More soaps

some cool molds

tiny blue flower soaps that will be embedded into the other soap.

Ducky embeds

Plaid soap

Ducky soaps scented with peppermint.

Cross soap, scented with "Amazing Grace" fragrance.










Angels.










Car, train, scented with peppermint.












Plane, rocket, scented with peppermint.









Leaf, pumpkin, with goat milk, scented with orange and clove.

What to do?

Doctor yesterday ... still on antibiotics and cough meds. Hubby is determined to keep me in this time and I agree. He doesn't even gripe now about the goat chores. It's hard to stay in, but even harder to be sick for so long. So, I've had to really try to keep indoors interesting. Soap making, stained glass making, etc. This is a good time to work on my project for my cabinet doors, the stained glass that is supposed to go in the top cabinets. Rosie is enjoying my constant company. (She is my Maltese.) I'm making lots of friends on facebook. What else is there to do? Please let me know.

I'll behave!

Okay, so I shouldn't have mowed (cough, ...cough).

I mowed!

Yes, I am making soap. So far, just the melt and pour, but it's fun. Today was so pretty, and I couldn't resist -- I started mowing -- just a little -- I like to pour out the grass clippings for the goats to eat. Also, I am trying to build up my endurance. So, I knew it was just a matter of time before DH came running out to try to stop me. When he came out the door, I was on the path away from him. I kept looking over my shoulder to him motioning for me to cut it off. I just turned around and kept going. He kept coming. I mowed faster. Laughing. He came on, and when he caught up with me, he stopped me (I gave in because I knew he was right). Later I donned the face mask and then mowed a little more, much to his dismay. I'm not overdoing it, though, the sun made me do it. Ha.

Soap!

I've been trying to learn how to make soap ... looking on the internet and watched a friend make it. I'm getting more and more excited. I've been buying some supplies and as soon as I get well enough I'll be ready to get my lye and fats. (Course, I've got the goat milk!) My friends soaps are WONDERFUL! She has told me how to make them bubbly, and they are all natural and great for your skin!

Check out the other blog that I've been following: soap-queen.blogspot.com
she has pictures of all her soaps and instructions.

Feeling tired, recuperating slowly but surely. Not coughing as much. Staying in bed and on couch pretty much all the time. Gary is still taking care of animals (my hero).

Home!

Spent some time in the hospital, but now am home. This flu and bronchitis is rough! (Cough, cough) It's getting better, though. I am recuperating, and can not get outside. Hubby is doing the goat thing, and when it is muddy, he hates it. But when it is pretty, like today, it's not bad. I miss tending to them, but I can't right now. Hubby went to the saw mill today and sawed more lumber for our barn. I gave Rosie a much needed bath. I also got my plants in. That's about all we did today.

I'm so proud of my sister, she finished the 26 mile marathon in Clinton, MS. She'll sleep all day tomorrow and feel tired but proud. I'm proud of her. I am really wanting to get well so I can start back walking.

Prayers requested

Fighting the swine flu and bronchitis. Pray for me, and I pray that you keep from getting this. The doctor didn't send in the official "test" for the diagnosis, but said based on my symptoms, he was 99% sure that was it.

Rain, rain, go away. My goats want to play.

I have been enjoying lots of flowers, though, with all this rain. I've been able to have a new flower arrangement on my counter for the past few days. That is fun. I am really enjoying that! I took my old canister set and placed the green foam stuff to hold flowers, then put in Calla Lillies, red roses and orange roses. Also some of the Lantana that is exploding in my front yard! Pretty.

A long week

Yes, it's been a while. I appreciate every one of you who tell me you follow my blog. It's fun to write, but I also enjoy reading them, so please create one for yourself! Sabrina, you have a lot to write about! (My sister is training for a MARATHON!) I'm so impressed! I have actually started walking (before I got the flu) and now I will be ready for the 2020 marathon!

Flu is hard. It just stays on and on. I mean, there is an end to it, I know. But at this stage it just doesn't feel like it. It's been 8 days now. Symptoms have been dizzy, nausea, dia____, stomach pain, aches, some fever, aches, sinus problems, sore throat, aches, aches ... so much sleep seems impossible. I'm tired of TV, bed and no energy.

Okay, enough complaining. My darling Jayce is in the hospital and I can't visit her. She'll be okay, but she's had blood infection and it is taking 10 days of treatment. I love her so much.

I attended the New Life Live Conference in Dallas as a counselor last weekend. It was great, except for my illness that started then.

Hubby has been taking care of goats. I am dealing with a couple of people to lessen my Alpine herd and increase my Nubian herd. Exciting.

Fence Building!

I have been building a fence (ALL BY MYSELF!). I've been using my husband's table saw and his circular saw. (hammer, nails, screws, battery-powered screwdriver, sawhorses, etc ... get the picture?) I know, just take a picture. I will. I'm proud of my hard work, and my goaties are happier in their new pen (in the new barn).

In all this, I got a sticker in my finger! I know this sounds weak, but I actually had to go to the doctor (nurse prac) to get it out because it was too deep for me to get. Now, I'm tough, but I just couldn't get this one out. Anyway, I am giving the NP a lot of laughs and keeping her life interesting. My last visit to her was the attacking rooster leg wound.

But life isn't dull, is it? Yesterday my goaties almost saw their demise. I had to counsel all day, so I was gone all day. Hubby brought home a load of wood from the sawmill down the road (thanks Jimmy!), unloaded the wood, parked the trailer in the yard -- "all the way up there by the gas well" -- and noticed that the goats were out -- before rushing off to his next task, running to the store or something. You guessed it -- they just couldn't resist. The goats saw a new toy to jump on and off the trailer goes -- right into our house. Our garage to be more exact. Some damage/huge damage/I don't really know. Hubby thinks it's pretty bad, but can be fixed. Anyway, just Wednesday's excitement. Wonder what today will bring? :)

Be nice!

I sold a goat!

I'm very happy -- I sold my Nubian buck this morning! This means I am really a business, capable of making money for my feed! Maybe one day I will be able to retire on the earnings from my farm! (Just kidding - ha- get it, "kidding")!

He was sad to go, and yes, I was sad to see my bottle-fed baby, go, but that's business.

New Web Site

My farm now has an official web site for the sale of the goats and the information of my farm. The link is: http://sites.google.com/site/countrylifedairyfarm/home . Check it out.

Yards and Yards of Yard Sales

I finished the goats' corral. I just basically nailed up temporary walls on our unfinished "new" barn and closed in an area for them to graze. No mud -- lots of grass and grazing stuff! They have loved it. Next, I'll be enclosing an area behind the new barn for them to graze in, too.

We went to Eureka Springs, AR this past weekend, and wouldn't you know! It was their "Yards and Yards of Yard Sales"! Fun, fun, fun! I found a 1962 Barbie Dream House, the blue one, the first one ever out, and the one that we had as little girls! With ALL the cardboard furniture! Can you believe it? Pictures are to come!

We are going to Birmingham this weekend to see Gary's kids. Can't wait to see Sarah, as she is expecting next month.

I'm building a new corral for my goats. The mud and muck are just too bad now. I started today, but it quickly got too hot and I had to come in. I can work on it a little at a time this week and hopefully it will be done in a few days. Gary can't do much except tell me to be careful, since he had his gall bladder surgery.

Farm Pictures

The ducks loved the little pool, even though the pond was right there. Next are my Black-eyed Susans that bloomed so beautifully, the grandkids, Carson and Makayla playing with Capacapacino and Molly. Then another pictures of the baby goats. It is so wet and mucky right now that I told my DH that "I quit". But then I downloaded these pictures...

Husband's Recovery

My husband had to have gall bladder surgery last week, and he is doing well now. We believe this is what has been causing him a terrible stomach ache at different times for the past four years. He is going to feel so much better now. We are so grateful for the knowledge of the doctors that they can do this now.

The heat goes on for the farm. I can hardly stand to do any chores out there for very long at a time. This morning I did some repairs on our goat pen, fixed a latch on the billy's pen, fixed a latch on the new place for the feed (it's closer now), and then got inside as soon as possible. I bought some new alfalfa hay for them because their milk is not right right now. It could possibly be because I have been bringing them cuttings to eat and I may have given them something to make their milk off. I'll wait a few days giving them the alfalfa hay with their regular feed and see if that helps. The little ones will get some extra milk. Gary thinks it could be the heat, but I don't know.

Have a good evening, all.

MJ
My husband and I watched the Farewell to Michael Jackson today. It was so touching and moving and inspiring. I was so touched by Paris' words. I was so happy that Jesus' name was spread throughout the world today!! Wasn't that great?

Now I am thinking about my contribution (or lack thereof) to the world. I am finding myself with a desire to find some way to give -- some way that the Lord wants me to give. I want to do my part to make the world a better place. I want to let go of any pettiness and just focus on doing good, doing what Jesus would have me to do.

Rainnnnnnn! Yeahhhhhhh!

It is so nice to see the rain! Now my garden may do some good. I picked about 10 big tomatoes this afternoon, and a bucket of purple hull peas.

Before the rain started, my husband and I started on our "small, temporary" deck. This is what he is calling it. It is about 12' by 8', and we had to have it because of the pool out the back. We do have "plans" for the future years for an indoor/inground pool and a larger deck, but this is good for now. I am very happy to be getting it. My grandkids and I will really enjoy not having to go down a ladder to get to the pool.

I love to cut down trees and brush for my goats, since we don't have them in a large grazing field yet. (That will come with the new barn.) And I can't let them out too much, or I would have no rose bushes. So, I'm left with cutting trees and bushes and wheelbarrow-ing them over to the pen. Several times I've gotten poison oak or ivy on me and am trying to get through another round of it now. The itching is so bad.

My goats look so healthy and strong. I know I should be worming them, but they really do not look like they need it. I'll test them and see what is going on, I ordered a microscope last year and learned how to see if they had worms.

We had three grandkids Friday night and part of Saturday. Took them back Sat. Did not have company on the 4th, so we just rested.

We are going to work on our deck in the morning again, if it doesnt rain us out, and I'll try to get some pictures up of it.

Summer

Today we attended one of our grandson's birthday party. He's 2 yrs old! And so sweet! As sweet as chocolate!

It is so hot here, we are all just melting it seems. My garden is turning to dust, despite my attempts to water it. But I do have a lot of tomatoes, peas and bell peppers.

I want to work in my garden and make it all look wonderful, but my body gets so tired. I do feel the ages at work. But I so wonder why everyone does not have goats. When I feel tired or low during the day, all it takes is a trip to the goat place and my spirits are so lifted! They are all so loving and sweet. They all run up to me and try to shower me with kisses. They are always so nice and sweet and they have such trusting eyes and hearts.

We put an above ground swimming pool up and hopefully that will serve to provide a good source of exercise and some place to cool down during these dog days of summer. Also my grandchildren will enjoy it. Then my DH and I are going to work on building a deck around it this week.

I put a small blow-up pool up this week for my younger grandchildren. The ducks thought it was so grand! They waddle over to it and jump in and seem enjoy it, even though the pond is just a few feet away. I wonder why they love it so?

My DH is having a test done in the morning to see if he has gall stones. That will be a relief to him if this is found to be the cause of his episodes of stomach pain. Also tomorrow is the day mother will see results of tests for things going on in her eyes, and my sister will have an MRA done for symptoms in her eyes. Thank you, Lord, for being there with us all and giving us all that you do!

Kids Born!

Finally -- touchdown. Our kids are successfully born. They are so cute. I think one is a girl and one is a boy. I'm thinking: Molly and Capa-capacino. They seem so identical, with all the same marks and everything. They were born in the right position, thankfully. Born at 9:18 and 9:45 am this morning (Sunday). I watched on the monitor until time, then went to the barn, helped her deliver them, then I fed them some milk, and came back in. Still watching on the monitor. I'll post pics soon.

My granddaughter, Makayla, loves to watch a soap-making show, where they name one a Cup of Capacino. But she pronounces it capa-capacino, thus this name. And, it's fun to say.


I'm still taking my antibiotics, Aunt Francis :)

Addie, my friend who took me to the hospital (Jimmy's wife), made the best comment: I had my crocs on doing barn chores, and going to the hospital the board was quite attached with the nail, along with hay, mud and droppings. She said it was a croc of ______ . Literally. (Ha!)

FARM INJURIES -- BUT STILL THANKFUL!

Does it just go along with having a a farm? Or am I really a clutz? Anyway...for the latest injury: checking on Lizzie yesterday (she still hasn't given birth yet) I stepped on a nail and it went all the way through my foot. It was just as gory as it sounds. I didn't have to watch Emergency Room TV ... I was experiencing it. I couldn't get it out, so I called my friends to take me to the hospital as my DH wasn't home. He did meet us there, though.

We are usually very careful about not keeping boards with nails in it around. But Lizzie had just butted one of the closures off her door. So it was there for me.

Now, I'm stuck in bed once again for a while.

Lizzie is taking her time. Once a day she'll have contractions for a period of time, and then stops. They are very visible contractions. I guess she's been waiting for the full moon.

I am really glad now that I have my barn cam and it is set up right here at my bed. I am really enjoying being able to watch Lizzie from inside.

I am very thankful that the nail missed bone. I am very thankful for good friends. I am very thankful for antibiotics. I am very thankful for a doctor who was not afraid to jerk the nail and board out very fast. I am very thankful for my sweet husband who is waiting on me. I am very thankful for my barn cam! I still love the country life!

June 4th, Lizzie's birthing day, and now she is in labor. She just started. That is almost to the hour on time! I am loving being able to watch her from indoors on the barn cam.

I saw my granddaughter in her dance recital last week. She is on Youtube.com, under Makayla Kalt.

I have been digging a stream under our bridge. We will have fish in it soon.

Lizzie (our Alpine) is due any day now. I got a barn cam for my birthday and got it set up today. it is really cool to watch her at night. I'm also recording on a DVD so that when she does give birth, I'll have it.

Rooster Beware!

... or beware of Rooster. This morning when we were tending to the animals, I was attacked by one of my four roosters. Not fun. In fact, when he first attacked I was surprised. First, surprised because I usually have them running scared of me, not the other way around. Second, surprised by the intensity of the pain. He pecked me on my kneecap. The spur was on my leg. Both places broke the skin and drew blood. But the injury on my kneecap was hard and it hurt! It went to the bone. He only lasted another 5 minutes. (It had to be done.)

By 4:00 pm this afternoon, I couldn't walk. I went to the doctor. She gave me antibiotics and antibiotic cream, and told me to stay off it, take the antibiotics and come back Friday. She said we are having to watch for infection.

That was the first time they have had to treat a rooster attack! Well, it would be me!

Have you ever visited the Build-A-Bears Workshop? Whoa! These people are serious about their store! and their outfits! I had told Makayla that I would get her "some things" from there for her graduation gift and her dance recital gift. Well, today I made my first visit and was correctly initiated into the "grandmothers horror hour". (not really) Anyway, what I thought was going to be a nice little shopping tour turned out to be such a hard decision-making time. Oh, the things are very cute -- and very expensive. (Sorry, I'm old-school, where Barbie outfits did not cost half that much, even though if only I had all my old ones, I'd be set for life and retirement!)

So, I sprung for one outfit and have plans to make others.

Concerning my incubator, I did not ever get a chicken egg to hatch, although they did "make" up to a certain point. I think it had a lot to do with the moisture. So now, I am trying to hatch some duck eggs. We only have one female to four males. Grossly outnumbered. I'm trying to hatch more females. So, my first duck egg went past his day of hatching, and I opened it. I couldn't believe it! There was a duck, black, heart beating and all. But when you crack one open they don't make it. It did peep once, and then died. It was so sad. But now, I have two left. I'll let them go a little past. Let you know.

Whew! We have been battling mastitis in our doe, Lucille, a first freshener. She developed it when my knee was injured and my DH milked her for a while. She's doing good now. I am no longer blaming him, although he says he now knows the importance of massaging the udder. He didn't want to even milk before, but he is doing great now. Good thing, because today I blew my back out!

I was gathering sawdust for the pens, had such visions of a clean stall for my goats, and BAM! My lower back blew out. Ruptured. No doubt. This was far worse than any time before. I'm now in bed and have all the time to post on my blog...

I am really hating this, and don't know what to do. Guess I'll be going to the doctor in the morning.

I had such a good Mother's Day. Saw all three of my children and almost all of my grandchildren. Jayce stayed home with her sitter, but I'll see her soon, hopefully.

I have three duck eggs in the incubator and one is scheduled to hatch this week. I have been turning them regularly, and spraying them with water, so we will see. I need another female duck, because I only have one female and four males. And one goose.

We've had WAY TOO MUCH RAIN! We need some sun! The goat pen is a pond. I can't let them graze, because they'd go straight for my roses.

I am REALLY enjoying my Melaleuca products. No pesticides for me, now. And very effective essential oil products. For my own "diary" of how this Florify is working, I am going to post daily on what it is doing. Two days ago I started taking it. (It's a "pro-biotic" pill for your digestive system. It's supposed to be adding good bacteria to your system, kind of like using yogurt.) The first day, I didn't notice anything. The second day I started taking it with food; and I noticed about 30 minutes after, feeling kind of "light-headed", or something. Then, all day long I noticed my digestive system was "working" better. (Don't mean to be graffic.) Today, I'll post later what it's doing today. I'm not taking my anti-acid pill now, as I have had to for a couple of months. So far, no acid reflux, which had gotten very, very painful. Hope this works.

I know my posts are getting fewer and fewer. But this is planting season! I've been tilling my garden. Now, I am trying to get the rows put in. (Such hard work!) Maybe I'll lose some of the winter weight! I hope so. I am currently trying to hatch a duck egg. None of my chicken eggs hatched, but I got close. We'll see in May. My Valentino is getting big. He is probably going to need to be separated soon from the other goats.

I joined the Melaleuca family of products again. I have really been missing those products, wanting to use less poisons on my animals and family. I going to use it to spray the goat pen for flies and pests, as well as use the products in my house. I can't wait for them to arrive!

Hello! I've been making cheese! It has turned out well. Also, the weather is turning so nice. I've been trying to work in my yard, but my wrists are giving me trouble with carpal tunnel problems. I'm really enjoying my goats. I've also been keeping my grandkids a lot and enjoying that. I have so many eggs, I'm planning on making pickled eggs.

The days are warming up! It's been so nice. We had a new baby goat born last night. I was in West Monroe at the time. It was so aggravating to have to leave it all up to my DH to take care of the delivery. Our friend, Jimmy, came by to help, though. It was a boy. He is just beautiful! A black Nubian with two bright white triangles of white on each side! I can't believe he was the only one in her, because she was so big. Here is a pic:

I also had a new grandson born: Chandler Jase Bradshaw! Here he is:

Believe me when I tell you he is wonderful, beautiful, great, adorable, cute, ... did I say beautiful? Anyway, we all love him very much. And Jayce loves him, too. She knows her little brother and smiles and coos to him.

I'm back!

Soooo, it's January. Yes, I've been away from my computer for a while. I am really enjoying having this blog, and I know I have a couple of readers, so here is an update: My youngest daughter, Mandy, has moved back here from Tenn. I found her rent house, but it was in bad shape. So, of course, mom offered to paint it. The whole week before she came, I was painting. My other daughter helped, though. Then, the day after she got here, with her baby, the baby ended up in the hopsital with pneumonia. Now he is doing well, and I've been there at the hospital with them when I'm not working. It seems strange that I am even able to type this tonight.

I was supposed to take my Maltese, Rosie, to obedience and beginning training this week, but that got cancelled. We will do that next month.

We did get a Great Pyrenese last week, but sadly he died the night my DH brought him home. I did not even get to see him because I stayed at my daughter's house that night painting. It was such a sad accident: he fell between the wall of the barn and a hay stack. He couldn't get out and died. My DH really took it hard. He was really cute. Our friend, Jimmy, got the sister to him and she is darling. I am thinking about getting a Komondore, though, instead of another Pyrenese. We know one day we will get one of them to guard our stock.

That's all for now. Happy January all!