Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Wild Flowers



I have lived in Washington my entire life and have gone to Mt. Rainier National Park many times...but never in the summer. While my kids were here we decided to go see the wildflowers in bloom on top of the mountain. It was cold and foggy when we arrived at the park entrance. We asked the ranger where to see the wild flowers and he told us that we could see them at Paradise (top of the mountain) and also along the road. As we traveled the windy road we saw lots of dandelions and Queen Ann's Lace but that was about it. I guess technically a dandelion is a wildflower but I wanted more.

And more we got. It was beautiful. Magenta, blue, pink, purple and yellow flowers covered the ground like someone had planted them there.



The wild flowers are in full bloom right now as they are late because of our crazy cold summer.



I highly recommend if you live in driving distance of Mt. Rainer you take the drive up the mountain to see nature at its best.



We also saw this....



But this got the most attention...

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

My Kids


My kids are coming tomorrow. I can't wait. Tomorrow is my birthday and I can't think of a better birthday present than that.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

A Silk Purse




Pepper Ann had her first haircut today to get ready for the Western Washington Fair and as the hair fell away I liked this girl better and better.



Now that's what I'm talkin' about....

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Minter Bay Orient Express



This is Pepper Ann. I always say nobody wants Pepper Ann. She's been for sale for awhile and there has been no inquiries. I'm starting to call Pepper Ann a sleeper. The goatfarmer's not yet convinced but I see something in this pesky little doeling. Maybe it is just that she loves to stand and pose as long as I scratch the spot between her front legs. I'm going to give this little girl a shave and take her to the fair. We will see if she is at the front of the line or way in back. You know me...I hate being in the back. I get cranky.



She stays in her pasture. Not like some goats we know.



What?

Friday, August 12, 2011

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Kiwi Pig


Watch that Dog


Are you lookin' at me?

They're back. The yard is full of eagles. This photo was taken from the door of our bedroom. I don't really know if they would take a small dog with all that salmon running up the creek but I don't want to take a chance. What a way to go.
Imagine having huge six foot wingspan birds flying through your yard and resting in the large fir trees all around. Feathers and poo fall from the trees. Occasionally we get a salmon carcass for the dogs to discover. I was talking to the neighbor, who is an official feather collector for the Native Americans, that the eagles were getting to be a bit of a nuisance. We aren't talking one or two but more like 50. Well you would have thought I said I hate America. He couldn't believe I could feel that way so I back-pedaled as fast as I could, as two eagles flew past us blowing back our hair.
We did agree that people wouldn't believe it unless they saw what we see every day. Sunday while down on the beach, Hubby and I witnessed two eagles fighting in flight. As they tumbled over and over with talons locked we stared with our mouths open. One hit the water with a splash, stunned and wet. Stormy being an excellent bird dog jumped in and tried to retrieve it. Luckily her training is solid and Hubby was able to call her off the big duck with the razor sharp beak. We watched it for awhile wondering what to do when it started to swim. Using the breaststroke it made it to shore and pulled itself on a log. It seemed fine, just needing to dry its feathers. I have only seen an eagle swim one other time and that was when it locked onto a salmon and wouldn't let go. The salmon pulled it in and so it swam with its wings until it got that fish onshore.
I have been able to witness first hand the recovery of the Bald Eagle and I am here to tell you that they are alive and well in beautiful Minter Bay.



God Bless America

Friday, August 5, 2011

V-test


As you know the herd is on milk test(the herd being Cora Belle who is the only one milking) and with the information came a letter that explained the need for a verification test if you had a doe milking in the top ten goats of their breed. They sent the top ten numbers and Cora Belle was smack dab in the middle of the top ten in Nigerians. A verification test was in order to get recognized by ADGA.
Today was that day when another tester came out to verify that CB was indeed milking a whole lot of milk. The poor tester had to drive to the farm three times instead of two. The first to set the time and the next two actual tests where the milk is weighed and sampled.
CB is consistently at 4 pounds a day. She was giving 6 pounds for a while and if we can hold at 4 we should be looking good. I use the collective we. CB is bored with the whole process. She has better things to do than eat alfalfa and make milk like all the rest of the girls in the top ten. She is flirting with Pepe and worried about where the Tiny Giant went off to.
We have done 5 tests with 5 more to go. Eat Cora Belle Eat.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Welcome Home



Pepe came home from being on loan. He left a boy and came back a man. The girls are all in love. Cora Belle is having a hard time concentrating on eating....which makes more milk. Even the grandma goat, Lexi, is finding herself alongside his pen more times than not.

Lucky has the misfortune of being Pepe's companion. He is in shock. Sometimes he has to go to his safe place and think happy thoughts.