A little indulgence

Sometimes I get the craving for something new, special, an indulgence. I look for that special delight that says to me "only you as an adult will truly appreciate what I am." Today it took the form of almost-liquid chocolate in my favorite mug.
The recipe:
Thick Italian Hot Chocolate
http://www.livelovepasta.com/2011/11/thick-italian-hot-chocolate/

Cow

Lavendar bred by Olson's reg. holstein bull Oct. 24
due Aug. 4

Tulip bred by Olson's reg. holstein bull Nov. 30
due Sept. 10

Countdown time again

Spot has done his job well, and now it is time to count down to spring kids!

Maime bred Oct. 8 due March 5
Chris bred Oct. 8 due March 5
Shadw bred Oct. 9 due March 6
Abbie bred Oct. 13 due March 10
Jane bred Oct. 13 due March 10
Alice bred Oct. 23 due March 20
Byrd bred Oct. 24 due March 21
Pr. B bred Oct. 24 due March 21
Patsy bred Oct. 27 due March 24
Rosie bred Oct. 28 due March 25
Bell bred Nov. 3 due April 1

Florence bred Jan. 10 due June 8
Blue Bird bred Jan. 12 due June 10
Mocha bred Jan. 13 due June 11
Java bred Jan. 13 due June 11
Dot bred Jan. 15 due June 13

Hay!

My husband mowing OUR hay. Man, he looks good on that tractor! I think there is a song about that in the country genre....

winters' end still

It may no longer be winter, it is not even spring any more, but winter is still hanging on in my head. Maybe it is from the overly wet spring we just had that is still dampening our summer. Perhaps it is the remaining destruction left from winter, still visible every day. Or possibly it stems from the regrets left from decisions that had to be made. Whatever the reason, I need a calf.

Question:

What happened next?

What's going on in there?!?!

dizzy

too much
overwhelming
no break in sight
i can not crack
need to rest
relaxation
hmmmm...

oh no...

trouble in the filter
gotta find out who put that there

Why...

Why do you do this to me? My attempt to eloquently describe you for a potential buyer makes me remember why I liked you in the first place. Also, my brother was right when he said the cheapest vehicle is the one you already own. At this rate though we will be overrun with goats in a few years. Shadow, for now you are safe.

finger lickin'

what I would say if this were not public....

smelling spring

I smell spring. Yes I do. What a wonderful thing it is to smell spring in the air!

too close

Sometimes we get a little too close to the action and can not see clearly what is happening. It helps to step back and get a different perspective on things.

Sometimes...

I need to say more than just a few words, but can not find the words to say.

yuck

the snow is back-
but Smokey does not care.
maybe this is the last?

flood

The flood does not merely effect the yards and roads, but our fridge as well. All the half gallon mason jars are full, the supply of quart jars is running low. Must clean the kitchen and make cheese, yogurt, keifer, butter, fudge, and soap.

Josh

vacation is over

So sorry darling goaties, but your days of toasting on the register are over. You may now urinate somewhere more appropriate than my kitchen floor. Enjoy all your little buddies in the Goat Hotel!

spots

Spot and Jane worked together to give me spots! Yippeeee!

silly

Is this better than being put on facebook?

tired again

no photo, too exhausted. Maybe tomorrow. yippee. Moat of the goats are done kidding.

when will the cuteness end?!

they are slowly killing me with their little snuggles together. ugg!

too much cuteness

they speak for themselves

babies, such cute babies

Just when I thought they couldn't get any cuter, the little girl we have in the house curled up in the bottom of the cat tower. I was amazed she fit!

happiness is...

a train going by.
the rumble of the engines felt in my chest,
the black smoke pouring from the stack with the increase in power,
the haunting whistle and the clack of the wheels.

milk

is in the fridge!
hooray for milk!

never ending weekend

I wish it wouldn't end.
Too bad I have to go to bed.
Maybe next weekend will be crazy also....

some more exhaustion

late nights seem to never end on the farm

tired

No photo tonight.
Dinner not ready yet.
Late morning?
Sleep is wonderful,
but where is it?
Coming soon!

dinner and a book

it
is
too
hard
to
eat
a
loaded
burger
while
reading
a
good
book

baby number one

Christina has the distinction of being the first to kid this year. A single kid, but she is beautiful! Now to come up with a name....

later tonight

many things may happen

i do not like

my birthday

odd one out

Usually at the dairy meetings/workshops, I feel like the odd man out because we are not actively farming, not even having a claim on the farm. It is not that I am not accepted, because they are all very welcoming and supportive. Today was different. It still does not feel real to me, but all the encouragement and suggestions from others today left me feeling wonderful. Like this is possible. It is possible. This impatient girl can't wait to get things moving.

what is left

of this wonderful weekend
is this sliver of pizza
and a contented feeling
also some cake and brownies

one more night

without kids
kinda wishing they were here

dinner in

much prefer dinner in
with a movie
and desert
alone

final countdown

any time now, by February 27
come on baby goats
i am impatient

yes
there
is
a
biscuit
under
all
those
strawberries
and
it
is
all
mine

impending explosions

less than one week to go

green

i saw grass while leaving the college tonight. i know it was green, even thought it looked yellow/gray under the lights. i wanted to bend over and start grazing on it. i got in the car and drove home instead. i wish i had nibbled on the grass just a little bit.

tonight, tonight

i think some relaxing is in order after the week we have had so far

warm and dry

started out cold and wet,
discouraged and depressed.
then optimistic and encouraged,
bound and determined.
finished warm and dry,
peaceful and content.

many thanks Casey
for your hard work
taking care of
me and my goats.
We love you!

preparation

usually i am not prepared
this time i will be prepared
this time i will be ready

baby goat countdown: just over one week

late nights and impending doom

one week and about two days
fresh milk is within reach finally

out and about

In a little over a week, we will be house-bound for a while, so we went out tonight. Sure, there were other reasons for our excursion, but that was the unspoken one. Baby goaties! Baby goaties! Yay!

here

at least i can say i posted today.

Time

I
am
ready
.

sometimes

i
get
exhausted

progress

is hard to come by without difficulty or unexpected dilemas

exhaustion

I may be in a lot of pain from using muscles I am not used to using, but it feels good because of what we accomplished tonight. Very happy that my goats are moved to the other end of the barn. With only two weeks and two days till kids start coming, all we have left to do is make a kidding pen and a baby pen. Thank you Casey!

Countdown!

Only 2 weeks and three days until the baby goat explosion! Yay!

full

good company
good food
good day

my kitchen

is the best restaurant around

my husband

is the best kitchen assistant in the world

yesterday

I did not realize what I did not know was so important, but today I realized that it was terribly important.