Blizzard Warning!

They don't heed the weather, though, do they? The wind and the snow roar on over the hill, and around the barn, and they just snuggle in and nap.

It is getting cold, now! The children were dimissed from school three hours early today, due to the potential of 25-35 mph winds (gusts to 45!) and snowfall. Hope my hubby can get home before dark!

Yesterday the good man enclosed the NE corner of our barn and that is now our milking parlor! It will be so great to do the milking in a controlled environment, no sparrows, no chickens. It will be so much easier to keep clean! All that's left to do is install countertops, shelves and cupboards. Hubby spent until after ten last night at it, then left to do some maintenance for work. Isn't he something?

Loss at Amon Eruanna

Aunt 'Letha achieved her heart's desire last Sunday. She went
home to be with Jesus.

Aunt 'Letha was my husband's great aunt, and was a fixture out here from the time he can remember. After moving here, I came to know and greatly appreciate her character, faith, and just the fact that I could always depend on her smile and the twinkle in her eye. She lived in the house across from us, next to the old church. The hardest thing right now is looking out of my kitchen window at her dark, empty house.

Aunt 'Letha endured more loss and tragedy than a lot of women. She survived two sons, two grandsons, a great-grandson and her husband. Yet remained she strong, optimistic, and full of joy. Real joy, now, not just depending on circumstances to make her happy. Real, permanent joy. The joy that can only be achieved when you're confident about where you'll spend eternity. She knew, and she wants everyone there in Heaven with her! And wouldn't hesitate to take you by the hand and lead you to the promise of getting there.

Good night, Aunt 'Letha.

Speckle is a goat for now

Speckle was given to us after our flock was already established, so we kept her seperate so they wouldn't pick on her. Well, when winter 2007 loomed cold, we moved her from her private quarters in a custom-made hutch near the house to the barn, and let her stay in with the goats, still seperate from the rest of the chickens. We knew she would be warmer in the barn. Gradually she would mingle and gain acceptance with the rest of the chickens. Our rooster Lester actually became quite smitten with her. But we always joked that Speckle thought she was a goat rather than a chicken, because at night she always roosted in with the goats when she had full freedom to roost with the rest of the chickens. Also, she would frequently wander up to the house, she was the only chicken who found the hole in the gate. My daughters and sons always found a treat for her, a scrap of leftover or a cherry tomato . . .

Suddenly this winter we discovered that she made the jump into roosting with the rest of the chickens. Kind of bittersweet, really, that she had decided she was a chicken.

Well, yesterday morning she must have decided she's had enough of Lester and the rest of the crew. I opened the door to take some scratch grains into the hens, as I was going to leave them shut in since it was so cold. Speckle came and stood in the doorway as I held the door open, as if she were struggling with the choice. As she stood on the threshold between the worlds of poultry and caprine, Sissy came over and touched her nose to Speckle's comb. Speckle accepted her invitaton, and spent the rest of the day with the goats, and the night.

I wonder where she will end up tonight? Its cold again today, but the sun is out, so we opened the doors.

Mangus is doing great, over a week old now and so playful!

Name

What better thing to do on a cold January afternoon but take a nap in the sunshine!? This image was captured on the 'barn cam' this afternoon. Golly, our buck, gets to stay in the barn during the coldest days. We haven't had a bad odor problem with him . . . yet . . . so he's in the pen by himself. Then the goat pile is, from back to front, Duncan, Ginger, Sissy, and Baby. Erika elected not to be in the goat train, and is sleeping with her head under the hay bunk.

The name we've chosen for the buckling is Mangus Coal, the two names my brothers-in-law suggested to us! We may be leaning towards keeping him as he has some unique characteristics that are new to our herd.

whew

OK, here is Sissy's little buckling, born this morning at about 9:55. Just him, no brothers or sisters. He's had a drink and we're working on another one for him now. He can stand and walk. Sissy is doing fine and acting like herself again already.

Now we wait until about Feb 8 when Erika and Baby are due.

Thanks for the prayers . . .

Just kidding

Well, nothing to report other than today looks like it will be the big day. All prayers are appreciated. 'A' had to be at work today so I'm on my own. I think my sis in law may be able to come over for a little while. Lets all pray it goes smoothly. I'm a ball of nerves.

Will update soon . . .

Still Waiting

Well, still no kids this morning. Sissy, however, is still jolly, eating well, and still willing to run from the barn to the front gate for a slice of whole wheat bread.

Hopefully I'll update this later with news!

start

Amon Eruanna Adventures

aka Grace Hill Happenings

Hello? Am I coming through OK?

Feeling the need to be expressive and share with others, I'm starting in this forum to share the adventures on our part of the Hill. Most will be goat related, some chicken related, some child related. Maybe some photos here and there. Haven't cleared this with the techie in charge here, so it remains to be seen if this will actually fly.

On the goat front - Sissy is due today to kid. Lord willing and everything goes smoothly, I'll have kid pictures up soon. Prayers are appreciated!

Oh, a picture of Sissy: