Too Late Now

I took one of my 16 year old twins to the college yesterday to register for an upcoming Certified Nurses Assistance class.  She has been wanting to take this class for a while now.  We tried to sign her up last year, but she needed to be 16 to take the certification test, so they recommended waiting.  She applied for admission and registered for the class. I wrote the check and then we went to the bookstore.  We got the huge book and happily went to the car.  On the way home, I told her that she should start reading the book early and get a jump start on the class.  She randomly opened the book to some where about a third of the way through.  I glanced over and the chapter was entitled 'Cleaning the Male Perineal'.
Lord help me, I have no idea how I get through life with the blinders I wear.

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Goat Courting

There is a plethora of information on the web and in print

on how and when to breed your goats.

And then there is my way.

It is as organized and precise as the rest of my life.

So there.

I could examine the rear end of my girl goats on a daily basis.

Jot down any changes in a little notebook so as not to forget a thing.

I could rub a rag on the stinky buck goat and take it to them to smell,

hoping this would bring them in to heat.

(never mind that a rag is not needed, as you can smell him for a quarter mile)

By doing this, I would have a pretty good idea, five months from now,

almost to the exact day that they would deliver.

I could do it right,

so that come next May.

I would not be whining to you on this blog

how I have no idea when they will be giving birth,

but that I must be there to help.

MUST BE THERE.

No, not me.

I apparently would like to put the effort in 

five months from now;

checking rear ends,

guessing,

worrying,

vacation days spent being a midwife

in waiting.

Some of us just never learn.

We cleaned the barn yesterday.

Hauling out anything a goat could possibly 

get hurt on or wrongly ingest.

Opened up two rooms and the outside pen,

so the girls would have plenty of room to 

run away and/or hide.

 And then we put them all together.

A buck, a wether, and two doe's.

It was chaotic to say the least.

 Ringo (the wether) didn't get what the excitement was about.

But I have to say, I was pleased with Rodeo (the buck).

Lots of smelling, snorting and sneezing

but not over aggressive or fighting with Ringo.

Just one more reason why I highly recommend

Nigerian Dwarf goats.

I have bred and raised other breeds and have

a true appreciation for this breed.

They were back to next to normal quickly,

as they are not unfamiliar with each other.

Rodeo will be much more settled now 

to have his herd with him all winter.

At least I timed it so as not to have babies in March.

I get a little credit for planning.  Right?

Peeps

Please join us in welcoming

'Sparkle'

and   'Shyne'.

The latest

and luckiest

additions

 to Sprout N Wings Farm.

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We're Back

What a great time we have had.

The trip was long,

for everyone.

But oh so worth it.

It is hard to describe how my heart swells

to see the mountains of Wyoming again.

They are such a part of me.

And it runs so deep.

The emotions they invoke are sometimes unforeseen.

I am overcome,

yet grounded

in a way I haven't felt in awhile.

I am so thankful

for the place

that raised me.

And so proud of 

where I am from.

The memories 

fill us.

We take back

the blessings of loving where 

we come from.

But the closer we come to home,

it is good to know we love

where we are now also.

And how we truly have 

grown where we are planted.

My cup overfloweth.

Unheard Goodbyes

Wake up Nyla.

I need to let you know

that we will be gone for a few days.

  I want you to 

take care of things around here.

You are the man of the house.

There is plenty of food in your dishes.

And an extra litter box in case you need it.

Now don't you worry about us.

We will be back before you know it.

Okay Nyla?

Little Sneak

I was adding some extra wood shavings

to the little goat shed today.

There is a heat lamp in here,

but the only way to get in is through a small hole,

since I tarped off the door for the winter.

Look what I found.

Can't see it?

Well, neither did I.

I thought "it" had been killed by a predator.

Weeks ago.

Weeks.

You know what that means?

That means itty bitty baby bantams

will be hatching out in December

in Nebraska.

What were you thinking girl?

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Happy (Early) Thanksgiving To You

We sold at another craft fair this weekend.

It was held at the little town of Wausa, NE

which is the closest town to our farm.

We don't know many people from there, 

but I met the woman heading up this fair

last weekend at the Yuletide Market.

Can you find us?

How about now?

This is my co-workers daughter smelling our lotions.

(cute)

We woke up to drizzling ice this morning.

The roads were horribly slick, thus there weren't a lot

of shoppers braving the ice.

But it was a good day and I made new contacts.

Meanwhile, my daughter and mom

sold at a craft fair in our home town in Wyoming

and they brought in over $475 today.

(picture me all smiles)

All of our products will now be moving to the mall store.

And we will be on our way to Wyoming the first part of next week.

I haven't seen my parents in three years and that is just too long.

The weather should be great,

the animals should be fine,

the van should be fine,

 my mom cooks a wonderful turkey dinner

and I am really looking forward to the trip.

If I don't get to talk you you again before

Thanksgiving, 

know that I am thinking of you and

wishing you all a very pleasant and

gratitude filled holiday.

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Therapy

Problems - I got 'em.

But what I also have
 is goats.

And a problem,
once told to a goat

just refuses to stay a problem.

Goats don't judge you, they always keep a secret, 

and they gently and curiously nuzzle any tears away 

while murmuring sweet nothings in the ear they are trying to find. 

Goats do not ignore you and are perpetually at your side when you are working

 in case you need their help. 

They are happy to do whatever you ask of them 

as long as it intermittently involves treats or back scratching. 

They, in turn, offer butt rubs and back massages 

that you don't even have to ask for. 

Goats don't turn their noses up at things you offer them. 

No matter what it is, they will at least take it off your hands for you. 

When you are feeling silly or playful, goats are more than willing to join in. 

A mere push on the forehead can send a goat rearing like Tonto 

in an effort to get you to "just try that again".

All one needs to live happily with goats is an open heart, 

a good pair of steel-toed shoes,
and a commitment to care for them. 

The rest is just real-time therapy.

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Gag Reflex

Did I hear you right?

Did you say you were pleased

that we cut back on our egg laying?

What do you mean

you think you'll gag

if you eat one more egg?

Okay then,

we certainly don't want to make you gag.

We will start up again in the spring.

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A Success Story

The Yuletide Market was a success

and I couldn't be more pleased.

Here are a few photos of our table.

I always look so serious.

It was such a nice event.

There was entertainment 

in the form of singers and speakers.

There was a gingerbread house competition.

The winner.

There were new people to meet and things to try.

And there was this special lady.

The first day of the Market, she came to me and asked

if I had Patchouli scented lotion.  I told her I didn't have it,

but I could make it and bring it the next day.

Then her friend came over and asked if I could make

Patchouli Rose for her.

I came home that night and made the lotions and was

delightfully surprised at how much I like the Patchouli Rose scent.

I combined Patchouli with a few drops of Rose Jasmine fragrance oils

and the Rose took the edge off the Patchouli perfectly.

The last day of the sale, when we were packing up,

she came by again and asked where we were from.

I mentioned we had an acreage in Wausa, and also a house in town

that we were trying to sell.

She took my hand and said a prayer for us right then and there.

It was so sweet.

A while later that evening, Rikki asked me if I thought the house

would sell now that she prayed for us.

I said "maybe it will".  

I asked her if she prayed that the house would sell.

She said "yes" and then 

"well, I never prayed that it wouldn't".

I had to laugh to myself on that one.

Yuletide Market Re-Cap

·        I was so wrong about the following:

§  I need to own goats to sell goat’s milk products.

§  I can’t be called “Sisters Five Soap and Lotion Works” and sell by myself.

§  The product will never sell itself.

§  Nebraska just isn’t open to “goat’s” milk.

§  I am not good at “selling”.

·        I was right about the following:

§  I have a viable product at a reasonable price.

§  Professionalism is everything.

§  Offering free samples is the first step in answering the most important consumer question “What is in it for me?”

§  “Trading” products with other vendors rather than paying cash is win-win.

§  Be a good “vendor-neighbor” and help each other sell.  It works.

·        I learned:

§  I need a nice purse.  All the ladies carry nice purses. 

§  I need to learn to wear fashion scarves. 

§  I need a haircut.  It’s time.

p.s. You might notice in the photos that Rikki's hair is two different lenghts in the photos.
      At least one of us got a hair cut  : )