The summer is just flying along and people are already starting to make reservations for Fall travel. If you are interested in visiting our area for Fall color, it generally is the last two weeks of October and the first week or two of November. Of course, there are many facts that go into creating the 'peak week' that are impossible to predict, especially this far in advance.
Also, a bit of explanation about the scrolling banner above. I had a guest make reservations for early November back in late March. On April 9th, we had a horrible storm here and it resulted in some of my computer equipment being destroyed. I lost all of the contact information and exact dates for that reservation and am working from memory. I am hoping the party will revisit my website and contact me after reading the scroll.
There will be some changes for The Farmstead beginning in September. We will be going to offering the full breakfast only on weekends and having a continental breakfast during the week (Monday - Friday mornings). I will be working in my capacity as a licensed professional counselor beginning in September. Initially, I had considered only accepting guests on weekends but I wanted to remain open for my business guests.
Also, with many stores having Christmas in July specials, it reminds us that it is time to think about the Holiday season that is coming up. Remember you can book the entire house for your family. Contact us for details.
On the farm, the goat kids are really growing and so very playful and rambunctious. They love to play a gave of 'king of the hill' where one jumps up on a large rock or stump and then keeps the others from joining her. When they run, they can't just run but instead have to bounce and twist as they go! The calf is really growing and starting to find that she can't always go where the goats are able to go. The goats have a few holes in the fence that they use to go from field to field. The calf was able to follow until recently but she still seems to be able to manage by going the long route around. Nan, the mother goat who adopted the calf, calls to her whenever April is out of sight. April is not twice as tall as Nan so it is a sight to see when she is nursing.
Life if good on the farm and I am truly blessed.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Time Flys.....
I can't believe it has been so long since my last post. Everything is in such full swing here on the farm. Here are some updates:
The Angus calf, April, that came to live with me when she was 2 days old is growing and full of herself. I taught her to nurse one of my dairy goats and everyone immediately adopted the routine of me bringing the feed bucket, the goat jumping up on the milk stand, and the calf snuggling up to the "dairy bar" so to speak. Once the calf was six weeks old (around June 1) I started only facilitating this process once a day. I needed to share the goat milk with the lambs that I was bottle raising, born early May. Well, April seemed to adapt, was happily grazing with the goat herd, and continued to do well. The lambs were happy to get the fresh milk over their milk replacer and everyone was happy. Well, two weeks ago I had some major dental surgery so shifted things a bit to no locking up the goats at night. Usually I would walk out in the evenings and open their hut for them to go in but the weather was warm and they were just fine sleeping against the side of the shed rather than inside. Interestingly though, when I went out in the AM to let the lambs nurse, the goat was "empty" which was very odd. I found my answer to this riddle later when I spied Miss April helping herself and the goat not only standing for her to nurse but also fussing over the calf as if she were a goat kid. Now you have to understand that this calf is literally twice the size of the goat - an odd couple. The lambs came out on the short end of the stick but are grazing well and also just about two months old so I knew they would be okay until one of the two goats that are due to deliver kids any day freshened. These dairy goats are like Holstein cows in that their milk production far exceeds the needs of their offspring.
Sure enough, a goat freshened last Saturday but that is a really long story and will be the next blog.
The Angus calf, April, that came to live with me when she was 2 days old is growing and full of herself. I taught her to nurse one of my dairy goats and everyone immediately adopted the routine of me bringing the feed bucket, the goat jumping up on the milk stand, and the calf snuggling up to the "dairy bar" so to speak. Once the calf was six weeks old (around June 1) I started only facilitating this process once a day. I needed to share the goat milk with the lambs that I was bottle raising, born early May. Well, April seemed to adapt, was happily grazing with the goat herd, and continued to do well. The lambs were happy to get the fresh milk over their milk replacer and everyone was happy. Well, two weeks ago I had some major dental surgery so shifted things a bit to no locking up the goats at night. Usually I would walk out in the evenings and open their hut for them to go in but the weather was warm and they were just fine sleeping against the side of the shed rather than inside. Interestingly though, when I went out in the AM to let the lambs nurse, the goat was "empty" which was very odd. I found my answer to this riddle later when I spied Miss April helping herself and the goat not only standing for her to nurse but also fussing over the calf as if she were a goat kid. Now you have to understand that this calf is literally twice the size of the goat - an odd couple. The lambs came out on the short end of the stick but are grazing well and also just about two months old so I knew they would be okay until one of the two goats that are due to deliver kids any day freshened. These dairy goats are like Holstein cows in that their milk production far exceeds the needs of their offspring.
Sure enough, a goat freshened last Saturday but that is a really long story and will be the next blog.
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