First visit with my new babies!

I got to go visit my new baby goats a few days ago. They are about 2 1/2 weeks old now. Soooooo adorable! If you remember, my plan was to get 2 little girls, then next year breed them once and sell the babies, so that they will pay for themselves.

Things change so quickly on a farm.

I went to see Jody, the breeder of my Boer goats. She had already picked out two lovely little girls for me.

This is Lily and Star. Stargazer lilies are my favourite flower, so that's where they got their names. Are they not the cutest??!!

Anyway, back to the story... as Jody was showing me the girls, I spied the most beautiful little goat just in behind them. I kept looking at him, but telling myself... No, I want GIRLS. He was quite the stunner, though.
As Jody and I were talking, and playing with the babies, she pointed the little boy out that had caught my eye. She said he was WAY to gorgeous to neuter, so he was still intact. She was going to get just the right home for him, and if she couldn't find it, she would just keep him herself, he was so perfect. Then, she offered him to me! Really, I felt so honoured! Before she had finished, I said YES, of course. There was just something about that little guy... he just felt like he was mine, from the moment I saw him. So, my 2 little goats have turned into 3 little goats, and now a possible goat business. Jody is mentoring me and helping me in figuring out how to make money from goats. I was just planning on getting them to eat some grass and weeds... My, how things change!! Who knows... maybe this will be my ticket to helping me to make my living from the farm. Things do happen for a reason!

I haven't named him yet, but this is The Boy....

This is the little guy... he has a bit of an eye infection, so we gave him some medicine to fix it up. That's why his eyes are purple!

The boy and his brother... mine is the one with the dark head

The little guy being a brat....

Magic Rat

Well, my battle with the Rat continues. I am losing.... bigtime. I have three different types of traps out - 3 snaptraps, a live trap that a client loaned me, and a RatZapper. I have tried all different baits - peanut butter, raw dog food, canned catfood, my sandwich, and cheese. Miz Rat takes it all... and not a trap snapped anywhere! Seriously, this is one talented rat! Everytime I check my traps, I am amazed. I almost want to let her live, she's so smart.
Except for that chewing in my walls.... GRRRR. She hasn't woken me up much lately... until last night. I had to get up and bang on the wall, and open the cupboard and put some fresh bait in the RatZapper, in the hopes that this would either scare her away, or get her GONE. It succeded in scaring her.... for now.

I'm not really certain where to go from here. All I have done so far, is ensure the Rat is eating well, and getting nice and fat and healthy. Here is a picture of the lid of my flour container that she chewed. The container has now gone to tupperware heaven.

There was a rat party going on in this container...!

:-)

Troubles with Vermin

Last week, as dawn was approaching, and I was letting the dogs out for a pee, I saw a rabbit. It is the first rabbit in my yard that I've seen since I moved in over 2 years ago. The dogs pretty much have kept them at bay, but I guess they are starting to come back at night. Now, I am excited to report (NOT!) that this year, I get to do battle with deer, slugs, AND rabbits. Oh, yippee.

Then, last nite, things took a turn for the worse. What could be worse than deer, rabbits, and slugs, you ask?
RATS. I discovered in my cupboard the other day that a rat had chewed through my tupperware containers, and had been having a party in my flour and sugar. With my new way of eating traditionally, I don't use these products much anymore, otherwise I would have noticed sooner.
The rats have come up from under the house. There is a little hole beside my hot water tank that they can come up through. Last nite, I temporarily blocked the hole with a piece of lumber and a stack of newspapers. I know they can chew through anything, but I thought it might hold them off for one nite.

I was kept awake ALL night by a rat chewing in my wall. I kept going and banging on the wall, hoping to scare it, but it only stopped for a minute or two, then resumed munching and tearing away. The dogs completely ignored it. Maybe they new it was in a place they wouldn't be able to catch it? Who knows.
Anyway, 5 am, and the chewing stops. All becomes quiet and peaceful, and I finally fell asleep.

Only to be wakened and hour or so later by squeaking in the wall. I'm pretty certain that damn rat had a bunch of babies in my wall, and what I heard her doing last nite was building her nest. Crap! So now, not only do I have a rat chewing my walls, and who knows what else, soon I will have a zillion rats chewing my walls!
I can't use poison, for if a dead rat is eaten by a dog, it will either get sick or die, too. I would normally use a humane trap, but I could only find them for mice, not for rats. So, I had to buy a snap trap today. Never used them. I had to get a lesson from some guy in the store, as even the lady at the counter couldn't tell me what to do!
Contrary to popular belief, rat traps aren't that easy to set without getting your fingers snapped off. Took me quite a while to figure it out and bait it with peanut butter. I unblocked the hole in the wall, and put the trap inside.
Now, I wait. I am so excited to think I might actually catch the momma rat. Then, I can look forward to a nest of baby rats rotting in my walls. Frickin' fantastic. I hope you hear the sarcasm dripping from this post...

It's a Brave New Year

I'm not sure why, but I am super stoked about this year. It's going to be an awesome year, I can just feel it!! I started the new year out right... I got my new fancy car yesterday. Drove home with it just fine. Cost me a zillion or so dollars to fill it up. Ugh. Hope it lasts more than a moment or two! I will be really, really watching how much I use it, and how often.
I spent the morning putting up ads for my CSA shares. The next month or so I will be doing a big push to make sure I get lots sold. I have also warned my friend, Elliot, to get his greenhouses ready, as I am going to start seeding in Feb, and won't stop until Aug. I need to grow a lot of veggies this year. I have also filled out a form to join 'Cowichan Green Community' where they list all the local growers of fruit, veggies, etc, so people who are interested in buying local will find it easier. So far, it looks like I will be the only farm listed in Crofton. On my form, I put that I will be doing farmgate sales, starting June 1. This puts a lot of pressure on myself, to get a new fence and gate done, so customers can shop in my 'farmgate' store, but not get attacked by the boarding dogs. I questioned whether I should put this in, but I figure it will help to keep me from procrastinating. If it's out there for the world to see, I'd better get it done!! I am trying to do everything possible to make certain this is a stellar year for the gardens, so I can reach my lofty goals a bit sooner. It's gonna be a busy, busy year!

Blogging 'cause I'm bored....

Actually, I think it's more because I am looking for reasons to NOT go outside right now. We are in a heavy rain and wind warning for today. Everything is already lakes and puddles from the last couple of days, but we are supposed to get another 20-30 mm of rain in the next 8 hours or so. Ugh. I will definitely be doing indoor jobs today. Like cleaning the mud off the floor from all the mucky little paws that go in and out each day. I am super-busy this season. Luckily, most of the dogs I have in are awesome, and get along with others quite well. Only 3 sleeps, and a bunch go home. I have to admit, I am pretty tuckered from all the activity! But, I think I have pulled in enough money to buy the car, and that was my goal. I've been turning away dogs for ages now. I actually had a few people call yesterday, wanting to bring their dogs in RIGHT THEN. I hate turning away business, but I had to! I apologized, then politely suggested they book by October next year. I don't know of any kennels or in-home services that aren't completely booked up. Nothing like leaving things to the last minute!!

Ok, I just had a daycare dog show up that I didn't know was coming... guess I need to start working again.

But first, I need to do a little update on chickens.

I first put a light in the Dorking coop over two months ago. Finally, for the last 2 weeks, I am starting to get eggs again. AND my other chickens are laying even better now. I am getting a minimum of 2 doz eggs a day now. Plus, I had my first blue egg the other day! That was exciting, and long-awaited. The blue ones are from the 5 birds I got from Amanda this fall. I had actually given up hope that I would ever get any blue ones. So, YAY for me!! It will be fun to give everyone some unique coloured eggs this spring with my shares.

Also, I officially sold my first share that comes with a deposit cheque. I have lots of people on the list, and will be sending out the contract in January, but it's kind of cool to get that first REAL one for this summer. I can barely contain my excitement for this spring! It's not going to be easy, I will have a crapload of work to do, but it will be sooooo worth every moment!

Off to work now.... have a great Holiday Season, everyone.... from all the crazy dogs and people at the Crazy Dog Farm!

Winter Solstice

Well, we have gotten through the longest night of the year. I am really more stoked than I should be, looking forward to more daylight again. Is it really that exciting?? I guess it must be!
One thing I have never, ever understood. They say that this is the first day of winter. Huh? I don't get it. For me, this is the MIDDLE of winter. We have the possibility of snow in Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb. Therefore, the middle of winter is NOW. We have 2 months left, then we start thinking it feels like spring.

The seasons, according to Kelly (forget societal conventions!!)

Nov-Feb = Winter
Mar-May = spring
June- Aug = Summer
Sept, Oct = Fall

Of course, this can vary a bit according to the weather, and may change over time as climate change affects our world more and more.

I love living against the grain;-)

Cars and other things...

First of all..... only 3 sleeps until the winter solstice!!!! These days are getting way too short. I hate having to exercise dogs in the dark!

The last few weeks since my car died could have been really, really hard. Instead, they were relatively easy. Thanks to some wonderful people who just stepped up and volunteered to help out. First, I had a client loan me her 'work' truck. Which was a 2006, REALLY nice truck. I had forgotten how useful a truck could be! I got lumber with it, and bigger loads of cardboard, and really made use of it while I could. Then, a good friend of mine who was going away for the holidays, loaned me her car. The truck went home a few days ago, but I had the car, so there really hasn't been any long time where I was without transportation. I also found a cheap car to buy. I will be picking it up just after Christmas. It's definitely not my dream car, but the guy who owns it has babied it... it has newer brakes, and newer tires, so at least I should feel safe in it. The only downside, is that it's an ex cop car, so is a gas guzzler. I've never had a gas guzzler, and I'm not looking forward to it. It only has to get me through the next 5 months or so, then I can sell it and get a little SUV. Gotta get a car for the dogs! I would get a  truck, but it is not heated or air conditioned for the dogs, and that just won't do.
I just got word yesterday that I have been approved to get $300 from the government for my old crappy car. It is just getting scrapped. It is an incentive they are offering to get older, less 'green' cars off the road.

It is after 7:30 am (just waiting for another dog to come in) and I am FINALLY seeing a glimmer of light outside. The sun just takes forever to come up...

The lumber I purchased is being used to make the rest of the little beds for fruit trees. I have decided my goal this year is to get the rest of my orchard in. The sooner in, the sooner I can start getting my own fruit. If the beds are all made and ready, I can just go buy one little tree at a time, so it will be easier on the budget. I am getting so close to being done!