Mack Daddy

So here is another story about the day we brought our Nubian goats home.

So anyone who knows us knows that Kevin and I can't have a crazy idea without our two best friends to come along and watch.  Good thing they came too, they actually proved to be quite helpful.  Our friend Glen is a native of the North Bay, so when we needed to get around Penngrove, CA, Glen was able to get us there and avoid traffic.  Sweet!  His wife, Megan, was an animal science major at UC Davis (one of the best vet schools in the country) and she grew up around horses.  So she was able to give us helpful tips about livestock.

Once we got home and settled in the goats, our other friend Michelle came along with her dog Mack.  Thank goodness, because Harley was freaking out about the goats being around and Mack proved to be a good distraction.  We left the dogs in the backyard and walked down to the barn to hang out with the goats.  After about 15 minutes, I decided that the goats needed water so I headed up hill back to the house.

As I was walking up the hill, I could hear whining.  So I started to move faster and then I saw him.  Mack had fallen into the above-ground pool and couldn't get out.  This has been my worst nightmare since we moved in to Blue Antler.  We are only keeping that pool until we have our house-warming party in July. After that it is gone!  I panicked and tried to pull poor Mack out, but he was too big.  So while screaming at the gang to get up to the house and help, I kicked off my shoes and jumped right in, clothes and everything, and pushed him out.  After a quick shake off he went right back to playing with Harley.

Here is the picture after this whole event and you can see the pool and the two dogs playing again on the side.

After all that excitement it was time for pizza and beer.  So I called the local pizza joint and ordered, "The Mack Daddy."  Seemingly appropriate, huh?  It was a HUGE pizza, but the five of us had worked up an appetite and not a single crumb was left.

And now for your entertainment...... Jumping Bean Goats!

A New Beginning

Okay.... here goes, my first post.  

Just in case there are select few out there that are interested in happenings of my life, here is an ongoing diary of Blue Antler Farm.  What is Blue Antler Farms?  Well, the simple answer is that it is my home.  But the more complicated answer is that Blue Antler is what I have been dreaming about for the last 4 years.  For years I have read Martha Stewart and Sunset magazine, watched our friends collect pounds of tomatoes off their home garden, and attempted home soap-making in my tiny apartment kitchen.  I read about a more sustainable living, but could not even recycle.  But more importantly, what I wanted and needed was space.  Space to cook, space for a friend to crash after a glass of wine, space to entertain, and space to grow my own food.  Well, Blue Antler is my answered wish.

For the last three weeks we have been moving and unpacking boxes as well as painting a few rooms.  Well today was our first big step in making this place a real farm.

Everyone!  Please welcome Buttercup and Oreo!

These two lovely girls are baby Nubian Goats.  We drove up to visit Split Rail Farms in Penngrove, CA and fell in love with them.  We originally wanted Nigerian Dwarf Goats, but decided that we had the space for a larger breed.   Our plans for these two ladies is to use them as lawn mowers.  We have about 2/3 of acre that needs clearing out, so these two are going to do the work of weed whacker.  In about a year and half, we'll choose one of them to have a romantic weekend at a stud service, and then fresh milk, goat cheese, yogurt, butter, and soap for us!  Oh I am so excited!

So what's it like driving an hour and fifteen minutes with a baby goat in your lap?  Not so bad!  Not a single bit of poo or pee on us!  Feeding them has been much harder.  Since these babies are still only 10 weeks old they are still being bottle-fed.  And although we made a beautiful baby bottle out of Lagunita beer bottle and some nipples, it is nothing like mother's warm milk.  It was a little disconcerting, but we will get over this little hump.  Hopefully they will be hungry in the morning.  Here is picture of me trying to feed Butters (Buttercup).  Not the prettiest picture, but who looks good trying to feed a goat?

So that is it for right now, it is getting late and someone (um, me) needs to get up early to try and feed those goats again.  Wish me luck!