Thank you Dear Lord for all the blessings and memories we have as a family. From great grandparents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, even the tiniest farm animals. We can rejoice in remembering such wonderful times together as a family. We can be assured if we have asked the Lord in to our hearts, we will all meet again one day on those gold roads in heaven. Hallelujah! Praise Your Holy Name at this Beautiful Christmas Season! Merry Christmas Everyone! Amen
Yesterday was more of a Goat Day, and all around ended up being a Good Day! 6:30 a.m. I was prepared to conquer the world, at least to conquer my desk and all the notes and writing ideas piling up. But, like anything in life, there are detours. My detour was 11 Goats and how to wrangle them.
Sipping coffee, I glanced out towards the woods. There is a desire to take my phone and get some of the beginning beauty of the leaves changing color. One day they will be slightly turning orange or red, then all over the ground.
All thoughts of getting anything accomplished, diminished when I saw Stitch, our only male American Pygmy Goat walking down the drive with all 7 of his girls following.
If there is ever a time for my brain not to compute, it was after throwing on work gloves and shoes, I stood staring at their mangled gate door. The photo below does not show how torn up it was. Questions began to pile up. Had Stitch got his horns caught, panicking, wrenching the door? Had a small tornado come through, because that is what the door looked like?
Or…..and, if you live on or visit the farm, you would look over your shoulder like I did. Delilah. Our Nubian. She stood innocently on her large wooden spool. She even had the nerve to question me! “What happened over there?” her eyes asked. Pursing my lips, and staring her down, made her try to look even more innocent. “I know what you have done.” I said.
She found a weak place in her fence over by my large favorite tree. She worked the spot for days probably, until she could squeeze under. She climbed over large hay bales, and began to hit the gate door until it was nicely peeled to one side. My limited strength right now, was useless. But, I could try to block the entrance. Here is where we all can laugh! Please feel free!
Grabbing a bucket and getting some food, I drug a work table over from the shop to block them from leaving again.Luring the goats back in was simple. They are gentle, and the whole family, and the grandkids, can go in and feed them treats. They love to meet us at the fence to have their noses rubbed, or just to curiously see what we are doing. Shaking the bucket, filling their bowls, they all came back.
What else could go wrong? Our Boer male goats, Moses, the Big Daddy, and Sampson, and conniving, Delilah wanted food, attention, and to join in. The large goats plowed through my obstruction like it was paper, and Moses began to chase the females. Never have I been more proud of Stitch. He stood up to Moses, hair raised along his back, horns down. Stitch would get some of his girls protected, only to have to run to the help of the others. Sampson just wanted to play, but seemed too clumsy. And, Delilah just got in the way.
Thankfully, my daughter and son-in-law came to the rescue. Glancing down at their phones, they both saw I had texted, “Help! All 11 Goats are running wild!” They live about 15 minutes away, but when they arrived, gates were mended, and everyone was back to nibbling grass and laying in the sun in their own fenced areas.
The weather was sunny and warm. Chicken was frying in the oven! And, everyone stayed safe through the night. Have a blessed day! Love to all our family and friends! May the Lord richly bless you :)Jen
Memories of our first year with family and friends on New O’Hana Farm, TN are playing a happy tune of https://youtu.be/qM1YMeDsc-M Owl City When Can I See You Again? From Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph ๐ When can we do this again? The lyrics talk of learning to fly and leaving to explore, but wondering when we can gather together again.
To ALL 12 of our grandbabies, family, and friends! Welcome to the farm. VISIT STAY PLAY EXPLORE BUILD MEMORIES AND KNOW YOU ARE LOVED
Moving our belongings in to each room. Picking out new furniture. Painting one of our family rooms and the Green’s Lab. Clearing out the barn of the most straw bales I have ever been around. The fun of picking, buying, and raising our dogs, goats, and chickens. We have enjoyed exploring our woods and land several times during the day and night! Holidays, Birthdays, Weekends, Card Night, spent cooking and talking together, building memories with photos, sleepovers, bonfires, great food, and wonderful people!
For all our grandchildren and children, family and friends, thank you for all your hard work, love, and spending time with us! Happy Autumn!! Let’s finish this year with a lot more of the same! :)Jen
My name is Sampson, and I am the baby of Delilah and Moses. My momma, a Nubian, is the best at getting under fences, climbing over hay bales, chewing through bungee cords, and pushing in one spot till she breaks free. She gets out and enjoys the other pasture until she gets bored. She works her way through the barn, and if the gate is open, she stands just outside.
My dad, Moses, a Boer, is happy and content to stay in the warm large side of the barn, or out in the large pasture. He is very laid back, laying on his large wooden spools in the warm morning sunshine. When he is getting ready to be fed, brushed, and people are talking to him, he loves to smile super big!
Last Thursday, my momma, Delilah, broke fencing and began exploring. She visited the Nigerian and African Pygmy goats, pushing on their gate, till she nicely dented it in. The male, Stitch, though young, stood his ground. He let out noises that sounded like hisses and grunts to protect the 7 young females he proudly adores.
The exploring part looked like a great opportunity, for myself, to also experience wandering. Finding a way out, I joined my momma, and asked if we could walk the drive and look in the windows of the farm house. Wouldn’t those people that feed and care for us be surprised?!!
Feeling large gravel under my hooves was rather interesting. The two of us walking together on a different adventure! Hearing the farm house door, my heart felt nervous and excited. She, the lady that always says, “Good morning Handsome”, stood outside with her boots on, hair tied back, and shiny things in her hands. Might she have a treat? Maybe I would try to smile like my dad, Moses.
Then those shiny things began to bang together and with shock, momma ran back towards the barn. She is a stubborn girl, I have heard the lady and man say. But, not today. If she is not going to be stubborn, then I will be! Feeling brave and strong, I start to turn around. My horns are quite impressive on my powerful head. My body is strong and I am young and want to explore. Ladies voice gets much louder, as do the shiny things. Before I know what I have done, I am back in the barn. Watching Lady close the gates, I hear her say, “Thank you, Handsome.” :)Jen
I don’t know if you do this or not? I try so hard to tackle a job all by myself.
When I was young, and even in to my late 40’s, I didn’t want help. Here on New O’Hana Farm TN, help is welcomed! I work very hard at 52, but I let my husband catch all the ducks and geese, put them in the crate, and drive them to The Aviary. But, I get upset if he offers to help fold clothes or clean up after a meal ๐
Here I am standing in their new home we worked hard on and still have work to do, looking like I am taking all the credit for wrangling them from The Nursery to The Aviary!
He made it look Simple! Walk up to your duck or goose, slide your hand down their throat, grab them up, put them in the crate. Maybe next time…
New O'Hana Farm TN 