Guns & Roses or Roses & Magazines

Aren't they pretty?...Papa Bear is a man after my heart!  He braved the weather to go out and pick up more cough syrup as we have managed to drink it all in the last few weeks.  I even made some homemade stuff that wasn't working this time.  When he got back home with the cough syrup he also had a dozen roses and 3 more magazines along with a box of hollow points for my 380 Bodyguard.    You may as well hit the gun store if you have to go to the pharmacy huh and then you better get some roses because you spent so much time at the gun store?...just kidding...I was happy with the extra magazines!

It began raining here Friday morning and has only let up briefly a time or two.  According to our rain gauges we are already over 11 inches.  

Most of our property is high and dry but getting here is not.  The private road we are on is 3/4 of a mile from the main road.  By Friday afternoon the water had already started pooling up and running.  

 Here the small creek just below our property is already starting to wash over the road.  Our property begins just at the top of this small hill.

The road has gotten much worse since Friday but we couldn't get out and take pictures today.  Brownie Girl, our last remaining doe to kid this year decided today was the day.  This is one of the does I did not want to breed this time but our Nubian buck busted through the fence and got to her.  Last year she had one big kid and this year was the same.  It is much better if they carry twins or triplets.  The babies are not so big.

After almost an hour of pushing she finally got one hoof and a leg out.  I had to go in and find the other leg.  It was in the right position, they were just so long.  I felt the head, everything was where it was supposed to be, the baby was just big.  At this point there was no need to call the vet.  She would not have made it here through the flood in time.  I took hold of both legs and when she pushed I would pull.  She was screaming at this time and exhausted.  I have never had a doe to just fall with her tongue hanging out but she did.  I thought I was going to lose her and the kid. 

Brownie gave one more feeble push and I was able to get the baby out.

I moved the baby in front of Mama and she got up on her feet and went to work cleaning and getting acquainted.  Animals are amazing aren't they?

Mom and baby are doing fine.  It's another boy......

I am so glad this kidding season is over...Papa Bear and I need a full nights sleep!

Free and Cheap Kindle Books

I found this great website Pam's Pride Recommendations.

Pam's Pride list Kindle books on a daily basis that are free or very inexpensive.  The books will be of interest to homesteaders, preppers and do-it-yourselfer's.  The free books do not stay free long so download the ones of interest to you as soon as possible.

New Arrival....

...No not another "kid".

We are still waiting for our last pregnant doe to kid.  I did not get her breeding date wrote down,  just her month.  She is due sometimes in February.  She's gotten rather large but still doesn't look bagged up as much as she has in the past.  We are expecting severe thunderstorms and flash flood warnings for the next several days so I am just about 99% sure it will be during one of these days!

We have wanted another Nubian buck and I had just about given up finding one in our area and had not even checked Craig's list in months.  This past weekend I decided to look again and lo and behold there was a young buck listed.  With crossed fingers and toes I emailed to inquire if the young buck was available.  I received a very nice email back from Lynette, the Nubians owner, telling me all about him and best of all he is still available!

After exchanging several emails we decided Tuesday would be a good day for Papa Bear and I to go and fetch our new boy.  I still did not have a transporter for small livestock.  I've been searching for one of those too.  I had just about decided to take the Marines van and secure him in the back behind the bench seat but Lynette warned me he had been in rut and was very fragrant.  I was not sure if Freebreeze would get the scent out of the van.   I had a dental appointment Monday so I checked several places on my way back home to see if I could find a transported but with no luck.

When I got back home Monday afternoon Papa Bear said let's build one and we did.  Here it is after it's use.  Papa Bear set it up on a pallet for now until we can fit it in the pole barn as it is not pressure treated wood.  I guess I could paint it.  We loaded it into the back of the truck early Tuesday morning to go fetch our new boy.  It was almost a two hour drive.  We met Lynette and all of her other critters.  She has two new kids, chickens, turkeys and bees!  Lynette is a wonderful lady, I wished we lived closer.  I would be harassing her everyday to teach me to quilt.  Lynette also writes a blog Invited to the Kings table .  Check it out when you get the chance.

Meet Rudy...He is hamming it up for the girls who are out browsing today.  We take turns letting the boys and girls out to browse the woods.  The girls have gotten two days in a row out until Rudy gets used to everyone.

One of the little Boer/Nubian does was teasing the bucks unmercifully.  I told her "not yet" she should be a good breeding weight this fall.

Rudy has fit in with the rest of the gang just fine.  That's Max and Freckles with him.  I think they are about 6 months old.

We had a really good laugh bringing Rudy home.  We stopped at a convenience store for coffee and while we were inside I could here Rudy voicing his opinion for being left alone in the back of the truck.  Everyone who was inside the store was running out of the store and then I heard someone say...It's just a goat.  Seems like everyone thought someone was out in the parking lot yelling "help".  One lady said she didn't know if she should go outside to "help" or stay inside where it was safe!  Too funny!

Other happenings this week on the homestead is our first attempt at making our own bee hives.  With the price of wood going up and the cost to ship such heavy items, Papa Bear and I decided to try it.   I will continue to order the frames and foundation for now.  Here is a telescoping top all put together and ready for the tin top.

I got three of them completed except for painting.  Papa Bear cut them out and I put them together.  I think they look as good if not better than some I have ordered.

Papa Bear has a stack of the telescoping tops and the inner boards ready for me to put together.  We will work on the bottom boards next and then the brood boxes and honey supers.

I got two more swarm traps hung on each end of the pond.  That makes a total of six.  I don't think I should hang anymore until I get more hives built...just in case I get lucky.

 Papa Bear just brought in the mail...Look what I won from Jacked Up Glock Mom's blog Tales from the Clothesline

They are too pretty to write in...I may frame them or you are going to have to  be very special to get one of these cards.  They are beautiful.  Thanks so much Glock Mom!