Ridgetop - our place and how we muddle along

[Baymule]

Cow panel hoop shelters work nicely for shelter. I use 2 of them. I put the split foam pipe cover on one panel at the top of the hoop, secured with zip ties, to keep from rubbing and poking holes in the tarp. Then I tie them together with wire or hay twine. I lay the panels flat on the ground. I drive 2 T-posts at one end of each cow panel. Pick up the other end of the cow panel and push it against the posts, to desired height and width. Tie with hay string or wire. Have some of your big strong, handsome men drive in 2 T-posts at the other end. Tie with hay string or wire. Do the same for the other panel, then tie them together so winds don’t flex them in different directions and tear the tarp. Put tarp over the top, tie with handy dandy hay twine. Deep bed with straw, pine shavings or whatever you use for bedding.

I’ve been using dead hay, that’s the bottoms of the round bales and dropped hay for bedding. It’s rained here, ewe pen is sloppy. It rains, I throw dead hay on the mud, they stomp it in, I throw more dead hay, repeat. It will rain again tomorrow.

 

[Mini Horses]

but she wants to talk about goats with other members. DS3 who could help her keeps telling her they are lots of work and trouble. DS3 is bing a pain in the neck.

All goats can be trouble! . You know this.

BUT a good lineage Boer is far less trouble than any dairy I've ever had, as a breed. Their demeanor is generally non aggressive, if handled as kids, they're very trainable for easy handling. Being large, you want them to be handled. I could halter, or collar, my 300 # bucks....tie and do hooves as needed. In '95 I brought the first registered group to VA. Sold out in '99 due to impending loss of DH (cancer). Now I have spent a couple yrs contemplating and searching for old lineage animals to get a herd that produces well.

This year i became the owner of 10 does & 2 bucks that have presented the same good handling qualities and body type. Its an investment in both money and time. While some are registered and some not (3 does), the breeding background is there, the body is there. Bucks are registered fullbloods. The butcher meat market doesn't care about papers, just good carcass...which the original Boers possessed and passed. Stay away from the ones crossbred for mediocre type as breeder base. You know -- keep best, sell the rest.

I'm NOT against crossbreds...just not for breeding stock if you want stout kids to sell. That said, all of my dairy does were bred to the Boer buck. They will have plenty of milk for fast growing kids -- who will bring far more at sale than a full dairy kid. I have the dairy does, large girls, so making better use of their need to breed for milking. All kids will be sold. I'll arrange for a dairy buck to bring along any full dairy in future &/or buy bred does. Mostly, it will be crossbreds for sale as I downsize dairy numbers. Plan to always keep 6-8. . I like my milk and milking.

That's just my paltry two cents worth. Haven't work with other meat breeds because I liked the look, coats, demeanor and growth of Boer. I'm an old lady handling them alone...tell DS3 to get real.

 

[farmerjan]

All goats can be trouble! . You know this.

BUT a good lineage Boer is far less trouble than any dairy I've ever had, as a breed. Their demeanor is generally non aggressive, if handled as kids, they're very trainable for easy handling. Being large, you want them to be handled. I could halter, or collar, my 300 # bucks....tie and do hooves as needed. In '95 I brought the first registered group to VA. Sold out in '99 due to impending loss of DH (cancer). Now I have spent a couple yrs contemplating and searching for old lineage animals to get a herd that produces well.

This year i became the owner of 10 does & 2 bucks that have presented the same good handling qualities and body type. Its an investment in both money and time. While some are registered and some not (3 does), the breeding background is there, the body is there. Bucks are registered fullbloods. The butcher meat market doesn't care about papers, just good carcass...which the original Boers possessed and passed. Stay away from the ones crossbred for mediocre type as breeder base. You know -- keep best, sell the rest.

I'm NOT against crossbreds...just not for breeding stock if you want stout kids to sell. That said, all of my dairy does were bred to the Boer buck. They will have plenty of milk for fast growing kids -- who will bring far more at sale than a full dairy kid. I have the dairy does, large girls, so making better use of their need to breed for milking. All kids will be sold. I'll arrange for a dairy buck to bring along any full dairy in future &/or buy bred does. Mostly, it will be crossbreds for sale as I downsize dairy numbers. Plan to always keep 6-8. . I like my milk and milking.

That's just my paltry two cents worth. Haven't work with other meat breeds because I liked the look, coats, demeanor and growth of Boer. I'm an old lady handling them alone...tell DS3 to get real.

 

[Ridgetop]

Sun is out today although cool. (for us) Checked the sheep pen measurements and decided not to use the stock panel hoop house idea since we will be loading the stock panels on the flatbed trailer in a couple weeks and don't want them to be bent. Instead, I think I will try using the old wood/wire gate from the end of the driveway that we replaced with a TSC farm gate. I can attach a tarp to the top of the corral panels and run it over the top of the gate so the water will run off it. I just need something to keep water from puddling on top of it. I really don't want to use straw to bed them down since it packs into the liquid mud and manure and makes ADOBE! So hard to shovel up and rake out. Even if they have to lay down on the wet ground the tarp will help keep them dry. Sort of. We have 2 weeks more of heavy rain coming then it should dry out a bit. It is only that one pen that is a problem.

When we get to Texas I plan to use stock panel hoop houses for shelter in the pastures with corral roof panels over the feeders. I am very happy about the tenants leaving the beds for us and have been sorting out spare pillows, sheets, towels, and blankets to take back. Got 2 large plastic tubs packed with everything sealed in plastic inside them. Our second load back will be with Big Blue on the flatbed and the wrought iron (aluminum?) patio furniture in the truck bed. The cushions can ride inside the cab. Have chosen several other pieces to take back for storage in the house. Also will check for lamps in the Connex.

I was trying to decide what to take back to wear for the wedding. I tried on the dressy navy pantsuit which did fit although slightly tight in the hips so can take it along. But I really like the style of the other one and it is very slimming. So I went on line and found the identical dressy pantsuit that I just bought (in black and taupe) in plum color. Perfect for the wedding since the style is very flattering, perfect color for an older (although still in her prime) woman, and on sale! AND WTH A COUPON AS WELL! Ordered it right away before the color and size sell out.
I am on a diet - no ice cream or pie, or cookies. Lots of plain yogurt. I need to work on the "sort of" rowing machine I have to strengthen my knee. I think the fall I took before Christmas did tear some stuff since now my knee clicks every time I move it. That clicking is supposed to be normal in fake knees, but it is clicking more than it did before, so I think some muscle tears happened. I couldn't walk for several days so it probably did some soft tissue damage. I also notice that it hurts now when I do a tight bend of the knee. I plan to work with the stretchy band exercises again to make sure I don't lose the movement I had. I am working at climbing the stairs with my bad knee doing the work and it seems to be getting stronger. Will sort out shoes later, will probably take a pair of sandals and a pair of dressy closed shoes in case of rain. March in Texas - maybe even snow with the crazy weather. The wedding is at 3:30 pm. I must remember to sort out DH's suit, shirt and tie as well since otherwise we might be trying to find a 24-hour cleaner in Texas. Or a Big Men's store.

DGSs 1 and 2 brought up the Christmas decoration boxes so I can begin packing everything up again till next year. Whether here in California or back in Texas is anyone's guess. I finally got the wrapping paper sealed in plastic bags and back in the shed. I have a wrapping paper container BUT the rolls we bought this year are too long for it. Sigh. I also took the plastic box of cardboard boxes and tissue paper put back in the shed. Christmas is over for another year. It really rushed past.

Talked to DS1 about putting up a tarp arrangement in the sheep pen and he said OK but will have to buy a couple of large tarps for it since all ours have holes and/or are torn. Hopefully the rain will hold off long enough to rig up something tomorrow.

Talked to Kent the Butcher yesterday who told me that one of our Fair friends had passed away. He was younger than us but had colon cancer. He was doing very well and just before Thanksgiving the cancer came back and he was gone a few days ago. Talked to a mutual friend and found out that his father-in-law who was actually in 4-H with us had passed away December 7 following a fall. He was recovering but the hospital dosed him with morphine "because he was restless" and he was gone in a few hours! NOTE: Anyone approaching late 70's do not allow the hospital to give you morphine if you are in hospital. This is what happened to Baymule's BJ - morphine to "calm him down" and it killed him. My friend Cheryl said she also cured herself of severe Covid by taking Ivermectin. She couldn't get the liquid so just used horse wormer. She said one of our local vets told her that he takes 2 ml every week. A friend of his was diagnosed with some sort of cancer, and his vet said to take Ivermectin. He did and when he went back for a check the cancer was gone. I can't verify this, but Ivermectin has been prescribed to humans for various things for years. I am thinking about putting the whole family on a regimen of preventative Ivermectin. I do still have 2 250 ml bottles of injectable Ivermectin in the fridge. Can't hurt I suppose. I used it to cure DH, DS2, and DDIL2 of Covid after Baymule told me the recipe last year.

DD1 is coming over for a game night soon. We were going to have steak and apparently when they found out her family all decided to come for dinner. DS1 got out more steaks. DS2 is cooking them on the Trager, DS1 said he would do the sides. I guess that leaves the cleanup for me?

 

[Mini Horses]

think the fall I took before Christmas did tear some stuff since now my knee clicks every time I move it. That clicking is supposed to be normal in fake knees, but it is clicking more than it did before, so I think some muscle tears happened.

Any chance you went to surgeon for check of damage?

 

[Mini Horses]

Ok, ok ..... Worth asking. of course we "in our prime" ladies are indestructible! hope it's rhythmic clicking.

 

[farmerjan]

Thank goodness, I do not have any clicking in the knees... I would go out of my mind if I had to listen to or feel that. I sure hope it is not anything too serious that a little "taking it easy" won't fix.

 

[Baymule]

WD-40

 

[farmerjan]

OOPS ... they forgot to put in the grease joint when they installed the new "hardware".....

 

[Ridgetop]

Well, I have undecorated the tree, put away those ornaments, and many of the Christmas decorations. Still have 2 garlands in the FM, one garland in the LR, the 2 reindeer boxes (which need to be taken apart), their lights and white poinsettias to be repacked, and a few other decorations to be packed away in their storage containers. I took down the nativity array and have packed up the fake pine trees, stable, wrapped the figures, and the shale I use to make the wolf cave. I have shepherds with sheep (lots of sheep and a couple goats) and 2 LGDs with pups guarding them so naturally I added a wolf pack with pups. LOL Cats, chickens, magi, their camels, and camel boy complete this scene. Normally this scene occupies the top of the 5'6" buffet in the DR. I measured the table I planned to take to Texas and it is much smaller so I'll have to figure out another spot for it. I am considering making a backdrop with mountains so that the wise men or shepherds can be in the hills. It would bring up the question of where to store it unless I could design it in pieces that would screw together. I saw a way to make it on U-Tube by using heavy construction paper (like you put down on the floors when doing renovations. You take lengths of paper and twist it then open it out so it is now all creased and staple it to a board over small pieces of wood or heavy cardboard boxes. This makes it look like craggy mountains texturally and also gives you a space to put the figures, trees, etc. Then you use spray sand paint to give it texture like rock. Next, spray a base color on the sandy paper and touch it up with dry brush colors to add gray granite crags, brown sandy areas, greenish meadows, etc. Finally, you add moss, trees, bushes etc. You can make house fronts for a town using cardboard with the same sand and spray paint technique for your backdrop. Final touch, add the Nativity figurines. I hope to add some more pieces this year to my set. Fontanini is having its after Christmas sale and offering up to 21% off depending on how much $ you order. I have my eye on a well, a drummer boy, and more sheep. I would like to add some Roman soldiers, but my set is the 7.5 size, and they don't offer them in that size. The 5" is the most popular size. I suppose I could sell my set and convert to the 5" size which has a lot more different figures, townspeople, etc. It has the added advantage of being smaller and each figure is half the price of the larger size. However, I have had my set for 50 years and really like it so . . . . Tomorrow I will finish packing the Christmas decorations. Then DS1 and 2, DGS 1 and 2 will take the large containers back to the Connex. Christmas is over for another year.

DS1 got a 20 x 30' tarp and put it up in the sheep pen. This probably guarantees that we will have no more rain. Or alternatively we will have hurricane force winds to tear it the tarp down so my sons and husband can say "We told you so". I insisted they put up the tarp and DS1 took a look at the situation ad figured if he put the tarp over the teepee and tied it to each side of the corral that the teepee would hold the tarp up in the middle avoiding a giant tarp bowl of rainwater. It looks very good, gives the sheep a 12' x 30' covered area in the pen, and if it puddles in the middle of the unsupported tarp area I figure we can release one corner and the water can shed off. Tomorrow I will check at the fire station to see if we can get any sand bags. If we empty the bags of sand into the stalls in the barn and the pen that are already liquid mud, we can get some harder footing for the poor sheep instead of them laying down in a couple inches of mud. Looked it up and we have to provide our own bags at some stations, others provide the bags. Limit of 25. Grandsons are spending the night tight. I can send them with uncles and truck to shovel up sand for me tomorrow. The water seems to seep into the barn. Sometimes it also runs into the house along one of the walls of the new addition.

DD2 had to have her dad come out to get her car towed today. The fuel pump is bad. She starts her new job tomorrow so he has to be at her house at 7:30 am to pick her up with the children, drop DGD2 at school, drop DGD3 at daycare, and drop DD2 at work. Then he has to pick everyone up and take them home. Such a good dad.
She wants to borrow the old blue Explorer. This car was not good enough for her when we offered it to her in August, but now we have gotten it smogged, and she is desperate. DH is going to check with DDIL2's father to see if he can replace the fuel pump for DD2. DDIL2's dad is a mechanic and does "shade tree" repairs on his time off. We are going to have him do any repairs that need to be done on the blue Explorer. The Ford dealership is looking at it now while doing an oil change. DH says he isn't going to spend that much on any repairs so will have Jun do the minimum. I also think he is disgusted finally about the dealer repair shop.

Supposed to get heavy rain starting tomorrow evening.