As soon as I went outside to feed the animals, I knew it was going to be a special morning. The light was gorgeous. The leaves were starting to fall in earnest from the big elm that shades the barnyard and the goats were already out and strolling around, licking up the leaves one by one. Tia and Junie B. were snoozing in the shed, but hopped up and watched as I opened the coop doors. Then I … [Read more...]
The New and Improved Goat Shed
October 23, 2015 by
Well, it took a while but it's finally (mostly) complete. With an El Niño winter forecast—colder and wetter than normal—I wanted the goat shed to be more comfortable for humans (well, me) and beasts. Some improvements were just for the alpacas. I moved the dividing wall on the upper part so the animals would have more room. I made the back door to the south bigger and also enlarged the … [Read more...]
The Look-Alikes
October 16, 2015 by
We recently had a big end-of-summer party and I was showing the animals to some new friends who had never met them. I got the question, "How in the world do you tell all the chickens apart? Some of them look exactly alike. Practically half of them are all black!" Well, I DO have five all black hens. I had never thought about that before, really. They don't look that much alike to me. But I … [Read more...]
Working and Watching
October 8, 2015 by
No getting around it anymore. Fall is definitely here. It was drab and raining on and off for a few days. I know we need the moisture but it certainly affects my personality. I wanted to curl up and hibernate. But then the sun came out to take the chill from the air and I made a beeline to the barnyard to do those winterizing chores I've been putting off all summer. I've been working in the … [Read more...]
Vet Visit Victory
October 1, 2015 by
Well, Doink's yearly vet visit is now history. (Might not be an actual victory, but success doesn't start with a "V" :-) ) While I feel like we're both still recovering a little, it went well. The vet I loved so much from last year graduated and moved away, and I missed her. The new vet and his assistant were both friendly and were great about explaining everything they were doing. The … [Read more...]
The Coyote Patrol
September 23, 2015 by
I was outside around 11am doing some work when I heard Keela's alert bark and saw her as a blur headed towards the back fence. There was a coyote, not 20 feet away. It was a little east of our property, right behind Excellent Next Door Neighbor Joy's house. I note this because she has a nice 4' fence back there, and the same fence separates her yard from the barnyard. Our back fence is … [Read more...]
All Alpacas, All The Time
September 18, 2015 by
Well, I just can't get enough of the new ladies. Here's some scenes from the past week. Tia (the white one) is definitely the most outgoing. Junie is very willing to let her make the first overtures. Junie is more laid back. I sense she is the funny one. I think it is going to be harder to win Tia's affections. Like all alpacas, they are super alert all … [Read more...]
What’s In The Trailer?
September 15, 2015 by
Well, as usual, it's been just plain nuts around here. Yesterday I was looking out the kitchen sink window and scarfing down a perfect peach (there is nothing better than a Colorado Palisade peach—sorry Georgia!) when I saw a hawk swoop down and GRAB LUCY. It took me a split second to get out the door into the backyard, just in time to see Lucy fall out of his talons and scramble for the bushes. … [Read more...]
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