Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey

[Mini Horses]

Well -- I'M JEALOUS! Would like to be retiring April 30 too.
Our turns will come. May be a yr but, will happen. I'm with you, don't cash in if you don't have to. Impress upon DH that cutbacks must happen. He'll probably come around quicker than you may think now. Give him a budget!

You sold goats!! I'm impressed. That's great -- in a lot of ways. But, sorry about the chicks. Yeah, they disappear! I have found the best way is to contain them for a couple weeks. Not always possible but, works best here if I do it. When you get a surprise you aren't always ready -- right?? Skunks are populous around here and they LOVE to eat young chicks!!

Now if we could turn the rain off for a while

 

[sumi]

That's wonderful for your DH! Like Mini said above, give him a budget, make sure he sticks to it. It's going to take a bit of time to adjust to the reduced income, but it'll work out fine.

Sorry to hear about the chicks It sucks to lose them.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I know we can do it - but there is still a tiny feeling of panic. I'm not even sure why - we've got resources... but now they are finite!

Time to start looking at the freeloaders around here and cutting back. Gotta start farming with my head and not my heart.... I'm going to hate that! But, from now on, everything that eats must be productive.

I bought a new vacuum sealer that I'll break out and use today. Need to vacuum pack those pigs that I butchered the last couple of weekends. I've already put the first one in the freezer, but just wrapped. I'll pull them out and stick 'em in a vacuum package for longer storage.

Gotta finish this cup of coffee and get busy.

 

[NH Homesteader]

It is hard, I have to do the same since we only have one income. But once you get that initial cull over, it's easier to maintain. I guess my sheep aren't really super productive but they cost about nothing lol

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I guess my sheep aren't really super productive but they cost about nothing lol

Yet! Not productive yet, lol! They will be!

 

[NH Homesteader]

DH just told me they're the biggest hay wasters... I don't believe for a second they're worse than goats lol.

When you butcher a goat, do you do cuts? We did stew meat, but didn't have a very big goat lol

 

[frustratedearthmother]

The ones I've butchered haven't been very big either. I basically just take the shoulders, hams, back straps, and on one I took the ribs. Since then, I haven't bothered with the ribs on the little goats - just not much meat on 'em. I hope that changes with the bigger goats. I remember deboning one of the back legs and cooking it in the crock pot. It literally fell apart it was so tender...so it was sorta stew like, lol.

I'm trying to figure out how to get this little guy dead....DH can't get to him without going through a bunch of calf deep mud - so I don't think that's wise. And, since he's wild - if I drag him out of the pen where DH can get to him - he'll be stressed. I don't want that either. Or, I'll have to do the deed myself - but again - I don't want to drag him out of his pen so I'd have to shoot him in front of the other bucks and I don't like that idea....ARGH. I need to ponder this a bit. I guess I could move him and then let him settle down. I might be able to get him to the dog kennel in the back yard... this idea has merit. Yep - I think that's the plan. I can move him in there and put a crate in there for his little house and let him calm down. He'd be alone though. Still pondering but so far that's the best I can come up with.

Ok - break over and I need to get back outside. I've got way too much stuff to do...

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Change of plans....not going to butcher anything this weekend. For whatever reason my back has decided to protest... I'm trying to stay moving and not sit too long cuz I don't want to totally lock up. GRRRR!

 

[NH Homesteader]

Oh noooo!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Four Motrin are doing their job. I'm determined not to let it get worse! I'm actually watching a movie - I never sit that long on a weekend, lol. It's over in ten minutes and then it'll be time to get back outside.

I will definitely be in the hot tub later and probably have a glass of wine. I'm kinda in one of those periods where I don't even want wine, but I'm sure I can force myself, lol.

I did get some preggo does into the pen behind the red shed. The Nubian did exactly what I thought she'd do and jumped right over the hog panel and got out - but the 3 smaller does stayed in. Yay for shorter (and more well-behaved) Kinders! I have no idea when they're due, but I could have does starting to be due on Monday. That's 145 days from when I put Conan in the pasture in Oct. Several of them have pretty decent udders - but ligaments are definitely still there and firm. I'm so excited to see what comes from these breedings. Two of them are FF's so there's no telling! Hoping for girls - but maybe a boy or two to neuter and feed out. I'm loving the little buckling from Cameo and Conan.

Back to (light) work for me!