a few photos

Just a few photos from around the ranch the past couple of days.

"Mama Llama" on the left and "Peppy" on the right,

Peppy was a year old on January 6th. He's gotten rather large! He is such a good boy though, and really cares about his goats and sheep, and watches them very well.

One of the Boer/cross meat kids,

Saturday afternoon I went out to check on a doe, and found a different doe with 2 kids at her side. She had just birthed them. A boy and a girl. Very good! She will raise these kids for a few weeks, then I will start to milk her, and when the kids are weaned at a few months she'll be getting milked full time. She is part of my brother's meat operation - using Nubian dairy does to kid meat kids, have them raise the kids until selling age and then we get to milk the doe. Sounds like a plan to me!

Have a good evening! I gotta go!

Suriyah

New Flooring!

So I'm back to posting, for now ;). Last week we had flooring delivered for our new barn. So, we had to take EVERYTHING out of the barn (milkstands, rubber mats, a giant shelf, etc etc). Once it was delivered, we had the job of spreading and leveling it. Thanks to lots of help from family and the tractor with a roller on it, the floor is very nice now.

One evening we had to milk outside though, because it wasn't quite done. Thankfully, it was only once and by the next morning we had a milkstand set back up inside the barn. Now everything is back into place...will have to get pictures.

Wednesday night we got a light dusting of snow. The wind was howling and it was FREEZING cold for a couple days there.

Not too much else to update on the ranch. Yesterday we did get a very nice Nubian doe that just recently kidded - I plan to do a blog post on her hopefully tomorrow or sometime soon :).

Hope you have a great weekend!

Suriyah

Ron Paul for President

As you very well know if you are a regular reader of my blog, you probably have noticed by now that I typically stay on topic (farm, goats, etc) and don't post much off-topic or political things. Well, now is the time for going "off topic", or what you may think is off topic because in reality, it is not.

This year, 2012, is an election year. Our country is in bad shape - in extreme debt, a very bad economy, lack of jobs, too big of a government and abortion is legal. Since Obama became president, our country has gone a downhill slide of more and more debt and big government. This country needs help.

With the 2012 Presidential Election coming up this November, it is very important that you research and make an informed vote. Get out and vote. Let your voice be heard.

President Obama is running for re-election. We certainly don't want him as President for another 4 years. The other Republican candidates are more of the same - big government, bad foreign policies. But there is one very exceptional candidate running for the 2012 election - his name is Ron Paul. He is not more of the same. He would massively reduce the nation's debt, change our foreign policies, get our country out of other people's business and bring our troops home. He would overturn Roe vs. Wade making abortion illegal. The list goes on and on.

In 2011 Ron Paul also received more donations from active military personnel than all other Republican candidates and Obama combined. I think that says something right there.

Here are a few videos and websites for more info on Ron Paul. I urge you to watch these videos and look at these websites, and make a decision for yourself. If you care about the future of this country, please vote.

Why Ron Paul - www.whyronpaul.com

Ron Paul 2012 Official Campaign Website

This video shows why so many people support Ron Paul:



The below video shows Ron Paul's stand on foreign policy and Israel:



Below is one of Ron Paul's ads:



And one more - this is a very good video on why YOU should vote for Ron Paul. Adherence to the Oath.



So you might ask, what can I do? Get out, spread the word, join Facebook pages such as Ron Paul and Ron Paul Revolution and many, many others. If you have never voted before, register to vote and when it's time to, go VOTE.

Stand up for freedom and liberty. Vote Ron Paul 2012.


Suriyah

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year 2012 Everyone!!

We brought in the new year with lots of good food and a very good time with the best friends ever. We had a pajama party, and then a karaoke/lip sync/singing themed party. It was a blast! Today I am exhausted though ;).

Today we were blessed with New Years Day kids! It was a very easy birth and both mama and babies are doing well! They are Boer kids.

Wishing you all the best in 2012!

Suriyah

pictures!

Well, life has been going good here on the farm for the most part. A sickness ran through here the past couple weeks and got most of the family sick... we're getting over it though.

The weather has been considerably mild for it being late December - odd.

None of the dairy does are due till mid-February. But, there is a crossbred doe that my brother got a few months ago and we do not know her due date. She is very wide and heavy with kids. Yesterday her udder filled up, so I am expecting that she should kid pretty soon here.

Here's some various pictures from the past few days.

reflection in the pond,

 From the Left: Fighter, Grandma (in the coat), Hug and LaWanda being lazy sunbathing goats.

Hug and Grandma,

Prissy (& Aruba, behind),

Snickers,

Peppy, the guard llama,

One of the sows and her piglets having some time out in the 40 acres while my brother watched them. The piglets are getting big!

Have a great day!

Suriyah

new milking barn set-up!

Things are slowly getting set up in the new milking barn. Tuesday we moved out of the old room, and just had enough time to set up the floor and milkstands before it was time to milk again. Since then, I've just been slowly moving things in and getting it set up. It's going to take some time, but right now it is very functional and much better than the old room! Here's some pictures of the process...

bye-bye old milking parlor!

hello big barn!

we don't celebrate Christmas, I just have lights up for lighting and have 'em up all year long!

In this picture, on the right is a door - that is the "IN" door. On the left is the "OUT" door - when they are done being milked, they go out that way.

this was the first night we milked in there... the does were a little scared the first few times. They are getting used to it now though.

Have a great weekend!!

Suriyah

NEW BARN!

The new barn is done!! It took about 2 1/2 days of work totaled up from start to finish - not bad, I'd say. It is 30x50 and will be used as the new milking barn and kidding/lambing stalls. I am excited and very thankful for it - especially to my Granny who made it possible!

MidAmerica Pole Barn Company is the company we chose to go with - they did a great job.

Now comes the phase of re-arranging and getting all set back up. . . I think it'll be a little bit before we start milking in it ;).

Here's photos of the process, from start to finish.

Goodnight!

Suriyah