Around The Homestead

If you read back in my archives you will see the story of Mandy the dwarf goat my daughter Maggie gave us. We found a new home for her last year with a young couple that had purchased one of DiDi's and Brown Robin's bucklings Pickles. Well, Mandy and Pickles had twin mini Nubians! The little doeling has found a home here at Hidden Haven. Because Nitro and Diva are the great grandparents of this cute little kid I had to name her Precious Memories and call her Precious. She has a lot to live up to if she wants to fill their hooves! Mandy and Precious twin brother are here at the homestead for a few days to help her get settled in. Mandy seemed to remember the place and knew right where to go when she got here and even remembers feeding times and calls out to let me know. I am looking forward to having a mini Nubian. She's not Diva but she has some of her in her and hopefully will be a wonderful milker.

We finally got rain! Though it brought a small tornado with it about 5 miles from the homestead along with hail, winds, and down trees the rain was a welcome sight. Its still raining and the gardens are growing right in front on my eyes. I just love nice warm rain.

Otis, the possum along with his brothers and sisters that were later found by the same couple finally got big enough to be released. We think the mom must have gotten killed and the babies trying to fend for themselves went into the couples chick pen to eat their food. Each morning they found another one. The last one was the runt and boy was he feisty! We took them to a nice woods with a pond for releasing. Most of them went running off into the woods but a couple climbed a tree and the runt wanted to stand there, hiss and fight with us. Hopefully they will do fine in their new area and stay away from farms and chicken pens.

Happy Birthday Sammi!

A Visit From Pickles!

DiDi's son came for a visit yesterday evening. Well he came for his pedicure (hoof trim) and ended up getting a injection.He wasn't very happy with me after the shot. He had the sniffles so we gave him a little something to help. Pickles was raised on a bottle by a nice young military couple. He thinks he is a dog and loves playing and sleeping with their dogs. He sleeps in a dog crate just like their other dogs and loves it. He also gets baths and smells so good when he comes for a visit. When his human mom and dad go on vacation Pickles is going to come stay with us. We will have a dog crate ready for him on the back porch since he doesn't want anything to do with the goats. DiDi comes up to the fence every time Pickles is here but Pickles rather go to the dog pen and talk with "other" dogs. I can't wait for Pickles to spend a few days with us.

Blinkin's Baby

Blinkin has been up in the mountains staying at my daughter Melody's. When she went up there I went over with the grands about her being pregnant and due to kid around March 24. The grands really listened and have done a great job of caring for her and the others they have from Hidden Haven. In fact they are in the raising goat business and call their farm: Hedden Haven (their last name). Anyway, the grands decided to skip school on March 24th so they would be home with Blinkin. I told them goats don't always kid on their exact due date but they wanted to be there. Blinkin decided to make the grands happy and delivered a big buckling around 10:30am. Melody arrived after the grands helped with delivery.. Woody and Zack stayed right with her and helped clear the mouth, nose and dry it off. Hope brought towels and warm molasses water. They even cleaned up everything afterwards. They did a wonderful job taking care of Blinkin and her new son. Frosty Dan is the proud pop.

A Sunny Sunday Afternoon

Sunday Morning Findings

Bonnie and Clyde are proud parents (not to mention VERY protective)

Easter Photo Shoot

Yesterday since I didn't already have enough to do I decided to take Easter pictures of the animals. DiDi wasted no time in letting me know what she thought of the idea.

Happy Birthday DiDi

EDITED to say I was a couple days late celebrating DiDi's birthday. I got information on DiDi and Sonya a few minutes ago. DiDi was rescued by a friend of the lady we purchased her from. DiDi and Sonya were in very bad shape. The friend and the lady we purchased them from nursed them back to health before we purchased them. I just found out DiDi and Sonya's history! DiDi's birthday is March 30 but I don't think she minded staying younger a few extra days. I am excited to have more history on DiDi and Sonya.


The lady we purchased DiDi from found her tied up in her yard one day. Doesn't know who left her or why but she gave DiDi a good home till she came here. Since no one knows DiDi's real birthday I gave her April 1st. She loves to play tricks on you and then make nice by giving lots of kisses.

Tom and Jerry

No they are not ducks.

No they are not bunnies.

No they are not mice or rats.

No they are not turkey

No they are not chickens

No they are not puppies.

And though I wish they were llamas... No they are not llamas.

I have been trying to downsize our homestead by selling some of the kid bucklings. Some of the dwarf goats. Sold some chickens and bunnies. But we still seem to be adding animals around here. Oreo came from a daycare that no longer wanted him. Sparky and Smokey came from a family that just didn't have the time to spend with them like they wanted because of school and sports. Well Tom and Jerry came to us because the family has moved on to horses and busy taking horseback riding lessons. They just wanted to find a good home for Tom and Jerry. Where they could run and play. Well they have that here. Meet Tom and Jerry

They are right at home and only been here one night. Jerry will come right up to me for a pet but Tom isn't so sure. The lady said he didn't like women. Bet I can win him over with cookies! Tom and Jerry are wether goats. Meaning they are bucks that have been fixed. We don't know their age or their breed. Anyone got any idea? We do know Jerry is a escape artist. Guess where they are staying? Of course in the jailhouse with ViVi. She doesn't like it very much but soon I will be moving them to a different pen. Once they realize they are here to stay and be spoiled I will move them with the other boys.

Photo Shoot

Today was a perfect sunny day for pictures. After feeding the girls I grabbed the camera. Only problem, some of the girls weren't too happy about dressing up for photos. They really weren't happy when I told them it was only a practice shoot. We will do a real one closer to St. Paddy's Day. I had better not turn my back on them for a few days!

Salem Wants a Bedtime Snack

Kiddie Daycare