2.8.10 10:10pm

Snow, snow and more snow. It's been snowing since yesterday afternoon and shows no signs of stopping. We're so lucky here compared to others tho. I actually don't mind it as long as we have what we need and these days, thankfully, we almost always do.

One thing I do worry about is water. If we lose electricity we lose the pump. I truly need to get a hand pump installed but until then I store water in jugs and I don't have nearly enough to tend all the animals. But I think I've found a storage solution in the way of 4 large food grade barrels plus several 5 gallon jugs. I still have to retrieve the barrels and a few of the jugs but I think they would get us through a spell and would work well to haul water from the creek, if needed.

Everything else is going along well except that our renter lost his job about 3 weeks ago which is a huge strain on my meager income. I'm sure it will all work out soon tho.

The bucklings are growing like weeds and doing very well. they've started eating other things here and there and Frodo loves raisins. Only 4 1/2 weeks till they can be weaned *~* I got a good picture of Nigel's very cool spots and coloring, they're both beautiful but I really like Nigel's coat.

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We took updated pictures of ourselves today, I fear I look more outdated than updated but at least I'm not past my expiration date :)

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Now off to shower before the fire dies away completely and the Burrow goes into hibernation for the night :)

Passive Flora

Dreams :)

Winter At The Burrow -pictures-

Winter at The Burrow

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The veiw

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The Herb garden in winter and Rosemary in a mini greenhouse
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Nik, the official snow shoveler

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Raspberry, the official Burrow escort, on the newly enclosed porch.
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Snow goats

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Ruby

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Matilda

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The girls, warm in their stall

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Poor Herc, temporarily chained
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Nigel eating
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Raspberry helping Nigel eat
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Frodo eating
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Frodo finished eating
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The Wolf Moon
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1.21.10 Burrow Bucklings

Our Wednesday trip for the bucklings was smooth and enjoyable and we made it hope with two wonderful little fauns. Our goat girls were 3 months old when we got them and much bigger and wilder than these tiny bottle babies. There's only a days different in ages but the size difference is huge. The little black one attached to Nik as soon as we took them out. Their names are Frodo and Nigel and if things go as planned we will never need another buck, they have completely unrelated mothers and fathers. Of course, things going as planned can be a bit tricky but we'll see.

We're so thankful to Ages Ago Acres http://www.agesagoacresnubians.com for these little gifts. I can attest to the health and happiness of these babies and, after meeting Susie and her daughter I have no doubt that every member of the of their herd and family is as healthy and happy. Thank you so much!

The newest additions to the Burrow family

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Frodo

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Nigel

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Aside from feeding the babies and the everyday stuff we're working on getting more pens built. The roosters are going to need a pen each for when they have hens and then we may need a new chick pen or two. A few years ago we added good chicken wire around the whole bottom of the chicken pen but we' don so many things since I'm not sure if it will still hold them.

We also need to get the larger rabbit hutch built. I brought Juniper to the porch when the weather was so bad because her water was freezing solid within minutes. She's very happy here, being the nosey Bun she is, but she needs more room and the porch smells like rabbit pee *~* I also want to get her a companion so they'll need a huge hutch to live well.

About 2 weeks ago, i think, I time traveled to the future and brought home an incredibly exciting device which has made life so very much easier and, with it's futuristic powers, has even given us more time and space ! It's called a portable dishwasher and is just an amazing thing. When the dishes are dirty we rinse them lightly and put them in the washer, every two to three days I roll the washer to the sink, hook it up, turn on the water, plug it in and 30 to 45 minutes later out dishes are returned to us clean !! seriously, the dishwasher is a wonderful thing and has given me more time and counter precious space :)

And Now I'm off to feed the babies :)

1.19.10

It's late, 10:00, late for me anyway. I'm listening to the rain outside. It's a lovely gentle cleansing rain. The kind of rain I remember from summer nights, the kind best to dance in, watched only by the forest people. I know of course that it is January but I can't quite recall how the winters used to be. How they were before the earth changed I mean. No matter, I am a little chameleon, I will adapt, make do, survive and fully live, whatever may come.

Tomorrow we're taking a small trip to pick up two more goatlings. Little bucklings to be specific. Bottle babies just a week or two old. Full blooded Nubian boys given away. We'll have to wait another year for milk but we'll know how everyone was raised and things will hopefully go smoothly. If we had more room I would like to keep both as bucks but since we have so little I will probably neuter one as soon as he's mature enough and, depending on how hard it is to keep an adult buck, leave the other as he is. We'll have the milk we need and the babies will be easier to sell to good homes.

I sold several of the hens recently to make room for spring chicks. We have 2 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Barred Rocks, 2 Austrolorps and 1 Ameraucana and old Hen left. We also have Fox a RIR Roo, and Sir Didymus a Barred Rock Roo. This year we'll raise Barred Rocks, RIR's and Black and Red Stars.

I'll get to bed now for the long drive tomorrow but I'll leave a couple of very cute pictures :)

(((((((((((((((( Haiti ))))))))))))))))))))

There are no words.

Many miracles, prayers and jujus for our brothers and sisters in Haiti.