Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Shelby Goat Show Pics

Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats
we'll soon be adding some red to our herd:
Rhubarb, Rosebud, Red Holstein
***************************************
Duane, "the buck," is higher in the withers than in the rump, not good :-)


BEST OF BUCK went to the LaMancha on the far right


However, Abe, owned by Kids Corral, got his championship finished.


Jenna and Nicole from CapraKoza and Carol of Kids Corral


All of us Nigerian breeders have a good time hanging together at the shows.










second from left, John Nelson of J-Nels
and with blond hair, Teena Bagwell of GypsyMoon
Karen of End-O-Way and Judy of J-Nels
Dianne of DoubleDurango made her sign, she can make anything

Friday, June 11, 2010

various Friday pics

the bucklings


If I can scrape up the $$$, will be buying her. She's red which I love and has some bloodlines I'm after.


I call this Daisy Lane of course, located above our barn.










would scare you to know the lengths I'd go to protect my Franklin

Mike fixing up another goat stall, raising the floor, in our old barn. this is the doe side, then through a gate is the buckling section, then through another gate is the buck section.
does = 2 stalls
bucklings = 1 stall
bucks = 2 stalls
and each have their own fenced land (I would say "pasture" but these are more lush, rolling, hills than I think of pasture land).
Headed out to another goat show so brace yourself for more goat-show pics.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

SweetPea Salad

I love sweet peas so much, I named one of my darling goats after 'em. I'm gonna name one of her babies - SweetTea - if that tells ya anything.


Recipe
big bag of sweet peas (thawed but not cooked)
sweet onion (minced)
pickle relish (a scoop)
pimentos (a scoop)
sharp cheddar cheese (approx 6oz)
mayo (I used Kraft but make ya some homemade mayo out of farm-fresh eggs)
Ranch dressing
Hormel real bacon bits

in a bowl, minced onion, pickle relish, and pimentos.

I microwaved the peas a bit to thaw 'em out but they are still cold. add in the marinated relish. stir.


a couple dollops of mayo and squirt some ranch dressing on top. add in the cubed cheese.


on a serving, top with the Hormel bacon bits.


we had sweet-pea salad and fried rice for supper.

Monday, June 7, 2010

2010 Summer in the Mountains Dairy Goat Show

There's Mike in th middle actually handling for CapraKoza because Jenna and Nicole had winners in three classes! and that doe Mike has won the Senior Champioship.

We've enjoyed showing our goats at the Shows, however, we've been having the best time with the other goat breeders especially the Nigerian -breeder folks. Most everyone else is much more experienced than us too, so we've been learning a lot.

Teena Bagwell of Gypsy Moon leaning over her goat
Mike Rudolph of CapraKoza behind her


MerryMary




The Judge evaluating Nicole's and Teena's does.

Photo's from the weekend show in Asheville, NC

The Goat Shows that we have been going to are Dairy Goats, not Meat Goats. The Dairy Breeds are:
LaMancha
Nigerian (the only mini dairy goat)
Saanen
Olberhalsi
Nubian
Alpine (French)
Toggenburg

Because we have Nigerians, that's the breed I'm photographing but the other dairy breeds are represented at the Dairy Shows too.
I'd like for J-Nels to sell me Zita but no luck yet.


to the far right, that's our TootleLu, Logan bought her, and Toot will be roommates with his CocoaBean








Logan Corn of Tonto's Barn receives instuctions from the judge.











We [BooneDocksWilcox] own Beau and Cahoot and Caribou lives at Kids Corral.


Abe of Kids Corral


Duane and Caribou

Duane and Caribou


Tonto of Tonto's Barn
This upcoming weekend - Shelby. That will be it until the Fall Shows.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Life is Good

Yes, I’m still here, I just can’t make myself get in the house until about dark. Up here in Boone, we have delightful summers. Yeah, it gets warm if you’re out in the sun but if you keep to the shade, there’s usually a nice breeze blowing. Very few folks up here have A/C, I confess, I like air conditioning because it extracts the humidity out of the air.

After I get home from work, I spray on some pest repellant, the flies find me very appealing, and then I enjoy spending some time with the farm animals. On the goat girl and poultry side of the barn, I open up their gate and they are free to pick and frolic around on the mountainous land. Sometimes I can spot the goat girls and other times they disappear behind trees and brush.

While they’re gone, except that Franklin my Bourbon Red Turkey Tom follows me around. I usually scrub a few water buckets, refill them with water, and return the filled buckets to their places. I love fresh, clean water from the water hose, spraying into the buckets, always a highlight of my day. I don’t want anybody else performing my water-bucket chores.

In the peacefulness, GOD and me spend a little time chatting about things.

As soon as the goat girls hear the sound of Mike’s freight truck parking at my inlaws, they come running “maa, maa”, Mike walks up the hill to home approximately 6:30PM, we sit and talk for a few minutes, then get to feeding everyone and putting them to bed by locking the barn and coop.

Then, Mike likes for the Irish Terriers, Bliss and Brawn, to have a big run. They have a doggie door out of the sunroom to a fenced area but Mike likes for them to be able to run the countryside for a few minutes because they are high-energy dogs. Except for my inlaws below us, we don’t have any neighbors. Our 17yr old dog, Henry, slowly sniffs around and then lays down by our side.

Approximately 7:45PM, I’m starving, so I go in to make us some dinner while Mike waits to round up the dogs. It’s getting late by the time I get the kitchen cleaned up, and ‘bout time for me to jump in the bed.

Flies and all, I LOVE summer, and never want it to end.

Cindy over at AJ Oaks gave me this award, a great gal, we think a lot alike. We're on opposite coasts but would love to meet her face-to-face one day.

Here's the questions from the award:

1. What would your perfect day consist of?

Peace on Earth. 65 degrees, breeze blowing, blue skies. No animal abuse or neglect.

2. How would you describe yourself if you were an item of clothing?

a denim jumper with large front pockets. (cause that's what I always wear)

3. What hobbies are you currently working on?

I have many interests, some I get to do and others are on hold until I retire from my full-time job.

4. Walking in the woods in wellies or bare foot on the beach?

Walking in the woods with BOOTS on. Wellies is not a word used ‘round here. Enjoying the wildlife and seeing Mother Natures beauty. I broke my ankle while wearing a pair of slippery Crocs.

5. Have you ever hugged or sang to a tree?

please refer to me as a tree hugger

6. Growing your own veggies or nipping to the supermarket?

If I had time, growing my own but unfortunately I mostly buy from the grocery store and farmers market.

7. Have you found anyone exciting in your family tree?

Not really. My crazy Aunt Weezie said we were related to the Coca-Cola folks and we were gypped out of millions but I’m not so sure.

8. Slap up meal in a posh restaurant or fish ‘n’ chips from the wrapper?

Never eaten in a posh restaurant. Do they bring ya enough food? Fish –n –chips in a wrapper sounds pretty good.

9. Which element do you most resonate with, Earth, Air, Fire or water?

Earth for sure, however, I love water but not like going to the beach exactly but just love fresh running water.

10. Do you believe in fairy’s?

I named one of my goats – Pixie.