tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post7251829560628556663..comments2023-10-21T16:38:35.007-05:00Comments on Thoughts from Frank and Fern: Life Cycles & LearningFrank and Fernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-16722697098651735632019-01-28T10:01:16.025-06:002019-01-28T10:01:16.025-06:00Hi Pony. We are in our birthing season, as I will ...Hi Pony. We are in our birthing season, as I will call it, right now. We have 10 two & three week old babies on the ground, one more doe to birth any day, and that will be it for the season. <br /><br />It would be nice to say that everything in life is just peachy, but we've had some challenges this year. Fern should be posting about them in the near future. Most of the babies are strong and healthy, well actually, all of the babies are strong and healthy, but one of the mothers is not. But we have done some things with switching babies to different mothers that I really didn't think would work, but it has.<br /><br />We live in southeastern Oklahoma and chose Nubians for their heat tolerance. And besides that, we like ears on goats. When they don't have horns, ears make good handles when you're trying to get a goat to see things your way.<br /><br />Genuinely thank you for reading and the comment. Stay tuned.<br /><br />Frank<br /><br />Frank and Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15570058990887565563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-61773114111187201412019-01-28T09:10:44.912-06:002019-01-28T09:10:44.912-06:00How did I miss your goat blogs?
You obviously ha...How did I miss your goat blogs? <br /><br />You obviously have great taste in goats. (I breed Nubians, too.) <br /><br />Like all our stock, the learning curve has been steep at times, but of all our stock, the goats hold a very special place in my heart. <br /><br />Right now, I am bottle feeding a doeling that got stuck during birth, her head hanging out, her legs stuck behind her. The lack of oxygen (no idea how long) left her blind. Other breeders assure me that, once the swelling goes down, she will be able to see and do just fine. So we pray and hope.<br /><br />Goats. One of life's REAL adventures! <br /><br />-- PonyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-68027300317107398612017-12-01T08:11:50.910-06:002017-12-01T08:11:50.910-06:00Love this blog, great set up! I have three Alpine ...Love this blog, great set up! I have three Alpine dwarf mix goats of my own, and am a huge chickens lover. I am so excited to continue reading what you have going on!<br /><br />https://thelittleredhenmc.blogspot.com/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-89026348294540864052016-01-10T06:12:22.389-06:002016-01-10T06:12:22.389-06:00Firstly, congratulations on healthy kids! Always a...Firstly, congratulations on healthy kids! Always a blessing. <br /><br />You've described the homesteading journey so very well. I think we would have long given up if we didn't believe that the world and our world system aren't so precarious at this time in history. But it's worth it in its own right too. I think God intended for us to live in a close relationship with the land. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-56043471182195567612016-01-07T16:22:38.739-06:002016-01-07T16:22:38.739-06:00I have to agree that the learning curve on homeste...I have to agree that the learning curve on homesteading can be overwhelming, but as I look back at all we have learned I am encouraged. <br /><br />We struggle the most with gardening, but each year we learn something new and apply it to the following year.<br /><br />We keep pushing forward...just like you!<br /><br />Thanks for sharing on the Our Simple Homestead Blog Hop! http://oursimplelife-sc.com/our-simple-homestead-blog-hop-33/Tracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05678143033993731986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-82895260739772313862016-01-07T07:50:29.248-06:002016-01-07T07:50:29.248-06:00I have used line breeding in my purebred cattle en...I have used line breeding in my purebred cattle endeavors. The key is using the best stock possible to start with. Any problems in a bloodline show up quickly with line breeding. It is one way a stock breeder can find flaws in a bloodline. I used 1/2 brother to 1/2 sister matings. Usually with the same ancestor being the sire.Fionahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05348495575211204989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-35267356713587331492016-01-07T02:47:57.886-06:002016-01-07T02:47:57.886-06:00That was a very interesting post. You and Frank h...That was a very interesting post. You and Frank have made a lot of progress!RockWhispererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04204125716550161500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-81822347724021156552016-01-06T23:21:20.897-06:002016-01-06T23:21:20.897-06:00Life is for learning and sometimes you can work th...Life is for learning and sometimes you can work things out quickly other times it takes years and even decades. Being willing to change and adapt will benefit all of us in the coming crisis. <br /><br />Congratulations on the new arrivals. No goats here but our sheep did give birth to twin boy lambs who are doing wonderfully. They will end up in the freezer eventually and DH is already talking about getting another Merino ewe to breed for meat and to increase the flock and I will get the wool to spin and knit with. My idea of sustainable living. Like so many others I'm stocking up on food but I'm also expanding the vegetable garden, planning where more fruit trees are growing, eyeing off Lucky the Rooster who needs replacing with a new rooster and generally trying to get as organised as I can (I know probably an impossible task) so no matter what happens we can have a reasonable chance at survival. <br /><br />Even better news is a friend and I were talking about having a stockpile of food and some cash on hand for emergencies and she agreed it was time that she started to prepare for whatever may come. Hopefully the seed has been sown. I'm praying for her.<br /><br />Blessings to you both.Calidorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07118238727781108509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-11828038215950516822016-01-06T22:06:18.848-06:002016-01-06T22:06:18.848-06:00I don't understand people who stock up on free...I don't understand people who stock up on freeze dried food and MREs, but have no plans after those are gone. I have a friend/neighbor like this. She and her husband have enough food to feed their entire family for one year, and think that's enough. I've asked what she plans to do when that food is gone. She just looks at me like I have two heads and says, "It's enough food to last a YEAR." I'm glad she has that stockpile; I have several months worth of freeze dried food that will feed my kids, grandkids, husband, and myself. I only consider it my emergency stash. I also have a garden, fruit trees and bushes; can the food I raise; save seeds (and I have heirloom seeds stored also); and have chickens and bees. I have first dibs on baby goats that will be born soon, and that will be the start of my goat-raising. (I've gotten goats milk from a friend, and I've learned how to make cheese. Yay me!) Gardening and animal husbandry is difficult enough in good times, I can't imagine the stress involved when my life depends on it. Wet, dry, hot, cold, storms that destroy crops and damage fences, wild animals and insects that eat my fruits and vegetables, etc. There sure is a lot to deal with. I'm glad we're learning before the storm hits.<br />God bless. <br />Prepared GrammyPrepared Grammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13520764687351107967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7003348645601520194.post-67308401986658112502016-01-06T21:30:02.196-06:002016-01-06T21:30:02.196-06:001) Climate and soil can never be overestimated. W...1) Climate and soil can never be overestimated. When we moved to our current home from our previous West Coast home I found out gardening completely changed - not just soil but what it was possible to grow. It turns out that the heat and humidity we have here does not play well with many of the things I was used to growing, let alone dealing with rain storms in May and June that could cause crop loss.<br /><br />2) Experience in doing what you are trying to learn can never be overestimated either. The first time I try anything, especially something where there is a bit of risk, I am very nervous and do not do it well. Over time, I gain confidence both in my abilities as well as the fact that in many cases failure is not as drastic as I imagine it to be. And this is in an environment where, for the most part, I can just go buy something if I severely make a mistake. Imagine the stress entailed when it is something you are counting on and there is no back up.<br /><br />Congratulations on mastering the cheddar wheel. After four years my results are still spotty at best.<br />Toirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.com