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!

Ahhh, It's Over!

Everyone around me seems to enjoy Christmas, and are equally joyous for it to be over. I had all my family, including my Mom and Stepdad, my kids and all my grandkids (5) here. It was a dream Christmas. I even enjoyed my husband cooking the whole feast for us! I must be doing something right!

My new project. I have made a home-made egg incubator to hatch chicks! I wanted an incubator, but they were all so expensive, and then I thought of looking on the internet to see if others had made them. Sure enough, they have. I took some of the suggestion of others, and made one to suit my needs. I am so excited to see if I can hatch them.

A styrofoam ice chest. Cut out the front and made an inset for glass. Glued the glass in. Mounted a light bulb in the top. Added a dimmer switch to the side. Mounted a thermometer to the inside with the remote temperature reader standing in front. A small bowl of water on the bottom. An egg rack made out of chicken wire. Punched air holes in the side. You have to get the temperature to 100 degrees and maintain it at that. With the dimmer switch, I should be able to find just the right brightness. I dated the eggs, marked them for hatching in three weeks, and have to turn them every day until the last three or so days. We'll see!

I don't have a tree!

This is mid-December and I haven't posted for a while, so here goes. I have had a lot going on. We had a lot of people at our house for Thanksgiving, about 40 or so. It was really great -- I didn't cook and everyone else brought food. It was a requirement. We had so much to eat, and so much variety. This is the way to do it! I had so much fun. Also, with all my kids and grandkids here, it was wonderful!

I don't have a tree. At first, I thought I just wouldn't put up a big one since I have a little fake, I mean artificial, tree in my foyer. And since my cat was thinking it was just for her, and the lights and ornaments are all over the house, I thought I wouldn't even try for the big one.

But all my kids and grandkids are supposed to be coming on Christmas Day, so I NEED one. I have decided I would tie on the lights and ornaments with ribbon. Tie each one on, so the cat wouldn't be able to get them off. I bought the ribbon today. We'll see.

Google the YouTube for "Baby It's Cold Outside", and you will find countless versions of the old Christmas song. It was fun. Then I saw Emile Pandolfi playing it (heard him) on the piano. He was wonderful.

My granddaughter, Makayla, was on the TV this week with her Dad on his cooking segment. She was great (he was, too). I'll get it posted.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thanksgiving Coming

Novemer 21, and Thanksgiving is next week. It is all coming so fast! Since we are having a BIG gathering here, I am very much looking forward to it. I am not stressing, either, because I am really asking everyone to bring food. The variations are amazing!

I pray for pretty weather!

Get ready for 2012!

Okay, so our candidate didn't win. God is still in control. All I can say is he better do a good job, 'cause in 2012 we will have a WOMAN IN OFFICE! GO PA-LIN! NO MORE SIN! GO PA-LIN! (Can you come up with any other slogans?)

HAPPY VOTING!

Hopefully, everyone who reads this (all three of you?) - ha - will have voted! I woke up my DH (dear husband) this morning before 6:00 am and said "let's go vote"! I guess I was kind of ready to go. It will be interesting! God has many great things for us in our future! I DO know that for sure! Do not lose faith!

Here are some pics:

Lucy is doing so well. I am thinking of breeding her soon. She is up most of the time, but just laying down here.

Here is Martha. She was born in June of this year, so she is almost five months old. She looks great! But almost too much like a deer. Since we live ON A HUNTING CAMP, I told Gary I was going to have to put a hunter's orange vest on her and paint on it: I am a goat! Anyway, I will probably breed her before the end of the year.

This is Lucille! Isn't she GORGEOUS! She really has the most desireable qualities, I believe. She has such beautiful brown "moon" spots and is very healthy. She has become so sweet and friendly. I don't know if it's because she is pregnant for the first time (I hope) or if she is just getting more used to me. (She was born here, but not bottle fed. Then she stayed at Jimmy's for a little while.) Even Gary says she is nuzzling up to him for the first time. Well, if she is pregnant, I think it happened on Daniel's (my brother-in-law's birthday), the 11th of October. This will mean a March birthing. Nice time.

I have more exciting news: I now have a farm name and a herd name:

We are COUNTRY LIFE DAIRY FARM and our herd name is COUNTRY LIFE. I am registered with the American Dairy Goat Association. This means that my name "Country Life" will appear before my animals' names that are born here. So, Lucille will be "Country Life Lucille". I am next going to have to make a goat farm blog. This will be for my dairy goat business. Will let you know about that!

Have a great day all!