"Bucking the system"

Last week was marked by a tough day. Robert and I had decided to try to get the fencing done for the buck pen and none to soon, either! Javar started the romance talking to his pen mates while I was cracking the whip telling hubby, "We've got to get him out of there or we're going to be bringing babies home come February because we'll have snow up to our elbows!" Of course, a little bit of my anxiety and impatience came from the excitement about bringing the new addition home. It seemed it was a day for friends to stop by and visit too, but after four hours at the corrals, Robert asked if I was ready to go get Nacho. He didn't need to ask twice. We jumped on the four wheeler and began the trek over to get Nacho. I brought him one of our collars and a leash wondering what fun I would have luring this poor goat away from his security and family. I put the collar on the boy and to my amazement, he acted as though this was an everyday occurence! We began the trot back to our pen and he happily galloped next to me only stopping occasionally to chop on a green weed.
We decided Javar and Nacho had to be put in the new pen with the new digs at the same time so no one had established dominance. Being a woman of advancing age, college-educated, experienced with animals, I must shamefully admit I had a complete blonde moment, brain-fart, moment of insanity, whatever one will call it. Breeding season is NOT the time to introduce two bucks of nearly equal size, especially when the two older does were obviously very much in season. Within two minutes of introductions, they decided to attempt to knock each other into submission. Nacho has a rounded scur on the top of his head that found a spot on Javar's head and opened up a gusher! Javar dropped to his knees, shook his head and immediately began rearing back up at Nacho! He may not be too smart but he is determined. Nothing could deter these two. I cannot see an animal suffering at all, especially in the name of building my show herd and began to feel deep guilt building. It was my fault that Javar was knocked senseless and now bleeding! Robert said, "Oh, I am not building one more barn! The paint on this one is not even dry." I weighed my options, talked to Robert, watched Javar shake the blood off his face and decided this was not meant to be. I called Anne and walked Nacho home. Javar has healed up and he enjoys our wether Prince's companionship! If we do this again, it won't be the weekthe does are ovulating, I work an extra 12 hour shift, and take on the nursing supervisor position at work. I think my emotions were already on overload but everyone seems to be happier over this decision.

Buck Barn (part II)

Okay, the building of the buck barn is taking a wee bit longer than we had expected, but isn't that the way it is with all projects? It was a slow process. Our attempts to pair energy levels with work schedules and the Wyoming weather is interesting to say the least. One thing I can say about Robert is that once he starts working, it nearly takes an act of Congress to get him to stop, that or the promise of a meal. By the time he decides to take a break, I am truly afraid to sit down thinking I may not be able to regain the strength to get back on my feet. This is really my project, my goats, and my request so you would think I might be a little more ambitious but ambition beat foot out of this situation long ago! When we began this project, we took a notebook into to Gillette and started with a list of bare necessities to gain an idea of what this was going to entail. Particle board, trim board, paint, posts, sack crete, ect. began adding up. We priced everything as Robert went over the blue prints in his head, came home and added it all for a grand total. It was less than we had expected but Robert reassured me that there are always hidden costs!

Little did I know that someone would help themselves to our tools we left in the main barn. Robert's tool box for barn use is a five gallon bucket that collects all sorts of odds and ends. When we went to the barn for our second day we discovered the entire bucket gone. Now someone ended up with an assortment of nails, screws, fencing staples, tie wire, and pliers but they also ended up with Robert's saws-all. I truly despise someone who thinks they are entitled to something they are unwilling to work for and this is no exception. It shut down our productivity for the day and the loss took the wind out of our sails! I know this isn't what Robert meant by hidden costs, right? On the brighter side of things, all eight goats were fine but none of them were talking, Robert got a new, albeit lesser value reciprocating saw, and finally, the barn work continues. This week Robert goes back to work and I have added two extra days to my work-week and we are still not quite done. We did have a nice break celebrating our 21st Anniversary in the midst of all this chaos this week so there is always something to be thankful for in our lives. The barn will wait and hopefully, the bucks are patient with us. Natasha, seen in the background of this picture, assures us that she will keep a closer eye on this tool bucket for Dad! We'll be attempting to finish up this job this coming weekend. Fingers crossed and good thoughts for us please!

Buck Barn!

Well, it doesn't look like much but this is the beginning of our new buck barn. Between me going back to work as a nurse, Robert working 12 hour shifts, and the days already getting shorter, this has been a slow endeavor.
We are going to keep our two bucks in an 8X8 barn and hope this will be sufficient. I believe that this may be my husband's subtle attempt at limiting my number of bucks. I thank Anne so much for being patient and holding Nacho for us while we build this barn.

I do have to admit, it was good for me to go visit Nacho the other day. He is housed with two other bucks and they seem to enjoy the bachelor life for now, but the large, older, and more experienced buck is starting to think it's about time to put on his "cologne" and bulk up to impress the ladies. Although some may find his scent enticing, I do not, nor would anyone else with a human nose! Thank goodness that Robert had already begun this barn before I took him over to meet Nacho! He walked up and the "aroma" hit him and knocked him backwards. I guess the memory of this smell is forgotten in a mere nine years much like the lack of memory mothers experience with labor when they choose to have another child. The look in my dear husband's eye was almost as funny as the shutter that overcame his entire body. He instantly wanted to know why I wanted one of these stinky creatures, let alone two! I then explained the price, equipment involved, and success rate of artificial insemination using the experience I gained from four years of Speech and Debate. The visit with Nacho was cut short and Robert said nothing more.

I do hope that Robert takes some pride and comfort in the thought that Javar, our other buck went over to the new buck barn, examined it, and then spent a fair amount of time this morning defending his new pad from Natasha's rude, uninvited entrance through the wall instead of using the door. I think Robert gained Javar's approval but Natasha, Lyrical and the rest of the girls would like a new place, too.

Bitten by the Caprine bug!

My husband, who truly is one of the most easy-going, supp0rtive and kind people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting has nearly reached the end of his rope with me, so it's time for me to call it to an end. 'What are you ending?' you may ask, and I shall respond with 'my goat obsession!' Okay, "end" may be a little overly dramatic, "tone-down" is closer to the truth. I did talk hubby into attending the Wyoming State Fair and the goat show this last weekend and he "happily" obliged me. One good reason to attend a dairy goat show is to truly gauge what kind of lines you have, what qualities you want to intensify and which ones you need to weed out of the breeding programs. This last show was quite a wake-up call for me and a point for my husband to say, "I told you so!". I have my favorite milking doe in our little herd and he has his favorite. Needless to say, these two are not the same goat. Robert's favorite goat is the first milking doe we got and she can put out some milk. I like the shape and capacity of her udder but she is "fluffy". She definitely puts all her groceries to good use and we get asked often if she is pregnant with triplets again. Natasha is our sweet short and fat girl, but we love her. My favorite doe, Lyrical is the opitome of my idea of a dairy goat. She is tall, slender and very dainty. Her udder is nice and she milks decently, but not the quantity that Natasha puts in the bucket. I laughed the other day when my husband told me that Natasha would beat Lyrical in the show ring. I was the one who helped our kids build their show herd all those years ago and I take pride in researching the qualities that judges look for in placing the National champions. Well, obviously the judge for the goat show looks for different traits in goats than I do, but that is my point on the reason I need to keep going to these shows. Nearly every goat he put up in the top winners was in my eyes "fluffy" and slightly squatty in my humble opinion, but did have beautiful udders. I do like to see a deep chested goat, but was surprised this judge looked for "meaty" girls. I didn't say anything hoping that the dear hubby didn't notice these goats and the characteristics this judge found irresistable but of course, he waited until we were just in the vehicle on our way home before he said, "Told you that Natasha would beat Lyrical!" I truly hope it did make him feel better that he may have been right, but I still got the last laugh because during the show, I bought a purebred buck that I had my eye on for months but he already had been sold. THANK YOU SO MUCH ANNE! :) Robert will be spending this weekend building my buck shed so please send a little pity his way, he's probably going to need it. Nacho Man, we can't wait to bring you home.

Rachel Ray Cookware!

For those of you who have not read the blog "Nanny Goats in Panties", I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a lighter, more irreverent look at life in general. I find myself looking forward to seeing the updates of the blogs I follow, but this one is near the top of my favorites. Today, I noticed there had been a new blog entry at NGIP and while I listened to Rachel Ray cooking in the background, I noticed there is a giveaway for Ms. Ray's pots and pans set. Now, I know the whole lottery premonition did not turn out that one time, but I think the fact that Rachel was making Chicken Riggies (chicken Rigatoni) on my television at the exact moment I read about this give-away, that is a sign from, well...... at least the people at Food Network that those pans are meant for me to shimmy-shake while making dinner for the dear hubby. I am a fan of both of the women mentioned in my blog today and look forward to posting a blog announcing my win! I do hereby promise that once I win these tools of the godesses, I will make a huge batch of Chicken Riggies, take pictures and post it in a blog along with reviews from family members who would only be too happy to brutally honest with my accomplishment, or lack of for anyone interested in how this prize works out for me! I hope you may get an opportunity to visit NGIP. The address is http://www.nannygoatsinpanties.com
May everyone have a De-lish day! :)

On The Road Again....

Well, first let me mention how much I despise the drive from our town up to the neighboring town 40 miles away, but because we are not "blessed" with numerous shopping opportunities, I find myself on this trek in search of Wal-Mart deals on the essentials of daily living.
I do have to give credit where credit is due as The "Coal-Miner's 500" has drastically improved since passing lanes have been constructed, but caution is advised while traveling at even slightly above the speed limit between the passing zones. The exhilaration felt cannnot be summed up in words when one is suddenly passed on a hill after verifying several times in the rear view mirror that no one is in the near vicinity besides commuters traveling in the opposite direction. The tight squinting of my eyes to avoid watching the head-on collisions not only is inadvisable reaction but also the action I blame for the deep crow's feet around my eyes. Twenty three years of taking my life into my own hands on this highway is something I do not take lightly and debate how badly I need toliet paper and laundry detergent everytime I even consider taking this trip. With all that being said, I was asked if I would like to return to my beloved nursing job in our neighboring town. I left this job because of the drive up and down this "near-hit" highway, but also because last year at this time my Multiple Sclerosis began testing my resolve to not be beaten down by anything. I have missed working but especially relating to real human beings who haven't heard all my stories for the hundredth time. I am looking forward talking about something besides udders and shell thickness on the chicken eggs. So, after much debate, I have chosen to face the chaos of Highway 59 to fulfill my need to relieve some of the bordom I unwittingly burden my family with on a daily basis! Wish me luck and if you need anything from Gillette, let me know, I'll be there every Wednesday and Thursday, because there in no need for both of us to face this obstacle! :)

When good kids go bad!

Well, I have always been a believer in the idea that name given to a child may influence the person he or she becomes. An example of this phenomenon is the name Denise for me. I have known several Denises and for some reason, these women end up being very good friends in my life. I can say the handful of Denises I am thinking of right now are hard-working, sweet and honest people and probably the reason I am drawn to them as friends. Now, as a nurse, when I check back a patient named Tyler, I know, having a Tyler of my own, this kid will give me a run for my money and usually will have something logged in an appendage from a poor choice. There are exceptions to every rule but I do use the name thing as a guide. With all of that being said, yesterday I got a very interesting call from my Mother-in-law asking if I was missing two goats. I stated that I didn't believe I was but after hearing her description of a "black & white" pair of goats with one being a banded male, I knew exactly what she was talking about. I told MIL that they were no longer my goats, that I had sold them to a woman two days ago and did I want to know why she was asking about them? The giggle I heard from her gave me a tiny bit of relief because my mind was working overtime about the possibilities of the question posed about if I was "missing two goats". She responded that these two goats were now impounded at the town Animal Control Shelter because they were wandering through town! I went down to look at the local dog pound and to identify these two "runaways". There was little doubt in my mind about the identity, and, of course, they were the two kids my daughter had named Prince and Princess because of their white crowns.
They were wailing first because they had been housed in a kennel next to a barking dog and second because they wanted to go home! I immediately contacted the people who had bought the goats to let them know these poor kids were now in the "slammer". The man I talked to was horrified that the goats were not only in the pound but found a way to escape the yard. Both of the new goat owners were at work but said they would figure out how to bail the goats out of the "pokey". My curiousity got the best of me and I asked, "Are you still calling them Prince and Princess?" The answer I got led me to laughing hard enough for tears to flow, he said, "Nope, we decided to change their names to Bonnie and Clyde and maybe that was a bad call on our part!" Needless to say, the kids are scheduled to be picked up and returned home. At least this Bonnie and Clyde got pinched and avoided the whole "shoot-out" scenario! They will serve their time and hopefully live a law abided life from this point on!