Friday, February 27, 2009

a Quantum Leap

As I was saying, the inlaws gave us some landIt high on a hill set in the woods, connected to their property. It does have somewhat of a road up in there. Especially since I started following the adventures of Jackie Clay , I've always wanted to get closer to Mother Earth. I feel like the more I downsize, the closer I can get. The journey may start as soon as April 1st, heck, I'm not getting any younger and I'm certainly out of shape, especially since I busted my ankle in July '08, I really got in bad shape after that. So, I want to get healthier along the way.

Jackie Clay's books
Chickens: A beginner's handbook
Starting Over
Dairy Goats: A beginner's handbook
Self-reliance: Recession-proof your pantry


This is a used 2006 Terry Quantum that I've found approx 1 hour away.




a washer/dryer will be in the place of the rear door


I'm still talking to the saleman but to add heated water tanks, washerdryer, plumbing for WD, generator, and new mattress.

has a 21ft awning



















I like the blue interior
So what do y'all think about us, poultry, and goats moving to the woods? I may make some camping spots up there, and when the campers wake up in the morning, they collect they own eggs, and milk the goats for their breakfast. After that, we take a llama hike around the property. Does that sound fun or what? Give me some more fun camper idea's.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

blah, blah vs baa, baa

Been busy, on stuff that I don't have a passion for, earning a living. Don't get be wrong, I actually have a very good job, that many people would kill to have, but my heart is with Mother Earth and my animals (all animals).

Some of our Marans [Wheaten & Cuckoo] eggs that we have collected lately.

Mike took 6 doz eggs to my neighbor Teesa last week - I'm always urging y'all to try turkey eggs so here is what she happened to write on her blog.
To my GREAT delight, there was a turkey egg in the mix, as well as many Americauna eggs (they are blue/green and long). You should have seen Sam and I jumping for joy when we found the turkey egg! I love turkey eggs, but only because Joanna introduced me to them. They make the best pastry crusts, and taste great all on their own (very bold flavor). However, Sam wanted to include it in our casserole, so I added it to the mix.

Mike and I have started working towards moving onto some of my inlaws property. It's been sitting there waiting for us for several years but it needs a road, well, etc. Mike doesn't take the lead on things, "whatever you want to do" is want I hear. He is an excellent hand but no boss. So, I have gotten in the mindset that I'm ready to give it a whirl. This land will be closer to my office. Future office that is, we're starting to build a new facility, one reason I have been so busy - new facility, compliance report, FY09/10 Grant Application, contractors, blah, blah, blah. I want to hear some baa, baa, baa. When I pull up in the driveway at night, I do get to hear it, makes my day.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

WORD VERIFICATION - [groan]

I try to leave pithy comments and then get this message -

Word verification
Sorry, an error occured.
Please try again later.
Error code:

The ones I really hate are:
write the comment, submit, word verification comes up, type in the bizarre word, LOADING

Amy @ TwleveAcres, on yours, I keep getting LOADING

Sunday, February 22, 2009

SundaySnow, Vista vs XP, Helen, Alix blog, mercy killing

Although it snowed last night, and it's cold and breezy outside, I am willing Spring to get here with a new background look.

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I give up, I'm going back to XP. I bought this Dell laptop with Vista on 11/24/07 for $700. Summer of '08, it flew to SanFrancisco and back. I just don't like Vista and the laptop has several problems.

Last night on Ebay, I bought two refurbed Compaq laptops with XP for just under $400. Two for a total of $400.

My laptop - battery won't charge, missing a cntl key, several of the keys I have to hit a couple/three times for it to type the letter.

Mike's Toshiba laptop has been a good one but now has streaks on the screen.
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Helen ,who I met through my pair of geese HonkyTonk & Tootsie, now has a blog
http://thesuitelifeoflucyandethel.blogspot.com/2009/02/tail-tales.html
and she wrote a little something about Mike and I
Hi HELEN, you nut. She lives in the next county over, Ashe.
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Alix on her blog, wanted to know what bugged us about our significant others - Mike is always hollering from his computer in the next room for me to get up so he can show me something. 99.9% of the time it is something he is interested in but I could care less. Now, sometimes I get up, and sometimes I don't.
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Alix wanted to know if Nougat was euthanized - Mike shot him in the head. I know that sounds shocking to some but it's the best way I have found to put our pets down. Rather than dragging the ill pet to the Vet's office, and me making a dramatic scene of sobbing, the pet gets to die at home and it's a private death for us all. Then the beloved pet is buried in our little cemetary.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Amigo, pastaless lasanga, potato soup

What kind of goat is this? Look at those ears. His name is Amigo and he's at a rescue shelter 3 hrs away. Mike is keeps fretting over 9- month old Dud not having anyone to play with now that Nougat is gone.

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13079932
Garland - "Amigo" came to us from animal control after being picked up as a stray. He is very friendly and was obviously someone's pet at one time. He is one of the most handsome goats we've ever seen and likes to "dance" - he stands up on his hind legs to show off but does not head butt people. In fact, all he wants is for you to scratch his ears! Amigo would be a great addition to any herd of friendly horned goats. Amigo was be castrated, vaccinated and dewormed on February 17th and is now available for adoption. His adoption fee is $75.

Mike doesn't want Amigo though, wants a Nigerian buckling approx same age as Dud. Amigo has the same coloring as my Nougie.


Below, I made a pastaless lasanga. Mike liked it but he also likes BurgerKing, so...


I also made a potato soup.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Irish Terriers


Irish Terriers were taken to all parts of the British Empire, notably India and South Africa, and became popular in America - especially after the writer of animal stories Jack London, an owner, wrote two novels celebrating their 'unparalleled excellence'.


It was their courage which led to their pre-eminence as 'war dogs' during the First World War. Shipped to France with their handlers, they showed great courage as sentry patrol dogs, messengers, guards and ratters in the terrible conditions of trench warfare on the Western Front. One such was Larry who, under shell-fire, struggled back to base camp through miles of frozen slush and mud. Having delivered his message, he collapsed and died. They found a bullet lodged in his shoulder.


Col Richardson, who was responsible for the dog training programme, spoke of the 'gallant Micks' and was convinced that they had an almost psychic ability to find their masters in the mayhem of battle. He told of an Irish terrier who shipped himself to France with the troops and found his master in the trenches. It is impossible to conceive how he managed it.


So why are there so relatively few of them about today? Who knows precisely, except that there was a steep decline in the popularity of all terriers through the 1920s and 1930s. It could have been a post-war longing for change and a fashion for more exotic-looking dogs. Urbanisation would not have helped, but the halcyon days of the feisty, upbeat terriers of all kinds were over.


Like most breeds, Irish terriers owe everything to a handful of skilled and dedicated breeders who struggled on through the Second World War to feed their dogs and keep the breeding lines intact. This was no mean task with food rationing and privations of wartime Britain.
We can thank this generation for the lack of any serious congenital breed faults which are all too common in other breeds today. As my vet remarks rather ruefully, having not seen my two Irish since last year's inoculations: 'Fit as ticks, are you? Well, there's not a lot to go wrong, is there?'


There are some beautiful dogs about today, smart as paint, stripped and trimmed to a whisker for the show ring. There is also a steady stream of adorable puppies that make wonderful family pets. They have never been over-bred with too many puppies waiting for good homes. Rarely, if ever, does one land up like thousands of other dogs, in care. Nor have they ever been 'farmed', the iniquitous practice of raising puppies entirely for financial gain, which has caused such terrible havoc in some of the most numerous breeds.


There any no disadvantages to the dog-unless you are a control freak who cannot tolerate a dog who has a free spirit, is not naturally obedient, remains playful and energetic into ripe old age, digs holes, chews, is insatiably curious, full of ideas and innovations and is exasperatingly delighted with himself. In an age when convenience is the fashion, conformity the rule and depression almost the norm, I thank God for a dog with his soul intact, a heart warm and generous, that is perfectly adapted to modern living and has the wit and fire of his ancient terrier ancestors.

Here's my pair - Brawn and Bliss - who are getting groomed Tuesday, waaay overdue.


stay tuned for the mid-week photo's.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Premios Dardo questioniro


Dear Alix of Casa Hice has given me the Premios Dardo Award. I'm to fill out this questionaire.

1) What are you wearing right now?
a thong, a pushup bra, my yellow big bird slippers

2) What is your biggest fear?
That Alix will quit giving me awards one day.

3) What was your worst subject in school?
Spanish because I have no idea what Premios Dardo means.

4) Who is the last person you hugged?
George Clooney, my blowup doll.

5) What websites do you visit when you go online?
George Clooney fan sites

6) What was the last item you bought?
DVD - Alix does Dallas

7) If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
That DVD made Dallas look pretty interesting.

8) If you woke up tomorrow and were the opposite sex, what is the first thing you would do and why?
No matter my gender, I'm not going to throw George out of the bed.

9) Has a celebrity's hair cut ever influenced your own hairstyle?
I always wanted the "Patty LaBelle"

10) What is your most embarrassing moment?
Alix was embarrassed at crying in front of her boss, heck, I was balling in front of boss and all the Board members.

11) What was the last movie you watched?
Alix does Dallas: The Fort Worth Files

12) If you had a whole day to yourself with no work, commitments, or interruptions what would you do?
Absolutely nothing

13) If you were to win the Powerball, what would you do with the money (besides invest it)?
I'd use it for bailouts and stimulus.

14) In your opinion, who is the most significant person in history and why?
Thomas Hancock who invented elastic.

do your own mayo? NigerianBreederRusty, NeighborTeesa

I eased back into the world today, went back to work. Went to lunch with the GOG girls {Good Ole Gals}, we always have a lot of laughs.

Certainly appreciate the nice thoughts from everybody about Nougat. Mike even got a call today from a top Nigerian breeder, Rusty Repp of Little Tots Estate, whom we've never met but cetainly know of his reputation. I wish we had called him Monday rather than going to the Vet, we may have been able to pull Nougat through. For $110, the Vet didn't help at all.

Now to the mayo - couple of egg yolks, salt, and some mustard. Slowly, drop by drop, add in the oil. I used safflower.

Andrea, my girlfriend from a couple of counties over, was in town and stopped by so I gave her the dripping-oil job. I was eating pizza while she was doing the dripping. :-)

starting to get creamy

mixed some homemade mayo with hard-boiled eggs

for a sandwich

dessert was brownies, whipped cream, cherries, chocolate sauce. My stomach is made of iron.

Want to brag on my neighbor for a minute. Yesterday was tough with Nougat dying plus I've just been stressed at work. My dear neighbor, Teesa of a Klear Life, sends over, lasanga, tossed salad, and strawberry shortcake. This gal is a great cook so anytime I have the opportunity to dig into to her food it's a thrill. Anyway, I told her that her thoughtfulness sure put a bright light on a dark day. Point is - you sure can't put a price on a wonderful neighbor. She, her husband Bill, and little boy Sam are the best. They've gone to Charlotte tonight to get fingerprinted in preparation for adopting a little girl from China.
Bad news about a girlfriend today, her husband has been having an affair. She's just heartbroken, and they have two kids. Thinking about you D.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Nougat is slowly dying

We don't know if Nougat has Listeriosis or Polioencephalomalcia (Goat Polio). He can no longer stand on his own and acts like his neck is broken (one of the symptoms). We've got him in our house. Earlier, after talking with the Vet, I injected 3cc's of LA-200. Since yesterday afternoon, I have been injecting antibiotics and antiflammatory drugs, Mike just got back with liquid thiamine and I injected 3cc's.

I'm actually home this week because of being stressed out at work and now... Nougat was so tame and loved to be petted. He's only two years old and we just got him and his son, MilkDud, in early Dec '08.

If we don't see any improvement, we'll put Nougat out of his misery this evening.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

AnnaBelle face vs SweetPea face

both give good face

Suzanne at the ChickensInTheRoad has a new baby, AnnaBelle.

SweetPea is still my precious baby.

Nougat, one of our Nigerian bucks, has been sick. I took him to the Vet yesterday, and $110 later, the Doc didn't find anything obvious. Nougat did have a low-grade fever. He's eating, drinking, pooping, and peeing. Nougie is 2 years old and acting like he's a 100. He hides in his house and doesn't want to come out, like he's been spooked, the other goats seem fine. Mike feeds him a super buck diet. Nougie has always been so tame, now he doesn't want us near him, if a chicken moves in an odd way, he jumps like he's scared. We don't have land like y'all do, we have a tall fence around our property, with thick bamboo, not like he was run by a dog/predator or anything. The Doc has us shooting him with an antiflammatory and antibiotic for a few days. Nougie's ears are down and tail is down. This pic was taken a month or so ago when he enjoyed all the attention.
On another subject, beyond my small world from home, I don't comprehend much of anything that goes on especially in the workplace. Not just the Federal government that screws things up but at the State and local levels too. We have META-BOONE which goes around to the community. If I'm griping about work then it's blasting around this small town. No free speech in the workpace.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

I heart eggs and my dawgs

The girls have been busy. For valentine treats today the birds got molasses cookies and a loaf of bread.

I fixed some seasoned hamburger patties and baked potatoes. Mike's valentine treat is going to be a brownie, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and dang I forgot the cherries at the store for the topping. I told Mike for Valentines, I wanted to be waited on hand and foot by him today and he's doing a good job.

Here's our ungroomed pair of Irish Terriers, Bliss and Brawn. They're thieves and stole some of my yarn. Brawn is the one with yarn in his mouth.

BrawnieBoy

Brawn with is no-bark collar on. He can get carried away at times.

Brawn really does have ears.

Bliss on the left and Brawn on the right.
Not pictured is our third dog, 16yr old terrier-mix Henry.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Thursday Goodies

God help the predator that tries to get between me and that face.

I always get a big greeting (they're looking to see if I have any goodies).

They've got me penned, looking for the goodies.

Goldie and Punkin looking for goodies.

Our neighborhood is surrounded by cow pastures.

The bucks playing around.

The goat girls looking.

Nigerian Does - SweetPea, June, and Clara - baby, mama, grandma.

Nigerian Bucks - MilkDud and Nougat - son and father. We couldn't afford MilkDud's mama, Arianna. Check out THAT udder Diane.

Buttin' around.


This Bourbon Red girl laying an egg and hissing at me. I better git!