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Barnyard Buddies:  The GOATS are here and I'm moved to the farm!  |
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Bluewrenn
True Blue Farmgirl
1122 Posts
Erin
Texas
USA
1122 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 17 2007 : 4:22:20 PM
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Ladies, I am so excited!!!
We're going to pick up my baby boy goats early tomorrow. Since it's been so hot here in Texas, we're heading out about 4 am in order to reach the breeder's ranch by 7 or 8 am - she's about 3.5 hours or so away. Woo-hoo! Finally! I bought them nearly four months ago!!!
And since we will finally have some animals on the farm, I'll be moving down permanently tomorrow to keep an eye on them. I'll commute a couple days a week to meet with clients in Dallas, but the rest of the time, I'm on the farm. Hubby will hold down the fort in Dallas and watch the household pets up there until we get some kennels and catteries built to house them safely on the farm.
FINALLY!!!!!! It's been an ENTIRE year since we first purchased the property! I can't believe it's taken us this long to get this far...
Also, I just have to brag about this - we got one of those metal cages that goes in your pickup truck for transporting the goats (a Goat Gofer)... anyhow, the covers that go with these cages are expensive - nearly $180 or so.... Guess who decided to try to make her own???
Yep! Me!!! I first tried using a canvas drop cloth but it wasn't big enough, so I went to Wally World and found some canvas fabric big enough to do the job.
I've cut the pieces out, sewn three of the four sides to the top piece (only one more to go) and then I'll put in some grommets for holding down the ends once it's on the cage. I may also (if there's time to do it) attach some velcro for when I want to roll the sides up and keep them up.
So far it's looking really nice!!! I'm so proud. The only thing that might be a "negative" is that the canvas is a nice purple and white striped canvas, so the whole thing looks like a circus tent! LOL!!!!!
Of course, there is a good side to this too. Back in June I'd purchased a custom mouse pad with "Toomyvara" (the farm's name) on it, and I wanted to use a plaid associated with the town in Ireland that the farm is named after. The plaid for that county in Ireland (I was told) is purple, white and green!!!!! (It's not actually true, but this plaid is still a generic Irish tartan, so it's okay...)
Anyhow... The cage cover and the mouse pad match now! And there's enough extra fabric for making a mat to go inside the floor of the cage and maybe even a haybag to hang in the cage.
I was not a big fan of the purple plaid originally but now that I'm getting stuff to match it, I may have to keep it as part of the farm colors after all!!!! Go figure - funny how these things work out. Of course, with angora goats - the purple and green will go well with their white fleeces... so making goat coats in the plaid might even turn out to be pretty...
If you don't hear from me for awhile, please know that I will be on the farm until late next week. I'm bringing the materials to finish my swaps and hope to mail them very soon.
I'll be coming back and forth on Thursdays and while I hope to get internet access at the library in town, I may not be able to do so. If that happens, I'll answer any emails when I'm back in Dallas.
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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Edited by - Bluewrenn on Aug 20 2007 10:00:27 AM |
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Bluewrenn
True Blue Farmgirl
1122 Posts
Erin
Texas
USA
1122 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2007 : 4:24:50 PM
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Oh, and the best thing.........
I made the cage cover for less than $25, including the grommets!
[If this thing fits, I may start making custom covers to sell to the other goat folks at the shows!)
{oh, and I will try to pick up my other two goats next week from the farm where they are being boarded - I finally get to work with my babies - Lloyd, Leander, Ruthie and Dinah - every day now!!! Woo-hoo!
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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Edited by - Bluewrenn on Aug 17 2007 4:28:36 PM |
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AmyEllen
True Blue Farmgirl
235 Posts
Amy
McPherson
Kansas
USA
235 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2007 : 4:57:47 PM
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How cool that you made your own and it matches, and it was less expensive then if you had to buy it premade. Awesome, I enjoyed reading your blog and have bookmarked it to check back.
Have an awesome weekend.
Amy
http://lifenkansas.blogspot.com/
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Love-in-a-Mist
True Blue Farmgirl
367 Posts
Shannon
Independence
Oregon
USA
367 Posts |
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Bluewrenn
True Blue Farmgirl
1122 Posts
Erin
Texas
USA
1122 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2007 : 5:09:29 PM
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Thanks so much - now that I'm going to be living on the farm, there will be lots more in the blog. For some reason when I am there, my writing just flows incessantly - so much that I can't stop writing sometimes to get to sleep...
I'll have my laptop and lots of notebooks, plus my digital camera so we should have lots more to read soon!
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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Bluewrenn
True Blue Farmgirl
1122 Posts
Erin
Texas
USA
1122 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2007 : 10:07:56 PM
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Well, DH finally got back from the farm with the goat gofer so I could finish up with the grommets and it looks awesome! It fits!!!!! It felt so big when I was sewing it, and it was! But it is the exact right size it needs to be...
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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janetinva123
True Blue Farmgirl
363 Posts
Janet
newport news
va
USA
363 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2007 : 11:34:15 PM
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Wow, I am so impressed. I also think it would be a great idea to market the covers. Just make sure you make some profit if they go for 180 -- your cost is $25 -- other cost such as advertising, printing, etc. you could charge at least $75-80 or more and have a great business venture.
Jc
http://beloved-creations.blogspot.com
http://beloved-creations.com |
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Hideaway Farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1553 Posts
Jo
Virginia
USA
1553 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2007 : 07:26:40 AM
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Wow, that's a huge milestone reached, Erin! Good luck at the farm; at least you won't be lonely, or bored, with the animals! How long a commute is it going to be for you between Dallas and the farm?
Jo
"Wish I had time to work with herbs all day!" |
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frannie
True Blue Farmgirl
2246 Posts
fran
bonham
texas
USA
2246 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2007 : 08:26:36 AM
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erin,
i am soooo excited for you. i cant believe it has been a whole year, you patient farmgirl you. but now , you will be there!
your project with the purple canvas sounds great.
in the future if you need some really wide canvas, they sell it off Harry Hines in that area where all the fabric outlets are.
i know how to get there, but i cant remember the street names, but if you need specific directions ever, email me and i will get all the details.
really, so happy and excited for you that you are getting to the farm!
love
fran
(http://farmfolks-frannie.blogspot.com/) |
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abbasgurl
True Blue Farmgirl
1262 Posts
Rhonda
USA
1262 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2007 : 7:10:11 PM
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How exciting Erin! I'm so happy that your dream is shaping up so nicely.  Can't believe you are finally moving to the farm with your new "friends".
I love reading your posts-I can "hear" your excitement & enthusiam! I find myself smiling as I sit here typing.
And kudos on stitching up a cover for your Goat Gofer! You clever, thrifty girl you!
Happy Happy Happy for you Erin!
Rhonda
I'm a one girl revolution. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Aug 18 2007 : 7:33:02 PM
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That is great Erin! And you have such great Farmgirl resourcefulness! I can't wait to hear more about your new goaty adventures!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
http://home.test-afl.tulix.com/aleeandnora/ |
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Bluewrenn
True Blue Farmgirl
1122 Posts
Erin
Texas
USA
1122 Posts |
Posted - Aug 20 2007 : 09:59:34 AM
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Had an interesting weekend picking up the Angora goats... Instead of two, we came home with three baby boys - one black buck, one red/blonde buck and one chocolate brown/mocha buck... The ride was three times as long as we'd anticipated but everyone made it home.
Not getting much sleep yet - we don't have a LGD yet and I've been a bit over anxious about my babies. *sigh* Am I unusually worrisome or is this normal for a first-time momma? I worry all night long - will the coyotes show up? Will the little one eat too much and get bloat? Will he get caught in the fence? Jeesh, I'm a nervous wreck! I'll post pics and news on my blog as soon as I can... time's a bit short today.
I'm just in Dallas for the day, doing some client work and getting laundry washed, a shower etc. as the camp is pretty primitive on the farm yet. If you don't hear from me, just know that I'll be back in town on Thursday to check emails.
The goat cover performed admirably, given the circumstances, and I think I'll experiment more with it as it's a bit tattered on the edges after the 10 hour round-trip. I ran out of time and didn't hem it like I would normally. Sometime to remember for next time. Luckily it's easy enough to fix.
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Aug 20 2007 : 1:44:44 PM
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Erin-
I think it is normal to be worried at first. Once you and the boys settle in, you will all be more comfortable and get more sleep!
Hugs!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
http://home.test-afl.tulix.com/aleeandnora/ |
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Bluewrenn
True Blue Farmgirl
1122 Posts
Erin
Texas
USA
1122 Posts |
Posted - Aug 23 2007 : 3:28:06 PM
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My dog, who is a husky and wouldn't normally be a good candidate for a guard dog, is turning out to be a fantastic watch dog and goat nanny. She and the goats bonded immediately and they are inseparable. Strange things happen sometimes, I guess. Anyhow, we've been getting up at night and going out to train as "watchers" every night that I hear the coyotes howling out there (which has been a lot.) The baby goats seem to be comforted by her presence at night and I appreciate the company too. I have told hubby we HAVE TO GET A LGD as I am not getting any work done during the day... I'm too tired from being up half the night and from not sleeping well the rest of the night. Luckily tonight is hubby's night on the farm and it's about time for the coyotes to work their way back towards our farm. Hopefully he will be convinced that I am right about the LGD.
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Aug 23 2007 : 5:00:12 PM
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Erin-
Are you seeing coyote tracks close to your property or the goat shed? The scent of your husky around the place should be a pretty strong deterent even if they coyotes don't see her.
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
http://home.test-afl.tulix.com/aleeandnora/ |
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Bluewrenn
True Blue Farmgirl
1122 Posts
Erin
Texas
USA
1122 Posts |
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Barnyard Buddies: The GOATS are here and I'm moved to the farm! |
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The GOATS are here and I'm moved to the farm!
