Posts Tagged ‘baby goats’

Milking vacation is officially over

Monday, March 1st, 2010
Well, it’s out! The Saponifier magazine for March and April came out today.
Beth Byrne did a great job with what I had to tell her – she turned it into a beautiful article!!!
During the crazy week of losing Maggie, they asked for a picture and I’m afraid the one we gave them was just horrible. It was a quick snapshot, not a portrait picture.

We are barely starting to milk Star – who is horrible. She kicks, jumps and tries to get down off the stanchion while she eats the whole time. She’s quite “athletic” let’s say. Whisper is back to milking nicely – she doesn’t give much. Her newborn “tank” boy has decided that she has two teats and they belong to him. Bother! Megan does not get milked. She is put on the stand, rubbed, her udder washed and dried – anything to make it pleasant for her while she eats enough to feed 3 growing babies. Now if it was Whisper who had the 3 babies on her, I think I wouldn’t worry so much. After Wednesday Star’s babies will have to be put away late at night and let out after we milk in the early am. We have to change back to our “hours”. Sorry boys – vacation from milking is over! The babies run with their moms all day and late into the night to make sure they get all the nutrition they need – plus they’re now drinking water and eating hay.

We need to do the nasty deed called de-horning. It makes it safer for the moms, children and people that want to be around the goats – and the goats themselves. They cannot get stuck in the fence line with no horns. We also must do all the adult hooves. I think the cow needs done too – but I’ll leave that to the vet if he thinks it needs done.

Well, that’s the update from the goat woman – Now let’s see if I can get the inside of the house back in some kind of order after this crazy month of February is finally over! Plant more seeds, make more cheese, make yogurt, make kefir . . . . well, at least I have job security!!!

Marilyn, aka the goat woman

OK – What have you done this week????

Friday, January 22nd, 2010
This week has been a whirlwind of restocking and product testing. So far I’ve restocked on *Non-chemical baby wash*, Med-Dry Shampoo, Med-Oily Shampoo and Summer version Shower Gel. I just made a new exciting No SLS, SELS or anything but soap Bubbly Bubble Bath . . . Right now it only comes inĀ  Cucumber Melon but if the testers (aka Guinea Pigs) love it – then I’ll be bottling it in those gorgeous green/black bottles with our goat milk lotion in the same scent as a set. With more scents to come.

I’m working on Baby Shampoo and will trying out my new Ph tester sets (I have 2 kinds now). I need to see how close it is to Ph of 7 (no stinging sensation) without adding those nasty chemicals. Personally, I’d rather just be careful not to get it in a young one’s eyes than put chemicals in it to make it Ph of 7.

I’m in the middle of making cloth diapers in several different styles for a sweet friend of mine – saving the landfill of 1800 disposables. I’m also working along these same lines to get the final products in the baby carriage basket and making possible non-scratch baby mittens and a snuggle blanket or swaddle sheet to line the basket with as an additional practical, fun gift for babies. After this little hurdle, it’s off to the local baby shops and either etsy or EBay. My dream is almost finalized – - my own natural, safe, non-chemical baby line that I can be proud of.

Still waiting to hear on the Artisan Center at Berea . . . but I will be patient – I have too many distractions to think about it much.

Goats due soon . . . I love watching babies being born and helping when I can. Next month it’s baby cow. Isn’t life great??

If it weren’t for the muddy, yucky mess outside and the half-done, barely started projects here and there, I’d tell you to come over for a nice chat and a cup of tea . . .

Marilyn, aka the Goat Woman

The Goat Pile

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
A pile of newborn "Nupines"

Look at this little pile of goats -
One although I do not know which one at the moment, is a doe.
She has lots of brothers, cousins and friends on top of or besideĀ  her.
1st year here on the property all the does were black with a little white and the bucks were all white with a little black and sometimes brown.
Last year the does were all white with black and the male was black with the spot/star on his head. This year – all but 1 out of 6 babies are black with white spots. One is brown just like his mama.
Yes, this buck threw almost all bucks. They are beautiful, but only the little lady is staying.
These, although they look like Nubians are truly Nupines. Their mother(s) are black Alpines and their father is a white/black Nubian. Aren’t they cute??? (In better times all the twin boys would be wethered and pull goat carts for us . . .)

Ah, the labors of Spring certainly do bring rewards . . .

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

I just finished the last cheese getting ready for Saturday’s first cheese class of the year. (The 3rd one is filling fast. I think we only have 3 spots left). I make all the cheeses in various stages so the people coming can see it all and then they make all new cheeses. They get to take home all kinds of cheeses with their new-found knowledge.

The Feta is soaking in the salt to help it lose all it’s whey and the Panir is chilling in the fridge. I did put the Chevre or Fromage Blanc in the freezer so it would stay nice and fresh.

Spring is here . . . or so it seems today. The crocus and daffodils are blooming and we are getting seed to sow the pastures with goat and bee friendly grasses and clovers.

It’s always busy here . . . I have to go and make some replacement goat milk soaps . . . I’m out of a lot of the favorite kinds.

The chickens are loose and rooting thru all the lavender, bee balm, garlic and assorted herbs looking for bugs – I just wish they wouldn’t spread the mulch over every inch of sidewalk.

Well, I need to get to the weeding of the front bed – the lemon balm, oregano and St. John’s Wort really need my attention . . . I guess while I’m there I can check the strawberries and asparagus . . . I can’t wait to eat well with all the fresh bounty and blessings around here.

Come and visit . . . the babies need lots of handling to stay sweet and friendly.

Blessings! The Goat woman