That new car and goat smell

Earlier this month we bought a new car. We were hoping to keep the old one until our next scheduled trip to NY in the fall, but it was not to be.

The first cargo we carried in the car can be seen in the back window of this photo:

Need a closer look?

Goats, naturally. Two 8-week old Nubian doelings. They very sweetly held their bladders during the hour-long trip until we released them into the barn.

This is Kaylee (aka "The Ears" - they stick right out of her head).

And her half-sister Saffron.

The sheep are very skeptical, but they all seem to be sharing space alright. The goats are curious, friendly and sweet. They are a bit timid about going outside by themselves, but they seem to enjoy eating the thistle, and that rocks my world.

This is Poofy. I went to take a photo of the adorable chick poking its head out from her wing and every time I snapped a picture, a new chick popped out. Can you see all three (plus the backside of the fourth)?

I leave you with goats being adorable: 

Sheep and baby chickens

Spring is just a time of cuteness. Are you ready?

This was our first chick of the year, born last week. Bill stole her from her mom to bring her into the house and show me. Bill is a big softie when it comes to baby chickens.

Here are our sheep. From back to front: Donna (well, Donna's butt), Clara, Rose (the little lamb) and Martha. 

Martha and Rose, her lamb:

Clara, being brave and scared at the same time as she usually is:

Baby chickens! They are all one week old today. There are six under the care of Poofy, who is an excellent mother. A few other hens are sitting on eggs now. Some of them are a bit more scatterbrained, but if there are new chicks, I promise to show them to you when they are fuzzy and adorable.

A moment of self-realization

I was out in the field this morning when I had one of those moments that temporarily blows your mind. You know the kind when a bunch of little acts finally adds up all at once to a wacky realization?

I had just shoveled sheep poop out of the barn and was watching the chickens and turkeys run about as I started to fence in an area for just zucchini and cucumbers that is the size of most people's full gardens. I was thinking about Bill's coworker who is visiting us (the sheep, really) this afternoon and what this might look like to her. And it blew out my brain.

To outsiders, I'll bet we look like farmers. My jeans are ripped and covered with grass and dirt. My dusty work boots covered with straw (and manure!). I think I smell like hay. No makeup. Hair doing whatever it wants. Dog, cats...old farmhouse with mud tracked into the kitchen and tools everywhere. Picnic table overflowing with tomato and pepper plants. Half the front field tilled up.

I feel like we aren't playing anymore. That this is totally now a thing that we're doing and my brain just realized it.

WTF! I'm a farmer. Who does that??? Crazy.

A full accounting of sheep will come soon, but in the meantime here's a photo of Bill and Clara.

Say "awww."

 

Spring things

Our turkeys are laying eggs...in nest boxes, which is quite a coup. They tend to want to lay out in the field and then we loose them (the eggs and the turkey hens) until a raccoon finds them and that's not good for anyone.

Asparagus is poking up.

AND THE BARN IS BEING READIED FOR SHEEP AND GOATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6 Southdown sheep (2 ewes and their 4 lambs) are arriving next weekend. At the end of May, we'll be adding two Nubian doelings that are terribly cute and hugable. There will be many, many pictures. Promise.

Most drab clothesline ever

But, here's what is in bloom tonight to make up for it:

The fiber post

Look - I made a cowl with the crazy colored yarn.

And another cowl from handspun Rambouillet.

And socks of COLORS.

Also, Bill made our first beer label, and gave us the name Sweaty Owl Rainy Day Part Time Brewery.
 

Growing things

Spring is going to come to Indiana if only through the force of my will... I will force it to come by planting radishes in my cold frame.

The radishes, along with spinach, cauliflower, turnips and cabbage were planted last week and yesterday I added some lettuce, Brussels sprouts, leeks, broccoli, parsnips and beets. That sounds like a lot, but it's only a row of each. Until we put up our chicken-proof fence, I've only got a limited area for planting. I also tilled for peas which I hope to plant tomorrow.

I am even more excited about planting this year because Bill bought me a seeder for Valentines Day. After the chicken plucker for my birthday last year, I think this will be my favorite not-really-a-present-but-it-amuses-me-to-pretend.


Tomatoes and peppers plants are growing in aquarium of toilet paper tubes.

Coop and Corrie are still growing too. This morning, as I attempted to repair my homemade lightbox from kitten damage, they decided to inflict more damage.

Here is Corrie stepping holes in the tissue paper and attacking a strip of tape that was surely asking for it.

I have fiber photos to show you too... Maybe I'll write two posts in one week which might keep my mom from nagging me about blogging for a little while??