I have been toying with the idea of making my dear grandmother a light house quilt for some time now but every pattern I came across just seemed so complicated I gave up before I even attempted it! I even thought maybe I could make my own pattern ... Then I realized that would be even more complicated!!! So I put the idea on a back burner..
But with my grandmothers 75th birthday coming up I knew I wanted to do something light house related, as she loves them! For years she's been getting light house calendars, lighthouse puzzles, lighthouse coffee mugs, lighthouse books .... She hasn't said it but really how many coffee cups can one have with a picture of a lighthouse on it? She must be getting tired of it!
So, one day while aimlessly walking the aisles of a thrift store back in February I came across light house embroidery squares! And so, a light house quilt began! I did all the embroidery (12 squares) while watching tv at night and then sewed it all together in about two days! I'm happy with the results and Even happier that she loved it!
I love my Grammy and hope she enjoys Her new quilt :)
Also, I gave her a bar of honey oatmeal goat milk soap i made and she thought it was a cookie and almost took a bite!!!! So now my next mission is to make labels for my soap bars!!!!
Rapid Falls Farm
Monday, May 20, 2013
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
I love may!
Among other magical things that happen in spring one of the most exciting for me is getting the garden rotor tilled! With every turn of dirt is the promise of crisp cukes, juicy tomatoes, delicious corn, green beans, peas.... Need I go on? And images of sparkling, colorful jars lining the pantry shelves from the summers bounty! (My shelves are looking pretty bare right now!)
Our friendly bee-keeping neighbor came over with his big green tractor and got done in an hour and a half what would have taken us a day (at least) to do with a hand tiller!
We really need a tractor. Some day...
We have tomatoes, peppers and watermelon started, the garden mapped out and rest of our seeds in hand! The kids are taking full advantage of the freshly tilled dirt (the chickens are too!)
Happy gardening!
Our friendly bee-keeping neighbor came over with his big green tractor and got done in an hour and a half what would have taken us a day (at least) to do with a hand tiller!
We really need a tractor. Some day...
We have tomatoes, peppers and watermelon started, the garden mapped out and rest of our seeds in hand! The kids are taking full advantage of the freshly tilled dirt (the chickens are too!)
Happy gardening!
Monday, April 29, 2013
157 days
After 2 weeks of pawing, grunting, groaning, restlessness and down right discomfort may finally had her baby!
I counted and recounted her dates and realized that apparently I can't count because I was two days off! Still, 155 days went by and still no baby! however, on day 155, during the evening chores I noticed her bag had tripled in size and she walking weird. I checked her three times that night and nothing.
The next day- Friday morning (day 156) when i went out to do chores and she wouldn't leave the goat house so I thought it was getting closer. I had an appointment 45 minutes away so I figured shed probably kid while I was away... But I came back and still no baby!
As the day wore on she wasn't eating or drinking and looked even more uncomfortable... By Friday night she looked miserable. Her bag was solid, red and hot. She wouldn't lay down and I was getting worried. I called my uncle who's been raising goats for 15 years and he came up to check her. He couldn't feel any babies in the birth canal but he said she was really close. At this point she hadn't laid down in over 12 hours. I was so worried about her.
At 5:30 am Saturday morning I went out and she had a long string of goop hanging out. I was so excited... I knew it would be soon. I was so glad to not be alone and have my husband with me as it was both our first times to watch a goat deliver! She started pushing at about 9:50 am.
When the bag came out and popped -almost immediately after a hoof shot out! I knew it wasn't presenting right so my husband went in and tried to find the other foot. It was bent under the baby's mouth. He couldn't get a hold of it so I went in and couldn't get it either...( man are those babies slippery) i started panicking so my husband tried again and finally got it... It was really stressful and scary but all went well!
What was weird was I watched dozens of YouTube videos of goats in labor and giving birth and May had all the signs for two weeks before she actually delivered! But... 24 hours before they all went away and she just stood in her house. She didn't paw, bite at her belly, didn't pant.. Didn't make a sound until we had to intervene and pull out a leg.
Im kind of glad in some ways that we had to assist because now we know we can do it. It definitely made us feel better about next season and having babies! So, on a beautiful spring day our first baby was born on the farm-
A 10 pound buck! Welcome to the farm Gandalf!
I counted and recounted her dates and realized that apparently I can't count because I was two days off! Still, 155 days went by and still no baby! however, on day 155, during the evening chores I noticed her bag had tripled in size and she walking weird. I checked her three times that night and nothing.
The next day- Friday morning (day 156) when i went out to do chores and she wouldn't leave the goat house so I thought it was getting closer. I had an appointment 45 minutes away so I figured shed probably kid while I was away... But I came back and still no baby!
As the day wore on she wasn't eating or drinking and looked even more uncomfortable... By Friday night she looked miserable. Her bag was solid, red and hot. She wouldn't lay down and I was getting worried. I called my uncle who's been raising goats for 15 years and he came up to check her. He couldn't feel any babies in the birth canal but he said she was really close. At this point she hadn't laid down in over 12 hours. I was so worried about her.
At 5:30 am Saturday morning I went out and she had a long string of goop hanging out. I was so excited... I knew it would be soon. I was so glad to not be alone and have my husband with me as it was both our first times to watch a goat deliver! She started pushing at about 9:50 am.
When the bag came out and popped -almost immediately after a hoof shot out! I knew it wasn't presenting right so my husband went in and tried to find the other foot. It was bent under the baby's mouth. He couldn't get a hold of it so I went in and couldn't get it either...( man are those babies slippery) i started panicking so my husband tried again and finally got it... It was really stressful and scary but all went well!
What was weird was I watched dozens of YouTube videos of goats in labor and giving birth and May had all the signs for two weeks before she actually delivered! But... 24 hours before they all went away and she just stood in her house. She didn't paw, bite at her belly, didn't pant.. Didn't make a sound until we had to intervene and pull out a leg.
Im kind of glad in some ways that we had to assist because now we know we can do it. It definitely made us feel better about next season and having babies! So, on a beautiful spring day our first baby was born on the farm-
A 10 pound buck! Welcome to the farm Gandalf!
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Agony ...
Well, the first goat I ever got is due to have her first set of kids anytime! She's at 153 days and it's torture waiting for her to kid!! She's been showing signs since last Saturday.. Apparently she has her very own copy of the "does code of honor" -And she's using it!! It's agony waiting... I check her several times a day and can't imagine whAts taking so long for them to come out! Yesterday I noticed a giant protrusion on her right side! I could hold it in my hand .. I'm pretty sure it was a little goat bum! I can't wait to finally have them come out!!
Friday, March 29, 2013
Oh Easter...
Pictures of clean, well dressed, smiling children sitting Amongst playful, cute, cooperative animals is a far, far cry from what happens here on this farm...
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
It's a family affair..
Bottle feeding, among many other things, has become a family affair.
And I wouldn't want it any other way!
And I wouldn't want it any other way!
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
New addition
We brought a new critter to the farm today! A beautiful blue eyed bottle baby buck. He's the sweetest little thing, I am enjoying snuggling him in my lap and watching the joy on my children's faces when he bounces around and nibbles on their clothing..
I know what his future entails- a dirty ol' billy goat but I am SO enjoying his baby ness while it lasts ! And I am already anticipating the colors he will throw for spring 2014 babies! I think him & the girls shall make fine, colorful kids indeed.
His name is Bill Bo Baggins.
I know what his future entails- a dirty ol' billy goat but I am SO enjoying his baby ness while it lasts ! And I am already anticipating the colors he will throw for spring 2014 babies! I think him & the girls shall make fine, colorful kids indeed.
His name is Bill Bo Baggins.
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