I'll give you a clue. It's something I have been looking forward to since I arrived last year. Still can't guess?
Clue #2.... it is one of my FAVORITE aspects of the farm. Nothing coming to mind?
Clue #3... this thing that I witnessed breathes, jumps, and makes noise when it's hungry.
BABY GOATS being born!!!!!!! I saw two little babies... the whole process. It was amazing. Mother goats know what they need to do and are able to do it.
To make this story even more impressive (not that it really needs more added to be so) Laura and Monte were gone. It was just me and Renee Johnston (the new wwoofer). We had been left with a number that we could call if there was issues with the birth. We didn't need to. These two that I saw born are super cute White and black babies. One boy and one girl. The boy has floppy ears and the girls are straight up the way Monte likes them. I was a little worried about the little boy when he was being born. Because Sweetie (his mother) tried having him on the fence. I pulled her away and all went well. He came out and she started licking the sack off of him. After he was sufficiently clean, she began going into labor with the second one... and she rolled on top of her first baby twice.... accidentally. Me and Renee were super worried about him because he wasn't standing as soon as he should have. The second one kept trying to stand while her mother was still licking the sack off. Now don't fret both babies are now doing just fine and running and jumping. The little girl is named Mimi, and the little boy has been named Poopie. The story of his name will follow later.
That same night after I had finished evening chores I noticed that Missy was starting to go in to labor, however she wasn't making any noise like Sweetie had been so I went up to filter the milk. The next morning we came down and she had had a floppy eared fawn colored little boy. We've named him Lambie because he looks a lot like a little lamb...plus it's kind of funny having a goat with that name. Renee named him.
While I was at church on Sunday Lizzie had triplets. One boy and two girls. Two of them are all white, and the last is mostly white with a little bit of grayish brownish coloring on her back, she also has black around her eyes and is super pretty. I named her Nellie. Her sister is Beth or Bethie, and the other one I named Wickam (this is because his mother's name is Lizzy and I was wanting to name him Darcy, but then Monte said "Oh good then we can process him all the sooner." So I decided he couldn't be Darcy.)
So now we have 6 babies that we feed every morning and evening. They are as cute as can be. And we are expecting at least 3 or 4 more goats to kid sometime this week.
Well now you are probably wondering what is the story behind Poopie's name. Well last sunday I was holding him and talking with Monte. All of a sudden I looked down and realized that I was covered in baby goat poop. And since his little digestive system wasn't fully in gear yet, it was not the usual round firm goat poop it was more like diarrhea. Super NASTY! Monte just started laughing because I just looked at. I didn't scream or really react at all (I was in a little shock). He then said "Living the life... you're a true farm girl now." I don't mind being called a true farm girl but I wish the circumstances had been a little different. Ever since that moment the little floppy eared black and white goat has been called Poopie.
There are two other girls here right now. You already know of Renee Johnston (the wwoofer)...she is from Northern Nevada, is 23 and is super nice.
My roommate is Nicole Ball (a good friend from Idaho.) She is 20 and is amazing.
On Thursday the 10th we also planted 178 tomato plants this week with a lot of help from Renee and Nicole. There is a long story to go with this... so sit down and prepare to enjoy the tale. Laura and Monte were making deliveries in Vegas and we were given the instructions to hoe all the weeds in these two rows which are in one of the high tunnels, after hoeing we were to loosen all the earth so that it would be plant-able with a rake. The high tunnels become more like a sweat house and are unbearable to work in. So we decided it would be torture to rake the earth until it would be loose enough to plant in. So we went and looked at the hand tiller (Nicole was able to identify each lever and stick thing.... thanks to working on a farm forever.) We called Monte and asked if we could use it. He said we could if we could keep it in control and make straight rows, and not poke holes in the plastic, He also said that he sometimes had a hard time keeping it in control, and he wasn't sure we could handle it. But we did. I kept it straight in the front and Nicole moved the little levers and walked behind it. We did a good job too. then we planted all those tomatoes that I mentioned earlier.
Friday the 11th we painted all of the chicken coops (4) red and white. All except for one side of one of the coops which I painted on Saturday with a leladelle farmer and wife with chickens and a pig. I will post a picture eventually.
This week....
We planted another high tunnel of tomatoes. I didn't count this time. It was however 3 rows.
On Thursday... us interns and wwoofer went into Cedar City. Nicole and I went and listened to a lecture at George Wythe University that was AMAZING!!!!!! I don't have the time right now to go into details about it. I also was able to visit with my sister and read her senior paper that tied so well with the lecture I had heard before. Her paper is super good.. and just what I needed to read.
On Saturday we made sauerkraut and goat's milk soap.
Today we went to The Valley Of Fire and took lots of pictures that I will post as soon as I get them. I can't really remember any other details of this week and I have to get to bed soon.
Good night
ttfn
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