Bachelor Pad

Last Fall we set up a pasture for the rams in order to separate them for breeding purposes. We knew they would be wintering with the girls again, but for a few months, they needed their own space.

And with that, we made one of our first big newbie mistakes: electric fencing will not hold back a ram in rut. There's a few week's span that I have marked out on my calandar that indicates "unknown father" to lambs born then. Grumble, grumble. They won't be able to be registered, but they'll still have great fleeces! One thing is nice though, I'm completely certain Knox settled Peridot, and that's one of my favorite pairings. 

With our little mess-up behind us, we've been plotting out a permanent housing situation for the rams (which we should have done earlier, I know!). Last weekend we spent two long, gloriously beautiful days outside putting up the fencing. And this weekend (which was NOT a gloriously beautiful weekend), finished up with putting up a small house, trimming hooves, giving shots and moving the boys in.

Some work shots from last weekend:

The boys setting up the fence.

Matt looking cool.

The dogs got in on the fun (Axel is getting really big!).

Kat waved from the tractor (with Brendan driving) like she was a queen in a parade!

Just had to have a shot proving I can drive a tractor.

This is my favorite photo of the day. Kat and Matt eyeing eachother up: Matthew carting posts and Kat about to throw a snowball.

Another shot just to prove that I know how to do some manual labor. Really, these are photos for my family in Texas; I'm not sure they believe I do all this!

It's all good until someone slips in the mud puddle!

The next photos are from this past weekend (3/16/13).

Knox, Mike and Brendan demonstrating our ram-moving method. It worked pretty well. We even used the bucket to hold them down while we did hooves and shots.

The boys enjoyed the buffet in the new pen.

Knox inspecting the house.

Willie and Johnny giving it the go-over.

Update: this morning (3/18/13), I checked on the boys and they've knocked a hole in the side of their house. Perfect timing with this nice, new blanket of snow we got today. 

They're idiots; what else can I say?

Computers, Goats and Hurricanes

I got a laptop! I know it's been a while since I've blogged, but I find it hard to get some time to sneak into my back studio to write at my desktop, especially with Kat not napping as much as she has in the past. But now, I have no excuse! I can write where ever, when ever I'd like.

Now I have some catching up to do: I've had a nice little mini-vacation with Mike to the Fingerlakes for our 10th anniversary. I started my first learn to knit class; the ladies are doing very well with their hats. We've survived Sandy, Halloween and now Thanksgiving!

Over the next few days/weeks, I'll put up some of the more memorable moments from the past two months.

Hurricane Sandy made us scramble to get ready for Winter a little earlier than we had planned. At the top of the list was a more secure house for the goats so that they could get completely out of the wind.

Despite all the problems we've had with parasite infestations, emergency vet calls, and finding out that these guys are bucks and not wethers, we love the goats! They're are so friendly and fun which is ideal unless you're trying to work in their space.

 Poor Mike had way more help than he needed.

But look how cute they are!

KixDunnChecking out their new digs.

The final house

Sandy ended up bringing us some rain and a little wind, but we've had worse plain 'ol thunderstorms. But now we're all set for winter (which is good because today we had snow!).