Goaties in Green

Today I let Dolly Doodle and her Doodle-etts out in the green grass. It was a lovely day but Dolly was still in that new mother stage and was not happy having her babies out in the big wide world! She didn't even take one bite of that green grass and clover! She was too busy trying to lick the fur right off those kids...

The kids enjoyed it even if it made their momma a nervous wreck! Their outing was short, I didn't want Dolly to freak out and let me tell you, that goat has had a few freak outs in her day,only because I wasn't home to put her to bed but they were wild times I have been told!

I know you all are wondering about Peanut's ears! The floppy ear did not straighten out..nope! The straight ear went floppy!

Now isn't that the cutest!

Zazzy,as I am still calling her  despite the Boy's arguments, is just pretty! The Boy doesn't like the name Zazzy but I keep saying she just looks so zazzy! The Boy says she looks  paint splattered too but he won't be naming her Splattered! I think I am going to win since I am her Grand-maaaaa! Hey, I am the only Momma Dolly ever new so I get to claim Grand-maaaa! This only furthers the Boy's prediction as me being on the road to being know as the Crazy Goat Lady. And...um...Hubby asked today if I was talking to the goats again. You all know I answered yes to that! Well, goats are as smart as dogs and they say dogs understand as much language as a toddler so the goats understand at least as much as a dog does in my way of thinking! Besides, all animals like hearing you talk sweet to them, any animal person knows that.

Zazzy and Peanut are both super sweet and come right up to me to be loved on when I go into their stall ..I don't know..maybe a dozens times a day!

Mr.Tumnus always throws sweet kids. No matter what the personality of their moms, his kids are always super sweet, especially the boys. I truly believe he has a genetic disposition for sweetness he passes on!

We are definitely in Spring here in Southeast Texas! Things are blooming and sprouting all over. These little"pinks"on my deck always make me smile. 

These came from my Hubby's late grandma. I think of her often but even more when I see flowers that came from her. I  have some red spider lilies  and jonquils that came from her also. I  love having flowers from  family members,they are a beautiful reminder of those people! I have some daffodils from Hubby's grandfather and Iris from my MIL and  some lillies from my friend Texan...I could do a whole post on the plants and flowers I have that have connections to people in my life.

I think that is a wonderful way to be remembered,don't you?

The Doodle-etts have Arrived

This morning Dolly Doodle had her kids,the Doodle-etts! 

Dolly had a beautiful black and white little girl yet to be named.

Actually, I wanted to call her Zazzy but The Boy would not agree! I think she looks quiet Zazzy...

 Kid #2 is a little buck. He looks white in the pictures but is actually white and light tan. I hope his tan parts darken because his color pattern is very pretty also. He is named Peanut! Peanut has a ...umm...slightly..umm..let's just say he has a lot of character in his ears!

He has one Mr.Tumnus, Dwarf Nigerian ear and one floppy Dolly Doodle ear! I have never seen this happen before...maybe the floppy ear will straighten out?

I put on their kid coats,we are having pleasant temps but the nights are chilly and since they are just born a little extra snugly warmth can't hurt!

I have to throw in this shot of Daisy looking in Dolly's stall. The look on her face,she looks like she is saying,"Did you see what fell out of Dolly?" Daisy was the last kid born so this was the first time for her to see any babies born. She stayed and watched for a long time. I know this because I stayed and watched for a long time too!

So that was the excitement for today! Of course, future post will be full of cute kid pictures. After all,you can never see too many pictures of baby goaties!

More Natural Yarn Dyeing

Last time I dyed yarn it was with logwood purple. I had enough left over to do another batch but I had to wait till I got some more yarn spun up. This time I thought I would try  adding cream of tarter to my alum mordant to see what changes it would bring to the color. I also wanted to try making some self striping yarn. Self striping yarn is easy peasy and fun! This is what you  do...

just divide the yarn in to jars of different colors ! I also did one of without stripes.The colors with the cream of tarter are brighter and crisper than the yarn I did without.

I am very happy with how they turned out! I can't wait to try some more natural dying!

Time Marches On....

How the time flies when you have children. This is a fact that always amazes me and makes me a little sad. I want more time with my Boy...I want the days to be longer,time to slow down...sigh. Don't get me wrong,I am super proud of the outstanding young man he has become it just happened so darn fast!  The Boy turned 15 a few weeks ago. 15! Hubby showed me these pictures he had this morning. The first one is nearly 5 years ago as they played darts in Hubby's workshop....

This one is last night. Father and son at their never ending game of darts! The score must be in the millions by now,lol!

Makes my heart warm to see that my Boys get on so well with each other. I am blessed!

Hello.....

  I know, I know , it has been awhile! It seems like I get out of blog land for a week and it takes me forever to get it back in my routine. So I guess it is catch up time in a quick sort of way!

The slump started when I  had a few health issues..no biggie. I just switched meds and I was prepared for a little feeling bad while my body transitioned. I have Hashimoto's Auto Immune Thyroiditis, I have had it for years.  I have been on synthetic meds from the beginning and they are less than perfect and I was ready to change to a natural thyroid replacement.  I went through a time of chronic fatigue and severe joint pain but as I adjusted the  new meds  my body adjusted to them it eased up and now I feel better than I have in years and it just keeps getting better!
Then Nanna and Popaw came to visit for the Boy's 15th birthday! My baby is 15! I can hardly believe it...where has the time gone...sigh. Then Hubby came home the day after and  of course you all know it is non stop busy when he is home! Plus, the weather has been so good! We are back to our normal temps and OH MY how could I forget the rain! We have had rain and rain and more glorious RAIN! The lake is full and the spillways are open ,the river is high and the ponds are full! Hallelujah!!!

 I have been spinning! I made some beaded core spun and really like it and had fun doing it! This brown and gold and green and copper....

and this blue and green...

The spring flowers are a bloomin'! Iris and daffodils and some early fruit tress which is disappointing because we are supposed to get a hard freeze tomorrow night .There will be no fruit on those trees this year.

The  chard is doing great in our lovely weather! That is some kale in there beside it...

The ducks are loving the green grass! Can you see them?

I have the hillbilly hot house going again this year! Cattle panel, plastic and duct tape....hey,laugh if you want, it works great!

 The tomatoes seedlings are doing good this year...

Can you guess what that little sprout is in that middle pot? A baby purple asparagus plant! If you have the patience to wait for them to grow a couple years,growing asparagus from seed if a very money saving way to get a big bunch of asparagus going! I have started some 3 years in a row from seed and they germinate very well and  do great as little plants.

 Got my seed taters cut and drying to go out soon.I am doing the above ground cages this year for my taters.

I also made some more pineapple pickles this week since the grocery had them for $.99!  I love these things and I can not pass up that kind of deal! I used my Tattler lids and  so far so good with those.I also used those cute Better Homes& Gardens jars. I have several boxes of them and like them because they are cute but they are fat and my I have to fit one less in my canner because of it. I have a small canner and if it is something that is boiling water bathed, like these pineapples, that is no big deal but if it is something I have to pressure can for and hour or more I want all the jars in there I can fit! I still like them.I will just save them for  small batches or goodies I don't have to pressure can.

That is all the catch up for now! We have lots of things going on around the farm while Hubby is home so hopefully there will be some interesting things to post on and of course Dolly Doodle will be having kids soon so we are all excited about the! Well...me and The Boy are anyhow!

Before I go, I want to give a big Congratulations to my friend Deb at Dakota Goats who just got a brand new grand daughter! She is counting sweet little fingers and toes and getting to snuggle that sweet baby girl...sigh.

Giveaway Winners

It has been so lovely and Spring like here lately I have been out doors as much as possible doing garden prep work. I have gotten a little behind in blog land because of this but last night we dropped down to the 20's ,brrr! So,at least for the next couple of days,it will be indoors for me! I meant to have my soap drawing  earlier this week but time just slipped away from me in my sunshiny bliss!


I want to say thank you  to all of you that entered and posted about my soap. It really made my day to have so many entries!  In a highly technical and professional way,because you know that is just how I operate,lol...I dumped all the entries on my bed and picked  4!

Dum-da-da-dumm....and the winners are..

Nancy...a Facebook friend

 Just Me at The Back Forty

awitch247

Saun at Live by the Sun Love by the Moon

I will be getting in touch with you all to get you address,I hope you like my soap!


*****awitch247  I can not find a way to contact you so pleas leave me a comment with how to get in touch,thanks!*******

Look What I Did,Look What I Did!!!

One of my goals for this year is to learn to dye yarn with natural dyes. I love the idea of being able to walk out in the woods and fields and gather a basket full of bark or mushrooms or flowers, the way our ancestors would have done, and bring it home and create a rainbow of yarns! Plus, I am all about living as naturally as I possibly can. So....today I started my journey! I did not gather plants for this. I ordered a small starter kit of natural dyes to help me get the feel of dying, but soon I will be picking things from nature and growing my own plants to do my dying. I actually got my kit before Christmas but have been searching for a big used pot. I found one yesterday at a local "treasure" shop! After I got it home I noticed it was stamped USN. It is an old galley pot from the Navy!

This is some chunky spun corriedale that I decided to use. Chunky yarn is interesting and knits up fast plus in the book, Harvesting Color by Rebecca Burgess, that I highly recommend if you are interested in natural dying, she dyes up a rainbow of chunky yarns and it just looks beautiful!

I used Logwood Purple for this. After reading about Logwood I probably won't use it in the future because it is not an easily sustainable dye and I can not gather it myself. It came in my little kit so of course I am going to use what I have but there are sooo many natural dye plants out there I see no reason to use one that is not abundant! I can see why it is in high demand though ,it is a beautiful color!

Here it is drying in the sun, Royal Purple!

I can't wait to see what it looks like dry and fluffed back up! If I am happy with it when it is dry it will go in my Etsy shop.
 I also learned why they put rubber gloves in my kit that I ..umm...did not use...yikes!

Don't forget to enter my soap giveaway I will be having the drawing this week!