2013 Spring Co-op

ClaireAnna is taking an excellent co-op class called Eye Appeal!  She is learning all about the science of the eye.  They have had a field trip to an optomatrist and today, they got to disect an actual cow's eye.  ClaireAnna is loving it.

This semester, I'm teaching my first co-op class.  The kids are making the SHARK LAPBOOK in this post that ClaireAnna made a couple of years ago.  I think they are having fun learning about sharks although some of the boys seem to already know the material! I've got some big shark fans in this class of 19.

Alexander

Every year, there seems to be one goat kid that ClaireAnna falls in love with.  In 2009, it was Noel.  She was friendly and affectionate from the day she was born.  Claire begged us to let her keep Noel, even though she was not one of our top doelings that year.  And in spite of the fact that we are trying to teach her how to make decisions that will improve the quality of her goat herd, we agreed.  Some times you have to let the heart win over the mind. 

 

ClaireAnna and Noel. 

 

Well, it turns out that Noel's wonderful personality is genetic.  Once she started having kids, it's always been one of hers that is the new favorite.  Noel's first kids, born in 2011, were half Nubian and ridiculously cute.  Happily, we traded the doeling to ClaireAnna's best friend, Dayna, so we can see her often.

 

ClaireAnna with Emmet and Alice, Noel's 2011 twins.

 

In 2012, Noel gave birth to the "favorite goat of all time," Nicolas.  We couldn't keep him, but we were happy to find him a home where he would be used as a commercial buck rather then wethered and well...you know....

 

 

 

This year, Noel has done it again.  And this time, in addition to being friendly and affectionate, this little buckling is gorgeous!  We are hoping that he too, will find a home as a commercial buck. 

This is Alexandar.

 

Some of the 2013 Kids in the Goat Pen

 

Here's a video of some of our 2013 kids.  (Sorry it is so jittery!) There is still one Boer doe left to kid and one set of younger twins is still inside the barn.  Two sets of Nubian twins are in another pen.  These kids are between 2 weeks and 1 week of age.  All are mostly Boer except the white triplets which are 3/4 Nubian. 

 

Caught On Tape!

When we got to the barn this morning for chores, it was clear that Brook was in labor.  I called my friend, Ashlea, who had been hoping to be able to watch a live goat birth and she brought her kids, Jennah and Jaden over for the big event.  Brook was born here in 2008 and this is her 4th kidding for us.  Last year, she had her first set of triplets and raised them all to weaning so we have been hoping for a three-peat this year!  The Spencer family arrived just in time to watch Brook lie down and start to push out her first kid.

Unfortunately, Brook presented with a head only.  This is not a possible way for the kid to come out, so at this point, I had to stop the video (should have given it to ClaireAnna) and get an obstetric glove and fix the situation.  This is done by pushing the kid's head back in and fishing out the feet.  All I had to do is keep up with Brook, who decided to walk around in her pen during the procedure.  Once I had two feet in my hands, I let Brook take it from there and we resumed filming. 

 

The first kid is a boy! It's a tradition at Harmon PFarms to name any animals that are born when we have visitors after our guests.  So we named him Jaden.  Kid number two took only about 10 minutes to show up.

 

Our second kid came into the world in a completely normal way - two feet and a head.  It's a very large boy! We named this kid Al, after Ashlea's husband.  We're keeping it in the family!  Kid number three was actually starting to crown as kid two was born.  If you look carefully in this last video, you can see it.  However, Kid three is presenting in a very unusual way!  Watch this! 

Back feet first is a relatively normal presentation.  But butt first with folded up legs is neither normal nor easy for the doe.  I'm amazed that this kid was born so easily and that I didn't have to assist.  This last kids is, thankfully, a doeling!  We named her Jennah.  All three of these kids were good sized and, obviously, vigorous from birth!  This is normal for Brook! She's a great mama! 

Here is some great info on kidding, including birth positions with diagrams!

These kids are by our purebred Nubian buck, Jasper, who has since been sold.  Brook is half Nubian and half Boer meat goat so they are 3/4 Nubian and 1/4 Boer.  They will all be for sale at weaning.

Al



Jennah on the left, Al on the right.  We've never had this color
before - almost all white with a barely there silver look to their ears.  Very ghostly!

ClaireAnna and Jaden at 6 hours old.

Monica's 2013 Twins

These cuties were born today, at about 10:30 AM while we happened to have the Duff family visiting the farm.  The brother and sister human kids were happy to find out we would name these twin goat kids after them!  I was thrilled that Monica had doelings since last year, when I really wanted a doe or two from her to keep, she gave me three bucklings! These two girls are very healthy and were nursing within an hour of birth.  They are nicely boned and well conformed.  I think might keep Ashlyn!

This is Ashlyn.

 

This is Bray.  (Named after Braden.)

Old Goat

 

When I was a little girl, one of my friends' dads called me the little mountain goat because I was always climbing on things, (rocks, trees, park equipment) with a relative degree of quick, sure-footedness.  This is a trick I've been doing since I was about seven years old.  Today, at age 49,  I decided to make sure I could still do it.  Yup.

 

 

 

Encyclopedia Brown Oatmeal Cookies

Jessi read the book Encyclopedia Brown Takes the Cake when she was a little girl.  Inside the book were several recipes including this one.  She's been making them ever since.  They are really delicious!

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg, beaten
2/3 cup unsifted flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 cups oatmeal

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Combine the butter with both sugars, vanilla and egg.  Mix well. Combine dry ingredients and add a little at a time to the wet ingredients.  Scoop up a spoonful of dough with a regular teaspoon and scrape it off onto the cookie sheet with another teaspoon.  Keep them 1 1/2 inches apart.  They will spread. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes.

Lola Has Twins - Happy Valentine's Day!!

Lola did a great job this year giving us twin kids on Valentine's Day! One doeling, one buckling.



This is Sweetheart. 



Sweetheart is "Caramel Sunday" colored.
 

This is Valentino!

Valentino has a red head, but dargker red spots on his neck, leg and foot.

Lola's bag is over full so ClaireAnna milked her out a little.

One full quart of beautiful goat's milk. 

Healthier Banana Bread

3/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup agave syrup
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
11/2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup rolled oats
3 small bananas, mashed
1/3 cup sour cream ( or low fat buttermilk)
1/4 cup apple sauce (or canola oil)
1 1/4 tsp vanilla
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup pecans or walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a loaf pan with butter.

In a large bowl, thoroughly whisk together all the dry ingredients.

In a medium bowl, mix together all the wet ingredients.  Pour wet mixture into dry mixture and stir to combine.  I use a large silicone spatula.  Don't over mix. 

Pour into the loaf pan and bake 40 - 45 minutes or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. 

We like to make mini loafs or muffins.  Bake these for 25 minutes or so, watching carefully not to over bake. 

The Goat Pen In January

 

The goats are busy eating hay and growing kids in their bellies.  The sheep want some grain.  The dogs are chillin' after some rough play.  I don't know what the horses want. 

 

The Bottom Bunk

I slept on the bottom bunk in Claire's room last night.

The Bottom Bunk.

The Bottom Bunk holds a lot of meaning for me, believe it or not.  I have spent a lot of time there.

Not that I ever wanted to.

When my artificial hip went bad, the bottom bunk was one of two places I was able to lay down.  For the better part of a year, from June 20th, 2010, to February 25, 2011 when I had my second hip replacement and then for several weeks afterwards during my recovery from surgery, I lay or slept (when I could sleep) on the floor or on the bottom bunk in my daughter's room.  The partial dislocation of my titanium hip joint was causing severe nerve inflammation that in turn caused constant pain and at times, attacks of pulsating, stabbing, white-hot pain so bad I had to go to the hospital.  For some reason, laying on my stomach was the only position that was even tolerable and would allow the nerve some relief.  So on my stomach I was, nearly 24 hours a day, for the better part of eleven months, with only brief periods of relief here and there along the way.

I could not use my own bed for several reasons.  It was too high for me to get into easily.  I could not have anyone in bed with me because their movement would cause me pain.  Ted needed to get dressed and ready for work in the mornings in our room and that would mean disturbing me if I did happen to be asleep.  So it was decided early on, that if I could lay in a bed and if I could sleep, it would be in Claire's room on the bottom bunk.  When my pain was at its most intense, on my stomach on the floor was my only option.  But when I could tolerate it, I lay on the bottom bunk.

I was never comfortable there. 

Lying on my stomach has never been comfortable for me.  It causes me neck pain, back pain, arm numbness and pain and all over body stiffness.  So even though that position offered me some relief from my hip pain, I was far from comfortable any where else in my body.  There were some times, on the bottom bunk, that I was able to lay on my back with my leg propped on a pillow.  It was a great blessing.  But even then, I was still in some pain and could not move at all.  I felt stiff, paralyzed and claustrophobic.

Most of the time that I was on the bottom bunk, I was on heavy narcotics.  I was nauseous, drowsy, sometimes incoherent.  Even so, I was often unable to sleep.  The rest of the family tended to me lovingly, but they had other things to do too, so in between my med times, which were set on an alarm, I was mostly alone.....for hours.....and days....and weeks....and months. 

I was bored on the bottom bunk.  Sometimes, Kate would set up a movie for me on her laptop if I was able to be on my back for awhile, but for the most part, I had nothing to do.  I could not read or watch TV because of the position I had to be in and the narcotics I was on. 

For eleven months, I could not cuddle my husband.  I could not cuddle with my children.  I could not participate in daily family life.  I could not fix dinner for my family, or do any kind of housework.  For eleven months, I could not see my animals down at the barn.  I could not do my fair share of the work on our farm.  All I could do was lie on my stomach on the floor...or the bottom bunk.  So, in addition to the severe pain I was in, my time on the bottom bunk was filled with feelings of boredom, loneliness, sadness, frustration and uselessness.   

As the months dragged on, I began to feel hopelessness and despair. 

I was afraid on the bottom bunk. 

Would I ever be fixed?  Would I ever walk again?  Would I ever be rid of this torturous pain?

Well, the answer to all those questions was eventually, yes.  I am fixed.  My new hip is great.  I'm back to my normal routine and at night, I am back where I belong in my own bed next to my sweet man.  I haven't been on the bottom bunk in a long time.  ClaireAnna sleeps there now. 

So a few days ago, Ted woke up with a crick in his neck. It had just gotten worse and worse each day till he could barely move.  Last night, I decided to sleep in Claire's room so I would not disturb him or bump him during the middle of the night.  I made her sleep on top. 

And last night, I slept on the bottom bunk. 

That place, that holds so many memories for me. 

Wonderful, precious, joy filled memories........

You see, it was there, on the bottom bunk, that Jesus came to me.  It was there, that he never left me.  While I was on the bottom bunk, in despair and hopelessness, Jesus carried me.  He sustained me.  He comforted me.  It was there that all the negativity of my situation was defeated by the power of His Peace within me.  It is not so much that I'm better that I am grateful for, though I am so very grateful for that. But so much more, it is that while I was sick, and weak, and at the end of myself, He lived within me, and was strong for me. 

When I crawled into bed last night, on the bottom bunk in my daughter's room....I was overwhelmed with memories.....of His faithfulness and Love for me.  His Presence is what I remember.  The rest of it....happened a long time ago. 

I love that bottom bunk.  I'll never forget what He did for me there. 

I slept like a baby. 

Apple Crisp

Five pounds of apples.  I use Granny Smith but any baking apple is fine.
1 T Lemon juice
1 tsp cinnamon
2 T sugar
1 T flour

Topping
1 1/2 cups white flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
1 cup oats (whole or quick)
1 heaping tsp cinnamon
Dash of salt
1/2 lb butter, cold, diced

Peel, core, and slice the apples.  I use the Pampered Chef Apple Peeler Corer Slicer.  Mix together with the lemon juice, cinnamon, 2 T sugar and 1 T flour.  Pour into a 9X13 baking dish. 

In a large bowl combine topping ingredients.  (I've used all white sugar and all brown sugar when I'm out of either.  It works just fine.)  Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter, knives or food processor.  (But I just use my fingers.)   Sprinkle over apples.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or till apples are tender (depends on how thick you cut them) and topping is browned. 

You can use fresh or frozen peaches instead of apples.  Frozen peaches will be mushy, but still taste delicious! You can sprinkle this topping over any canned fruit pie fillings.  Use two cans for a 9 X 13 pan.  We make cherry, blackberry or peach.  Bake 30 minutes.

You can also sprinkle this topping on a cookie sheet and bake it till browned and crispy.  It is good on apple sauce, yogurt or ice cream. 

Quiche

This Quiche is really, really delicious!

2 deep dish pie crusts
1 pound bacon, cooked and chopped
1 package frozen spinach, thawed and drained
   (I squeeze any extra juice out.)
4 green onions, chopped including greens
8 ounces cheese, (Swiss or Colby jack) shredded
12 eggs
2 cups 1/2 & 1/2
salt & pepper

Divide bacon, spinach, onions and cheese evenly into the bottom of each pie crust.  Beat eggs, half and half, salt and pepper and pour over crusts.  (I use a stick blender.) Bake at 375 for 35 to 45 minutes till a toothpick comes out clean.  Makes 2 Quiches. 

Trash to Treasure

Last week, at the Ragsdale Auction House, I found a plain wooden tote box for $2.50.  I gave it to ClaireAnna to use for a grooming tool caddy for her horses.  She decided to make it pretty. 

 

Patient Pig

We learned through internet research that unspayed Pot Belly Pigs are ornery Pot Belly Pigs. In addition, a Pot Belly Pig must be spayed while young before excess fat has developed.  So, believe it or not, we got our new pet pig spayed! 

 

 Kate and Claire got up very early in the freezing cold to get
Penny to her appointment at Morrelton Vet Clinic. 



Penny's ride in the back of the Jeep. 
She has her blankets to comfort her and keep her warm.



The surgery went smoothly and was successful! But it hurts to lay down.



Kate to the rescue.  "I'm taking you home, Pig."
I love this picture! Penny seems so happy to see her new mama!

Thank you to the excellent vets at Morrilton Vet Clinic
for taking such good care of Penny!




Yes, there's a pig in the house.  Why not? 
We've had goats and dogs.  What's a little bacon in the kitchen?
Penny seems to appreciate Kate's comforting.  



Ouch.  Just like a dog, she had an abdominal incision.



Penny is restless. 



Look at those adorable elf ears!



Getting sleepy.



Out cold.




Penny has to spend the night in the house due to the effects of the anesthesia. 
(The general anesthesia makes it hard for the animal to regulate body temperature.)
She will be back out in her pig pen in the barn yard tomorrow afternoon once it warms up outside.
 

The Taming of The Sheep

Ted and ClaireAnna spent some time with the new sheep tonight.  One of them is quite friendly.  The others are coming along. 

 

What a cute farmer!

Penny's First Walk

This evening we went for a walk on the farm.  Four people.  Three dogs.  One cat.  And....one pig.  Yes, Penny took her first family walk with us and she loved it! We really couldn't tell she wasn't a dog!

 



This one is a dog.

 

 

 

If you click on the youtube link, you'll see the video in a larger size.