They Are Naughty

I don’t know what it is about this time of year, but it seems like this is when the goats all decide they are going to die if they don’t find fresh browse.  It makes me very unhappy when I look out the window and see the no-man’s land at the bottom of my property filled with goats.

Because it isn’t fenced and they can get out on the road.

Usually, I just go out to pasture and call them to come back and they do.  Not yesterday.  They traipsed out on the road.  A truck had to slow down to go through them.  Then I ran back up the hill to the barnyard (and I really thought I was going to have a heart attack running up the hill).  Then I got the Ranger and ran their butts up the road and into the barnyard.

They act so innocent.

“I wasn’t quite done eating those mulberry bushes? Could you open the gate again?” Clover

I went down and patched my hobbling from a couple of years ago (the last time I posted about them doing this).

“I was just trying to find a way to get to Xerxes,” Maisie.   “Me too,” Sidney

Hopefully it lasts another two or more years!

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Decisions

When I was walking back in pasture, I was also checking the clover.

fritillary on clover

That might seem like a silly thing to do, but when we get into September, the clover changes as the weather gets cooler, and that change can lead to those fatal bladder stones in my wethers.

Myson

I have to say, there’s not as much clover back there as there used to be.  I think the cows last summer did a good job of keeping it eaten down so it didn’t go to seed.

I’m still not sure I want to risk leaving my boys back there.

Moose (with his maa, Maisie, behind him)

Soon I’ll have to decide if they are going to stay on the Back Forty or get moved to the front pasture.

Casey

I’m pretty sure I’m of the opinion that it’s better safe than sorry when it comes to my fat boys’ health.

Soaping

I have to say, it’s just the last week or so that I’ve started relaxing and feeling like I’m on summer break (and now it’s almost time to go back).  With the bottle kids getting weaned, I’m getting to keep all my milk from the girls.  They know exactly where to go.

Cinnamon

I always have a line waiting to come in.  There’s usually a couple more there too.  Sometimes even those that are not currently getting milked (like Haley).  Once I even had Casey trying to convince me he should get to come in.

Ava (back) and Clover

Sometimes Ava gets a little impatient.

Ava

I’m freezing gallons for next year’s kids.  Also, I finally have gotten around to making soap.

I have several that are out of stock.  I don’t know the last time my shelves were so empty.

It’s been hard to get motivated to make any when the farmer’s market I used to go to isn’t being held now.  I need to find a new market or something.  Of course, when my garage is fully cleaned again, I can open on the farm on weekends.  First, I need to get everything back in stock.  I made five batches to start with: violet, almond biscotti, plain, lilac, and candy.

I have another thirteen batches before my soaps are fully stocked.  I better get busy!

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