Etsy Earth Team is having a mother’s day giveaway! This is your chance to get some wonderful products from the very talented people in Etsy Earth Team. All the products are made from natural and organic ingredients, or is re/upcycled.

Check it out HERE Make sure to check out every shop and all the items they have to offer.

You never know, this might just be your day! And best of all, it’s FREE!!!

Lately it’s been unseasonably warm, and dry. Today we’re finally getting some rain, and from what I can see there’s even a flood watch in effect. I guess “when it rains, it pours.” I wish I could say I don’t care because the roof is fixed, unfortunately not so. Still work in progress, i.e. trying to get funds for same.

The market today was cancelled due to the weather. I could have gone yesterday, but had already promised to babysit some pregnant does at Rowanwood Farm. The last time I stopped by, one of the does was definitely ready, but she was holding out for “mom” to get home. She birthed 15 minutes within “mom’s” arrival, with beautiful twins.
All the pre-market work still not wasted though. Will be plenty more to come. Besides I was far from done with everything needed to be ready, so all in all…. not too sad it didn’t happen.
Some of the items I was readying doesn’t really ship well, so will have to see what to do about that. Maybe some local stores?

Yesterday we were busy outside before the rain. We had a big wood chip pile that needed to be leveled  out. Thankfully only one. They spread most of it evenly when they were here with the chipper.
I also got some other piles I had made removed, and put in the compost pile. The plan was to make some more piles, but never got around to it. Also wanted to get the lawn mowed one time before the rain, but the blades still needs to be changed, so will have to wait till that’s done. The mower really needs a whole tune-up.

The twins are doing very well. I have opened up during the day now, so everybody can come and go as they please.  They are familiar enough with each other to where there are no issues. Mid next week or next weekend I’ll put up the creep feeder. I went hunting in the hayloft today, and found the perfect solution. They have already started nibbling in mom’s food, so I recon next weekend, at about 2 weeks, I’ll get them started on their feed.

I took some pics this morning after I was done with my morning chores. They are so darn cute. So many things to explore, and they have many babysitters to watch out for them. Take a look at the slideshow, it will put a smile on your face

Horsing around

Now I’m off to take some pics of some new items for sale, do some labeling and then before you know it, it’s barn time again…..

The waiting is finally over! On Wednesday morning Trinity freshened with a set of great twins, doe and buckling. They are absolutely adorable, and mom did, and is doing, a fantastic job with them. The whole birth went very smooth, no issues and very quick. That’s a good thing, as I hate seeing them in agony for hours on end before something happens.
She has plenty milk, and they have been nursing well since they stood up.

I have decided to let them have all the milk for a couple of weeks, then I’ll start milking her once a day. By that time, the milk should be oh so sweet. I haven’t decided whether to do mornings or evenings for milking yet, but still time to decide. The best thing would be mornings, but that means getting up awfully early. Not sure I can stomach that. We’ll see. Then again if I do evenings, there probably won’t be as much milk. Oh the choices….

I have decided to not disbudd them. I’m working on some writings in that regards, with the pro’s and con’s. Should be done shortly. Also trying to re-arrange the whole blog, to more of a web-site with a link to a blog section. Have plenty articles about so many different things.

Needless to say lately there hasn’t been much computer time. Even though I’ve been off work this week, there have been plenty of things to do both outside and inside.
The “tree guys” showed up on Tuesday morning, and I only talked to them Monday early afternoon. You know what that meant: me frantically running around with the chainsaw on Monday afternoon/evening, plus early Tuesday morning, trying to get as much in the piles as possible. I had not finished with all the clean-up. But, all in all I got in most of what I wanted.
What a difference it makes to have things tidied up. Only thing left now is a big pile of wood-chips that I have to spread out. Still thinking on where to best use it. Also need to get rid of some Bayberry bushes and the other sticky crawlers, what is it wild roses or something? I just know I have to jank them with the roots, if not they grow all over and take over the whole place. Plenty of them to do.

Also getting ready for my first market, which is coming up next weekend in connection with celebration of Earth Day. Trying to get everything ready and labelled. Oh how I wish I knew more about computer stuff so the labeling would be much quicker. I’m only going to have one table (6ft) so it’s limited on what I can bring. Will try to do a selection of hand-knitted items, yarn, fiber, some handmade organic body goods, the Eco Green Beans of course, a liquid fertilizer that I just bottled today after brewing for 2 weeks, and some natural cleaning products that I have to make up. Good thing I have tomorrow off as well, and some more days up my sleeve.

In the meantime, here are some pics and link to a video of the twins first day outside. We had them out today, but it was actually too hot for them to stay. With all the downed trees during the storms last year, there is nothing left to make shadowed areas. I need canopies. They stayed outside for half hour or so, and by then they were panting so much I dared not keep them out any longer. Of course hubby tells me the only one stressed out is me.

And the video of their first day outside, here they are 4 days old.

And look how nice and tidy it is outside now.

This is such a special time, when nature starts coming back to life and renewal yet again, with worms, chirping birds and green buds. It won’t be long till we’re enclosed in beautiful green carpet, sprinkled with colors of the rainbow, from flowers and bushes.

In Åsatru, Ostara, the Goddess of fertility is celebrated at the Spring equinox. She was known by the Saxons as Eostre, the Goddess of Spring, from whom we have derived the word Easter. Ostara’s symbols are the hare and the egg.

We’re entering a very busy and exciting time/period in so many ways, and at so many levels.

Trinity is for sure pregnant!!! She should be about 15-16 weeks at this point. We had Whiskey with us for some time, and I believe she was in heat when he arrived. I have 2 dates, about a week apart, where I actually saw a “good breeding”. Being away all day I missed most of the good action I believe. After the second time, neither party was very much interested, so….

It’s been fascinating to follow along on her first pregnancy. Her first time, and my first time with goats. Pretty much goes the same as with sheep, but they’re all different, and it’s always interesting to see the differences.

At this point she has actually started developing a small udder. She has become somewhat shy and withdrawn, and doesn’t like to be “handled”, unless it’s on her terms. She absolutely does not like it when I feel her stomach for movement in the babies. There’s movement alright. When we have our “talks” you can tell she doesn’t quite know what’s going on, and at the same time she does. I know that probably doesn’t make much sense, but it’s the only way I know how to put it. First time experience kinda thing. She has also become extremely bossy with the other two, especially with Tryggur. I guess she needs to make a point of being no. 1, even more so now being pregnant.

I have had plans for a kidding pen, but it seems like she has a different idea on where the pen should be. She has actually started digging a hole/den in one part of the barn (gotta love dirt floor). It’s absolutely not in a convenient spot, but she seems to seek it out when she wants “safe and secure”. In my mind this leaves me with no other choice than going with where she wants to be. It’s her first time, so I figure it’s the best way to go. Just means I have to alter my plans a bit, which is OK. I’ll have to figure something out. I’m also thinking maybe set up both places, my idea and hers. Where I had intended it to be, she also withdraws sometimes when she wants peace and quiet. It’s not going to be a big deal to set up both places. Will try to get that done this weekend so everybody gets used to the pens before the arrival. I don’t want any stress from anybody at that time.

We’re all waiting for the new addition/s with anticipation, and can’t wait to have little ones running around. The boys will be so thrilled, I’m sure. They definitely know something is going on with her, and they are very understanding.