Blind Hog and Acorn

Getting ready for more goat kids  and goose eggs! Fun on the farm!

Blind Hog and Acorn missed the worst of the last winter storm that went through, almost 3" of rain though.  They are not complaining.  Well, they are complaining about the county road and lack of maintenance...  But what else is new?

A few nice days to get chores done in preparation of yet more goat kids. Garden too could use some attention.

After the podcast, Acorn took Sam and the pregnant goats for that walk up in the east field- goats stayed up there a few hours before coming back to the barn. Dairy kids are growing like weeds, will be able to start milking the moms here in a bit.

All in all, a nice, uneventful week on the farm.  Nothing more strenuous to do that walk to the mailbox and throw a log in the woodstove!  That, and making ice cream but make SURE you know what you are grabbing out of the fridge! Ha!

Blind Hog got to do all the chores by himself for a whole week, timed perfectly with The Big Snow  while Acorn was down in Florida!  Florida??!! Not exactly a vacation but a"rescue" of sorts- getting her dad out of ICU and into hospice where he was able to have a peaceful end.

It was go go go for all concerned; crazy schedules, lack of sleep, emotional rollercoasters.  The PSA take home message is that it is never to late to write up your medical Living Will, DNR wishes, even a legal will:  https://www.freewill.com  You are welcome.

Acorn slept after lunch today, burned up a pot that was boiling down sap.  It happens.  That is one 8 ounce jar of syrup that was lost, plus the 3 gallon pot.

Onwards!

Four dairy does with a set of twins each- lovely!  Other than the first set of twins born during single digits, the others did very well, save for the last kid who had a front leg pointed the wrong way- Call the Midwife!

Grazing changes made, hay is moving out of the barn very slowly (for once!). Nice to have the grazing to carry the feed burden.

Blind Hog got two thumbs up from his cardiologist- good to go for another year. Acorn reports that "the sponsor" has their website up and working... All the small miracles!

Slow week on the farm- cold weather blew in and our farmers spent most of the time indoors.

Verdandi did kick off the kidding season with a set of twins- born at dawn when the temps were 0°F. Oy!  One kid was chilled so much that it would not stand, but an hour inside with some Lyle's Golden Syrup on her tongue and soon she was ready for milk and after that, her momma!

Calli, another dairy goat, has been doing a bunch of talking lately- she may go next. Acorn got all the dairy goats on the milling stand to give their hindquarters a trim- helps with kidding and milking.  Just in time for Verdandi's delivery!

A dozen 8 ounce jars of black syrup in the pantry- expect a bumper week coming up next week for sap. Temperatures will be perfect!

After another unusually warm week, Blind Hog and Acorn were not only able to work the goats and get them vaccinated, but also tap in 25 sap spiles into the black walnut trees, plus a sycamore.  

Acorn collected 19 gallons before the sap flow stopped- due to warm weather, but after the next 10 days the sap should flow again because it is going to get cold...  19 gallons boiled down to five 8-oz jars...  60:1 ratio...

Hay has been fed, woodpile loaded up.  Snow continues to fall...

Blind Hog and Acorn have to report that Winter is Back...  Fed out the first round bale of the season.  Cows and goats all tucked in for inclement weather, dairy barn prepped for upcoming kids. Of course- "Let's kid goats in January..."

Minor fence repair here, alleyway addition there.  Baking up goodies to keep the hungry farmers going.

Abbreviated history lesson from our sponsor to wrap up the show.

Just when you hoped 2021 would be the end of the Dumpster Fire that was 2020, we get to recycle that New Year wish for 2022!

Blind Hog and Acorn spent the past week finishing up farm projects and chores in the unusually warm weather.  Buck shelter has a floor AND bedding, goats have hay to nibble on, and the bunk feeders for goat grain treats are officially done. Phew!

Blind Hog and Acorn also have a sponsor this year!  Woo hoo!  Ok ok, so the sponsor is technically "in-house" but hey...  it is a start...

Black-eyed peas await!  Happy New Year!

 Blind Hog and Acorn are STILL taking advantage of the record warm temperatures- they built six new goat feeders from old ones.  Muy bueno!

Other than that, and rearranging a round pen that was inside the alleyway, that has kept our intrepid farmers out of trouble.

Time to sit back with something decadent and enjoy some Christmas Cheer!  Talk to you next year!

XXOO Blind Hog and Acorn 

Phew!  A busy and fun week for the intrepid farmers.  Blind Hog and Acorn completed a few more projects and even managed a day in KC!  The Kemper Museum! The Nelson Atkins! IKEA too!

Weather was sunny and nice for the trip and the next day? Almost 3" of glorious rain. The pastures (and livestock) are loving it.

Blind Hog and Acorn finally FINALLY got the goat barns mucked out, clean and ready for winter/January kidding.  Phew!

Only took one front tire repair on the Mahindra and removal of up-teen front end loaders of piled up "residue" raked up from the barns to get the job done.  Much better now, even though the pictures might not look that nice.

Cows are enjoying their new grazing paddock since we moved them over last Sunday.  Goats have a paddock all to themselves. Ruminant Heaven!