February 2002

Fri. 15 - Grandma Chris and Grandpa Buster are moving to a trailer. She decided to buy one about a mile and a half from here instead of putting one on the farm. I think we are going to finish the road, electric and stuff ourselves for when the grandparents come to visit. We will be moving them this weekend.

I looked at some early plantings for the garden at the local mercantile, I will probably pick up some cabbage, brussel sprouts, onion sets, broccoli and cauliflower next week to get in the ground.

Tues. 19 - We sold the farm truck in hopes of getting one more reliable. Got $500 for it (no more project!)

Sat. 23 - After chores I sent Ricky out to the barn to get some stuff out of storage, he came running back all excited, Star had kidded this morning. When I arrived, baby #1 was born and #2 was on its way. Both are does and doing well. Baby #1 looks like Star, black with a white belt. Baby #2 is black with brown facial markings and feet.

I bought a couple cattle panels to make the kidding pens that we had put off for the past month… I couldn't bring them home in the van so I just came home and looked for an opportunity. I called a friend that has a flatbed trailer, but they were not able to help this weekend. My Dad offered to go get them Sunday morning. We should be able to get the pens built tomorrow.

Eventually, I want to get a carport to set up and build the kidding pens under it with a path down the middle. I saw one done at another breeder's place and it works really nice.

I saw a flatbed trailer in the paper for sale… needs a floor for $99. I called, but no response, it may be gone by now since I called so late in the day.

Sun. 24 - Got a call this morning about the trailer, seems that we were the first to call and he called back to see if we wanted it. I gave My Dad $100 and he went over to look at it to see if it was in ok shape. Well, he came home with the trailer. It was a pop-up camper that the guy took down to the frame. It needs tail lights, a floor and wheel wells. My Dad says it has a hydraulic braking system (worth money) and the frame is in excellent shape. It also has leveling jacks on the front that can be moved to the rear of the trailer for stabilizing if we need it. He also says it won't cost too much for a floor, so it seems we got a good deal. What an awesome God we have to provide something needed for so little money. My Dad also went to get our cattle panels so we got the pens built.

We came home today to find Star's #2 missing and Star and #1 were out of the stall. We searched and found #2 in the barnyard stall with the does.

Zoe kidded this evening. Daddy found her in the barnyard. She had two on the ground and another on the way. Zoe's #2 was having trouble breathing, I cleaned him up and after #3 was born we got Zoe and kids in the pen. Zoe's #1 is a black boy, Zoe's #2 is a white boy, Zoe's #3 is a white girl. I think Zoe's #2 has a broken back, he can't stand or lift his head. He may not make it. The children will not let me put him down. I hate to see him suffer. We prayed for God's intervention.

Mon. 25 - Zoe's #2 was trying to get up today. He did make it to his feet at one point tonight. The children bottle fed him and we hope he will be fine, I think he might have a dislocated hip… will have to wait and see.

Ricky was out in the barn checking on the does and caught his leg on one of the cattle panels that we cut for the kidding pens… he came running in from the barn and had a gaping wound about 1½ inches long and ½ - ¾ inches deep. We cleaned it out really good and closed it together with gauze and butterfly bandages. It closed up nicely so I don't think it will need stitches (thank you, Lord!) Uncle Kevin bent the wires on the pens so that no one else will get cut (goats, kids or children).

Tues. 26 - This morning we found Zoe's #2 caught in the gate with it's neck broken. He had to have gotten up to get to the gate. Sometimes I think the animals know they can't make it… I know God is the giver of all life and that the animals are loaned to us to keep and care for. It is sad to see one of His creations die. Uncle Kevin helped fix the fence and gate in the kidding pens so that no other kids get their head caught. We prayed God's intervention, so I am glad he is no longer suffering.

Thurs. 28 - This morning Ricky ran into the house from chores saying that Moon was beginning labor. By the time we got out there baby #1 had been born! She now has two beautiful babies. Moon's #1 is a white boy that looks just like Aramis. Moon's #2 is a black girl that looks just like her. They are all doing well. I praise the Almighty Heavenly Father moment by moment as I witness His greatness! Thank you Lord!

March 2002

Mar 1 – While the children and I were in town, Daddy came home to find Maggie having kids! She had 2 live births and a stillborn. Maggie's #1 is a black boy , Maggie's #2 is a boy, black and brown , Maggie's #3 was a boy, but died. Mommy and babes are doing well.

We also found 8 baby chicks in with the broody mama hen that had moved into the barn from the coop to set. So now we have two hens with babies.

I picked up feed from the feed store and priced the field fencing for the buck pen. I will probably pick up the fencing and some cement tomorrow. My Dad ordered our trailer hitch for the van so we can pull the trailers when we need to.

Sat. 2 – Kevin and Daddy finished building two more kidding pens for the barn. We have 5 pens now and could use a 6th but need another cattle panel. I put Babe and Miranda together in the stall in the barnyard side of the barn, I think they will be ok together.

We went to Grandma Chris's today to take her some more boxes from her storage. We had a nice visit and she bought us all dinner from McDonalds. Of course the kids were thrilled!

Ricky's leg is a little hot tonight, so I think we will call in the morning and get him a tetnus shot and check for infection. We cleaned it up and pray for God's intervention.

Sun. 3 – This morning Ricky's leg looked much better. We cleaned it up again and Daddy took Ricky to the doc this morning for a tetnus shot and to check on infection. He is fine. God is awesome!

Mon. 4 – Last night we checked on the goats and everyone was doing pretty good. This morning Daddy went out to check on them again and found Nanna dead. She was trying to kid and she didn't make it. After further investigation and talking to some more 'learned' friends about her untimely death, we believe she died of ketosis. My understanding is that there are too many Ketones and sugar can help. A simple test strip in the urine would have tested to see and could have saved her. The other suggestion was low calcium, or Hypocalcemia, which is handled using Tums offered to the does.

We are very sad for this loss. Nanna was our first goat and we will miss her stubborn but sweet disposition. Daddy and Uncle Kevin are burning her in the garden burn pit. Lord, forgive us for not knowing enough to save your wonderful creations, help us to learn before mistakes take the blessings you have loaned us.

Sunday 10 -- It has been hectic here, lots of company, lots of appointments, lots of stuff to do! We burned Nanna this past week We miss her much!

The IRS stopped our return and said that we had lied about our third child and they took her off the return, refigured the taxes and sent us only a portion of our return back. We were supposed to get $3400 and we received $2600 instead. Our intent was to pay our tithe and offering and use $2500 for a down payment on a truck for Daddy to drive to and from work in as well as have it for the farm. I realized immediately that I had put Tasha's adopted name on the forms with her social security number and never had her social security card changed to show the name change, so they just said I lied on our return! But the enemy cannot prevail against the people of God! We paid our tithes and offerings from the $2600 as if it were the whole amount and I contacted the IRS to discuss the situation. After explaining my mistake, they refigured the taxes again and we will be receiving the remaining amount in a month or so. God knows when we need the blessing, so I will be patient and wait on him!

We will use $1500 for a down payment on a truck and use the other for tax, insurance, etc and begin work on our van.

Wed. 13 -- I took the girls to the fabric outlet and found denim for 50 cents a yard! We are going to make denim jumpers for 'Easter' dresses this year. I found some beige demin for mine and light blue for the girls. The girls picked out a print fabric to make a petticoat to go under the jumpers. Shelly picked a pink print with tiny rabbits and teddy bears. Tasha picked a violet calico. I picked a 'country quilt' look print to go with the beige. I think they will all turn out great. I bought a black velvet remnant to make the ties with and each picked out special buttons to match for the jumper. I will teach Tasha how to sew the next few weeks on some old sheets that were given to us and don't fit any of our beds. She will be making 'bed clothes' or 'jamas as they call them. The pattern is simple and looks like hospital scrubs with an elastic waist. I will make a set for Shelly and the guys later.

Wed. 20 -- We went to Tullahoma, TN to visit the Hands on Science Center. We had a great time and visited with a friend from TN that I haven't seen since last summer. The kids enjoyed playing and I found a sundial for $5 (half price) to put in the back yard! Now to make a pedistal for it... another project! I also purchased a recipricating annual family pass for science museums for $35. If I purchased the same pass from the Space and Rocket Center it would cost $70! The pass gets us into the Space and Rocket Center, the McWane Center in B-ham and other Science centers across the country! What an awesome Lord we have to make provision even for our desires!

Thurs. 21 -- Babe had her kids! Tonight Kevin and I went to test drive a Ford Tempo for him to get to work in and while we were finished before we came home, Daddy called and said Babe was kidding! She had two kids, #1 is a girl that is light beige with cocoa colored feet. #2 is a boy that is a light cocoa color. They have long elf ears (they are half LM, 1/2 Nubian) and are so cute. All of them are doing fine! Praise God!

Friday 22 -- We purchased the Tempo for Kevin to take to work. Now we need to get another vehicle for Daddy and get my van repaired, that should get us 'up and running'.

I am looking at Anatolian Shepherd Dogs to replace Courage. They have shorter hair and don't eat chickens. They are quite costly, so if we get one we would have to use it for an investment and eventually breed them to sell. Daddy and I are still in the discussion and prayer stage.

Friday 29 -- Today Daddy baught a *new* truck. It is a 1999 Ford Ranger 6 cylindar, 4 door with an extended cab and a nice bed liner. It also has some really nice touches like a cd player, air conditioning and lots of 'extras'. We feel very blessed for the Lord to have provided the money and financing for this truck! It has a bumper hitch rated at 2000 pounds and will work for hauling the small trailer if we need to! Daddy's raise that he got at the beginning of the year was more than the truck payment and we will be able to manage it well. The lending price was high on this truck and the sale price was only $300 more than the lending price, so our $1500 down payment brought the payments way down! *smile* God is Awesome!!!

Sat. 30 -- Boy kids given Tetnus antitoxin 1500 units for banding. All boys banded except Babes #2.

I sewed the girls their new 'Easter' dresses. They have a denim jumper that buttons up the front and shows a print petticoat that hangs below the jumper. As usual, stayed up half the night trying to get them finished and didn't get mine new dress made. Maybe I can get it done soon!

Easter 31 -- We had Grandpa Norm and Grandma Jo, Grandpa Buster and Grandma Chris, Uncle Kevin and our family here for Easter dinner. I prepared ham and candied sweet potatoes, salad and corn on the cob. The grandparents went in together and bought an ice cream cake for the kids (and grown-ups) to enjoy! This was a blessed time of remembrance and fellowship with our family here at Shekinah Farm!

April 2002

Health plan for the month of April -- One month after kidding all goats given Ivomec injectable SQ 1ml per goat, 1/2ml per kid. Adult goats given CD&T SQ 2ml will give second injection in one month. Kid goats given Tetnus toxoid injection 1/2ml IM.

Tuesday 2 -- Star Bunny had kits this morning. I told the kids to leave her and the babies alone, since we lost them last year. I pray that they will live this year... we have not had much luck with baby rabbits.

Grandpa Norm and Grandma Jo went back to Iowa today. I didn't recognise our house without the trailer in front! We will miss them.

Thursday 4 -- Star Bunny's babies are not alive. I am not sure if they have been dead all this time or if they died from something or what? We disposed of them today.

Saturday 6 -- Babe : trimmed hair, gave injections
Zoe : trimmed hair, gave injections
Discontinued use of milk for 1 week

Sunday 7 -- Disbudded Babes Kids
Aramis : gave injections
Packer : gave injections

Monday 8 -- All kids got ivomec injections except Babe's kids and Stars baby #2 I will do Babe's kids in two weeks.

Tuesday 9 -- I am concerned about Moons udder. One size is large and the other is small. She is tender on the large size. I milked her out and do not see signs of mastitis, heat, discolored or foamy milk, etc., but I am going to get a test kit to test.

Thursday 11 -- We gave Star's #2 her ivomec. Babe's kids aren't quite ready yet but should be next week. I ordered mastitis test strips and a tatoo kit for the goats today. I need to pay my annual ADGA membership (I'm late this year) and get the goats registered. We are not keeping milk right now, it is tasting goaty, I think the flaky skin from the lice is getting into the milk when we milk. I will finish worming them and clipping them this weekend so we can use the milk soon. We will start using Moon's and Babe's milk Sunday and we will not use the others for another week after shots.

The kids and I are going to TN for a park day and to visit friends, I hope the weather holds out! We packed a lunch and are almost ready to go. Next week we are supposed to go to a walking tour at a park in Winchester, TN with some friends. We are looking forward to it!

The van is still in the shop, as is the lawn mower. Our lawn is a foot tall and I will be so glad to get them both back!