bent, head almost touching the ground. "What are you doing?" I question, bending also to see what has a hold on her attention. There close to the ground is a tiny purple flower, so small that only from a distance of a couple feet can it even be seen, but so beautiful in it's simplicity, that it would be a shame to miss. My daughter picks it, and in doing so brushes her fingers in the mud. "Here, mommy, a flower." As she thrusts it into
my full hand the mud wipes off on her brother's clean coveralls. "Dirty again, these coveralls attract mud!" I shake my head.

Dirt

      We have an old black and white snapshot of two little boys, sitting in a mud puddle in their underwear, completely covered with the moist dirt. The boys are about three and four. One of the boys has an expression of trepidation, eyes proclaiming, "Someday this is coming back to haunt me, I just know it!" The smaller boy is frozen in time with his hand half raised in greeting, smile on his face, only his teeth and eyes -which are sparkling with mischief - showing clearly through the mud. This little boy is my husband.   So I should have suspected, I had no excuse.

We live close to the earth here in the valley. Generations removed from the farms of our ancestors, but still an eternal longing comes in the spring to dig in the soil, to prepare the earth to receive the seeds that produce life. There is no breeze today, the sun is hot for April. Country sounds - usually so loud in the silence - are hidden by the sound of children learning to ride new bicycles, screaming and laughing, the sound of the tiller. My husband's mother and I stand at the edge of the garden plot, watching for the soil to be turned anew, occasionally stepping forward, reaching down to pluck a upturned stone or small rock from the earth. The sun warmed ground is perfect today, dry enough to turn easily, moist enough to work. The first pass is made and my husband and his father walk to the center of the garden, stoop and each lift a handful of the rich brown earth, testing. Two years ago the soil did not pass this test. As the tiller broke the sod the soil was powdery, dry and lifeless. Did the added manure, the added topsoil, the leftover garden produce, and time heal this land?

Breathlessly we wait and watch, children stop, and stand straddling the bikes. Father and son finger the soil, slowly letting it pass between large grease stained hands. Dirt outlines the scars from years of 'fixing', doing the things that 'a guy could' to make things, machines, homes and people work better. Still we, the mothers wait.
My son watches his daddy from my arms, then squirms to be let down. Slowly he crawls over the lumps of earth across the garden plot to sit beside his father. Little face raised he watches in wonder as two generations pick up the earth, sniff, rubbing slowly, softly between strong, gentle fingers, treating the rich soil as a chef would a new and exotic dish. We women, somehow excluded by the moment, listen, chatting softly, ears and hearts attuned to 'our men', "Did you see the sale on bananas at Safeway?" "Yes, good price. Did you decide on the fabric for the curtains? I may have a couple of pieces that would work." Chatting, filling the silence, not really listening. Finally the first word is spoken in the garden "Ashes." "Yep." That was all, but time began again, children rode off on bikes, laughing, singing to the wind, mundane conversation continued in earnest beside the garden. Fathers, concentration now broken, notice the small boy at their feet, and smile.

Then before I could react, before the moment passed beyond memory, the small boy child confidently picks up a hand full of dirt. Then, as generations of men have done before, examines it, experiencing the texture, the smell. My son looks deeply into his father's eyes, and begins slowly chewing, tasting, not sure of either the texture or the taste, but longing to be a part of this age old ritual of preparing the soil. Instinctively knowing that this magical substance must be good, but not sure of the process of discovery. Learning. Quietly father and son communicate with their eyes. Little boy asking, and gently being answered, one word but completely understood, just as only a word was needed between his father and grandfather, simply, softly, deeply, "Yuck." My son stopped in mid-chew. Reached his hand to his mouth and quickly, frantically began digging the dirt from his tongue. Amusement showed in my husbands eyes, Grandpa roared with laughter and went to haul ashes from the pile behind the house.

Time to return to the work. I blanched, running to rescue my son from himself. Having only myself to blame. The soil is in my son's blood, we have the picture to prove it. I have no excuse, only that I did not understand their need to be close to the earth, the longing to feel freshly turned soil between their fingers, the yearning to make it better than it is, the annual wonder of discovery. Only knowing that when all was said and done...my baby had eaten dirt!

Hanging the clothes - Memories
The clothes are folded and ready to go to their assigned spot, into the drawers, or to be mended. My day is not done, but already accumlating in the bathroom is a basket of laundry, another basket of memories.

Cheryl from Old Sawmill Homestead, 2000

Jan. 16, 2006

Beautiful new week

I am trying to psych myself to face this week. I have found that I can handle 'normal', it's when things aren't going to be NORMAL that I start to panic.

Normal for me is school, housework, chores, church 2 times, and everyday wierdness. This week we have 3 extra things added into the mix. Thursday night is 4-H. It will only take an hour and someone else is leading this time, so it should be fun. Thursday I also have to clean church and change out flowers, I really should organize my decorating room (after 10 years the church let me have an unused room to store things in, after 21 years it is FULL.) Then I will call in to Lawrence Co. Courthouse and find out if I have to report for jury duty the next morning, if so I need to bring home a friends dd to babysit. Then that night we have Singspiration at church.

Why does having those three extra things panic me? It shouldn't, I AM A MOTHER! Mothers can handle anything, right? I am also a woman and a human and am learning that I can't handle everything. Oh, I can do ok, but the truth is I am not SUPER-WOMAN.

There is one way I will get to Saturday and feel that this week was 'ok'. I am going to have to take time each day to talk with God and have Him help me know what is important that day and what isn't and let go of what isn't. I don't share well, but this week I have to share my burdens and let joy in instead. Isn't joy the opposite of burden?

Joyfully,

Cheryl

Jan. 14, 2006

NAIS or National Animal Identification System

I will put a couple of links at the bottom for links to articles that explain it from a legal perspective, this is just my perspective....

Life per my original post under NAIS.

Along about March of last year my brother and his wife moved to town and gave us 3 hens as pets for the kids. He had to file 2 sets of paperwork, one to notify the government of where the hens were and one to notify them that their premises was no longer keeping animals as they were moving to town. Total forms - 4

I, within 24 hours, had to file 2 sets of paperwork, one to obtain a premises id number, giving name, SS#, address, and GPS number with the state and feds. I had to file 3 forms for the hens. Total forms - 4

Then my dh said, if you have to be here to feed 3 hens, why not get a few more. So we and the neighbors ordered 100 chickens. They then had to file 1 form setting up a premises and 50 forms for owning the chicks + 50 forms since they would be ‘off premises’ boarding at my house. We had to file 50 forms reporting our 50 new chicks. Total forms - 151

Four of the chicks died in the first week, I had to file 3 incident reports, my neighbor had to file 1. Total reports - 4

In May, it was Mandy’s 8^th birthday and all she wanted for her birthday was a pretty little kid named Snowflake, so we went a little flakey and got Snowflake and a nanny named Carmen, needed to file 2 forms. Carmen didn’t work out, beautiful goat who was terrified of children and one day tried to run away taking Snowflake with her and I had to file 2 incident reports. So she went to live with a neighbor and we traded for a new nanny named Paige. Both the neighbor and I had to file 2 report each, one for the got going, one for the goat coming. Paige is a sweetheart. I only had to lift her into the stanchion 3 times before she decided to do it all by herself. My neighbor asked if we could let our goats come over to help with weed control, they did that for about 2 weeks. (14 incident reports X2 goats). We were getting almost a gallon of milk a day before we dried her off to go ‘visiting’ (both the neighbor and I had to fill out incident reports - 4). She did get out of the yard 3 times (3 incident reports X 2) and enjoyed going for walks with us once a week all summer (12 incident reports X 2) We are now hoping for triplets in the spring. The goats came home in November, requiring another 4 reports. Total reports - 74.

Then one day I got a call in town, neighbor dogs had gotten into my chickens. I came home to find dead chickens all over my property and scattered down the road. We were devastated and filled the incident reports. 8 for the dead chickens and 4 for the ones that left the property. Total - 12

My dog thought what they had done looked like fun, so began killing chickens too. So far she has killed 8. Resulting in 8 reports for dead chickens and 2 for the two she tried to hide in the woods as they left the premises. Total - 10

On Labor day weekend, the neighbors came over and we killed 57 chickens. Dividing the paper work, we still had to file 57 forms between us. Total - 57

One of my chickens liked my neighbor. Every day she would make a beeline for his barnyard (he gives trail r ides, forms went in for each time the horses left and returned). I had to file 1 report for her leaving and one for coming every day. Oh we tried to keep her home, but she was a little escape artist! 90 forms X 2 = 180 for that one chicken.

I had 3 chickens die for no apparent reason or from injury from either other chickens, or one punctured himself on a wire. 3 reports.

This year we have filed 499 reports, tagged all animals, purchased the equipment and software to do this and it hasn’t even been 12 months since we started. All we wanted to do was have a few animals to teach the kids a little about responsibility and grow some of our own food.

Life under NAIS is for the birds!

Here are links so you can go check it out for yourself. Is this the America you want?

http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/index.shtml Government site that tells what they are planning.

http://www.countrysidemag.com/current.htm#article4 Article that explains what it all means.

http://homesteadingtoday.com/vb/showthread.php?t=113760 Post on Homesteading Today by a lawyer that give a great analysis from a legal standpoint.

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Jan. 10, 2006

Learning is contagious!

Tonight at supper the family was all eating when one of my daughters piped up, "Hey Mom, can you MAKE sour cream?" As I have begun to make more of our foods, my children are taking notice. They are enjoying the new cheeses and helping make butter. They liked trying homemade crackers and now are beginning to think of more things we can learn to make. This is spilling over into education! YIPPEE!

Today Megan had to write a book report. She thought she had found a wonderful new way to get it right. She not so skillfully re-wrote the description on the back of the book. I knew immediately that those weren't her words, and we had a long discussion about copying without giving credit. But I was so proud of her. After supper, without being told she wrote a new report and did a great job! She said that she loved the book and wanted to do it right.

How does this relate to making cheese? A week ago I don't know that she would have taken that much pride in accomplishing something worthwhile. Seeing us all learn to learn new things has made all the children put a new value on learning.

This has to be the best side effect of learning to do more for ourselves, children who love and value learning new things!

Cheryl

Jan. 9, 2006

Too busy!

The list of things I need to do today is overwhelming. I still have so much to get done that I really shouldn't be here. But where SHOULD I be? Just the thought of what still needs done is beyond real. So I am going to forget what NEEDS done, and do what I always do. Focus on what has been done and is being done.

Today I have...

Excercised for 40 minutes (rehab excercises, must do)

Done 3 hours of school, including History, reading, read alouds, science, latin, and Bible.

Fixed a homecooked lunch

Finished up the riccota

checked the cheese

am doing laundry, only 2 loads to go!

talked to my sister

made butter

cleaned the new refrigerator inside and out

cleaned the spot to PUT the new refrigerator! :D

Not bad so far....

Let's not talk about the TO DO YET list, ok?

Now on to the really important question, What DOES one do with riccota and what is it supposed to look/taste like? I haven't EVER bought it and haven't a clue. It smells and tastes good, kind of tangy, which I like! The cheese came out of the mold and looks like cheese. The little I snitched had a nice texture but was bland, so I am HOPING as it ages the flavor improves and intensifies. I will let you know, in oh, about 3 weeks? (Dh is taking bets on how long I will be able to leave it, he doesn't think I have it in me to wait 3-4 weeks. Don't tell him, but he may be right!)

Time to get off here and go back to work. I think I need to go start really CLEANING my kitchen, and I don't have long, soon the kids will be back from their walk with Dad and I will need to give spelling tests.

Cheryl

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/cmeggers/detail?.dir=5abc&.dnm=3418re2.jpg&.src=ph

Jan. 7, 2006

Cheese making

Today we started our first batch of hard cheese. It doesn't really have a name, just Basic Cheese, but the curds tasted good, so that's a good sign. Just that nice bit of tang you want in a cheese.

I had read two different recipes and I thought I had about 3 hours to make my cheese press. I was WRONG! As we were going along, I all of the sudden realised that I not only had to continue stirring by hand the whey and curds BUT I had to figure out a cheese press at the same time.

What does a mother do when faced with jobs that need six hands and you have two? Why holler for help of course. I had Melissa scrub up and take over stirring the curd (you GENTLY pull your hand through it and lift to stir, but oh so gently so as not to undo the curds). Jon ran for a piece of PVC pipe from the basement. I just knew that I would find a good use for all that extra odds and ends of construction material down there.

Supplies to assemble cheese press

1 large pot with handles

2 bungee cords

35 + pounds of weights

1 large flat board

1 8 inch piece of 4 inch pvc pipe

1 piece of plastic cut from the bottom of a cool whip bowl

1 smooth bottomed plate

1 quart size jar

1 1/2 of of an old pillowcase for cheesecloth (pressured for 15 minutes in pressure cooker and hung in sun for 2 hours)

Sterilize everything by putting all the pieces (except the weights and board) into the big pot, bring to a boil and steam for 25 minutes while stirring curds.

I am hoping that this picture will work!

If you can't see it, try this link! :D

Now patience until morning!

Cheryl

Jan. 6, 2006

Today's cheesy adventure

I really, REALLY don't have time to be posting right now. Honest I don't! I have a messy house, dishes calling my name, school to begin and it is almost 10:00, but I am SO excited. TODAY I AM HAVING AN ADVENTURE!

Adventures are not that common here. Mostly we do about the same things every day, but TODAY, today we will be making our own cheese press and TONIGHT, ah tonight, we will be beginning our first ever batch of homemade hard cheese. The anticipation is growing. Can you feel it?

Here is a link to the Beginner's cheese making page. I have done steps one - three and my nuefchatel is wonderful! Now time for TADA! HARD CHEESE!

Here is a link to another homemade cheese press, her goat information is wonderful also!

Fias Co Farm

Take a few minutes to look around her site, she has wonderful goat links and pictures. I learned to milk goats from that site.

Once I have the cheese press done, I will see if I can figure out how to post a picture, now off to clean, educate, build, do chores, start a fire, etc., etc., etc.......

Cheryl

Jan. 5, 2006

"You HAVE to use mulch."

Ok, now the question is What is mulch? Where do I get it? Can I make it? and WHY?

You know, I HAVE done gardens before, but not mulch. I have heard of mulch, I have seen mulch. I pass it twice a week on the way to town, they used leaves and lots of them. When I was growing up, our neighbor would mulch is roses in the fall with leaves and pay us kids to haul them and then clean them out in the spring.

Now I live in the woods, but not a leafy wood, a ponderosa pine forest. Leaves are hard to come by. So today has been declared, "Learning about the many forms of mulch day" at our house.

Here are a couple of informative webpages if you, like me, don't have a clue!

Making friends with Mulch by GardenGal, Debbie Cook

Mulching for a Healthy Landscape from Virginia Cooperative Extention

Right now I am adding the straw we are using for bedding in the coop and the barn, this will be tilled in before planting.

How does your garden mulch?

Cheryl

Jan. 4, 2006

Starting the New Year with a new plan

I decided that this year I had to do something about my physical ailments. I have been told I need to do something about physical therapy, but I just haven't had success finding a solution. A friend suggested I give T-Tapp a try and I got a set for Christmas.

T-Tapp is a video excercise rehab routine that was developed by Teresa Tapp. I read a lot of really good things about it and was excited to start. Last week I watched the first instructional video with my dh. It looked easy enough and I tried it the next morning. UGH! Those excercise that looked SO easy, took a lot more work than I thought. I decided to put it aside until the first of the year.

Monday I did my second workout. I had measured last week, so was ready to start. I did the workout Monday. Monday afternoon my dh said, "Honey, you're standing up straighter!" My mouth dropped open. I realised I wa s!

Tuesday I did the third workout, as I was finishing, dh said, "Cheryl, you look thinner!" I thought he was nuts, but just out of curiousity grabbed a tape measure and measured, I was down 1 inch on my hips, 1/2 an inch on my stomach and 1 1/2 on my waist. I figured it was a fluke! The scale was still the same.

Today I did my fourth workout. I went to dress and my pants were BIG! I grabbed the tape measure again. Then I REmeasured three times! I couldn't BELIEVE IT! I was down 1.5 inches on my hips, 3 inches on my waist and 4.5 inches on my stomach! My clothes are no longer tight. It can't be water weight a s I still weight the same. I am standing straighter, but OHHHHH, am I sore tonight! I wasn't thinking about being sore and thought I was coming down with something until Norm reminded me that I have really been working out and being sore is OK!

I will let you know how it goes. If this keeps up, I will be SO excited! Well, I am already excited!

Cheryl

Jan. 4, 2006

Homesteading

Did you know that a year ago I didn't even know what a 'homesteader' was? I would have said something like, "Well, in the 1800's Congress let people have land if they were willing to work it for so long, that's what a homesteader is." Now I know, that's what a homesteader WAS. Today a homesteader seems to be someone who tries to do what they can on the land they have to be more self-sufficent and live closer to the land. I say seems to be as there seems to be different opinions on just what it is. Our difinition is to grow as much as we can, learn to make and do things instead of buying them, and try to teach our children that life is homegrown, not store bought.

Last year this time, we had 5 children (still do), on 1.67 acres and DREAMED of the day we could someday have animals, grow crops, not necessarily make our living that way, but have it be our way of life. We realised that we were raising five children in the country as city kids. They had no idea how to 'do', and this was not how we wanted them to grow up. Then, one day along about March, our family gave us a chicken tractor and 3 hens. Little did we know what that would start.

Norm, my otr trucker hubby of 19 years, said, "Well, if you have to be home morning and evening to feed 3 chickens, a few more wouldn't be a bad idea." I got a FEW more, only 50 (plus the neighbors 50 that we boarded with ours). We still have 24 of them, although 7 of the 8 roosters are about to go away.

Then about May, my dd wanted one goat for her birthday, but the lady said, "You have to have two." It seems goats are social creatures, and we needed two. So now we have Paige and Snowflake. Both are mothers in waiting, and we will have more in February or March.

I am already planning next years garden, learning to make more from scratch, and am learning to make cheese. I have begun sewing again, and hope to start making most of mine and my girls clothes.

The biggest news this week was the new excercise program I began. Four days into it and I have lost 9 inches! I will post more about this later.

The four oldest are homeschooling and helping on the 'farm'. We are all excited about what to plant and do in the garden. The new fence we will put up this spring should help a lot as we have lovely deer that seem to think my garden is their own private salad bar. Now to just find short season, drought resistant crops!

Blessings!

Cheryl