What do you do when its over 90 degrees and very humid? Cut firewood of course. We spent yesterday and today cutting, splitting and stacking firewood for the winter. I am so tired and so sore I can hardly move. I ran the splitter while William and James ran the chainsaws and Camile loaded the wood. Then I stack the wood while Camile loaded the wheel barrels and the guys pushed them back and forth. I don't think I could move even if someone yelled fire. Tomorrow I will spend the day in the soap shop where I will enjoy not being in the hot sun and able to sit down when my feet get tired. But one thing for sure I am going to enjoy those stacks of wood this winter!

Say a Little Prayer

Patrica and her husband have been going through a lot to have a baby. I don't know anyone that would be a more loving, caring mom than Patrica. I would really appreciate if you would say a little prayer for her as you go about your day. Pray that she is having a healthy normal pregnancy and all is and will be well. Thanks!

Last night I was laying on the sofa watching tv when momma kitty jumped on me and dropped her kitten in my lap. I petted the kitten and then took her back to where momma kitty had had her hidden for the past week. A few minutes later momma kitty jumps back up and drops the kitten in my lap again. I am thinking maybe she is wanting a new hiding place so I make her a nice bed in a dark corner where no one can see her, put the kitten in the basket and go back to the sofa. A few minutes later the kitten is put back in my lap. I take her back to the old hiding place and a few minutes later the kitten is put back in my lap. I end up sleeping on the sofa with baby kitty and momma kitty laying on me. I had to sleep on my back all night so I wouldn't disturb them. This morning I had to get up to feed and milk so I gently moved momma and baby off me and onto a blanket on the sofa. Baby kitty has stayed there all day and if I am in the house momma kitty cries and follows me till I sit down by baby kitty. I tried to tell her I am not babysitting. She seems to want me to watch over the baby kitty or hold the baby kitty. If I hold the kitty she will go eat and walk around. Its like she knows someone is watching the baby so she can have a break. We cut firewood all day and as soon as I came inside this evening she was under my feet crying till I sat down with baby kitty. Momma kitty needs to figure out how to let the kitten sleep alone while she takes her breaks. Right now she is sitting on the sofa looking and crying at me cause I am sitting in a chair.

Guess I had better get back on the sofa and pull my time with the kitten. Momma kitty must be hungry or need to stretch her legs.

And The Winner Is

Edited to add for the anonymous person that said rabbits DO NOT move their babies. Guess I have a rare one as I have seen her move them. She made two nests when she had 11 babies and put the smallest ones in one and the larger ones in the other. She nursed the smaller ones first. On hot days she would roll them out of the nest and place them where they would be cooler.

Donna ! Congratulations and send me your mailing addy (happe2b50atyahoodotcom) and I will get your package in the mail.

William and his bike. This is a 1980 but only has 22,000 miles on it and he purchased it very cheap. He has been wanting one for a long time. Don't know when he will find the time to ride it but he is already telling me about buffing and polishing. If you look past the bike and the grands cabin you will see my backporch. The screen isn't on yet and the floor and steps aren't painted but soon very soon I will be enjoying relaxing there.
Fred is strutting his stuff for Ethel. She is still too young for him but he wants her to know she is the one for him.

Yesterday my neighbor Vicki's daughter called to see if I wanted a electric organ. She cleans homes for people and this elderly lady wanted it out of her house. So I got a free organ. Several of the bottom keys stick but other than that it works great! I have had fun playing the only 3 songs I know. Going to get a beginners book and see if I can teach myself.

Mary tagged me for 8 things about myself.

1. I hate motorcycles. I was in a very serious wreck that involved a drunk on a motorcycle hitting me.

2. I get busy and forget to eat till evening time. Then I eat and go to bed which isn't very healthy.

3. I don't want to sell my baby goats and am trying to talk William into letting me keep one.

4. I don't trust anyone completely to take care of my animals if I am not here. I always find things wrong or undone when I return and then feel guilty for leaving in the first place.

5. I hate driving.

6. I am finding I speak my mind more instead of trying to be nice. Especially when it comes to my animals and work around the homestead.

7. I love riding in William's semi. Its the best sleep I ever get, especially while he is driving.

8. I believe in the power of prayer. Especially after a very special one was answered for a very special blogging friend this week. (Sorry mums the word for now)

Don't forget to leave a comment on the post below for my give away. Today William and I have been married a great big 6 years! In some ways it seems like less and other ways it seems like we have been married forever. He will be home tonight so we are grilling steaks and I am hoping we will be able to listen to the rain on the tin roof of the porch if the thunder I hear is a indication. To celebrate our anniversary and his birthday (the 30th)William bought a motorcycle. He isn't home very much now so imagine his bike won't get many miles on it. He is giving me money to go shopping but I am going to enjoy having all day tomorrow by myself. He and the couple who help us are going to pick up the bike and I will be all alone here to just relax and enjoy the day. That will be the best present! I went to my favorite thriftstore today and had my buggy loaded with items (will take pictures later and add). I had several vintage children books from 1940. Fairy Tales, Bedtime Stories, and even some Trixie Belden. Had several mystery books for me, some vintage glass hens on a nest that I collect. Some pots and bowls for my soap shop, some breakfast bowls, couple of serving spoons, a wreath and a picnic basket. When I got up to pay, Donna the manager told me Happy Anniversary and wouldn't let me pay for anything! So with the money I saved I just had to stop by TJ Max and pick up a few things.

I have let the chickens, ducks and guineas out to roam around the yard. The geese refuse to come out. When I went in the pen and herded them out they made such a racket and turned right around and went back in the pen. Guess they don't like freedom. Fred, the turkey is now in the peacock pen. I have a young mate for him and didn't want the chickens and roosters scaring her. She is still too young but Fred is spreading his feathers and strutting his stuff. Since his last mate was Ginger I am going to name this one Ethel. They seem to like being in the pen with the peacock and my polish topper hens.

I really must do something with Dan and Robyn. They are getting all of Diva and Sammi's milk and not leaving me any! I was trying to milk Diva and Dan was reaching through trying to nurse her. They are so tall now that they have to lay on their tummies to nurse. They are as tall as Sammi ! I am going to start locking them in their stall at night so they can't get to the girls and then let them have the milk all day after I get the morning milking.

Hope each of you have a blessed weekend!

Blogaversary Give Away

My 2 year anniversary with blogspot was last month. I blogged for a year before that with typepad so to celebrate my 3 years of blogging I am having a give away. Leave a comment on this post and I will put your name in the drawing. I will draw Sunday, July 29th. Just a few little items but they are all yours if your name is drawn! A big vintage metal tray, a teacup/saucer set from Nevada, The Lumby Lines and Stealing Lumby books. (My favorite books but want to share) a vintage set of salt and pepper shakers and of course a bar of diva's soap and a bottle of goat milk lotion that I haven't even put in my etsy shop yet. So come on and help me celebrate by leaving a comment. You just might be the winner!

I was asked to show a photo of our new back porch. I will just as soon as its finished. Right now Wayne is finishing up the painting and will be putting the screen on soon. If he doesn't get it done in the next couple of days I will take a photo of what it looks like at the moment and then one when its all done.

Pea gave me a couple of blogging awards. Thanks so much Pea! I haven't forgotten just behind as usual. I will post about them and who I have chosen tomorrow.

Dan and Robyn are doing great! I took all 5 of the goats on a walk today so they could graze. I thought they were all settled in the field eating so came back to work in the yard only to hear a stampede. They saw I wasn't there and came looking for me. At least they won't go anywhere without me so won't have to worry about them running away.

Finally got all my weedeating done and all my soap orders out. Still have lots of paperwork to catch up on but can do that at night. The heat and drought has just about done my gardens in so any canning and preserving I do now will come from produce I purchase from the big farm down the road. He has these huge irrigation systems set up in all his fields. I almost stopped and rain through one today it was so hot! My grapes are coming in so will be making grape jelly in the next couple of days. Nothing new or exciting on the homestead. Just enjoying each day and counting my blessings.

Scavenger Hunt Package

I received my package several days ago from Dawn Marie and I love it! With the boys having surgery I got behind on posting. Thank you so much Dawn and your package is on its way!

The picture is looking from a hill by her home down on downtown Denver. I got a red jasper stone that will help with strength and energy flow (I really need that!) Also a prism in a wooden box that I think Dawn painted and decorated, beautiful flower stickers, and a dragonfly windchime that I can't wait to hang on my porch as soon as its finished! Thanks peppylady for getting this together and letting me be a part.

William and the young couple we hired to help us are trying to get Frosty Dan and Brown Robyn to hold still so I can change their bandages.

I moved the young bunnies into my teen chick pen since I don't have any teens at the moment. They are loving running around eating grass and playing with each other.

Momma Kitty and baby kitty are doing fine. I have found a home for baby kitty so will be taking momma kitty to be fixed as soon as baby kitty is weened. Baby Kitty is getting very fat and loving. Momma Kitty is so sweet. She jumps on me to wake me up to let her outside to potty in the middle of the night. She doesn't want to use a litter box.

Stealing Lumby by Gail Fraser

I didn't think this book could be as good as the first and its not. Its even better! I absolutely love the little town of Lumby. Stealing Lumby still has the moose walking around town with strange things stuck in his antlers. The pink flamingo still appears around town dressed in appropriate attire for the occasion. Though there were no more goats in the bank vault there are Nubian's. One of the main characters in this book has a dairy goat farm with a mystery to solve. Why are her goats disappearing and why is the milk production down? Wait till you find out why. In the 1950's Lumby was famous for a brief time because a famous artist did a painting of one of their barns. Now the painting worth over a million dollars is stolen and Lumby is back in the limelight. When they get the artist to agree to come back and do another painting someone steals the barn! Every single board and stone is gone. The town won't let that stop them and have a plan. The author takes you right into the life of Lumby residents so well you feel you actually are a part of the town. From the first page its like you never left or missed anything from the first book. I know I recommend alot of books but the Lumby books by Ms. Fraser are my number one picks for fiction, mystery, fun, romance and enjoyable reading. There is a death in each book but even those are like a natural part of living in Lumby. I cried with the death in this book because I really liked this character but I also loved the way it came about and the outcome from the death. You really must read these books. There is a third book being released in January 2008. I am going to have a hard time waiting till then! Forget Harry Potter. Join me in the little town of Lumby! http://www.lumbybooks.com/home.php

Catching Up

Gave the boys their last injections this morning. Brown Robyn cries like he is dying when he gets his shot. Frosty Dan just looks at you with those big eyes as if to say "you don't really want to hurt me do you". Their heads are looking great and they are running and jumping and getting that sparkle back in their eyes. Diva has decided to let them nurse. Only a little and only when she is in the mood but at least they are nursing mom again. Auntie Sammi is filling in the rest of the time. William was home this weekend and was a big help and helping me change bandages and hold them while I give them the injections. We also got alot of work done though we will never get caught up. My cousin Ellen, her husband James and their daughter Josie stopped by Saturday morning for a few minutes. They are on vacation and since they were coming through Fayetteville they got to stop so Josie could see the animals. She got to hold a bunny and the baby kitten. Diva was being Diva and wouldn't eat a carrot or cookie from Josie. We are hoping they can visit again and have more time so Josie can feed and milk with me. The back deck is now a back porch. The tin roof is on and when the painting is finished on it Wayne will put the screen up. It will be so nice to sit in a screened area and enjoy the evening without the flying bugs. I can't wait to be able to sit out there and listen to the rain hitting the tin roof. Its been a week without the grandkids but I have been so busy with the goats and the kittens that I haven't had time to really miss them. In the evening I miss having them talk me into a watching a movie instead of the news. I miss scaring them after they have watched a scary movie but will see them soon. Raigun's birthday party is August 4th and I will be going up for that and stopping by my brothers for more deer meat. I have photos to post of my package from the scavenger hunt and I have a great post about the second Lumby book. This one had even more goats in the story! I will try to catch up tonight and stop by and visit your blogs so I can start the new week without being behind. Hope your weekend was filled with blessings! I will also have my give away for my blog anniverary ready to post tomorrow. Hey its just a month late!

The Babies Are Home!

Frosty Dan and Brown Robyn may have a headache and a little mad at me but they are home. They will get antibiotic and pain injections for a couple of days and keep their bandages on for a few days but well on the way to getting into things again. I cannot say enough good things about NC State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Dr. Jim Floyd. They are wonderful, caring and devoted to giving the best care to all the animals. They are sincere and kind with the owners. I was explained everything before the surgery and given different options, then given updates and choices on their recovery. Dr. Jim stayed till 10pm last night making sure the boys were up and about doing okay. He explained in detail what they had done and how he had even called in 2 other doctors for opinions. He sent me home well informed on how to care for them and with enough medication to help their recovery. Alice and Jennifer and the other students were so gentle with the boys. Dr. Jim said the boys weren't alone because everyone including the maintenance men stopped by to pet them. They were happy to be home but Diva is a little nervous around them as they smell different and they have bandages on their heads. The boys want no part of me at the moment but I am the one that caused everything. Hopefully they will forgive me soon and life at the homestead will get back to "normal"

Dan and Robyn had to stay overnight at the hospital. Dan went right to sleep but Robyn had a hard time so they had to give him a little extra to put him under. He started waking up in the middle of surgery so they gave him gas. What should have been a 3 or 4 hour stay now has Diva here at home crying for her babies and the babies at the hospital without their mom. The surgery went good. The horns were removed and skin pulled over and stitched. The vet just wants to make sure Robyn wakes up okay and they both are able to stand, walk, eat, drink, etc before coming home. I will call in the morning and then drive the hour and half back to pick them up when they are ready. The good thing is I got all the milk tonight! Between Diva and Sammi I got a gallon of milk, but I would much rather have the boys home and no milk. They look so lost when I had to turn them over to the vet. Everyone was having a fit over them though. All the other animals in the livestock part of the hospital were horses so the boys were a nice change for them. I don't think Dan and Robyn are going to want to go for another ride with me anytime soon.
I lost all but one of the baby kittens. I was very sad over that but talking with the vet today made me feel better. He said their body temps being low and their not getting colostrum from their mom in the first few hours made it almost impossible for them to survive. The last one is doing great and the neighbor found the mom. She is very young but when I brought her inside today and showed her the baby she hopped right in the basket and sat down with it so it could nurse. At least now it has a really good chance of making it.
On top of all the above its been a 101F. A hot muggy, miserable day but tomorrow is a new day and I know it will bring many blessings!

Just call me Catwoman. Yesterday afternoon my neighbor Jane brought me a newborn kitten that one of her renters had found in their driveway. I got out the heating pad and kitty nursing bottle and said I would try to take care of it. A couple of hours later the renter brings 2 more kittens she found in her yard. 9:30 last night another neighbor brings another kitten. It is a runt and very very cold. I didn't think it would make it. I got up every 3 hours and fed them. Made sure the heating pad wasn't too hot for them. They are drinking goats milk very well and sleeping when not nursing. So far all 4 are doing well. I think that a young cat had her first litter and didn't know what was happening to her so just had them as she was running down the road. No one has seen the momma but everyone is looking for her. I will take care of the newborns until they find the mom or are old enough to give away. I am NOT keeping any of them no matter how cute they are. I have 3 cats already and that is plenty!

The Lumby Lines

I was given the wonderful opportunity to review 2 of Gail Fraser's books. I just finished the first one and I am hooked! Of course having goats locked in the bank vault eating money grabbed my interest in the first few pages. The highlight of the newspaper "The Lumby Lines" is Hank the pink flamingo that is dressed in different outfits to match the occasion or event and placed around town by some unknown person. Ms. Fraser makes you forget you are reading and are actually in Lumby. You feel like a part of the town and from her descriptions you personally know each person. Throughout the story a moose is spotted with various things caught in his rack. Once its a tricycle and another time a lawn chair. This book will have you smiling in the first few words and laughing before you finish the first chapter. But along with the laughter is a heartfelt story of life in Lumby. I can't wait till tonight when I have a date with "Stealing Lumby". I hope to be able to interview Gail Fraser and post it here. Visit Gail and learn more about Lumby at:

http://www.lumbybooks.com/ and if you get the chance please read her books. You won't be disappointed!

Thank you so much Melissa Broder for sending the books and allowing me to review them.

I was all set to take pictures of the grands holding the baby raccoons at my daughters, pictures of us sitting around the firepit roasting marshmallows for s'mores, pictures of the reunion and beautiful park it was held at.... but I couldn't. I remembered the camera but left the memory card in the computer at home. Just take my word for it. There were lots and lots of picture moments. Today I have been catching up on housework, cleaning all the water buckets, raking the chicken pen, doing some laundry, running Fran to the grocery, and just enjoying the day.

When we disbudded the boys it was our first time. We and all the animals were stressing out. Needless to say their horns are growing and we didn't do a good job. William and I have been talking back and forth about trying it again or calling a Vet to cut them out. I called everywhere and couldn't find a Vet in our area that worked on goats. I finally called the NC Veterinarian School and they will do it! I take Dan and Robyn Thursday and they will put the little fellers asleep and take their horns out. I am so glad they won't have to feel anything and I won't have to stress. My neighbor Jane is going with me as we have to drive to Raleigh but it is so worth it! Then I will be able to get them registered and ready for new homes

My brother gave me some deer meat yesterday. He takes his to a butcher that cuts and prepares it like a cow or pig. I have some deer sausage that taste just like pork but with less fat. I have deer steaks and deer burger that you could not tell if its beef or deer. He gives us deer every year. I love the summer sausage the best. He had to show off though and give me a 10 lb cabbage from his garden. Mine didn't get even half that big. I am cooking a fourth of it today with polish sausage, turnips, onions, in chicken broth for supper.

I miss the grands but I am enjoying the quietness around here. I keep waiting to hear someone yell "grandma". Have a wonderful Sunday and enjoy your blessings.

Last Day

Last day at grandma's so we had to have one last blast. Spent the day at Fantasy Lake, now we are going next door for a evening swim and coming home for a movie and popcorn. Tomorrow I take the grands home on my way to a family reunion. Think they have enough memories till next summer.

Wahoooooooo!

Not only do I have over a 1000 posts my blogaversary was last month. I have been so busy I had forgotten. In the next couple of days I am going to get a special gift together for a give away as a belated celebration so stay tuned. Now on to the news of the day. Raigun learned how to ride a bike without training wheels! Took a little pushing her off and cheering: pedal, pedal, pedal! Thanks to Zack telling her if she learnt how to ride a bike without training wheels Santa would bring her a four wheeler Raigun's mom is not too happy. LOL

After learning to ride a bike and everyone doing their chores we headed to the pool to cool off. It was a very hot and humid day but they did their chores without complaining. Raigun did more new things at the pool. I threw dive sticks in the water and she would dive down and get 3 without coming up for air. The dive sticks were scattered around the bottom so she had to swim and hunt them. After she did that for awhile she had all of us cheering as she dove off the diving board and swam to the other end of the pool underwater without coming up for air. She was really showing her groove today! All the grands had fun diving and swimming before coming home for evening chores, a hotdog, homefries supper and a movie before bed. Think I will be asleep first tonight! Ms. Robyn I promise pictures of the baby goats soon along with some of their adventure stories. They are doing fine and growing so fast. I shouldn't call them babies anymore.

Go Raigun go! You are almost to the end of the pool!

Tic Tac Toe & Away We Go

Zack and Raigun are playing games of tic tac toe while Julie and Kristine are relaxing in the hammock. They did their chores this morning. Went swimming this afternoon. Did their afternoon chores and are now kicked back waiting on Pop Pop to grill the steaks for supper. Then its movie and bedtime. Such an exciting life we lead around here.

No photos of the pool party but we had a blast yesterday. Maggie and Brannon came down for the weekend and brought Kristine and Raigun to stay for a week. We went to the flea market and a thriftstore before coming home and having a few days late birthday party for Maggie. The neighbors had a cookout/swim party and we took some covered dishes and the grands stayed in the pool until they looked like prunes! Got out long enough to eat and wait for a thunderstorm to pass before getting back in and staying until dark. They swam while it was raining and thought that was so cool. LOL We came home and watched "flushed" or at least Kristine, Zake and I did. Raigun and Julie crashed as soon as they had their pjs on. After helping me feed and milk this morning the grands are now outside playing a game of volley ball. Kristine bought a volleyball/badminton set yesterday with her mom so they all could play. Next to swimming I think its their favorite thing to do. Guess the bikes will get a little break. I am trying to play catch-up in the soap shop and with laundry and paperwork. We also have a young couple visiting for the weekend that we are talking to about helping us here with the animals and chores. William will be home tonight and we will sit down with them and see how it goes. Right now they are just enjoying walking around the place getting to know the animals. Its just been a crazy busy weekend but filled with lots of laughter inbetween the kids little arguments. I had forgotten how much children fuss with each other only to be best buddies five minutes later. I have started taking away fun things when they argue. If they can't disagree and work things out in a nice way they lose swimming, biking, games, etc. Maybe by the time they go home they will have learnt how to solve disagreements without hurtful words.

Zack decided Raigun was having too much fun riding in the shopping cart so crammed hisself in there too.

Raigun and Julie are raking the peacock pen so they can go swimming this afternoon.
Since the word "swimming" was mentioned Zack and Kristine thought they better get busy on the goat pen.

Happy Birthday Megan!

Today my baby is 29 years old! She grew up from being my wild child to a wonderful young woman. Megan works 2 jobs, takes care of her children, teaches Sunday School, a army veteran and never says no when someone asks her for help. She gets by on 4 to 6 hours sleep a day because she works night and wants to be up to spend time with her family. Megan makes sure they have a sit down dinner together before going off to work. She is very family oriented. She stresses out too much and we tease her too much but she is a wonderful daughter, sister, mom, wife, and friend. She will keep you laughing without meaning to and life around her is never boring. So Happy Birthday Wild Child, I love you

Where's The Milk?

update: I went out this morning at 4am without turning on the kitchen light. I surprised the little fellers! I got almost a gallon of milk from Diva and Sammi while Dan and Robyn were busy waking the neighbors crying. Wish you could have seen their faces when I walked in the pen and turned the flashlight on! I locked the girls in their stalls so the boys couldn't get to them while I milked which made the boys very unhappy with me. They wouldn't even eat their feed this morning. I know they are thinking up some plan to get me back tomorrow morning but I won the race today!

I have decided I will have to give up sleeping if I want any milk. Frosty Dan and Brown Robyn have gotten a little too smart for me. I think they take turns standing guard and watch for the kitchen light to go on. Then whichever one is on guard duty wakes the other one up and they race over to drink all the milk from Auntie Sammi before I get there with my milk bucket. When I go in the gate they are nursing Diva all innocent like with their halos shining. I give all of them their feed and start milking Sammi and am lucky if I get half a cup. By this time Dan and Robyn are trying to play sweet and loving by climbing on my back or chewing on my shirt. I go over to Diva who by this time the boys have drained and get another half cup. Each morning I try getting up a little earlier and each morning its the same thing. I have tried locking Sammi in her stall at night but she hates it. She loves sleeping under the stars on these hot nights. I can get milk from Sammi and Diva in the afternoon but its a race. The boys see me coming with the milk bucket and they split up. One goes to Diva and the other goes to Sammi. Inbetween nursing they give me their sweet little innocent smile. After making soaps, lotions, cheese and selling milk to my regular customers this week I had to BUY a gallon of milk from the store! I have had a talk with Dan and Robyn but they acted like they didn't understand a thing I said. Don't feel sorry for them and say they need the milk. These boys are eating a cup of grain in the morning and afternoon along with carrots and alfalfa all day. They are not starving! They just want to see how long they can outsmart me. Tonight I am going to get up at 2am and go milk without cutting the kitchen light on and see what happens. Bet I get my milk!

Newport-Ensenada Race Photos

William took throw away camera's on the boat just incase so I have been slow getting the photos developed. He is in Oklahoma celebrating the 4th with family members (he got lucky his trip went by there) and wanted me to post some of the photos.