Blackbird's SS Journal - Country to City

[ksalvagno]

Look into certifications. That can also help. My husband doesn't have a degree but he took classes and joined groups and got certifications. He has a good paying job and gets paid the same as others with a degree and the company looks more highly on those certifications.

There are a lot of different trade schools and smaller colleges that offer classes/certification for specific jobs. Also, local community colleges sometimes offer specific degrees/training for specific jobs. My sister went to a local community college for ultrasound technician and my niece is currently going to a local community college for nursing.

See if there are JVS (junior vocational school) schools run by a local county. I have 2 JVS schools within half an hour from me. They also offer adult programs for all kinds of things such as cooking, welding, truck repair, computers and different medical and dental programs.

 

[colowyo0809]

I agree that school opens up alot of opportunities, but at the same time, I rather wish I hadn't tried. I tried to go, over the course of a five year period, and now I have school loans and nothing to show for it Between moving several times, working so many hours I didn't even know what a bed looked like let alone a school book, and having several rather important things happen, school suffered big time. I think if I would have just concentrated on working and left school alone I would be a bit better off financially than I currently am. For one thing, my plan to work for the next five years would still be in place, but instead of using my 401K to pay off the remainder of my school loans I could use it to buy a decent used truck for the farm

But, it did help me figure out exactly what I wanted and how i wanted it, so I guess thats a plus

I agree with the other's though, definitly look into the abroad programs. especially if you want to do anything environmental/agricultural and they have something like that where you can study in europe that would be hella cool!

 

[Blackbird]

Well, talking about school is depressing so I'll talk about something good;

We got another goat!



My mom had been looking for a Saanen for several years now and I located three on Craigslist last week. They were all yearlings, one was being milked daily and giving a gallon a day and the other two were dry.

As if we need any more milk, we got the gal that was milking and HOLY GOAT she's a great milker! So easy to milk, she knew what the milk stand was right away with no issues, and worth every penny we paid. And she's a very big girl too, a bit bigger than my Nubians. She had a beard AND wattles.

Anyway, I just had to share because I hadn't really told anyone. I never got any pictures of her before I left though. My mom named her Elsie.

The lady we bought her from had a total of 28 goats, she was milking about five (now four), they also had two beef steers, pigs, ducks, chickens, guineas, and a garden!

 

[freemotion]

Yowza! Pics next time! A yearling giving a gallon a day? I need to re-think Saanens!

 

[Blackbird]

I know! She freshened in July with a single buckling.

I told Blanche that she needs to up her game! I don't know how Elsie's milk tastes though, I never got a change to try it and my mom has a cold and can't taste anything. I've read that they have a low butterfat content so I'm curious as to the taste.

Jenna and Lib's milk wasn't bad but it didn't compare to the Nubians (since Jen and Lib are mixed with Alpine). However, they do give a lot more. I'm hoping that the kids I had born this year will be big producers then. They better be for what that stinky buck cost.
Our first Nubian, Annie, gave over a gallon a day, so I know it's possible!

But otherwise, I'm re-thinking Saanens too! They've been considered the Holstein of the dairy goat world after all..

I also figured out that no, Libby isn't half Alpine and half Nubian, she HAS to be half Boer instead of Nubian, she's just so stocky and large.

 

[freemotion]

You are a BAD INFLUENCE!!!! Now I am scheming about getting a Saanen bottle baby from the dairy down the road in the spring. They have all the does they need now and will be adding Boer to the mix next year, so it is this spring if I'm gonna do it....Yikes. NO-NO-NO!!!!

 

[Blackbird]

Me?? No way!

 

[Blackbird]

I have a new crockpot so I am trying it out!
I have the upper back and heart of Mr. Turkey, a carrot, two potatoes, salt, pepper, sage, etc. started.

I'm not used to this kind but I'll let you know how it turns out!

 

[colowyo0809]

my, that sounds good! I don't know why we don't use ours more often, and I just remembered we have turkey parts in the freezer! yay crockpot soup/stew thing!
mmmmm, turkey.
ooooh, can i make pork stuff in the crocker?

 

[Blackbird]

Dishes using pork? Absolutely, you can make almost everything in there! From soap to yogurt! Ha!

I'm not an expert on pork though, it's been a couple years since we had pigs and I had any decent pork.