Learning Patience, Fortitude & Endurance

Many of you have never had the experience of walking a goat. Goats tend to be stubborn, and unless you walk with them often enough… they won't move (to put it mildly). This year I am learning patience, fortitude, and endurance through a 46lb goat named Archer.

Let me recreate in your mind a recent walk we went on.

I decided it was time for our first “official” walking session. So I go unsuspectingly up to her and put her on the leash. That first part was easy enough, and my ego was boosted thinking, “She likes me already”. Hahaha
Then I hauled her out of the pen, really. We left a nice trail behind us, and that’s when I got the first inkling that this wasn’t going to be a pleasure walk in the sun that I thought it was going to be. Her companions made so much noise upon her departing that you would have thought I was kidnapping her! (Come on’ seriously?)

This is how Archer walks… dragging her heels and then sitting on her haunches.

Not wanting her to injure herself, I stopped pulling her along and got behind her head pushing her forward. That only gave her the opportunity to get in the “better to stab you with my horns” position. (What was I thinking?) I gave up on that walking position and went back to pulling her along. We made slow, slow progress…three steps forward and two steps back.

Archer finally decided she had enough of walking and sat down. I went behind her to push her up and she laid down. We were supposed to be going on a walk, not taking a nap!!! I couldn’t get her back up. So, I carried her back up to her pen.

It was a long walk.

Well, now that I’ve told you about that walk... I’ll finish off this post by sharing some pictures.

(You actually thought I would post pictures of that walk? Really!)

.Market Projects.

Each year about this time, we purchase our Market Projects. The term Market Project means (to us) raising a meat goat specifically to show and sell at this year’s fair...

When raising a Market Project you have to keep records of everything! Weight & medical injections and what money you have spent (on feed or collars). You also have to walk them, teach them how to stand properly and care for their general well-being.  Believe me, it takes a lot of effort and sweat (especially the walking part)!

This year I am going to be doing double of all the above. That's because I have decided to raise 2 market projects :)
Today, we went to a farm and picked out the goats! It was such a hard decision (because there were so many and I have such a hard time making choices!) but we finally made up our minds!

Abigail & Lincoln with their choices 

Checking her out 

Abigail  & her choice

Bethany, being my little helper, held one while I looked at the other!

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 The next major step is choosing a name. It takes me awhile to choose "the perfect name" (some of you have witnessed this first hand!)

Lincoln got a buck and named him DODGE
 I think I could have told you he would name his goat that! He has been going through a Dodge stage (at least I hope it's a stage!) I keep trying to convince him that Toyota and Ford is better... but I don't think he's been listening!
Abigail also got a buck and named him POPEYE
As in, the popular cartoon character Popeye, who eats spinach, which enables him to be super strong. She wants her goat to be very strong, and personally I wouldn't put it past her to feed him spinach on the sly (just to see if it works!)
I named my two does: PAIGE & ARCHER
I wanted to go with a theme, and Paige and Archer are both medieval names (at least that is where their origin came from).  Paige refers to a "young servant" in training to be a knight, and Archer means "bowman"....I liked the name Paige mostly because of the way it's spelled, and Archer because I like hunting (with a bow :)

Bethany is holding Paige, Dodge is hidden by Lincoln & I am ...uhum, dragging Archer along.

(Not sure where Abigail & Popeye are)

(Hopefully, in the next coming days I can get some nicer pictures to share!)...

And now you know what a Market Project is!

Well have a wonderful day,

Zoë

Creating Stepping Stones

Every other Thursday brings a Keepers meeting. Where we learn a new concept or make a craft.  It is always a fun event to look forward to because we all love spending time with friends and making things! 

This week’s meeting was held at Sis Jeanine’s house and we learned how to make stepping-stones!

{Sis Jeanine}

Joy and Elainah 

Picking out stones

Creating unique designs! 

Josh and Lincoln mixing cement

Some finished products (below)

 

How to make your own stepping stone:

 

Friends~

Emily, Kira, (me), Joanna, Kaitlyn and Abigail 

Cute! (Joanna & Bethany)

Talking...

Till the next post,





P.S. I just wanted to thank everyone for being so kind when we lost our goats. Losing them was hard, and it helps so much to know that others care! Thank you!

trag·e·dy  

/ˈtrajidē/

 

An event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, such as a serious accident, crime, or natural catastrophe. I’m thankful it wasn’t worse, but another part of me wonders "why?"   It was five in the early morning, when our house erupted in chaos, and 911 was dialed. The prayer of my heart as I slipped on my boots and ran up to the barn was, “Lord, please save my babies”. But it was too late, the gates of heaven had already opened wide. Our barn was a blazing inferno, and as I watched the walls cave in upon my hopes and dreams. I cried. My earthly mind cannot understand how something like this could happen, or why,  but I still believe that God heard my prayers, even if he didn't answer the way I thought he would. He has a better plan in mind, and though I don't know what his plan is, I trust Him.    before during the fire   Heat lamps that we had on to keep our kids warm, started the fire. All of our goats inside the barn were lost (2 mothers and 4 babies). The chickens (who were on the other side of the barn) and 2 does in an outside pen, escaped unscathed.  I hurt for the animals we lost, but I’m thankful for the ones that were spared. I didn’t expect yesterday for this to happen today, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that I will  treasure the time I have, say “I love you” and show others that I care, today... Because I don’t know what tomorrow may bring. Prayers,

Rest In Peace:
AHF NOODLES
Spice & Pepsi
MOCHA
Latte & Chip

Miss B turns 6

   January 1st always starts a new round of the "how long until my Birthday?" question from the youngest member of our home.

Her name is Bethany, and March is her favorite month (can you guess why?).

Last week the long awaited day finally arrived and Miss B turned six years old.

Guess who's birthday it is? 

Bethany & Caroline (her new doll!) 

Around our house, its a tradition to buy an ice-cream cake from DQ for birthdays, 

(this is one of my favorite traditions, just take a bite and you will see why!)  

Bethany and the penguins...

Getting ready to blow out the candles!

Happy Birthday to a sweet little sister! I love you tons Bethany :)