Sigh...

I am writing this post on little sleep and frayed nerves,so bear with me.This blog is about homesteading,the good the bad and the ugly.I would not change how we are trying to live for anything.That being said,many people have the dream of homesteading.I would like to say if you are not a tough as nails person this may not be the life for you.If you have visions of huge organic tomatoes and overflowing abundance of veggies well,I am not saying you won't get that but realistically it might be a struggle.You have droughts, late freezes,early frost,bug invasion.Oh and making that organic compost take hours of shoveling the good stuff! The good stuff is poop,just in case you haven't made it to your farm yet.Still, when you get a good year it is all worth it.Your animals are another story.Even if you manage to keep them safe from the coyoties,neighbor's dogs and all the other natural predators,well sometimes it still just doesn't work out.I consider myself tough.I have been through many trials, stood facing the wind and held my ground.Still,sometimes this place wears me down.Not enough to quit mind you,but enough that it adds to my growing crown of wisdom,that's gray hair to you non-bible quoting folks!And too, the lines starting around my eyes...sigh middle age.Actually getting older does not bother me,I quiet enjoy the growing wisdom and sense of peace that comes with the gray hair and wrinkles.
Yesterday afternoon I noticed Sweet Pea was going in labor.These were to be our first goatie babies born on the farm.It was,like most farm happenings,at an inconvenient time.We had to leave and go to the hotel by the airport as Hubby left this morning at 5.Sweet Pea seemed to be doing fine and I expected to have baby goaties this morning when we got home.When got home at 6am and excitedly rushed to her stall only to find her laboring in the corner still,no babies.I knew this was bad.So I decided to do an exam,I found a huge hoof and head that was wedged so tightly against her pelvic bone I could not budge it.Our vet is closed on Mondays.I quickly look up vets in the next town over.We hurriedly get all the other critters fed and watered,Sweet Pea loaded in the carrier and on the road to be there by 8 when they open.We get there and even thought they are open they have no vet until 9.They tell us there is another clinic 5 miles away that has a vet in office now so, back on the road.The young vet examines Sweet Pea ,who is doing remarkable well, and tells me what I already pretty much knew,the baby was huge and there was no way it was going to fit through her birth canal and it was most likely dead. Our options are two,cesarean or euthanasia. Sweet Pea is just as her name describes sweet as the day is long ,but she is an unregistered goat.The vet assured me she could still breed,but needed a buck that threw twins......I know what seasoned farm people would say...maybe it was the lack of sleep and that The Boy,my only child, was standing there with one of his beloved goats,but I couldn't let her be put down.Don't get me wrong,I am not one of those keep suffering animals alive people.I believe all suffering animals with no hope should be humanely euthanized.I also know money wise this goat is not worth the vet bill,but it is worth it for my child's heart.I hope The Boy likes beans,'cause that is what he is getting to eat all month.Hubby is still in the air,I haven't broke the news yet of what I decided...hope he doesn't change flights and come home to ring my neck!I should be able to pick her up a 4,I wish the baby would have lived,it would have made it a little better.
My eye started itching and burning like crazy on the way home and of course I scratched and rubbed like crazy 'cause I have the will power of a 2 year old.Now it is beet red and swollen ,I probably got some goat cootie infection in it.To make matters even worse around here the weather people are saying 17 degrees for Thursday night! This area is not set up for those kind of temps.Our houses are not underpinned,our pipes are not wrapped,our wells sit out in the open and our animal's shelters are inadequate....you get the picture.Sheesh ! I always say our life is an adventure and it is, but I am sure ready for my roller coaster to reach the top!