We're Getting Closer
BBQ, pushy as always |
Lucy, 4 months pregnant |
I want very much to milk them, (I have visions of cheese making) but not before I know the babies have had their fill. I could bottle feed them, but I don't think I want that much extra work.
I am terribly nervous about the upcoming births. I belong to an online goat group and to hear them talk, all kinds of terrible things can happen.
We've been lucky. The only casualty in our goat operation has been me. Last week, BBQ got me again. He was in a smaller pen while we trimmed the girls' hooves. As I walked by, I noticed there was an empty bucket in his pen and I wanted to pull it out before he trampled on it.
He was at the far end looking away from me. The little pail was within easy reach, so I slipped my hand past the slats on the gate. That cranky, old goat did a 180 and smashed my hand against the gate panel before I could pull it out. I thought he had broken my hand!
Thankfully, it was just a bruise. My hand was small enough that when he smashed it, it collapsed into the grooves of the slatted panel protecting me from any further damage.
I can't win with that goat! No other animal in my lifetime has given me so much grief.
The Other Home Front: Preparing the other house to sell is going slowly. We got most of the big things done, but there are still so many little things to do and we can't seem to make headway.
I'm a big worrier and this has been weighing heavily on my mind. You feel so helpless when you can't physically go out there to get the job done.
I'll be glad when we can put the house up for sale. That'll be another millstone off my neck.
Marketing Notes: For those of you interested in doing your own newsletters, I read something interesting the other day. The blogger suggested not wasting space on greetings or other fluff because the majority of people won't read it.
That made sense to me and it's advice I plan to follow. I noticed when I peruse newsletters, I never read the fluff. I scan for items that might interest me and read only those things. If the newsletter has some good articles, I save it to a subfolder in my email box. Otherwise, it gets deleted as soon as it's read.
For those of you who get newsletters: Do you scan them briefly or read them end to end?
***
...so is anyone taking side bets on whether I'll survive Greg's retirement? I'm wondering if I should lay odds.
How about BBQ? The odds are better I won't survive him. Grumpy goat!
Comments
By the way, when's the big BBQ for BBQ? I'm guessing his days are numbered and the number isn't big.
Ref BBQ Keep him for Greg. Maybe he's a 'man's goat' and the two will get on like house on fire - BBQ following him where-ever he goes, pining when Greg wanders out of vision.
Re: Surviving retirement.
Ha! Both!
Re:BBQ
I wanted to bbq his mean old self in April, but we'll be so busy I don't know that it'll be feasible.
Unless he changes his ways, he's dinner.
But in a farm environment, we need everyone to live by the rules.
BBQ is beyond gorgeous and I suspect he'll sire some beautiful babies, but I don't know that he's worth the trouble. We'll see what he produces in March.
I've grown very fond of the girls.
Re: BBQ and Greg
Methinks it's a dominance thing. He sees him as the head goat.
I'm afraid he must see me as the big bad wolf.
You'll survive Greg's retirement. A little worn for the wear and tear of breaking down two households into one - which would be the case for anyone - but happier for it :-)
As for newsletters, I don't read the fluff. I scan for what interests me and keep it moving.
Good luck with the house. I know what you're going through. We keep thinking about the stuff we have to do to get this house ready to sale. The list is so daunting we'll probably be here forever.
Re: house
I know. It does feel like it'll never get done. And timing is so critical.
We're on other end of the house thing, purge and pack for a move, not to mention the actual house hunting. Of course, then we'll be doing the same thing with our existing house. It's a never ending circle.
Ref: newsletters
I'm a skimmer. I read just that which interests me.
Good luck with it all :)
I'll let BBQ know that you vote him for dinner. :)
Keep those recipes handy. I may use them. :)
Good luck with BBQ. Naughty ol' goat.
And I think you'll do fine with the retirement. I was a little worried this time last year before Hubs retired, but it's been 10 months now and we still get along fine. =o)
Hubby and I haven't lived together full time in 14 years. That will be an adjustment!
That is interesting about the newsletter. Yeah, like everything else I like brief ones and scan them if they're too long.
I hope all kids are born fine. can't wait to see pictures of them!
As for Greg's retirement - you'll both need to adjust. But as time passes, I'm sure you'll find a new pattern of daily life.
Good luck with preparing the house.
He's such a mean goat which is a shame. It would've been nice if everyone got along.