Blind Hog and Acorn

Kidding Round One has wrapped up, just one more to go but not for a couple more weeks.  #450 finally had her twins the other evening- luckily the baby monitor picked up the kids squealing as she birthed them in radio silence.

Put hay out for the first time as temps dropped in to the mid-teens again.  All the livestock and poultry are doing very well.

Christmas wreaths are indeed up at last,  straw Yule Bucks scattered here and there.  Blind Hog and Acorn will have the farm to themselves for Christmas Eve- first time in over 30 years!

Excited to see how the prime rib roast from the steer will be.  Centerpiece for the Christmas Eve feast, of "rare who roast beast..."

Seven kids on the ground, but we lost one due to being squashed at 4 days old by its nanny.  Is not the first time, not will it be the last.

Along with kidding going on, new solar lights installed on the goat sheds, outside the old goat barn, and up at the hay barn.  With a full charge they should do just fine.  So far the goats in the old barn appreciate the evening lighting.

Due to the kidding, Acorn has been keeping close to the house.  Blind Hog has about caught up on his reading and promises to start an exercise regimen "on Monday..."

Busy enough week for Blind Hog and Acorn... Oil change, appointments, errands, trip to KC and coming home with a new gander to be the mate of Miss Priss.  Blind Hog said it made Acorn sound a bit like a matchmaker...  Goosey matchmaker...

First kids of the late 2024/2025 season have been born- twin doelings.  Was all of 12F when they were born. They are bouncing around and doing just fine.  The other 8 does put in early with the bucks are likewise segregated with the new momma.  Easier to keep up with goats going into labor this way.  Thank goodness for the baby monitor in the goat barns!

Blind Hog and Acorn had a delicious feast with the kiddos at the Springfield House.  The farmers had their fill, ,visited a while, then made it back to the farm at dark to do chores.

Speaking of chores- the Mahidra got a new battery which called for contortions and manipulations to get the old one out and the new one in.  Acorn also got a toilet running like new and a bit of toilet functionality was learned.  Garden is now cleared of all dead plant matter, goats sleeping in both barns, ,alternating nights it seems.  No kids yet, knock wood.

Next week a trip to KC is on the agenda- return items to IKEA and pick up a new gander on the way home.  Blind Hog's cardiac event monitor is chugging along- Acorn made him a fancy holder for the cell phone monitor. 

Chores getting done while the weather is nice.  Blind Hog set in a drainline to go under the drive to the hay barn.  Much needed little project there.  Acorn has been busy in the garden pulling out dead plants and mulching.

Blind Hog also got his 4 week cardiac monitor applied- will see how that tracks him though now he thinks he may indeed have an "inner ear thing..."  Will find out but at least "boxes are being checked off..."  Process of elimination.

Acorn sent a third "fan mail" letter off to David Attenborough.  He has actually responded in the past, however he is 98 now.

Macaroni and cheese bubbling in the oven.  Almost time for the farmers to have their lunch.

Indeed, Blind Hog has made it to 83...  Lots of chocolate cake was involved.

Major chores completed on the farm- both goat barns all cleaned, powdered and hay laid on the floor.  Miss Massey's distributor woes now a distant bad memory- all is peachy with her!  Driveway repaired from the last flash flood.  South roof "rescrewing" completed.

Now to get into the garden and a few more piddly things

In light of an upcoming birthday, Blind Hog has spent today pretty much watching soccer...  Premier League as well as cheering on Kansas City's Women's' team, who handily beat North Carolina to advance to the semi finals.

Electrical work has been completed in the old goat barn- old light fixtures replaced, a section of wire too and a switch.  Has been a good 15+ years since that was first put in.

Rain finally made it to the area- BIG rain...  Washed out part of the county road and the driveway but the fescue is rejoicing. Fields might just make a bit of a comeback if hard freezes can hold off.

Big chores getting done on the farm and just "mildly" interrupted when Blind Hog had "an episode" that is still undiagnosed...  Was it an especially brutal round of A-Fib that he usually walks around with, or an inner ear thing???  Hopefully he will find out, however the whole thing kinda knocked the wind out of his sails.

Good news is that the south side of the roof is finally getting attention from Acorn- only 12 more rows of screws to replace.  One of two goat barns has been raked and scooped clean.  As soon as the wind switches from the North, Acorn can use a leaf blower and push the remaining goat pebbles out.

Election Day looms, goats tend not to care too much about it..

Tractor Joy turned to Tractor Woe, then back to Joy...  Acorn fixed the ignition/firing issue and the Massey Ferguson is running well.  Now if she can just figure out the house wifi...  Need to find a way to "bundle" clients and reduce the load on the router...

Blind Hog has 4 cords of wood, ready to burn.  

Still horribly dry, but also unusually warm.  Goats are in full breeding cycle. The bucks are happy for the work.

Acorn went to a 3 day conference up at Lincoln University, based on helping mentors in small ruminants be better educators, and during that time ol' Frank Pinkerton died peacefully in his sleep.  He will be missed.  If we all can live as long and lively till 96 as he did!

Meanwhile on the farm, things are moving along as they are wont to do.  Blind Hog got the new wheels on the finish mower and even cut around behind the dairy barn!  Then the tractor slowly died out, as if out of gas.  Tank refilled, she refuses to start.  Joy joy.  Acorn has already broke down the carb and all is well with the fuel line- checking for spark next.

Always something around here...