BooneDocksWilcox

rug-hooking continues

2012-01-27T07:34:00.000-08:00

waiting for my rug-hook frame to arrive so I can finish this one

so I started the Appalachian Mountains

Frame tilts to any position.

Frame rotates a full 360°.

Approx. 12" x 14" work area inside frame.

Stainless steel gripper-strips allow for easy positioning or repositioning of pattern.

Ball and wing nuts mechanism allows for ease of adjustment.

Quality workmanship.

Choice Red Oak with durable urethane satin finish.

goats and rug hooking

2012-01-22T11:18:00.000-08:00

Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats

SweetPea, Cherry, Tulip, Marigold

Last year, we sold Gabbi (black, SweetPea's daughter) and Pansy (black and white, Tulip's daughter) to a family but the family had health issues to arise, and in the best interests of the goats, the family felt the 4 goats (including Pappy and Beau) should come back to us. Also, they said that Gabbi never seemed to adjust there. She never was content to go out and just "pick" at her new home. She's back to her ole self here.

See the front width on Tulip? Dairy goat judges love it.
The last 2 years, Tulip has kidded with quads,
she is due approx April 1st.

Haven't bred Cali this year yet. She produces beautiful bucks but has never given us a doeling. We'll breed her approx April 1st for Fall Fairs, of course, I want a red girl just like her.

BarbaraJean had to get in the picture.

Did I tell ya I knitted myself a scarf? WaLa! very warm.

Haven't finished this hook rug yet because it has outgrown the hoop, and very thick, I need one of those expensive stands.

Started a new one.
I've found out that I don't like to rug hook heads or letters.
This head is awful, I spent hours on it, but will
have to tear it out and try again.
One good thing about rug hooking,

you can rip out a section you don't

like and start over.

Below are idea's for future hooked rugs.
I want to do the layered mountain look.
We live in the Blue Ridge Mountains,

and this is our visual around here.
Think I need different shades of blue.
Stay tuned.

Rug-Hooked Goat, Taco Soup, Snow

2012-01-15T09:28:00.000-08:00

It's interesting what my vision was for my first hook-rug effort and now what I seeing. She was supposed to look like a superb show-quality Nigerian Dwarf doe, but yet she's turning out to look more like one of my Irish Terrier's.

Taco Soup recipe
1 pound ground meat (I use turkey and chuck)
1 large onion, chopped
1 envelope taco seasoning mix
1 (16 ounce) can pinto beans
... 1 (16 ounce) can black beans
1 (16 ounce) can dark-red kidney beans
1 (16 ounce) can whole kernel corn
1 (16 ounce) can Zesty-Chili-Style tomatoes
1 can of diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 envelope Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix

Brown meat and onions. Add taco seasoning mix into meat. Add all other ingredients without draining into the large pot. Top with tortilla chips, sour cream, and zesty cheese. Makes a big pot, good stuff on a winter's day.

This is the top of our driveway/goat path before descending down a slope to the road. BarbaraJean and Jack think they hear something.

looking down on the inlaws house

Friday the 13th

2012-01-13T17:17:00.000-08:00

cold, windy, and snowy

and the Pyreenes love it

the girls in the barn

the bucks all huddled together

Franklin went to bed before dark.

I've started on my hook rug.

Rug Hooking Class

2012-01-10T10:19:00.000-08:00

At the Western Watauga Community Center on Mondays from 10AM-2PM, a rug hooking class is offered. Although Sandy couldn't go, we have been very interested in learning this tradition perfected and adopted on its own, by the North Americans. I practiced with the ladies for a bit, learned what supplies I needed, and took some photo's of their work. Of course, I want to get started on a goat pattern, so stay tuned.

"Hooking" was a craft of poverty, rugmakers put to use whatever materials were available. Antique hooked rugs were created on burlap after 1850 because burlap was free as long as one used OLD GRAIN AND FEED BAGS. Every and any scrap of fiber that was no longer usable as clothing was put into rugs. In the United States, yarn was not a fiber of choice if one did not have access to thrums. Yarn was too precious, and had to be saved for knitting and weaving. Instead the tradition of using scraps of fabric evolved.

Traditional Rug Hooking is a craft where rugs are made by pulling loops of yarn or fabric through a stiff woven base such as burlap, linen, or rug warp. The loops are pulled through the backing material by using a crochet hook mounted in a handle (usually wood) for leverage.

The rug hooker, with her right hand above the pattern, and the material scraps in her left hand underneath, pushed the hook down through the burlap, catching it on the cloth strip and drawing it back up to form a loop on the top of the burlap.

Traditional Styles
Fine Hooked Rugs with thinner strips of material and a variety of shading techniques are used.
Primitive Hooked Rugs use wider strips of material and generally little shading is involved.
Tools for Traditional Styles

The tools are the same in either of these forms.

Here is a list of the basic equipment needed:

1. A hand hook - to form a loop pile on the surface of the backing material

2. A Frame - to hold the base material in place for hooking, there are many different types of frames from very simple needlepoint frames to large floor frames

3. Scissors - These are normally small scissors with a bent handle that allow the "hooker" to cut the material very cleanly

4. Cutter and Blades - Used to make strips of wool (or other material) from larger pieces. The thinner the strip of wool the finer the finished product will be.

5. Rug Pattern - The pattern is drawn on the Backing Material and is used as a guideline for hooking. The backing material is usually either burlap, monk's cloth or Linen.

6. Wool Material - Wool can normally be purchased by the yard of the piece and can be purchased in many different colors. You can also use old wool clothing for this and more experienced "hookers" will often custom dye their wool for a specific project.

Latch Hooking

Latch hooking is what most people think of when someone mentions rug hooking, but it is very different than the other methods of making rugs. Latch Hooking is a newer style of rug making than Traditionally hooked rugs. It uses pre-cut yarn strips, one strip per knot, and forms an open, knotted pile on the surface of the rug. The backing material weave is typically larger than that of Traditional or Punch hooked backing material.

retreads, PDGA meeting

2012-01-08T18:24:00.000-08:00

Talk about recycling, aren't they pretty? I saw this photo posted on FaceBook. I'm also thinking old tires could make good chicken nests, put some cedar shavings in there and...

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Mike disbudded ButterCup over at ButterMilk Acres.
Don and Sandy are still working on building their cabin.

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We drove to Weaverville today,
for a Piedmont Dairy Goat Association meeting,
2 big items
2012 Spring Show and
2013 ADGA Convention in Asheville

I Love Redheads

2011-12-31T11:28:00.000-08:00

We have 2 roosters
Bruiser and Cruiser
Cruiser is the boss.
We also have Bourbon RED Turkey's.

Tulip and her daughter, Cassie.
The tongue from the left
is also from one of her daughters, MariGold.

Cali and Ginger are not bred yet,
will wait until February, for the Fall Fairs.

Was trying to breed Rhubi to Merlot
but she hasn't appeared to come in heat.

Not related, I love redheads.

2 of Tulip's dughters, littermate sisters, Holly and Pansy.

potato bag & Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats

2011-12-26T15:14:00.000-08:00

This is the advertisement for the potato bag. I bought three, one for myself, and two as gifts. I have enjoyed it. Also, I used potatoes from the bag to make potato salad.
HANDCRAFTED AT HORSE CREEK FARM AND DESIGN. BAKED POTATO*CORN*TAMALE BAG AND SO MUCH MORE! POTATO*CORN*TAMALE BAGS' ARE DESIGNED WITH A FLAP TO HELP RETAIN THE MOISTURE IN. THIS HELPS PREVENT THE POTATOES FROM DRYING OUT! MEASURES 9 1/2" X 10 1/2" YOUR POTATOES WILL BE LIGHT AND FLUFFY. THE INSIDE IS WELL DONE; YET MOIST. WHILE THE SKIN REMAINS TENDER!

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Today, photo's from around our farm.

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the girls

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the boys

I don't want to breed GingerBreadGirl until Feb 2012

don't think I'll have any trouble finding a suitor

Christmas Day

2011-12-25T14:25:00.000-08:00

Mike's oldest sister, Sherry, lovin' on BJ.

Sherry lovin' on JackBadger.

Mike's cousin, Brandon Aldridge,
lives in NEW YORK CITY,
is a dress designer for Betsy Johnson.
Although I beg Brandon to be on
Project Runway,
he says it's a career killer.

This aerial shot of property
was taken in the mid 80's.
The inlaws live near the road, and Mike and I
live up at the red barn,

Back in those days, the barn housed horses.
Mike and Tina rode in Shows.

Tina on MyMy

Mike on Big Shadow.

Mike and I used to ride Apache and Comanche
all over the Blue Ridge Parkway.

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photo's from Christmas Day

Brandon, Connor, Ann

Virginia

Tina and Demetre

Chad & Allison

EvaVerleen & Bernice

crazy Wade

photo of their calendar photo
Amber, Gracie, Garrick, Ellary

Chad, Allison, Wade, Bob

Sandy's dog, Kane
Kane and Jack are big buddies,

they go on long hikes together

Santa and Mrs. Claus

after the big meal, Mike and James

Charles

Chad, Connor, Brandon

Demetre

opening presents

2011-12-24T17:50:00.000-08:00

at the inlaws

Nora and Gracie, Daniel in background

Jason, Ellary, Daniel

Ellary and her Grandma, Sandy. Mike's middle sister.

Nephew Savva on floor. Mike's oldest sister, Sherry and his mother Mary.

Jason and Kendra holding Ellary.
Amber, Gracie and Ellary's mother.

Sherry is Daniel's Grandmother.

Charles is Sherry's husband.

Mike's Dad, James, in the blue.

Savva, Garrick, Mary, Tina.
Tina is the mother of Savva and Demetre.
Sandy is the mother of Garrick and Jason.

Sherry is the mother of Scott and Jeremy.

Savva is on the phone with Scott.

Tina, Mike's youngest sister.

Savva is on the far right.

and a very Merry Christmas to you too.

We're now sitting here watching

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

Hook Rug, Crock-Pot Roast

2011-12-20T09:16:00.000-08:00

Have you ever hooked a rug? I just bought a kit, fairly elementary shapes, hoping I can figure out what to do. Any advice would be welcomed.

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Here it is December the 20th, and its 52 degrees outside. We've had it rough the last few winters so I'm grateful for the mild weather so far, and worry about the people and animals suffering through a blizzard right now.
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I haven't tried this recipe yet but am told by more than one person that it turns out fabulous.

Crock Pot Roast

o 3 lb roast
o 2 packages dry brown gravy mix
o 2 packages dried Italian salad dressing mix
o 1 package dry ranch dressing mix
o 1 cup (good drinking) red wine
o 1 cup water

Place beef roast in crock pot. Mix the dried mixes together in a bowl and sprinkle over the roast. Pour the water and wine around the roast, and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
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I haven't been blogging much but I do still enjoy it. I'll have a few days off around the holidays, looking forward to taking photo's around our farm so please stay tuned. We have 22 Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats and I'm way behind on getting some good photo's of each of them.

Dec 11, 2011 Charles & Sherry Wed

2011-12-11T15:02:00.000-08:00

Mike's oldest sister, Sherry, got married to Charles today. They've been together a long time but just getting around to tying the knot.

Nora and Gracie

Charles, Sherry, and Pastor Tim Coffey
who is Sherry's second cousin.

James and Mary are great-grandparents and have four children
Mike, Sherry, Sandy, and Tina.
My parents have passed and I was an only child,

far left is Kelly, Scott's girlfriend.
Sherry has two sons, Scott and Jeremy.

The oldest children, the boy and the girl,
are Sherry's grandchildren, Jeremy's kids,
Daniel and Nora.
Sherry is the Great Aunt to Gracie, the little girl in the pink.

Mike's middle sister, Sandy.
Sandy is the grandmother to Gracie and Ellery.
Ruth is Mike's Aunt.

The next wedding will be Stephanie and Saava's, summer of 2012.
Saava is Mike and Sandy's nephew.

Demetre and Saava are brothers. Both are wrestlers.
Their father, George, is Greek.
Their mother, Tina, is Mike's youngest sister.

The "spread" was really good,
prepared by the gals that work with Sherry at ASU.

Bobby Gragg and Demetre

A.J., Bailey (Charles' daughter), and Charles

Cabbage Casserole

2011-12-04T14:52:00.000-08:00

I made a good cabbage casserole today, easy too.

2 cans cream of mushroom (or 1 big can)
1 small cabbage - chopped
1 small onion
1/2 cup mayonaise
1 cup grated cheese
2 sleeves Ritz crackers (I used french-fried onions 'cause it's what I had on hand)
Preheat oven at 350°F.
Chop cabbage. Put in a casserole dish. In a separate bowl, combine cream of mushroom soup, mayonnaise and onion; pour over top of cabbage. the crumbled Ritz crackers and cheese sprinkle over top of casserole. Bake for about 40 minutes until bubbly and brown.
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I would like this version too.
http://poofycheeks.blogspot.com/2011/08/carols-cabbage-casserole.html
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Our socialized livestock-gaurdian dogs. They work well but we can't keep 'em in the fencing, no matter how much fence reinforcing we do. We've been told, to keep 'em in we'd have to run electric wires along the bottom and top of our existing fencing.

I certainly don't mind 'em being out and about on our 30 acres but don't want 'em to get shot on someone else's property.

just wish these were goats

2011-12-02T13:06:00.000-08:00

but they're darling sheep, click on the link
http://www.brooksbrothers.com/aholidaymiracle/aholidaymiracle.tem

$$ spent on Black Friday

2011-11-25T11:42:00.000-08:00

$$ spent on Black Friday was hay for the goats. Winters can be long, snowy, and cold up here. We now have enough hay stored to get us through next June - 100 bales. We picked up another 33 bales from our hay man this morning.

bales coming up the conveyer to the hayloft

Mike was reinforcing fences. Our livestock guardian dogs,
Jack and BarbaraJean,

basically sleep all day and work all night,

Carmalee & Buttermilk

2011-11-19T18:35:00.000-08:00

Mike's Aunt, Carmalee Ellis, died died this week. Today we visited the gravesite.

Next to Carm and her husband "Fats,"
are his Grandparents, Roy and Gladys.
at one time, I named two new hens
Gladys and Floy,
(Mike's paternal Grandmother was Floy).

Don't know Doug Yarber but like his headstone.

I keep telling Mike, I want to be cremated
and scatter my ashes on our farm
especially near our dog, Henry
that's buried here.
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The cabin at Buttermilk Acres is coming along.

Carbonara, and Goats Pics

2011-11-13T11:04:00.000-08:00

Carbonara

Recipe Excerpted from JAMIE AT HOME by Jamie Oliver.

The photo above is my version. The second time I made it, I used broccoli and I didn't have the bacon mixed in, but sprinkled on top so the bacon would be crunchy when eaten.
The photo below is Jamie's. Try it, just delicious. If you have your own fresh eggs and goats milk available, even better!
http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/jamie-oliver/beautiful-zucchini-carbonara-recipe/index.html

Ingredients

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 medium green and yellow zucchini
1 pound penne
4 large free-range or organic egg yolks
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 good handfuls freshly grated Parmesan
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil
12 thick slices pancetta or lean bacon, cut into chunky pieces
A small bunch fresh thyme, leaves picked and chopped, flowers reserved (if you can get hold of flowering thyme)

Carbonara is a classic pasta sauce made with cream, bacon and Parmesan and is absolutely delicious. Try to buy the best ingredients you can, as that's what really helps to make this dish amazing. I'm using a flowering variegated variety of thyme but normal thyme is fine to use. When it comes to the type of pasta, you can serve carbonara with spaghetti or linguine, but I've been told by Italian mammas (who I don't argue with!) that penne is the original, so that's what I'm using in this recipe.
Before you start cooking, it's important to get yourself a very large pan, or use a high-sided roasting pan so you can give the pasta a good toss.
Put a large pan of salted water on to boil. Halve and then quarter any larger zucchini lengthwise. Cut out and discard any fluffy middle bits, and slice the zucchini at an angle into pieces roughly the same size and shape as the penne. Smaller zucchini can simply be sliced finely. Your water will now be boiling, so add the penne to the pan and cook according to the package instructions.
To make your creamy carbonara sauce, put the egg yolks into a bowl, add the cream and half the Parmesan, and mix together with a fork. Season lightly with salt and pepper and set aside.

Heat a very large frying pan (a 14-inch is a good start - every house should have one!), add a good splash of olive oil and fry the pancetta or bacon until dark brown and crisp. Add the zucchini slices and 2 big pinches of black pepper, not just to season but to give it a bit of a kick. Sprinkle in the thyme leaves, give everything a stir, so the zucchini is coated with all the lovely bacon-flavored oil, and fry until they start to turn lightly golden and have softened slightly.
It's very important to get this next bit right or your carbonara could end up ruined. You need to work quickly. When the pasta is cooked, drain it, reserving a little of the cooking water. Immediately, toss the pasta in the pan with the zucchini, bacon and lovely flavors, then remove from the heat and add a ladleful of the reserved cooking water and your creamy sauce. Stir together quickly. (No more cooking now, otherwise you'll scramble the eggs.) Get everyone around the table, ready to eat straightaway. While you're tossing the pasta and sauce, sprinkle in the rest of the Parmesan and a little more of the cooking water if needed, to give you a silky and shiny sauce. Taste quickly for seasoning. If you've managed to get any zucchini flowers, tear them over the top, then serve and eat immediately, as the sauce can become thick and stodgy if left too long.
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Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats

he's gorgeous, and sweet too.

Peach seems to be back to her ole self.

Sunday - checking in

2011-11-06T17:30:00.000-08:00

for folks that have trouble commenting, it's BLOGGER, I've given up trying to comment on other blogs, too frustrating.
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Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats
After a long, hard week at the office, this weekend is just what the doctor ordered - beautiful fall weather, hanging with the goats, sleeping in, and eatin' good.
Home-Sweet-Home. You're looking down on the BooneDocksWilcox homestead, we don't have much in material possessions but we love this land.

Mike leading the way for the goat girls and pyreenes pair.

red Cali

Peach is still recovering. I notice she eats slowly on tender plants.
Don't know if her tongue is working normally.

You see the Blue Ridge in the background?

Is SweetPea knocked up? She certainly isn't supposed to be.

Cherry, our new girl, hasn't stopped eating since she arrived here.

If she is pregnant, she is so grounded! I don't even know who the baby Daddy would be for registering the kids. I certainly don't want winter babies. To register the kids, I'd have to get DNA tests done $$$.
SweetPea was my first love in goats, she's spoiled rotten, and always been trouble. Remember the $700 C-section 2 years ago?

Mike's little neice says, "Ba-Ba-Jean."

I was racking leaves, the wash tub was to put in the leaves, and pull the tub over to the compost pile JACK.

Sunny Sunday

2011-10-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

The reason I haven't been blogging more often is because BLOGGER is not user friendly compared to FaceBook. If you want to join me on FaceBook = Joanna BooneDocks Wilcox.
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My photo's for this writeup didn't come out in the order that I hoped. I'd rearrange 'em but I'm mad it Blogger right now.
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This one of our bucks, red Merlot.

It's breeding time for Spring Shows.

Peach is very sick, she is getting large doses of penicillan. Don't know if she will recover or not. She likely has Listeria.

Last weekend we were in Raleigh at the NC State Fair Dairy Goat Show. We did fairly well and had a good time. No, Peach, who was healthy but too fat to walk the runway, didn't go and stayed home with her Mama, SweetPea.

see that beautiful table-top back?

Peach showed slight improvement today, she ate a little, and drank a little, but her prognosis is not good.

in BooneDocksWilcox Holler

2011-10-16T18:30:00.000-07:00

As a noun, holler has the specific meaning in the Appalachians of "a small valley between mountains"

Cali and Pied Guinea's

If I was a goat, I'd appreciate living in BooneDocksWilcox Holler,
beautiful mountainsides to browse on,
and having two big Great Pyrenees dogs watching over me.

FireBall taking a nap.

SweetPea always steals my chair.

Remember FireBall's brother? and Gabbi's three white bucklings?
Here is "Tater" and "Chip" at their new home.
Their family dearly loves them.

Poor Holly and MariGold, we tattooed their ears today. The green ink will eventually wear off but the girls say, not soon enough!"
In the show ring, the registration papers and their ears have to match.

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Yesterday, 10/15/11, we drove 4rs one way to Benson, NC,
where I40 East meets I95 South,
Cherry was delivered to us from New Hampshire,

the family continued on I95 South to DisneyWorld.

Oct 8 Saturday

2011-10-08T18:22:00.000-07:00

Our outstanding livestock-gaurdian dogs
one-eyed JackBadger and BarbaraJean.

The leaf-lookers flocked in here this weekend.
"No spring or summer beauty has such grace,
as I have seen in one Autumnal face."
John Donne.

GingerBreadGirl's Bully
and one of Gabbi's white bucklings
went to a new home in Spruce Pine, NC today.
The family had big plans to spoil them rotten.

We had a beautiful sunset this evening,
but my cheapo camera didn't do it justice.

Gabbi's Boys and LowCarb Lasagna

2011-09-25T07:46:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday evening, Gabbi freshened with 3 bucklings. Her TN family is having a hospital stay,so she is back staying with us for a couple of weeks.

Now we have 5 young bucklings running around and Jack couldn't be happier.

Jack lays down and hopes the babies come over to him.

If the babies walk away, he begs them to come back.

Tennessee Sandy suggested we go on a lowcarb diet. Sandy and I also work together now and usually can go to lunch together so encouraging and comparing notes makes it fun.

This morning I decided to make a lowcarb lasagna. I have cooked gound beef as the bottom layer and added cauliflower. I did not blanche the cauliflower because I like to keep some of the texture. The marinara sauce only has 4 carbs.

I now have added ricotta cheese and the marinara sauce.

Mozzarella and garlic and herbs.

Mike has now had 3 helpings and says it is an award-winning, Iron-Chef worthy dish. And yet, I forgot the put in the PARMESEAN!!!

FireBall and Bully arrived

2011-09-17T14:09:00.000-07:00

Today, September 17th,

BooneDocksWilcox FireBall arrived first

and then his big brother,

BooneDocksWilcox BullFire "Bully"

Dam = Kids Corral GingerBreadGirl

Sire = Gypsy Moon Moon Fire

strong Rosasharn bloodlines

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Other exciting news, brother-inlaw, Charles, fixed the motor on the hay conveyer (hadn't worked for years). Here is 79-yr-old father-inlaw, James, loading the bales while Mike was catching 'em in the hayloft.

Thank you Charles for fixing that old motor, and thank you James for helping get the bales put away.

There were spies watching as the bales went up.

Quickly and easily, all done.

Mtn State Fair-Fletcher, NC-Sept 9 &10

2011-09-13T08:51:00.000-07:00

Our Tulip's Girl and her daughters.

Karen Stanger and Logan Corn rolling in the hay.

Friday nights, when we have shows at the Fletcher Ag Center, are spent at Acropolis.

Duane and Carol Lindblom of Kids Corral

My funny buddy, Paula Hinzman, of Hooah Hill Farm in Ga.

Teena Bagwell of Gypsy Moon Farm milking a doe.

John Nelson of J-Nels milking a doe.

Bob and Karen Stanger

Ziggy Forster, and his visiting mother, of Sunrise Farm.

Kassandra of Sunrise Farm

The Moore's and their cute daughters.

Logan Corn of Tonto's Barn

Logan takes home a winner.

Peggy Harris, Evin Evans, and Pat.

Walter Sanchez showing one of his Saanen does.

Ziggy showing one of his Alpines.

This drawings by Madison and Kassandra were hilarious until they drew one of you.

Crowes Nest

Paula Crowe showing one of her LaMancha's.

our Tulip's Girl

remembering HonkyTonk and Tootsie

2011-09-08T10:53:00.000-07:00

first read this post
http://boonedockswilcox.blogspot.com/2011/01/yellow-wolf-farm.html

and today, I received a nice gift in the mail from Helen Baldwin of Lucy and Ethel.
(I can't ever keep up if Helen is Lucy or Ethel). The Baldwin's were that nice family one county over. HonkyTonk and Tootsie lived with them for a while on their spring-fed pond. Unfortunately, Tootsie was killed by a predator as she was setting on some eggs. Those pair of geese gave many of us cherished memories. The music CD was made by "Nana" and handed down to grandaughter, Katie, on her wedding day.

Thank you Helen, I've been listening to that beautiful music, reading your letter, and looking over the photo's. I will make sure Stacey see's the CD cover, and as I am, she will be tickled.
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On Oct 8th, YellowWolfFarm Stacey is having an open house/farm. I've got the date marked on the calendar, come out! I'm sooo looking forward to seeing HonkyTonk again, I hear he has a steady girlfriend and presides over a whole flock.

photo's from the weekend

2011-09-05T17:51:00.000-07:00

We didn't labor too hard over the 3-day Labor-Day weekend. One reason, it's been raining Sunday and Monday.
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Stopped by to visit with Carol and Duane of Kids Corral. Here Duane is holding sweet Chestnut (Bourbon-Red-Turkey hen they got from us).*************************************
Most evenings, we take our goats for an evening walk. MariGold is out front.

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We went to the 2nd Annual Pig Roast at Sunrise Farm. Here, Ziggy is cutting up the juicy homegrown pig.

Dot - The Zionville Farmers Market is at the corner of Old 421 and Mabel School Rd, please stop by, they need the foot traffic.

Hurricane, Irene, recliner, nestbox, goats

2011-08-27T12:42:00.000-07:00

We've been watching the Irene updates today. Although we're in North Carolina, we're within walking distance to Tennessee, up in the Appalachian Mountains. Overcast and cool up here today.

This morning, we bought a $10 recliner at a Yard Sale, in fact, I'm sitting in it as I write this. You see in the photo background what we did with my old recliner.

The 12-hole nestbox set us back $50 from a Collectibles-and-Antique store in Trade, TN but the Pyreenes keep stealing the eggs from our chicken coop, so I'll try this. I filled each hole with pine shavings.

No photo's, but we went to the Zionville Farmer's Market this morning. We bought some heirloom tomatoes, watermelon, corn ad baked goods from Irene.

GingerBreadGirl, in the lower left, is due to freshen on Sept 17th.

Cassie is a Tulip 2010 daughter, and Holly and MariGold are 2011 daughters. Upitty is over at Donna's getting weaned from Tulip, then he'll come back to live with the bucklings, Moose and Merlot.

MariGold is loaded with personality, and a real lap goat. If I stop stroking her, she's pawing at my arm, that she wants more.

Carol and Duane [Kids Corral] are in town at a conference, and we're gonna meet 'em in Blowing Rock for dinner.

Saturday - making the rounds

2011-08-20T13:43:00.000-07:00

Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats

Mike and I arrive at Sprucey Lane Farm this morning with their two new bucks, and here is the welcoming committee - Donna, Kaitlin, Ben and Maggie.

We always like to visit with Pansy, Gabbi, and O'Pea too (all formerly of BooneDocksWilcox).

After eating at The Tributary in Mountain City, our usual Saturday lunch spot, we went to a new Farmer's Market in Zionsville.

IreneRene sells her baked goods, and she has two of our wethers - Clarence and Grits. I'm hoping Donna starts selling her knitted items.

Piedmont Dairy Goat Association

2011-08-14T19:48:00.000-07:00

potluck lunch, meeting, auction, and tour at Ripshin Goat Dairy

in a blackberry vibe

2011-08-13T17:48:00.000-07:00

Where I'm from, blackberries are berries that grow on vines/bushes. Mike and I visited with Gabbi, Pansy, and O'Pea at their Mountain City, TN home today. Here they are pictured with their Mama, Donna. The goats are nibbling on her blackberry vines.

Pansy talking to her Daddy, Greg.

Donna shows me how large her blackberries are, and they're good too.

Mike eating the blackberries.

Mike holding down a branch so the goats can eat the leaves.

Pansy's dark black has turned to a chocolate color. Pansy has her own blog:
http://pansysponderings.blogspot.com/

Gabbi is due with Bordeaux babies on Sept 17th. She is already exhibiting a very nice udder.

Maggie and O'Pea

Gabbi checking out the horses stall.

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Also, Rodney Underwood is trying to start a Farmers Market on his property in Zionsville, NC. He built this playset for his 3 sons.

and built this chicken coop for his chickens.

Rodney is pictured in the middle, he does this type of woodworking for a living. http://www.rodneyunderwood.com/

We bought a blackberry cake from a vendor that bought a pair of our wethers last year, Clarence and Grits. Tonight, Rodney is gonna show a movie on the side of his barn.

Sunday Sights From Home

2011-08-07T18:42:00.000-07:00

Hope you had a beautiful weather day like we did.

We've got a MommieBird with two newborn chicks. I dearly love the interaction of animal Mommies and their babies.

We took a walk around on our land this morning. The Irish Terriers are leashed because we don't trust them around poultry.

The apple trees have produced well this summer.

http://boonedockswilcox.weebly.com/ web

Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats

Back at the barn, Tulip and 3 of her kids.

On June 17 2011, Tulip had quads but we sold Pansy to my friend, Donna. Check out:
http://pansysponderings.blogspot.com/

Although Tulip's 3 kids are still nursing her, once a day, we bottle-feed the kids - 1) this gives Tulip a break, and 2) it tames the kids so they're easy for us to handle.

Use Pritchard Nipples.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/calf-feeders-nursing/nipples-pritchard-2-per-pack-2229252

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Upitty decided to take on (wethered) Bruno in a game of head butting.

Later, we noticed that Upitty wasn't putting weight on his right-rear leg. :-( We hope it will heal after some rest.

Jack conquers the hill

2011-08-01T11:38:00.000-07:00

Can ya tell Jack is proud of himself?

We had 2 loads of gravel delivered this morning, we had one big pile of it at the barn, Jack and BarbaraJean played "King-of-the-Hill" for awhile, and Jack finally won.

We never expected to enjoy these Great Pyrs so much, they've got lots of personality, and Jack does a great job at protecting.

Nephew Demetre showed up with the tractor, and helped to smooth out the gravel. Jack's "hill" is now gone.

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Rule #1 - If you have a pretty-hanging-strawberry basket, and goats, DO NOT set the basket where the goats can get to it.

pickin' apples and coolin' off

2011-07-28T18:21:00.000-07:00

We have several apple trees on our property. In fact, on Tuesday evening, I saw a coyote eating an apple. Tonight, we collected a couple of buckets of apples, however, we kept topping off the buckets as the goats and Great Pyrs kept stealing the apples and eating them.

Jack is 6 months old now and already an exceptional livestock-guardian dog. Jury is still out on 5-month old BarbaraJean, she likes to be goofy.

Sure wish I had a better camera, I'm reallying missing my Panasonic Lumix.

That trough is placed next to the barn, to catch rain water from the tin roof, to be drinking water for the animals, not there for big lugs to lay in and get the water dirty. The temps are in the high 80's this week which is quite warm for our area. For those of you with Great Pyrs, do they love the water like mine do?

We parted with some goats this week.

2011-07-23T19:29:00.000-07:00

We had to say goodbye to some of our sweet Nigerian goats this week, always sad to see our babies go.

Wednesday: Pixie, AppalPie, and Lucy were sold to Lisa in Winston-Salem, NC. Lisa says the girls are fitting in well with her Nigerian herd.

Saturday: Gabbi, Pansy, O'Pea, Beau, and Moon Fire "Pappy" were sold to our new friends at SpruceyLaneFarm, Donna and Greg, in Mountain City, TN.

Donna and Pansy. Pansy is only 5 weeks old but Donna will continue to bottle feed Pansy for several weeks.

Maggie, Donna's Great Pyr, has been needing a job so Maggie is being introduced to her new responsibilities. Gabbi in the background, is due to have "Bordy" babies on Sept 17th.

O'Pea and Gabbi are SweetPea babies.

Donna let me know that the goats now have a nightlight, a fan, and a radio in the barn.

Donna also has a couple of horses.

Donna, Pansy, and Mike.

Maggie

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Back at BooneDocksWilcox, Gypsy Moon Merlot

Daughter Peach and SweetPea is her mother

Peach

Up-N-Up like his "ba-ba." Jack looks on.

Up-N-Up

Cali doesn't like goat shows so we haven't pushed the issue. Twice she has been bred to Cahoot but no doeling yet, just boys. She's the mother of Bordeaux.

Looking at the chicken coop, in the rear of the barn, we're catching rain water in the trough.

Gypsy Moon Persian Ghost "Moose"

Friday bits and pieces

2011-07-15T08:07:00.000-07:00

Whew, I just don't have the time to devote to a full-time job away from home BUT we need the income so I keep pushing on, but my passion is on our hobby farm.

I, rather BarbaraJean, broke my camera. Getting out of my truck, she was greeting me and her big head got tangled in the strap - camera crashing into the gravel, the gravel won.

Yesterday, I went to WalMart and bought a real cheapo Kodak. For the first pics, I was at Buttermilk Acres last night as they were moving the goats. Photo's turned out OK and the light was low.

That's their neighbor Anthony who rode in the trailer down the road holding the goats in the panels, Sandy in the green shirt, and Don did the driving.

I'm also posting for Buttermilk Acres. Sandy and Don are on a big adventure. They bought 10 acres and now going to build a house. But first, they are preparing for all their animals to live there, erecting housing and fencing. When the barn burnt down at the rental farmhouse, Sandy's camera was inside.

Thursday July 7th, Mike was in a truck accident. Was pouring the rain in Mountain City, Tn (close to home thank goodness), Mike's truck hydroplaned across trafffic. The truck went over an embankment, landing in a creek, totaling the truck, Mike crawled out on the passenger side. One car couldn't avoid him, and the driver broke his arm. Could have been much, much worse. Mike has some painful ribs, he's still moving gingerly but improving.

JBBJ

2011-07-08T11:30:00.000-07:00

I rarely catch them being still and laying around together.

as I leave to go to work this Thursday morning

2011-07-07T10:55:00.000-07:00

Our dear one-eyed livestock-guardian dog, JackBadger, is on the job. He's 6 months old now.

Its' all I can do emotionally, to drive away in the mornings to go to work, just want to hang with my critters.

Poor ole BarbaraJean, we hope she is going to mature into a livestock-guardian dog rather than doing the goofy things she does such as sitting with her nose in the fence. She's almost 5 months old now.

Saturday July 2nd Pics

2011-07-03T10:19:00.001-07:00

check out Buttermilk Acres

2011-07-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

Formerly http://springlakefarm.blogspot.com/ be sure to check out Buttermilk Acres. http://buttermilkacres.blogspot.com/ Relocated from Athens, GA, Sandy and Don are starting over on 10 acres in Trade, TN. Living in a popup camper while building a house on top of a foundation where a house once stood. Follow their journey.

baby pics and another video

2011-06-25T05:15:00.000-07:00

Video of the babies

2011-06-21T17:23:00.000-07:00

Tulip has Quads!

2011-06-18T19:20:00.000-07:00

On Friday evening June 17th,

Tulip delivered some beautiful quads
3 girls and 1 boy.

In the next photo's they are minutes old.
HollyHock

small buckling, Upitty

Pansy

MariGold

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These photo's were taken Saturday June 18th.

Merlot, Moose, and Tulip due

2011-06-16T18:46:00.000-07:00

New buckling, Merlot. See how naturally uphill he is, the judges love that.

We have two new buckings, Moose and Merlot.

Livestock-guardian dog, JackBadger, not quite 5 months old.

Looking back at our house and barn.

JackBadger and BarbaraJean.

Our barn is divided into 3 sections - does, buckings, and bucks.

SweetPea

Mike checking on the blackbery patch, he says it will be another 2 or 3weeks until they're ready.

Rhode-Island-Red hen has some babies.

Tulip is due this Saturday June 18th, can't wait.

Fletcher NC (PDGA) Show June 10-12, 2011

2011-06-15T06:47:00.000-07:00

Photo's from the Shelby Dairy Goat Show

2011-06-06T07:17:00.000-07:00

JB & BJ, lawnmowers, Clemson

2011-05-20T19:18:00.000-07:00

Look at ou livestock-guardian dogs, JackBadger and BarbaraJean, now. He's 4 months old and she's 3 month's old now. Although still puppyish, they're showing some signs of working.

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We have 19 lawnmowers.

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A few photo's from last weekend's goat show at Clemson University in South Carolina. GingerBreadGirl Rhubarb, and MilkDud did real well.

Milkstands for Sale

2011-05-09T10:16:00.000-07:00

Brunello and O'Pea

We have hens hatching biddies, more photo's to come.

GingerBreadGirl, who won her 4yr-old milking class last month in South Carolina. Look at that gorgeous udder!

Over at SpringLakeFarm, Mike, Anthony, and Don.

Now, for the milkstands. For $80 apiece, Don is constructing very-sturdy stanchions for standard-size goats and dwarves. Don petting one of his Nubian girls.

Chili-Cornbread Salad

2011-05-05T16:42:00.000-07:00

I tried a new recipe tonight. Before I fed this to Mike, I went out on the deck and took this photo. Mike said the chili cornbread salad was great. I liked it too but thought the cornbread got lost in it and turned around and baked another pan of cornbread to put on the side.

Here is the recipe if you're interested. Read the reviews at this site.

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Chili-Corn-Bread-Salad

Ingredients
1 package (8-1/2 ounces) corn bread/muffin mix
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies, undrained
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
Pinch rubbed sage
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix
2 cans (15 ounces each) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
2 cans (15-1/4 ounces each) whole kernel corn, drained
3 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup chopped green pepper (I used red pepper)
1 cup chopped green onions
10 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

Directions
Prepare corn bread batter according to package directions. Stir in chilies, cumin, oregano and sage. Spread in a greased 8-in. square baking pan. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool.
In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream and dressing mix; set aside. Crumble half of the corn bread into a 13-in. x 9-in. dish. Layer with half of the beans, mayonnaise mixture, corn, tomatoes, green pepper, onions, bacon and cheese. Repeat layers (dish will be very full). Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Yield: 12 servings.

enjoying some glorious weather

2011-04-30T17:44:00.000-07:00

Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats
Bourbon Red Turkeys
Cuckoo Marans
Pied Guineas
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Up here in the Appalachian Mountains we have been enjoying some glorious weather - blue skies, sunshine, highs in the 60's, lows in the 40's.

Here's Rhubarb napping and sunbathing.

Bucks under the apple tree.

We bought some goat food today and then stopped and got some human food. I love the Chicken-Salad wraps at Arby's.

Grilled Chicken and Pecan Salad Wrap - Tender chunks of grilled chicken breast tossed with crunchy pecans, crisp apples, celery, juicy red grapes and green leaf lettuce. Prepared by hand and snuggled inside our new whole grain flatbread wrap.

Nephew Daniel helped Mike with unloading the hay.

He was moving the bales in the loft to make space.

June had QUADS

2011-04-27T12:46:00.000-07:00

Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats

Lucy "blue eyes" One of June's daughters.

Tulip is pregnant? right?

JBBJ - having a great puppyhood.

Remember June? bred to Cahoot?
at her new home, she delivered QUADS! 3 girls and 1 buck
The little dark runt doe is brown eyed and will have horns.
The buckling is blue eyed and polled
The big doe is the one with more white is blue eyed and polled
The second doe is blue eyed and polled

the odds of getting all that would be unbelievable, way to go June!

Easter Sunday Photo's

2011-04-24T18:39:00.000-07:00

This was our Easter Sunday, how was yours?

The Easter Bunny brought us two goats.

Pixie climbed a tree.

We got two new girls,

2011-04-23T18:55:00.000-07:00

Nigerian Dwarf DairyGoats
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a mother and daughter pair, from Firestone Creek Farm. We're gonna call this little girl, RosePetal.

Goats at Firestone Creek Farm.

We witnessed a chicken hen babysitting some kittens while the Mama Cat was away.

RosePetal - Firestone Creek HWD Casablanca DOB=4/12/10

Tulip - AGS East Rivendell HK Tulip's Girl *D AR2300 DOB=6/30/06

Tulip appears to be pregnant and the sire of the kids would be
Rosasharn CH Uproar +*S. We will be SO thrilled if that's how it works out. She would be due to kid on 6/18/11.

the above photo's = ©Cheryle Moore-Smith
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JackBadger and BarbaraJean wrestle constantly with each other.

we got milk! we got a milker!

2011-04-21T06:43:00.000-07:00

Mike is so proud of his GingerBreadGirl, she is producing well over a quart a day. The measuring cup that he is holding is a 4-cup and that's what we got last night, and we're milking her twice a day. Now, the standard-sized goat folks would laugh at us, but for our Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats, it's very good.

Mike said that I failed to tell y'all that GingerBreadGirl WON her 4yr-old Senior-Doe class last Saturday. GBG is his baby.

From each milking session, the Great Pyrenees pups get some goats milk, and the chickens just wait from the 'em to raise their heads from the buckets so they can get some too.

The other goats discovered that Ginger was getting some sweet feed
- Katie bar the door!

We "may" be adding this sweet, red surprise to our herd.
We "may" be driving to Sanford, NC on Saturday to pick her up.