Tag Archives: Pets

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BABIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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TWO!!!!!!

What a surprise!  The first baby was pretty big and Milkshakes struggled a bit, and I struggled to help pull him out.  We were certain that with his size that he was a singleton, but then……..holy cow is that another baby??????  And baby number two slid out with much less effort than his brother.

Two boys – Finnegan (the huge) and his much smaller brother Frodo. They began walking in no time (took about 20 minutes and they were good and sturdy on their feet) and are happily suckling and bleating with their very attentive mama.

It’s been quite a day and I am beat, so I will let the pictures suffice for the rest of the story.

WARNING!  I started documenting the birth before I had to put down the camera and pull out Finn so there are a few graphic pics here.

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Happy Birthday TJ??

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I just realized it’s already April 13, and only because all of my fellow UVa alums have been wishing Thomas Jefferson a “Happy Birthday” today on Facebook.  It unfortunately make me vomit a little bit to think of UVa because it was such a tough time for me, both as a student and as a staffer.  At the same time, I realize just how much happier I am now, and how far I’ve come since then.  I finally feel like I am on the path I have always wanted to be on, but just couldn’t quite get to.  So I promise I won’t UVa bash.  Too badly. It’s pretty great to be able to say I am finally doing what makes me happy and I have lots of friends and supporters to keep me going at it.  Thanks all of you!!!!

April 13 also means we are moving far too quickly toward summer and I still have a lot of landscaping and planting to do.  I need that truckload of dirt so we can get the pool put in before the kids rend us limb from limb.  It’s already been in the 90’s here and our neighbors have their pools open already (as a former New Yorker…..I just find this wrong somehow).

Oh, and we’ll probably get a baby goat tonight because not only is it cold and rainy and windy and miserable out, but LOST is on.

I’ll let you know.

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Glad That’s Over

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Thankfully everything’s been fairly quiet since our misadventure with Jerry.  The fence is fixed and after seeing the chickens get zapped a few times Jerry has regained his respect for it.  Have you ever seen a llama smile? Just get an electrified fence, add one chicken, wait for the pained squawking and witness the hilarious grin it elicits on your llama’s face.  I swear he was laughing at that poor bird.  I haven’t seen anything that funny in a long, long while. I needed that laugh, let me tell you.  And I feel sorry for anyone who spoke to me that day – I was an hysterical mess.  I am sure more than one person thought I was off my rocker, but having an animal get loose like that is something akin to losing a toddler.

Meanwhile, since our goat baby situation continues to drag on and on…..we brought home some babies of a different kind.

Two Silver Laced Wyandotte girls.  We got them from Chicken World – a home and garden center the next town over.  The best part is that they’re guaranteed to be hens or we can exchange them.  I am really, really hoping that won’t be necessary for once. These two girls are being called Penny and Magpie.

Emily is over the moon to have little peeps again.  She just loves them.  We tend to pick on her for it, but it’s also kind of cute that she always has to handle all the chickens.   At home she makes it a point to catch and “baby” each and every chicken at least once a day.  When we were at Susie’s I was drooling over the goats and sheep, Neve was running around with the dogs, and Emily was all about chasing the chickens.  She’s our chicken girl.

I’ve been sewing up a mad storm and loving every second of it.  I’ll share my fruits with y’all soon enough…but not just yet.

I’m also hoping Milkshakes hurries things up already before she bursts.  I want a baby goat already!

For now Ill be happy with lamb.  Cake, that is.

My brother’s lovely girlfriend (hi Eleanor!!!) gave me this great 3D cake mold for Christmas and I finally got the chance to use it.  I could barely get it frosted and covered in coconut before it got devoured, otherwise I might’ve “staged it” a little nicer.  Next time I’d like to try to use some marzipan for the eyes and a little pink nose.

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Jerry’s Outing

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This is one of those days where my reason for this blog become apparent.  Someone out there needs to get some enjoyment or a laugh out of my life, because a lot of the time  it’s all I can do not to go batshit crazy and call the men in white coats to take me away.  Days like today I get to feeling like I have no business even getting out of bed,  let alone raising kids and animals.

Still no baby from Milkshakes.  Still checking every few hours and a few times during the night.  I am pretty tired.  It wasn’t a happy experience, therefore, getting woken up early by pounding on the front door.

There was our lovely neighbor, Jack, who has done so much for us the last few years that we have lived here.  Today wasn’t good news.  Today he woke me up to tell me that Jerry was out in the road.

It seems our electric fence isn’t functioning, and for some reason Jerry (who never, ever goes near that blasted fence) decided to barrel on over it.  My guess is that he saw something like a fox or bobcat or what have you (being that the weather’s quite warm and the predators are out in force) and felt the need to scare it off.  At least, that is what makes the most sense, and makes me feel better about the whole situation.  He was doing his job as a guardian……he just went a little too far.

I also need to tell myself he wouldn’t have jumped it if the electric was on.

I found him grazing in the yard across the street and coaxed him almost all the way back into our yard with a scoop of food.

Then he bolted.  I don’t know why.  And after that, nothing would convimce him to come back.

I panicked hard.  He was running fast, and we’re not that far from a major road.  I was also worried about some of the neighbors.  Most people don’t give a second thought to a roaming dog (we have plenty of those in these parts); even a snarling, garbage bag – destroying, pooping all over your garden and chasing your kids  dog doesn’t for some reason seem to concern people the way a harmless, non – biting llama does. I didn’t want anyone shooting him.

I called Susie to get the livestock vet’s number.  They told me to call Animal Control.  I also called a local alpaca farmer. Animal Control showed up with our other neighbor, who happens to work for the sheriff.  Then his wife and kids came out to help.

Two hours and a lot of panic,  running and some alpaca – herding advice later, we had herded him back inside the fence line, where he planted himself and slept hard for several hours.

Then I fixed as much of the downed fence as I could and found that the entire electrical system is shorted out and it’s beyond my knowledge to fix it.  So I went inside, cried a bit in the shower, and found out the dog had peed all over the white playroom carpet.

Just another day in paradise.

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Shudder – Inducing

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Seriously the spider situation right now is out of hand.  I know I have a healthier fear of them than most people, but still.  This whole “90 degrees in the first week of April” thing is certainly not helping.  If it were chillier (like it is supposed to be!) I doubt we’d have so many of them.

Since Milkshakes shows all signs of readiness I have been checking her every few hours or so.  At night it has been a challenge – bugs galore – but tonight I couldn’t even get out the back door due to the spider and beetle condos that have sprung up all over the backdoor.  Then, once I’ve fought my way out to the barn (with gooseflesh and chills still in full effect) I have to squash whatever beast has taken up residence on the door so I can get in to see my goat.  I won’t even tell you the horrors my flashlight has seen on the ground around the barn and in the corners.  I can’t even think about it.  If I didn’t have animals out there I’d be wearing a white spacesuit and blasting the place with Sevin dust.

As for the mommy to be, she has been pawing the ground, panting, pacing, laying on her side with her legs out in awkward positions, and chewing at her sides.  The ligaments at her tailbone are all but “gone” and she’s all bagged up in the udder.  Every expert agrees that these are all good signs of imminent delivery……except these things  have all been true since Friday at least.

I think she just wants to make me crazy.

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DONE!!!!

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Our shed (or “Milkshakes’ House” as Oona says) is done.  Finally.  Took all weekend, but we were pushing hard because Milkshakes keep fooling us with signs of being in labor, which she then shakes off and goes about her business as though she wasn’t just looking for all the world as if she were about to kid.

It was hot this weekend, too.  Much more so than we are used to this early in the year.  I hope we don’t  go straight into an oppressively hot summer.

It was “Three Chicken Butt” hot out there.  I wish I could keep them out of Milkshakes and Jerry’s water because they make such a mess of it.

A girl and her goat.

We had loads of “help” all day.

When the build was complete I got the honor of spending an entire day painting it.

And filling it with lots of yummy hay for bedding and eating.

It’s all ready for the baby to arrive, any time now.  I’ve been sleeping in the living room with the window open so I can hear any noises, and I’ve been checking her every few hours.  We put a light in there with a remote control so I don’t have to wander out in the dark.  Someone needs to tell the bees and spiders that this new house is not for them, though.  Last night I went out at about 3 am to check on things and couldn’t get in because there was a giant spider on the door.  Every time I tried to smoosh him he got away.  Finally I just let the darn goat out to check her and muttered some choice four letter words at the ugly 8 legged beast that got away.  During the day it’s the wasps.  They’re terrible.

So cross your fingers everything goes well and that it happens soon!!!! I need a nap!  After painting all day I came in and made empanadas and strawberry shortcake.

My feet hurt so bad I couldn’t sleep.  Ugh!!! (but so worth it!!!)

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Starting Something Completely New

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I think many of you know we’ve about had it with the school system here.  Not that our two have had any major problems, (aside from the school harassing us and our doctor the whole time Emily was hospitalized a few years ago) but what we’ve seen and heard doesn’t sit well.  Budget cuts have forced then to abandon many programs, No Child Left Behind means that at all levels they are teaching solely to the end of the year tests (and those are no great fount of knowledge, I assure you) , and in the upper schools the administration has a tendency to treat the kids and parents rather badly. 

W’e’ve thought long and hard about the options, researched every angle thoroughly and at the end of the day we are confident we are making the right choice.  Next year, we are homeschooling.  We’ll take it one year at a time and see how things go.  On the plus side for me?  I’ll actually get to make use of that darned degree I got that cost me an arm and a leg.  The plus side for my kids?  I know how they each learn and can make sure they are taught accordingly. I don’t think they realize yet that I will expect more of them than their public school teachers have, but they are excited nonetheless.  No more bus bullies to worry about.  They’ll still have Girl Scouts and Book Club so they will have plenty of play time with other kids, and I am feeling better having made the decision (it doesn’t hurt that I know at least 3 other homeschooing families within 3 miles – 2 in our very neighborhood). 

Yes!  I mentioned Book Club!  I have joined two of them.  One is with a group of other women meeting once a month and one is with that same group but also with our daughters.  It has been not only a fabulous way of branching out into the community and getting to know new people, but also – the books!  I would never have thought of a lot of the books that have been chosen (I tend to get into reading ruts where I devour only one genre for a few years) but I am totally digging the selections.  If you love fiction, you MUST read The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.  Hands down the best book I have read in a long, long time. And for those young adults in your life?  The Wanderer by Sharon Creech is excellent.  In fact, if Milkshakes gives birth to a girl she will be named Sophie in honor of the protagonist.

As for little (huge) Miss Milkshakes, she is getting closer and closer and fatter and fatter.  Susie’s coming this week to help out with vaccines and whatnot.  Hooray!

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While Oona’s Away….

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…..I  can actually accomplish something!

Last week Paul’s job took him to NYC.  Since his parents are just a short train – ride away from his jobsite he took Oona with him and she got to play with her grandparents and aunt all week.  And I got soooo much done!

The house got a good scrubbing, the bedrooms and bathrooms got much needed de-cluttering and I made several articles of clothing for the absent little booger.

What amazes me is that I had my washer and dryer going solidly the week straight.  I even stayed up late several nights to get laundy folded and put away.  And yet despite this, there is still a mountain of untouched dirty laundry in the hampers.  I don’t know where it comes from.

I loved that I got to watch whatever I wanted on tv and listen to my ipod whenever I wanted without everyone begging me to put Lady Gaga back on (and, incidentally, Oona kept asking her grandparents to put on some Poker Face for her).  I watched the entire first season of Destination Truth and a full night of Alaska – themed shows on Discovery (Alaska’s Scariest Mysteries, Wild Alaska, Dangerous Alaska…..).  All the while I was sewing and cutting and measuring and sewing some more.

I bought some downloadable pdf patterns on etsy from a seller called Heidi&Finn. If your’e into sewing childrens’ clothes, these are wonderful.

3 ruffled tank tops

and an adorable little yoga suit, that I am thrilled with.  Everything fits Oona perfectly.

I also whipped out a wrap dress for her.

It was a great week of getting enough sleep for once, having a reliably clean house and no diapers to change.  But I did miss my little snuggle – buddy, and I have been enjoying how lovey dovey she has been since she’s been home – even if she did manage to destroy the house 2.3 seconds after she walked in the door.

The goat shed still is not complete – but there is quite a lot of progress to report.  We got half the floor down (and then decided to double the size – hooray!) and there is a framed out wall up – we would have had the whole thing done over the weekend but we needed more lumber and stupid Lowe’s wouldn’t deliver on Sunday.  (Not that I am bitter or anything.  But if my goat gives birth before that thing is done………)

It’s going to be great – better than I thought – when we finish it up this week.  Like I said, we are doubling it’s original size and it is tall enough for us to walk in, and for Jerry the Llama to comfortably move around in.  It will end up more like a mini barn than a small shed. I’ll also be able to secure Jerry in there so I can get his hooves clipped and his fleece sheared and his vaccines administered.

Egg production is almost into full swing again – we are getting about 4 eggs a day out of 11 hens.  Four of our girls have yet to start laying, and I am hoping to double that daily number by the time they do.   We’ve gotten lots of requests for fresh eggs, and I am also hoping to be able to do some barter with them.

My arugula and lettuce are sprouting outside in the garden boxes, as are my sugar snap peas.  Inside I have 2 types of tomatoes started, several herbs and some flowers.  In a couple of short weeks I’ll be able to plant my fingerling potato tubers and scarlet runner beans in the ground.

Here’s hoping for a fruitful summer growing and agriculture season!

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Aebelskiver Sunday

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Sundays here are something special. They are Aebelskiver Sundays. That means a big mound of small, fluffy, filled pancake puffs for brunch.

Start with some batter, add some yummy blueberry pie filling and top with more batter (today I also did chocolate batter with white chocolate pudding for the filling).

Let ’em simmer for a few minutes before flipping them over, and then……

Yumminess!  Personally I like to add a dusting of confectioner’s sugar as well.

Next time you’re in the neighborhood on a Sunday, come by and have a taste.  You’ll want to have Aebelskiver Sundays, too.  Just come before Pippa gets too hungry.  Last weekend that damn dog ate about 20 of them right off the kitchen counter.  And you wonder why I am always threatening to make her an outdoor dog.

In other news……last night was the Girl Scout’s annual Father – Daughter Dance, so Neve and Emily got all gussied up.

I spent an hour again this year curling Neve’s hair.  She didn’t complain about looking like George Washington this time, though, thank goodness!

And she doesn’t.  Just pretty little disgustingly photogenic Neve.

And Emily, who got her hair and makeup done by Maddie and Brittney (Maddie’s bud)  this year.

Proud papa.  He who swore he could build me a goat shed and has yet to do so.  Actually, he’s made it quite clear that it’s all up to me (who cannot use a power tool or do math for anything). Milkshakes will probably give birth on the cold, hard ground at this point.  Or in the house.  Maybe I’ll set her up in the living room.

I can’t complain about him  today though because he is taking my little sweet Oona obstacle with him this week to his mother’s house.

She wanted to go to the dance, too.

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Gratuitous Goat and Sheep Post

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We did something fun and wonderful this afternoon.  We hopped over to Juniper Moon Farm and met Shepherd Susie and the flock.

She had two angora goat kids born on Sunday and since we live so close (and I’ve been pestering her with lots of goat birthing questions) she invited us all over to see them.

Their names are Gonzo and Camilla, and little Mr. Gonzo is about the snuggliest little thing you’ll ever see.

Camilla is a little smaller and a little more attached to her mama, so she wasn’t as pliable in human hands as her brother.

Sabine welcomed us and chased Neve all around.  Neve looked a bit frightened, but on the way home said she wished Sabine were her dog.

I love this goat – his name is Roquefort. Like the cheese.  Is he not totally handsome?

Sheep!  My girls made it hard to get any great pics – I was keeping one eye on them the whole time since I think they were approaching “fun overload” with all those animals (Emily kept chasing all the chickens around) and of course I still need a good camera.   But I looooove the sheep.  If I had some pasture, I’d be all over some lambs this year.  Especially after I saw her Baby Doll sheep, Daisy.  Daisy is not in this picture, but she is the cutest of all cute sheep ever and I want like 3 dozen of her.

And Susie?  Could not have been nicer.  I got some great goat info and I feel better knowing she’s just around the corner to help out if we run into trouble with Milkshakes.  We also met Lauria and Erin – those of you who read the Juniper Moon Farm blog will know who they are.

It was such a cool thing that I went from drooling over her blog last year when she was still on Martha’s Vineyard to actually having her live right down the road from us.  It really is a small world after all.

And I am very glad it is.

And here’s a shout out to Marie Grace because I am pretty sure I heard about Susie’s blog from her.