Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey

[frustratedearthmother]

Had a total of 3 inches of rain in the 24 hour period.

Got a few things done today after the rain stopped this morning. Had to put together a creep feed area for the baby goats. It's done. Now they need to learn to use it, lol. A couple of them like going in there just because it's a nice quiet place they can relax without worrying about getting stepped on by a bigger goat. That's okay too.

Still need to do another creep feeder in the smaller barn where a couple of the does/kids have ended up. One of the boers has horns and is dumb. Twice she got her head stuck in the big hay feeder - so she got moved back to the front barnyard where hay goes in racks. Moved one of the myotonic does and kid with her. Going to move the other Myo doe up there also - soon. "Soon" is as soon as I feel like doing it. Might be tomorrow - might be next week. I'd like to keep the smaller babies and mothers separated so they don't get bullied away from feed.

Also caught every one of those little buggers and administered their first dose of Toltrazuril (coccidia preventative/treatment med). Good stuff and in this mucky, muddy, gross weather coccidia can/will flourish. They'll get another dose in another few weeks. I generally give them a starter dose and then re-dose every three weeks until they're beyond weaning...usually around 12 weeks.

Saw a couple of 'em scratching. Checked 'em and didn't see any little buggies on 'em, but I'll dust the barns again. Did it before they were born but need to repeat it. Can't have them itching instead of eating. I've got high expectations for this batch of babies so I have to do my part to give them what they need to grow and develop.

Gonna sit a minute and then start dinner. Shrimp tonight - yum!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Worn out, whooped, stick a fork in me - I'm done.

Started the day pulling down old stock panels. Why? Because I'm putting up a new fence and I want to use old panels. Makes sense, right? The next section of fence that's going up is between me and my not so fun neighbors. My great, wonderful neighbors are actually doing most of the work for the not so fun neighbors. (it's complicated)

The place we're putting the fence up is alongside the small barn and gets nearly zero animal pressure and can't even be seen from most of the property. So, why not use old funky stuff there? I ordered a bunch of new panels and new fence posts from TSC and had 'em delivered the other day. I want to use the fancy new panels on a different area that is alongside the driveway to the pasture. My goat buying customers drive by that area every time they come to buy a goat. It looks worn out and crappy, so I'll put the new panels there....after I replace all the posts. Sounds like fun, huh?

Did all the normal feeding - including the pond fish. Weather is warming up so it's time for them to start eating and growing again. I'm looking forward to pulling some nice one's out of there this year.

Had some eggs that needed to be washed and refrigerated so I spent a little time in the kitchen today. Cracked a bunch of quail eggs and froze them. I scramble them up occasionally and mix them with dog food. Dogs love them some eggs!

I conned DH into throwing something into the oven. His culinary masterpiece will be ... parmesan crusted fish sticks! Woo Hoo! I think that calls out for a white wine, lol.

 

[baymule]

Fencing is a lot of work, but you will be so glad to have it done. I like your strategy, not so nice neighbors get the used ugly fence. Prospective buyers can look at new fence.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Fencing is a lot of work, but you will be so glad to have it done.

Done? What is this "done" of which you speak? Seems in my world that it's always changing and never ending, lol.

Enjoyed some time with youngest granddaughter yesterday. She lives almost 5 hours away, but she was playing in a soccer game only 45 minutes from here. So, heck yes! She played so well too! Short visit, but was great to see her. She'll be coming in for spring break so in a few weeks we'll get more time with her.

Got caught in a rainstorm while feeding this morning so spent some time sitting on a bucket and letting goats abuse me. The tame babies help the shy ones learn that I'm not a total ogre. I need them to be friendly - makes my life so much easier.

Got a pic or two while in there. Babies are finally figuring out the creep feed area. How's this for some eye candy?

 

[baymule]

I worked 5 hours with my battery chainsaw yesterday on a fenceline. The brush has grown into trees, I had to cut my way to the actual trunk through green briars and brush. I got maybe 30’ kinda done. There are trees that will take an actual chainsaw. I was whipped. Today is rain, so I’ll rest up to do it again.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Today is rain, so I’ll rest up to do it again.

You need a day of rest!

We have rain in the forecast but nothing so far today. I'm slogging my way, slowly but surely, through my to-do list. Unfortunately, I get side-tracked way too often, lol.

Had someone ask me the other day if I had chicks, and would I agree to sell some. But, of course! Sold six Nekkid Neck chicks for a whopping $20 the other day. Technically, I sold five and threw in an extra. Same person said they really want some silkies. Guess what? I have some - but they're not laying yet and I only have a few. I see people on FB quite frequently looking for silkies. So, I did a thing and ordered some more silkie hatching eggs. I love them but have always found them hard to keep alive. Because they can't fly, they're defenseless. Solution - no free-ranging for them.

Can't get anything accomplished sitting here so I gotta get back to it.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Silkie eggs are on the way! I have some coming from two different breeders. First breeder I have purchased from before. She's north of Houston and I'm south of Houston so they don't have to travel too far. The second batch I purchased are coming from South Carolina. Might be a little if-ier, but I've had eggs shipped from such distances in the past and they've done well. So much depends on how well they are packed.

I'm getting antsy to get some real gardening going. I still have collards from fall planting and I'll probably pick some of them today. It's cool and breezy today so some comfort food sounds good. I worked on a couple of the raised beds tomorrow to get them ready to plant. Not sure why, but I decided to plant a small plot of corn this year. I rarely do because it's such a space hog and DH can't eat much...but I can, lol. Probably throw a few climbing bean seeds in there to wind their way up the stalks too.

I'm leaning away from a big inground garden. I kinda hate it, but I just don't have time to take care of it the way it needs to be taken care of, and I hate to see a big weedy mess out there. I'll concentrate on maximizing he space I have available. I'm planning on a screen house this year. Have most of the materials I need. Tomatoes will be in there and I expect to finally have a tomato harvest after losing most to stink bugs for years now. I'll probably also put a zucchini plant in there to hide them from the squash bugs.

Have a couple more does due in the next couple weeks. Hope they'll deliver over spring break. I'll have my youngest grand and she's a definite goatie, lol.

Cool, wet and windy today. Sounds like a good day to accomplish some things in the house. I'm setting up a little herb garden inside. DH is excited about that. I'll probably put it under his care. He needs a job, lol.

 

[Mini Horses]

Since you're assigning him a "job" for gardening, I'm assuming the progress he's had is continuing.. Yes, he needs a job to keep motivated and have some personal accomplishment in his day to day again. So much of that was taken this past year with his health but, now he can re-bloom.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Since you're assigning him a "job" for gardening, I'm assuming the progress he's had is continuing.

He's doing really well. Not back to the level he was at a few years ago - but so much better than this past year or so! He hasn't fallen in months now. His balance is better and his walking is more confident. He's slow as molasses in wintertime, but that's ok because he's mobile. At most he'll use his cane when we go to a doc appt. Wheelchair and walker have been retired! He walks to the mailbox and took the trash out recently. He even drove a couple days ago. It was only about a mile (baby steps) but he did fine.

He couldn't do any of this 6 months ago. In fact, before the brain surgery he could do nothing. Couldn't get out of a chair on his own, could barely walk, couldn't carry a plate or glass to the table...just nothing. He doesn't remember a lot of individual details, but he remembers it like a bad nightmare. He told me recently that those were very dark days for him and his thoughts were in a bad place. I didn't ask him to explain in detail... But, happy days are here again, lol.

With his improvements I can do more. I couldn't do much, if anything, outside because I needed to be inside with him. Now I can go outside for hours at a time and he's ok. Just in time for spring!

 

[Mini Horses]

Your silkie pic is adorable! How can they see?