What a Month ..............

September has been. We had 2 deaths in the family and 2 weddings , plus I had a terrible bout with allergies/hay fever. I just haven't felt like blogging , it's been a month of mixed emotions and expressions for sure.

The goats went to their new home a couple of weeks ago , I still miss them. Dh and I are going to show the new goat owners how to trim hooves next week , so I'll get to see them again. We delivered them and when we left they seem pretty content in their new surroundings. I'm so happy I found them a wonderful home and owners that will take up time with them. They are just a few miles away and the lady who bought them told me to drop by anytime I wanted to see them , she's a wonderful person and I know the goats will be happy there.

The guinea hen is still on her nest and the eggs should be hatching the first of next week. So I've been keeping a close watch on her , we will have to take the keets once they're hatched or they will not survive. I don't like doing that , but guinea hens don't have much success with raising their young.

I did manage to get away to a Pow Wow on the 18th for a few hours of fun. We stopped at a produce stand and bought a basket of peaches on the way home. I'll blog about the Pow Wow next week , have some pics to share.

We're suppose to have cooler weather this weekend , looking forward to the cooler weather after the long hot summer we had.

~ Many Blessings ~

JoyceAnn

One More Try .............................

The guineas have been busy all Spring and Summer trying to hatch some eggs. But each time they began sitting , something has raided the nest and eaten all the eggs , fortunately the guinea hen has gotten away each time.

I noticed last week they had been hanging around in the chicken run , half of the penned area has weeds waist high since the chickens don't stay in there and are free ranging each day. I thought at first they were under the weeds for shade , but one day last week I went out to check on the goats and I heard that call they make when laying an egg. So I decided to look around and see if I could find the nest . I found the nest and it's inside the chicken fence area , so they may hatch some keets after all. There were 10 eggs when I took this pic , but there are 16 now and she'll probably lay for another week before she begins sitting. I hope she hatches some keets since we're down to one guinea hen. That sly fox made off with 5 guineas this past Spring , so we need a few more hens.

~ Many Blessings ~

JoyceAnn

Hope .........................

Your Weekend was Wonderful !

~ Many Blessings ~

Making Tough Decisions around the Farmette ..................

I've made a tough decision and although I feel sad about selling the goats , I know I must. When we bought the goats about a year and a half ago , we built a shed and installed a large lot around the shed. We had plans to fence in a larger area around it so they could browse and graze during the day and would be housed in the smaller lot/shed at night to keep them safe from predators. But things didn't workout as planned , Dh had already taken a pay cut when we got the goats and shortly after that he was put on short time. He's been laid off every other week for over a year now and we're not sure what the future holds.

So we had to cut back and the fence was put on hold , I thought the job situation would get better , but it still looks bleak. I've been thinking about this for awhile and last week I made the tough decision to sell them. I ran an ad on Craigslist and a wonderful local couple called the next day , they came to see them and agreed to purchase them. They'll be here for another week , while they get prepared to house them.

I'm going to miss them dearly, but I know for now it's the right thing to do and I'm very thankful they'll be going to a good home. I hope to have goats again in my future when the economy gets better and we're able to get fencing up. It's been a wonderful experience and I'm thankful for all the wonderful blog friends whom have helped me gain the knowledge of taking care of them along the way.

~ Many Blessings ~

JoyceAnn