Is It Over Yet?

This is one of those days you can't wait to be over. Nitro being the buck he is and being that its fall he is in full rutting form. I have played musical goats all day. First I put Sammi and the boys in the pasture with Nitro and Diva in the pen. Nitro was bending the fence and posts trying to get to Sammi. I move Sammi back in the pen and Nitro in the pasture. Nitro goes through the electric fence so I move Sammi to the chicken pen and all the other goats back in the pen. This evening I moved Sammi back and locked her in her stall. Nitro is in the next stall crying because he can't be with her. We are almost positive she is already bred and Nitro doesn't try to mount her. He just chases her and when he gets her he just rubs heads with her and cries. So Sammi is taking a well deserved rest. Diva (we know Nitro got her) is sleeping with her boys. Nitro is going to have a long night. After getting the goats settled I am dealing with one mad iguana. With the cool nights we have been having I decided to bring Bud inside. He tried his best to smack me with his tail, to bite and to get out of my hands but he is safely in his indoor house. He will pout and not let me touch him for a couple of weeks but then be just fine. His cage is right beside the dining room window so he can look outside all the time and he is much warmer at night than he was outside. My day was spent making animals mad at me.. How was your day?

And The Winner Is

I drew another name out of the basket. This winner will receive a bottle of Hidden Haven Goat Milk Lotion. The winner is: Lib. Lib will you send me your mailing address so I can get it in the mail to you? Everyone else that entered the tote bag give away don't give up as I have a few more prizes and it might just be your name I draw next time.

Friday's Favorites

Have to start off my favorites today with Melody's blog. She is comparing me to the grandma in the cellphone commercial text messaging. Made William and I laugh. I just found this blog last night and spent over a hour reading her archives. Love it when a city girl takes on the country and does so wonderful. She and her children are making lots of memories. Think you will enjoy Catherine's blog too. I complain about my aches and pains and sometimes use them as excuses for not getting things done. Amy, makes me realize how blessed I am. She is dealing with breast cancer and still accomplishing so much! What a inspiration she is and how blessed her family and friends are to have her in their lives.

Elvis Is Alive and Well

My name is Elvis. No I am not dead. No you haven't seen me at Burger King because I am living right here at Hidden Haven. My own little Graceland if I do say so myself. I am not fond of fried banana sandwiches but I do love my share of crumbled bread (especially wholewheat). I have a lady that makes sure I have plenty to eat and drink 24/7. I don't want for anything and even have Priscilla

And Lisa Marie living right here with me. I am not mobbed by fans here though there are a few chicks giving Priscilla a little competition. I also get to perform whenever I am in the mood which is usually around 4AM or I can choose not to make a sound. No one is going to get upset if I decide to sleep in or just lay around and eat all day. So don't listen to the rumors. I am alive and doing well. Thank you, Thank you very much.

Another Winner!

I drew another name out of the basket. (from those leftover from the giveaway) And the winner of a Miss Diva tote bag is Kristie! Kristie since you have purchased soaps I have your addy so watch your mailbox. Everyone else that entered the give away I will be drawing a name Saturday for a bottle of Diva's lotion.

Good Night

Good night Juliet

Good night Harry and Harriet

Good night ladies and gents

Good night Sister Sister

Good night boys and girls

Good night Moon!

On Their Way

The totes are packed and on their way! Hope you ladies enjoy them. My new labels and tags haven't arrived yet so your items have the old logo. I didn't want you to wait for the new ones to arrive.

The rest of you that entered the drawing I will be drawing another name tomorrow for a tote bag.

It has been a hot day. Where did my fall weather go? Haven't put out anymore decorations but maybe tonight. Had some orders to get out this morning, soaps to make, ladies circle newsletter to write and get in the mail, kitchen to clean, paperwork to do and animals to feed. Hope your day is keeping you busy and smiling!

I spent the weekend cleaning house and getting out some of my fall decorations. Enjoyed a nice quiet Sunday so much that I stayed in my PJ's all day. None of the animals seemed to mind as long as they got their food. Today was spent cleaning out their pens and raking some leaves. Moved all my feed storage containers into my new feed room! Nice to have everything out of the weather. For the give away winners, your package will be in the mail tomorrow morning. For all the others that entered stay tuned as I will be drawing names every few days for a lotion, candle or soap. Overlook the soaps, and stuff in my photos. I was cleaning as I was decorating so had things sitting on the buffet to put away.

And The Winner Is

I wrote all the names down, cut them out, put in a basket and drew a name. I drew Living the Life. Then I thought since I had 31 names why not draw a name for every ten. So I drew two more! Its a FlipFlop World (Sandy) and Farm House Style are winners too! So ladies send me your snail mail addys to happe2b50@yahoo.com and I will get your tote and goodies in the mail. Thanks to all that left comments and keep checking back as I am keeping your names for a couple of small give aways in the next few days.

Give A Way!

To celebrate my finally getting my goat milk lotion and candle recipe just right I am having a give away! Diva and I are going to give a way a Hidden Haven tote bag with a candle, lotion, and a soap inside. All you have to do to be in the drawing is leave a comment on this post. I will draw the winning name Monday, September 24th. We want to thank each of you for making the soap shop such a success!

Thanks to my daughter Maggie( Back Home Printing) for doing this photo and the new labels, business cards and tags. No more goat in a bathtub as our logo. From now on its Diva and her basket!

Friday's Favorites

Tee always has such good posts. Sometimes she writes about family and feelings and sometimes she writes about great new gadgets, books, places, etc. Whatever she writes about I enjoy reading but my favorites are posts on blessings.



There are days when I just need something to make me laugh or at least smile. I always know where to go. Jeanette always makes me do both. Where she finds some of her jokes I have no ideal but they make me laugh and I read them to William and get the joy of his laughter too. She is also a avid bowler but its not the kind of bowling I know. Looking forward to learning more about her sport.



I enjoy stopping by The Sparrow's Nest each day. Now I want to have my own Ebenezer's. Got to get me some small rocks and start writing on them.

Woodsy writes about his daughter's new boyfriend. All I can say is EVERY young girl needs a boyfriend like hers!

This whole blog amazes me everytime I visit! A young couple and their daughter are building a home on their own. They are doing most of the work and homeschooling. Every day is filled with things that have to get done but they always find time to stop and enjoy each day.

Last but not least is Caroline who has a new baby... it has 4 legs but is beautiful! And speaking of 4 legged babies we hope Sammi will be kidding the end of October or first of November. (we missed seeing her and Nitro together after she came in season so aren't sure of the date) and Diva is going to be a mommy again on Feb. 15th give or take a few days. We know what date Nitro romanced her!

Hope you enjoy some of my favorites this week. Have a wonderful weekend and count those blessings no matter how small.

Down On The Farm

We have had rain ALL DAY! I love it, the animals love it and we sure needed it. The only ones not wanting to get wet were the goats. They wouldn't even go in different stalls, instead they all stayed in one stall together all day. I went to milk Diva and Frosty Dan came back in as he thought mommas food tasted better. Kinda hard milking Diva while Frosty Dan is standing on my back while eating.

Sister and her baby chicks enjoyed the rain. She let me take a couple of photos then started spreading her feathers and fussing at me.

Bud didn't mind how many pictures I took of him as long as he could stay on his heating pad.

While I am milking I have these little ones wanting to know if I am done yet.

They are wanting me to put some milk in their bowls. But let me try to touch them and they are gone in a flash. Wild kitties but cute.

Bonnie and Clyde along with Molene, Larry and Curly come running to the porch everytime they see me. They think its time to eat.

When they see me walking toward the chicken pen and feed can they take flying to be the first ones to eat. Would sure love to have a generator hooked to the wind power they produce. Will leave you with a sneak peek of part of the photo on my new business cards and tags. My daughter (very talented lady) took this photo and one of Diva and with a little magic has Diva holding the basket in her mouth. She designed the new look. Will show the finished product later. You can see the lotions and candles that I will be adding to my etsy shop. Going to wait till I get my new labels and tags before listing them so you will have to wait a few days.

Hubby has been home and we have been busy. We cut more firewood, made a climbing tower for the goats, put up a electric fence so the goats would have lots more room to roam, raked the goat pen and did the normal everyday chores. Also had to get laundry done so William would have clean clothes as he heads for Oregon. Seems when he is home we are so rushed to get lots of things done we are so tired and sore we can't even rest good. We put the goats inside the electric fenced pasture. Diva stayed about 2 minutes then got zapped hard by the fence before going under it. Nitro wouldn't go near it as he knew what would happen. Sammi stayed in for about 30 minutes before getting zapped as she went under. William fixed the spot where they were going under and they spent the day grazing and relaxing. The boys touched their noses to the fence and now they won't leave the pasture. I unhooked the fence to let the goats go back into their pen and all went in but the boys. They would walk up to where I had unhooked it but wouldn't come on out. I walked in and showed them and even tried to walk them out but they wouldn't budge! So guess they will spend the night in the pasture. They have food and water so will be fine. Diva and Sammi need a break from them anyway and I could use the extra milk to catch up on soap and cheese orders. Been working on soap orders for 3 days and still not caught up. I am also making goat lotions and goats milk candles for my etsy shop. Getting that done and trying to get everything done around here has me behind in blogging. I will be back with animal photos and stories tomorrow... I promise. Have a great night and count those blessings!!!

Welcome To My Neighborhood!

Kathleen has chosen today as Welcome to My Neighborhood Day. Check her blog for links to all who are taking part so you can visit their neighborhood.

Well, lets head down my driveway and see what's around my neighborhood.

We live out in the country in one county but also live at the edge of the city limits of another county.

At the end of our driveway is a nice little country 2 lane road.

But it's only a couple of a minute drive on this road, through a housing development
Till we get to the busy 4 lane highway. ( How I got a photo with no traffic is a miracle)This busy road takes me to my FAVORITE place to shop! Where I spend most of my time away from the homestead.
From Tractor Supply I go on down the highway to my grocery store.
I go here every other day because my produce guy Jerry saves me the discarded leaves for my rabbits.
Since we left out early this morning I think we need to stop and get a biscuit and ice tea. No one makes biscuits or sweet tea like Bojangles and its 5 minutes from home!
Unfortunately there is a Walmart in this shopping center too. I only go there if I can't get what I need somewhere else so that's not very often.
I do use the pack and ship shop in this center several days a week. The ladies there are awesome!

From here we will go over to the feed store. Though I get most of my feed from Tractor Supply I get my alfalfa and special items and lots of advice from Lake Rim Feed and Seed. They also sell some of my soaps here.While we are on this road I will show you the park where some of us ladies walk early mornings in the fall, winter and spring. (summer is too hot) This park has really nice walking trails.
Right up the road from the rec park is a wildlife park. They raise and release fresh water fish. They have classes on fly fishing and father/son and mother/daughter fishing weekends.


I am so lucky to have all the places within 5 minutes of our home. One of my favorite places to visit is Gillis Farms. Not only do they have the best homemade ice cream anywhere(and sell my soaps) I can get lots of fresh veggies too.
When the soldiers fly over the Gillis Farm they see the flag painted on the roof and know its time to get ready for their jump.
Going the other way down the country 2 lane road will take us to a community named Rockfish.
Rockfish is where we go to take our garbage to a small waste/recycle station. There is also a very small grocery( Harden's) that has a really good butcher and the best cuts of meats for the lowest prices around.
I don't know where this couple get their fruits and veggies they sell on the side of the road but they have the sweetest watermelons I have ever eaten! Along the both sides of the roads around our home are fields of cotton, soybeans, and the tobacco stalks from where the leaves have already been picked.The tobacco in this area gets the leaves picked then they are cured in a tobacco barn that is heated. Where I grew up we cut the tobacco stalks and hung the whole stalk in the barn and it was air cured. Right down the road from our home is a nice little country church. I love the ladies circle meetings!We are very blessed to live where we are. To have the town and the country at our fingertips. I could take you to beautiful downtown Fayetteville and Ft Bragg but I wanted to show you the places I usually go to within 5 minutes of our home. And besides its getting late and you have other neighborhoods to visit. Bye and y'all come back now, ya hear!