Saturday, April 27, 2013

The Girl Next Door

Our new little goat, Skipper, is in love with Jenny Goat, the neighbor's old fat goat. She is mean as H E double hockey sticks.


He better be careful what he wishes for....

Friday, April 26, 2013

Zoo Babies


Back in July, when Willow's little Blackberry was born, my friend brought her friend out to see the baby llama. Her friend is a vet tech for the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. Apparently she went back to the zoo and told of my wonderful colorful baby goats to the keepers at the Kid Zone.  The head keeper contacted me, came out to see my goats, then started the process of setting me up to be an official "zoo vender". It has been a ten month process but like she said, "the zoo doesn't do anything fast".  I am pretty excited to have some of my colorful babies for all the world to see.

Last week, I had an appointment to visit with the keepers and see the areas they will be keeping the babies.  The keeper that I have been working with was called away to an animal behavior seminar so I met with Natalie, the zoo biologist. When she met me at the gate she said, "Are you Wendy?" when I said I was she said, " You just looked like someone who likes goats" Oh man....I try really hard not to. I know she meant it as a compliment but I'm going to have to make that appointment for a haircut and spend some of my money on clothes and not a new herdsire.
We started out with a tour of the hospital where all the lions, tiger, and bears have their treatments and surgery. I would have loved to see a large animal having surgery.....I saw a budgie.

I was then shown the quarantine area where the babies will spend the first month. It is big and airy and I'm sure they are going to enjoy all the special treatment that they will get while waiting for their public debut in the Kid Zone.
Next we made our way to Kid Zone goat area. It looked like a lot of fun for a goat. Tables and stumps to climb on, a huge scratching brush, a hut to get away from annoying children, and all painted in bright fun colors. Everything was clean, well organized, and a farmer's dream. Imagine going into the barn and having all the supplies you are ever going to need right at your fingertips. I have a thing for spreading clean shavings and I saw a mountain of shavings bales that took my breath away. I looked with a critical eye and only saw the best of care and organization.

They have a wipe board for everything.

I have three does bred to kid within three days of one another. We need 4 bucks out of these three does. We expect the kids to arrive the first of May.


I'd better fit in a haircut before then.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Kids these days

Yesterday I couldn't get my computer at school to work. I ran around the building looking for our tech support guy that I'd seen earlier. I found him as he was rushing out the door. I told him my computer wasn't working and I needed help. He told me to call the help line because he was late getting to another school.
Dejected I walked back to my desk. I didn't have time to call the help line. I had to get back to my students.
As I sat at my table with my 3rd grade "special ed" student he looked at my computer screen and said "I can fix that"
And he did.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Out of Hibernation


Well according to my family who is tired of reading about Wendy the Turtle it is time to shake out the cobwebs and dust off the blog.  A lot is happening around the farm this spring. We have had at times a difficult winter with surgeries and the loss of our two dogs weeks apart but we have survived and are going into spring and summer with lots of energy for milking goats and making cheese.

Cora Belle kidded a couple of weeks ago with the three prettiest babies ever born on the farm. I mean ever. Two bucks and a doe in my favorite colors. She is milking enough to feed three babies and give me some for cheese. I have three does, Wedding Belles, Hazelnut, and Boots, due the first week of May. All together. I'm calling these my zoo babies. The Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium has ordered up to 4 wethers from me for their Kid Zone. I am very excited to have my babies at the zoo.


This is the only time you will hear me say I'm hoping for bucks this year.