Henri', wall heater, doggie door

I suppose he is really a sheep? but he reminded me of Henry, my scruffy 16yr old dog. I walked into the grocery store today and there was Henri', looking for a home, only $15, I usually don't buy something unless it has good use and is really needed but I rationalized that he'd be a wonderful snuggler so there he is, waiting on the bed for me tonight.

When I was young, my maternal grandmother made the most darling stuffed animals, my bed was full of 'em - Poogie the rabbit, Jill the bear, Arthur the monkey were the most memorable.
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Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats and Pearl Guinea's. Bucks on the far side, does on this side, and guinea's all around. SweetPea was sunning in her chair.


I love the white tails feathers on Early, Cuckoo Marans Rooster.


Blue Ridge Energies came

and installed an 18,000 btu propane wall heater in our sunroom (our glorified dog house). Wow, it works great and that's with it turned down on #1 on the cool nights.

while the fella's were here, I had 'em move our tank to another spot, they pulled it out with a winch.

Blissi, our female Irish Terrier of the pair (n0, we don't breed our dogs, they're fixed)

Henry, our 16yr old Humane Society special

the sunroom has a doggie door

Brawn is the left butt, Blissi is the right butt

time change, chili, barn at night, TodayShow

Actual daylight is getting shorter and now standard time, what a drag. I like it when its warm, dry, and stays light until 9 o'clock at night, and so do my farm animals. Its dark at 5PM and Mike usually doesn't get home until after dark, so I had all the watering and feeding farm chores tonight.
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Sunday evening, I talked to two high-school girlfriends on the phone,which I hadn't talked to either one of them in many years, sometime I may make a trip to my home town of Raleigh, and we'll get together.
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I made a big batch of chili this weekend and we're still eating it tonight. I used some ground turkey in it too.


these waxed bags are good for storing cheese


How did I go from a clean kitchen to this so quickly? and I'm my only dishwasher. Mike is pretty good about helping around the house but I wouldn't put him to washing dishes though; water would be slung from the ceiling to the remote control.

Sunday afternoon, Mike thought he had "plugged all the holes," nailed boards, hung netting, etc., in our old barn that would keep the guinea's from getting in the hayloft. Entering the barn Sunday night, first we checked on the goats girls.

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Goats - We're in bed, what are they doing here?

Clara - I'm not turning around, I'm asleep.

the chickens and turkeys - What are they doing here? we're in bed. I wish she'd turn off that flash.

Now, into the hayloft. Dang, the guinea's still found their way in here. Their poops aren't as bad as the chickens and turkeys but still, we don't want the mess in the hayloft. Back to work Mike.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/33586361#33586361
I have been following Lynn's weight loss/fitness blog and this morning she was on the Today Show, what an inspiration for folks trying to get in shape. http://lynnsweigh.blogspot.com/

Trick - Pirate Franklin. Treat - FiberPlusBar

Franklin says he's going out partying tonight.

We don't have to worry about trick-or-treaters, we're isolated up a steep, rugged road. Our local mall always has a big Halloween bash for the young kids anyway.
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If you haven't tried 'em, these Fiber Plus Bars are goood, and 9 g's of fiber and 120 cals' per bar. I've just had the Chocolate Chip ones so far.

On the diet since Sept 12th, , I've lost 15lbs and Mike has lost 19lbs. In some ways it hasn't been so hard and in other ways, not much fun, I don't like having to think about it, and for me to lose weight, I have to stay focused on what and how much is going in my mouth. Mike says he is starting to feel so spry, when he loses another 19lbs, he's going partying with Franklin.
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Please keep voting for Suzanne at Chickens in Road, she really needs the job.
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9:00PM Update on Halloween Night - Mike and I are watching the 1941 version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on TCM, a horror film starring Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman, and Lana Turner. Spooky.

ChickensInTheRoad needs your vote

Suzanne McMinn at Chickens in the Road needs your daily vote. Please go to her site, and it only takes 5 seconds of your time to vote. She really needs the job that could come from your vote. http://suzannemcminn.com/blog/

swine-flu cookies, goat butter, Cahoot & Clara

A local blogger, GNUMOON, made this swine-flu cookies, check out the snot on the noses. Her baked items are always so original, and the baking is just a hobby for her.


Over at Easy Living the Hard Way she's been making goat butter, I want to try it but have to get a milk separator like hers. Oh, I'd love to try goat butter, 'cause our goats milk is so tasty.



Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats

Cahoot


Isn't he a beaut?

Cahoot and Clara went on a date but she didn't even let him get to first base.

I think she likes him though, stay tuned.

June and Caliente were checking Cahoot out too. (Those water buckets are very clean on the inside).

We're still selling eggs at our tiny High Country Farmers Market.

Dr. Oz says - Measure your waist and aim small: Ideal is 32.5 inches or less for women and 35 inches or less for men. Oh my, I've got a looong way to go.

bucks, etc

My girlfriend, Dot, relayed a true story from her eye doctor. He`was explaining to a young-adult patient about a dry-eye prescription -

"the prescription for drops comes in trays of 30 small plastic containers with twist tops (sorta like flea drops) one for each day. There is enough for 2 days but if you lay it down the drops run out. The drug companies want you to throw them away each day so they will make more money. So just put a clothes pin on the bottom to stand it up until the next day."

The patient asked, "what's a clothes pin?"
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Pearl Guinea


I realize that this may be only a face a mother could love, just know that I could hug and kiss on him forever more.
Franklin, Bourbon Red Tom


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I live in an obese state, North Carolina. Give Mike and I a few months, and we're hoping to reduce that percentage in NC.

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Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats. I read something the other day - you're only a true goat lover if you have bucks, so true. We love our boys. We have 5 goat males. 2 wethers, and 3 bucks.

Cahoot Calhoun (will never be for sale)

Sundance and Cubby are the two wethers. We would sell these two together if the right home came along, otherwise, they'll stay right here.

People always ask me: Aren't bucks mean? Don't the bucks stink? No and no. Our boys are very gentle, and we pet/handle them often. Photo below is Dud, with his front legs on my chair, wanting me to rub his head. He has an unique odor but nothing like stink, smells sort of like an ammonia. Our boys eat a medicated feed, maybe that keeps Dud from smelling real bad, but I don't know. I know he lives in a very clean environment, Mike keeps the stalls very clean. I keep the water buckets clean and filled with fresh water.

MilkDud is just a big baby.

Below photo's, I was sitting in a chair, Cahoot and Deets came over and laid down next to where I was sitting.

Deets is peeking out from under the work table.

meet Purkey

Purkey has come to live with us.


I told Franklin that he and Purkey are related, but Franklin shrugged and said, "that ain't no kin of mine."


Purkey has made the rounds getting to know everybody.

Franklin said, "looks like it belongs in the garden."

Early is keeping his distance.

Clara had to do a double take.

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One of Dr Oz's rules - Eat the same things every day. People who minimize food choices lose more weight. In 6 weeks, I've lost 11 lbs off this old, stubborn body. I'm getting better results now that I'm counting 1,2oo calories per day.

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I don't have bone spurs afterall. A reliable sign of impingement syndrome is a sharp pain when you try to reach into your back pocket. As the condition worsens, the discomfort increases. The joint may become stiffer. Sometimes a catching sensation is felt when you lower your arm. Weakness and inability to raise the arm may indicate that the rotator cuff tendons are actually torn. Trying to get my jacket sleeve off is torture. The Doc gave me an injection, but so far, I don't feel any results.