May 19, 2009

Missing You

I had to post an update, I am in full blogging withdraws here with no relief in sight. Our Internet service still has not been repaired and I am still making do with only a few minutes of dial-up usage each day. It has not been down that long, it just seems like it to me because the truth is I miss sharing stories of our life and farm through blogging but that isn't what I miss the most. What I miss the most has been not being able to keep up with the great blogs that I follow. I can't help but wonder how Joanna's barn renovation is going or how Jason's new goats are doing. I really miss Alix's funny, wonderful stories and the trips to the farmer's market with Flartus & Miss Chef. I wonder how many horseback adventures with Esther across the beautiful African countryside I have missed. How are the goats on the hill or those cute chickens Kudzu & Buttercup doing? Did Miracle Eve ever kick her bottle addiction? Of course that is just to name a few of the blogs and friends I have missed. Hopefully our Internet service will be repaired soon and I will be able to catch up with everything.

Life on the farm has been going on as usual. The ground has dried up and everybody has been enjoying the sunshine and beautiful weather lately. Many people asked if any of the animals were hurt during the severe thunderstorms recently. I appreciate their concern and I am happy and very thankful to say that none of the animals were hurt or had any problems during the bad weather. We did lose a dependable old friend and I had not even realized it at the time. Apparently our Internet tower and bedroom window was not the only victims of the bad weather because the electric fence charger also fell to the fury of the storm. Lightening must have struck the fence or close to it and zapped the fence charger good. We were not able to save it and had to buy a new one. I did not realize it was not working for several days but the goats must have had their halos and angel wings on that week because not one of them got out. I am recommitted to checking the fence every day again.

Most of the garden is coming along, even with the late start it got because of all the rain. The tomatoes and peppers are growing. I planted a row of calendula for beauty and to use the petals in soap making. I have lavender in peat pots in the house to use in homemade soap as well but they are growing pretty slow. I hope they will get big enough to transplant outside soon. We are trying spaghetti squash in the garden this year, neither one of us has ever ate it before but I have heard it is actually very good and a healthy pasta alternative. I have had a heck of a time getting very many zucchini seeds to sprout though. The ones that have come up are doing great and getting huge but not very many of them came up. I have no idea what the problem is, we plant it from seed every year and it sprouts and grows with no effort at all. Corn and sunflowers were added to the garden this year as well.

There is now 26 goat kids running around the farm. The count is 10 buckling and 16 doelings born this spring. All of the does have kidded but Annie but she is playing coy. She is one I didn't actually see get bred, though she has a suspiciously large belly. No udder yet though, so maybe she is just fat. She isn't going to tell me though, not as long as she is getting those extra late pregnancy grain rations. I also have a group of does that are in with the bucks now so I expect a smaller crop of goat kids in November and December. The Whatwhat brothers are a mess, they spend all day chasing the other goat kids around with their little tongues hanging out, pawing at the air and saying "whatwhat...wwwhat". Those two baby boys are way to big for their britches and may have to be weaned a little earlier than some of the bucklings for the sake of their sisters. I am sure the doelings (and even the other bucklings) will be glad to get a break from the overly enthusiastic Whatwhat brothers.

The pictures are of the Whatwhat brothers, who will be for sale after they are weaned if anybody needs a nice young, colorful Boer buck for their goat herd. They will be registered as American Purebred Boers. (97%) They are out of a nice paint Boer doe and a black buck so they should throw lots of color that so many people like into their kids. More information will be posted on the sales page of our farm website at www.kansasboergoats.com when I am able to update the website again.

22 comments:

KathyB. said...

Glad to hear there were no living ones hurt during the storm. Your goat brothers are stunning!

I know what you mean about missing catching up on blogs! And sharing your own farm stories.

Mary Humphrey said...

Jennifer, I missed you too, so glad to read your update.

The kidding season related things are starting to wind down here. The bottle babies are really growing and some are down to half bottles, weaning is beginning.

Beautiful bucklings!

Anonymous said...

I've been missing your Blog! I hope things get back up soon. Your boys are stunners. I hope you find them good homes.

Anonymous said...

I am so happy to hear that everyone's ok;)You are missed and the goats are too cute as usual..

Boozy Tooth said...

Awww, Jennifer.....

Thank you for the wonderful post and the sweet mention. It always grabs me when one of my blog friends mentions Casa Hice. There is no greater compliment on earth.

I so want the WhatWhat Brothers - if only for their cute names. What striking lads they are. Just for giggles... what is the going price of such perfect creatures? I'm sure Larry and I can find the money somewhere to buy some acreage and build a farm for them real quick.

I am hosting an Open House and Followers Drive at Casa Hice today. If any of your readers are interested, please send them over:

http://casahice.blogspot.com

Boozy Tooth said...

PS: Apparently, you sent the rain my way.

Thanks - but you can have it back now.

Joanna@BooneDocksWilcox said...

Jennifer, hurry up and get that dang internet fixed. You are missing out on the barrage of my goat-baby photo's. :-) Everybody at your place is looking healthy and happy, glad no one was injured from the storms. Hopefully, we will be moving the RV to the barn this weekend.

Linda Hughes said...

Thanks for the update and photos of your wonderful little friends. Been missing your farm stories, too.

Unknown said...

Welcome back, even if only for a minute! I'm sorry about the internet troubles - the withdrawal from that is painful; I know! I am glad, however, that there was no life endangered during your storms. I keep checking your blog every day hoping you'll be back for good.

Nancy in Atlanta

Alison said...

Glad to hear from you! If it helps any, I haven't written any market reports lately; we didn't make it to the local market last week, and I was out of town the week before. But I've got a mission this week: to talk to farmers about the NAIS, and see if I can rouse some rabble. :)

Enjoy the long-awaited sunshine! Oh, and as for the garden...how many zucchini plants can one family need???

brokenteepee said...

So sorry about your internet but it is good that no one and no animal was hurt with the storms.
Beautiful kids!

DayPhoto said...

It was good to hear from you again. Your boys are darling!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/

Nancy M. said...

I understand how hard it is to be unable to go online! I hope it will be fixed soon. I'm glad your goats behaved while their fence wasn't working. Beautiful goats!

3 Bay B Chicks said...

You are posting using a dial-up connection. I must say that I am impressed. I do not think that I would have the patience to do so.

However, in an effort to share your darling photos and updates, your fans are appreciative. If only for short glimpse into your life. :)

-Francesca

Lanny said...

Sorry that you are not able to have internet access yet, that can be pure frustration. I depend on it now and not just for logging.

I'm trying a new lavendar seed this year, it says it will bloom the first year, I don't expect it to bloom this year as I won't be planting it right away but I am hoping that it will be big enough to handle getting kicked out of my very small starting area well before fall.

Belle said...

I am glad none of the animals were hurt during the storm. I hope your internet gets fixed soon!

Belle

Dalyn said...

I miss your blogging too! Great looking kids you have!

barefootchef said...

So glad you are safe and that no one was hurt! Sounds like a terrible storm you had that came through. I know what it is like when the internet connection goes down...just stinks. Hopefully it will be taken care of soon.

Girl Tornado said...

I hope you get your internet connection fixed soon, it would drive me NUTS to be down that long. :-0

Glad to hear all the goats are doing fine and made it through the storms... we had some problems with our elec fence charger after several of the storms, but it's working fine now, thank goodness.

Sounds like your garden is doing well (and keeping you busy!) We've run out of time to get a garden started this year, NEXT YEAR for sure. Too much fence work and house stuff this year. Mom and I just finished repainting the house, so that's one HUGE project crossed off the list. YAY!

Take care, hope to see you back in bloggyland soon!!

DayPhoto said...

You have been missed also!!!!

We so enjoy coming here and visiting with you, so this little bit is a great blessing to each of us.

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

nobody-but-us-chickens said...

Goats must be much better behaved than cows then because as soon as the fencer is not working, my Dad's cows seem to know and will walk through it---- even when they already have lots of grass, uurgh! I guess that is where "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" came from. :D

Esther Garvi said...

Hey! How are things going these days? Missing you all the way from West Africa!