Java. the end.

[ksalvagno]

I put my salt and herbs in after it is drained. I'm not sure when the best time is but I was very happy with the results.

I guess you don't want to hear that we had a beautiful sunny day with not a cloud in the sky? It was even 78 degrees! I'm just thankful for one nice day. I know it is supposed to be in the 50's here tomorrow and I think rain is predicted.

 

[Javamama]

So glad you got a nice day Karen Must have made the shearing day better. We had a little of everything - drizzle, rain, thunder and lightning, then almost sun, then rain again.
I went to a greenhouse, which was just getting their veggies set out - late this year because of the crappy weather. I got some tomato plants for potting - a cherry called "tumbler" They didn't have any other patio type tomatoes yet. I just want a few because the last couple of years my in ground plants have gotten diseased. I also got some oxhearts for paste. I have not had luck with most of the paste tomatoes - even Romas, so we'll see how this variety does.
I have been snacking on that farmer's goat cheese - it is sooo good! My parents visited yesterday and I got to impress them. They loved the chevre especially. I think I will like the chevre once I find a seasoning mix I like. The last one had basil and I don't like basil. DH wants a cottage cheese next.

 

[savingdogs]

I want to know about your cottage cheese! I want to try that too. I'm the only one here who will eat it however. That just sounds wasteful to use up that giant pot of milk just so I can eat cottage cheese for a few days.

I guess I need to have more milk around here before that happens.

I still don't have any bites on my baby dairy goats. I'm replacing the ad today.

 

[ksalvagno]

Savingdogs - I can't believe you haven't gotten any bites on your goats! Is 4H not big in your area? 4H kids are who bought most of my boys.

Finished shearing today and it has done nothing but rain all day and it is colder. We did about 35 alpacas today and it definitely wasn't as nice shearing as it was yesterday. But it is all done and everything went well so a good day overall.

Happy Easter! :bun

 

[savingdogs]

Savingdogs - I can't believe you haven't gotten any bites on your goats! Is 4H not big in your area? 4H kids are who bought most of my boys.

Finished shearing today and it has done nothing but rain all day and it is colder. We did about 35 alpacas today and it definitely wasn't as nice shearing as it was yesterday. But it is all done and everything went well so a good day overall.

Happy Easter! :bun

Actually, I placed my ad again today and got THREE bites. And I keep getting responses, but they seem to peter out before they get to the stage of coming to look at them. We are way, way way out in the boonies. And I had them "sold" and then the people changed their minds.

One of the three responses I got today was from someone not far at all however. I also put in my ad "If you are new to goats I would be happy to instruct you as to their care, if desired". These people really liked that as they are new to goats. I know that where they live is COVERED in blackberry cuz it is right by here and so I believe they just might have a need for these little guys.

If not I hope one of the other two ads pans out. But I don't mind teaching someone how to care for Sebastian and Buckley. I would LIKE that. then I would know they are caring for them the way I would (or hopefully at least). I hardly think taking care of a pair of mini dairy wethers will be hard anyways. And their markings are super cute, they would make great pets.

 

[Javamama]

Rain, mud, rain, mud. Wind. More rain. That's about it here.

I put my lettuce and kale seedlings in planters because I can't even get to the garden area. My broccoli that I planted last week has probably drowned :/
I think I'm going to have to use the flower bed in front of the house for some edibles, which I'm not thrilled about because a.) I have used Roundup on it for poison ivy and a noxious creeping grass and b.) I put bagged mulch on it most years and who knows what kind of stuff that leaches into the ground. But hey - with all the rain we've had, it has to have washed some of it away, right?

My ducks are not happy together. One drake is really abusive and 2 of the ladies have left them. They now hang out on the other side of the fence. I'll allow it because they provided physical evidence of the abuse. Poor wounded things. Last night I let them into the duck area so they could swim in the floodwater and those drakes came racing from about 100 feet away to put them in their place. Weirdly though, the aggressive drakes leave the other 2 ducks alone.
I think we will be having duck dinner soon.

We haven't been able to cull the old hens because our culling area is under water. There are 14 hens and we are getting 2 or 3 eggs a day I may have to just list them on CL and let the someone else have them. I need the coop for the new chicks who are too loud and stinky to be in the kitchen much longer.

It just started pouring. yay.

 

[ksalvagno]

We were so lucky yesterday. We got no rain. Also today we aren't supposed to get any until late afternoon/evening. Then there is the chance of severe storms. My areas that were under water actually drained. So now I shouldn't have to worry about the barns flooding. Just a couple big puddles in the turn around too. I get tired of having to wear boots to go out to the barn. Luckily the animals are ok. Very restless but ok.

 

[Javamama]

Guess what! I thought I didn't care for the chevre cheese at all - turns out it was the herb mix I put in it I tried it again today with a different mix and it was great. (the first batch had basil. No matter how much I try, I just do not like basil )

 

[ksalvagno]

Well, that is good. At least now you know!

Well, we are now under a severe thunderstorm watch. So the fun begins.

 

[savingdogs]

Gosh I love basil.

I thought chives worked really really well on my latest batch. I used salt, pepper and chives and that was it. It was a big hit! I'm still just making the farmer cheese though, I need to find more supplies. I have been balking at ordering online because I'm sure Portlandia has a cheese making supply place somewhere and I just need to find it.

You sound kind of glum. I know the mud/rain is making me discouraged about my garden. My animals are doing pretty well, but the garden is stuck back where I should have been in say, March. Other than my quinoa, nothing sprouted yet until today I noticed a few brave cilantro.

My hands are KILLING me from all the milking. Have you developed milking muscles? They hurt so bad I was almost dismayed to see how full the girls were this morning. I HAVE to milk twice a day, they start screaming when they are full. Even I hear them.

I seriously need to take some photos of their udders. My eyes are untrained at looking at them and my does are not shaved, but I think they look a lot like those fancy ones from BYH.