What is new?

Well life is slowing to a mere mad scramble now. Take care of the animals and make sure the water stays open for drinking. Birds harvested and pens and coops cleaned for next season.

With Christmas around the corner I have decided to stay home and send out our Christmas cards. The cards were designed and made by us. It was a fun project and everyone participated.

My one Guernsey has decided she does not like being milked by machine so she needs to be hobbled every day twice a day or she will kick. Sure I milk her by hand still but sometimes there is a need to other things that can be done while she is being milked. I don't understand but I am trying and am being patient with her. I don't blame her as I remember how when I would express for the children when breast feeding it wasn't always the most pleasant of sensations. For some cows the let down process can be painful and if brought on quickly I can only imagine what the poor girl is thinking (what beast is attacking me now........kill it with a kick!)

We are about half way through our winter supply of hay and will request some more soon as I would like to save some of the second cutting for the Does when the Kidd.

The chickens are laying up a storm and I have a regular client who picks up 200 eggs about every week or so. Nice. We have been without eggs for so long I will be sure never to let the layers run out again. Supplemental income during the winter is a valuable asset since not much of anything else is available.

4-H is quiet and I have realized that the leader is slowing down on her exuberance. They are not planning as many events since the turn out was mostly us and their children and the burden to help the club thrive should come from all the members.

So I am off to clean the Kitchen and get ready to start baking cookies. The children are busy doing their school work and later we can bring the trees in for decoration. What fun.