Eggs

The chickens are laying five eggs a day right now. 7 days x 5 eggs = 35 eggs That's a lot of eggs.

Milk goats

Mamie has given us a crazy weekend. I wouldn't give it up for the world, I just wish I didn't have to go back to work tomorrow. My wife milking Mamie.

"Ims"

Maybe you can blame it on the constant winter weather, but I'm feeling the "ims": impossible, impractical, impatient...

It's a girl, boy, girl

Mamie had her kids tonight, right when we would have had dinner. Tired.

It's a girl

Christina deviled one kid by herself this morning, some time between 3:30 and 6:30 this morning. My wife kept checking on her but still mist it.

The shed

The shed has arrived, my wife is very happy!

Landing spot

The goat's new shed is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. Thanks to my father, here is a landing spot for the shed.

Spinning

Brain storming till my head is spinning, grinning all the while till my cheeks hurt. Oh my gosh I'm going to explode. All I have to do is keep the KISS method in mind. Keep It Simple Stupid

Off

I've taken the weekend off for my wife's birthday, and consequently I haven't taken any pictures. My mind is so active with ideas and possibilities for the farm that I feel wired and scatter brained. Rat tracks.

The return of winter

Our sudo spring is over. Now I can't wait for the real thing.

Decisions

I thought I knew how I wanted to rebuild the barn. But after our visit to see Bob Weaver's setup I'm not sure...

Farmer ingenuity

Farmer ingenuity: do what you can, with what you have, where you are.

My emergency shutoff for the hose.

Spring

I can smell it, I can feel it in my bones and it's intoxicating!

Chickens

The chickens ventured out today, more than two feet away from the coop! Going to have a good thaw the next few days. I put up more plastic sheeting to hopefully keep the goats dry.

Wet goats

The goats got soaked today from all the melting snow running down through the floor boards over head. The temperature is below freezing for tonight, so no more dripping for a little while.

Forked out the wet bedding and put down dry stuff. Please just stay dry! Ordered an Amish made shed for the goats today, might be done as soon as this week end.

Star

Very warm today, except for the wind. Snow is melting and running down through the floor boards and into the down stairs of the barn. Had to put up plastic sheeting to keep the heifer calf dry. Build a kid pen today out of plywood for the baby goats that are on their way. An extreme closeup of my horse Star.

Loony tunes

The babies are on their way HA HA! the babies are on their way HA HA!

cool-fun-guys

Ice stalagmite under the water spigot in the barn.

Sign

The winter wind finally did it.

Too long

It has been about a year since I last took my horse out for a drive. I think when you're too busy to ride (or drive) your horse, you're just too busy! My fore cart.

It's official

We signed papers today, the farm is in our name and under our control. I'm excited and scared, and the fun hasn't even begone yet. An other awesome sun set.

Hands

Working on demolishing the barn has been conditioning me. I started out slow and aching from working unused muscles. Now I'm faster and feel great! My weathered work hands.

Getting somewhere

Did more demo today, really feel like I'm getting somewhere. Moved goats and calf to small end of barn, right under where I've been working. Picture of southern wall of big hay mow, where little hay mow use to be.

Day job

Some times I feel like my day job is killing me. So many things that need my attention at home on the farm, but my day job gets in the way. Did more demo on the barn today. I feel that it is moving quickly but this is just a BIG job. Picture of pulley in hay mow used for putting loose hay in the mow.

Rip and tear

Did more demo on the barn today. Have to make my deadline and get the barn ready for the goats to have their kids. Earth shine on the moon tonight, shortly after sun set. Beautiful...

Antisipation

Spring, and all the good things to come! It's killing me! Photo of air bubbles in the ice from the water tank.

Groundhog

You know what I think of Groundhog day? I ate ground hog for dinner! ( pork sausage )

Our home, our fortress against the frozen tundra.

Crystals

Is it a geode? Nope! It's frost, formed in a niche of the rock wall in the barn.