Fall Harvest and the Gander Count

Even though the garden is done for the year, I’m still preserving the harvest.

I’m working on baking and freezing both squash and pumpkins.

The birds get my left-overs.  They do enjoy it.

Widow goose in back, gander, gander, young goose

I don’t think I’ve ever given the final gander count.  There was one baby that I wasn’t sure about gender.  Well, it is also a gander.

The one with his wings out looking nasty, is really nasty.

I will tell you, there is one gander who is quite the jerk.  He bites at me all the time.  He sticks his head out the fence and bites the goats’ tails and legs and ears.  Some day, he’s really going to regret that when a goat retaliates.

nasty gander and Myson

Two girls; two ganders.

The Morning After

Whenever I move goats around the morning after is a bit scary when I go out to see if everyone is where I put them.  It didn’t take me long to get my answer.  When Zinnia came to get milked, she had her little Joy with her.  Surprisingly, Joy wasn’t nursing, so I got my milk!  I also let her come in with her mom, so it might help her keep calming down.  You can’t say I haven’t tried with this one.

Joy and Zinnia

All the little bucks were still shut in.

Chiffon was back snuggled up with Cookie and her twin sister, Marge.

Marge, Chiffon, and Cookie

It looked like Wendy had quit picking on Tink (for now).

Tink, Wendy, and Joani

Then I saw that Socks was back with her maa, Bonnie.

Socks and Bonnie

It was interesting to see that Bonnie’s twin sister, Blaze, has been letting Socks hang with her since Bonnie was up north.  Goats are really amazing with family (sometimes).

Blaze in front; Bonnie and Socks in back

Penny was being nice to let Venus stay with her.  I’m glad since she just lost her maa, Vinnie, and is still recovering.  She and Vulcan had also never been out in the big pasture.

Penny and Venus

In the afternoon, though, I noticed both of my little boys I had shut in the greenhouse had escaped.

Ringo looking for his maa

Dang little bucks.

Fall on the Farm

It’s really looking like fall now.  Can you see all the big round bales in my building?

The colors are turning yellow.

I did see one late monarch, but it was not very active on that cool morning.  I’m afraid it’s not going to make the flight south.

I’m still checking my girls because they technically have a couple more weeks they could have a cria, but I’m not holding my breath.

Aurora and Odie on the bottom

I have about one tree on the farm that turns beautiful colors.

Odie and the goats

We are also getting lots of beautiful sunsets!

Aurora

It’s definitely getting close to time for me to hibernate for the winter.

I’m ready for a long winter’s rest.