I'm over my cold and enjoyed the holidays very much. But I did a thorough system clean yesterday and then a ton of updates and downloads for work. I apparently upgraded to IE 7 and I'm all confused! Nothing's where it normally is and I can't seem to figure a few things out. Don't get me wrong, I love change, but only when I expect it and can plan for it! LOL

So I'm here, just figuring all this out and trying to work early EARLY so I have more time with the kiddos during the day - all 7 of them. My three, Fifteen's two, and Jane unexpectedly had two last week. We are really enjoying them all!

We're out of wood so the weekend will be spent cutting down the last two large dead trees and picking up a load of wood. Note to self: don't listen to Ed next year when he says he *enjoys* cutting wood during blizzards - have enough for the whole winter ready.

Nothing like getting a cold the week before you're hosting a huge holiday dinner. I'm sick, sick, sick and want to crawl into bed but I need to clean, clean, clean.

Kids update

They made it through the night just fine. I went out early this morning allowing extra time for my chores before getting back on the phones and found everyone snug and warm in the barn. The kittens had gotten brave and staked out a corner of Fifteen's stall and were piled in a small hole deep down. Both kids looked very bright and energetic - they even jumped on my legs a little when I went down to check them over. Looks like a boy and a girl. Vincent's named them Sixteen and Seventeen - we're so original with names around here.

I'd let Moo out of her pen for grazing but I think she was upset by my lack of attention. She promtly ran to the big barn, leaned against it, and moooood as loudly as she good - which vibrated the whole barn. Only when I went out and scratched her ears for several minutes and hand fed her a chunk of carrots I'd brought out for the mama did she stroll off to the fields.

Apparently my little chat (i.e. "You'll be in the soup pot soon") with the hens worked because I found two lovely eggs this morning. A still unacceptable rate for over 25 layers, but we'll come to an understanding soon. Our pot will be filled soon as these roosters have GOT to go. I can't believe I paid an extra $2.00 for pullets and ended up with 7 freaking roosters. TSC sure got a piece of my mind over that and I'll be picking up that credit come spring. Anyway, they are all (except our original one) just mean as hell and even though they haven't flogged any of us I hate the way they gang up on the hens and cause such a commotion. Four of them are heavies so they'll be goo eating. :)

The boys have their school program tomorrow and after weeks of assuring me that their kahkis fit I forced them to actually show me last night. Ahem, guess I'll be heading into town this afternoon for a new outfit for each of them.

WE'VE GOT KIDS! WooHOOOOOOO!

I looked out the window an hour ago and saw Fifteen licking something in the dirt, then realized it moved! I ran outside quickly with fresh towels and got the baby moved into the maternity stall where I'd just this morning fluffed the straw and filled the water bucket. Right after getting her into the stall she had another one. They are adorable little things! Both are white with dark brown heads and I think one may be spotted on the back. Other than stumbling onto a litter of kittens this is my first animal birth to attend and I'm nervous as one can be.

This gets graphic....... don't read any further if you're not into details but I've got some questions.

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This is her second or third birth so she's an experienced mama. She's licking them clean but the placenta hasn't come out yet and we're going on two hours soon - the cord is still hanging out. She's got the shakes but she's eaten several bites of grain and drank a LOT of fresh water. She's let them nurse as well. Her stomach is still contracting and she stops to push about every 15 minutes but nothing happens. I'm going to call Phoebe and get some advice from her. I'd like to be prepared in case something goes wrong. When I got her from Chad, he'd just lost a nanny the previous evening who had a third baby inside that never came out. He found her several hours after the other two were born. I really hope that doesn't happen!

Edited:
When I went back out she finished with the afterbirth and all are doing well. :)

Whew! We got the house baled yesterday since Ed got the truck running and was able to pick up 20 bales. We'll still need 15 for next week so we can put more in the cow pen and in the maternity stall. No, Fifteen has not had her kids yet. I can't believe it! This poor goat is definitely in the last stages - waddling like crazy. Poor girl. Hopefull soon.

We chopped down a dead hedge tree and then I helped slip the logs. This one tree will provide us with wood for several weeks and it felt good to work outside. It was wonderful to see Ed working a full day around the farm! I don't remember the last time I saw him do that much physical work.

The goats have decided (well, we've only seen Carmel doing it) to climb on the cars and we're not amused. Twenty acres to roam around, harvest milo, lots of great prairie hay, hedge trees with bark and dead leaves, and they STILL climb on the cars. Ungrateful mongrels. Needless to say, we are not letting them out unless all the vehicles are in garages and since we only allow Moo out when we use the vehicles to block the driveway it's a toss up which animals get to roam. The dang chickens have quit laying altogether and we've got some birds trying to get into the house by flinging themselves against the upstairs windows. I'm telling you, animals on this farm are a brick shy of a load. No doubt.

My Christmas shopping day is next Saturday. My SIL and I are heading into Wichita for a full day of shopping. I hope it snows! Wouldn't that be wonderful?

I hope all of you are having a wonderful season and enjoying your families.

Bad news on the truck

Naturally, as soon as he finished the transmission, the carburator (I know that's spelled wrong) went out, and as soon as he finished that one of the choke lever things got stuck in the "open" position -- this truck is 50 yrs old or more I think. He's just about finished which is good because we NEED straw. We've been lucky the past few days that the wind hasn't been too bad but I noticed the animals digging in their bedding and we need several fresh piles. The two bales we had on hand for Fifteen's maternity stall were used in Moo's pen when she refused to come out during the recent ice storm.

We also need wood. Desparately. I kept telling Ed that my supply wouldn't be enough for the winter and he kept telling me that he'd be feeling well enough to cut down the dead trees out back but..... well you know how that went. What I've got and we received is over 2/3 gone and at this point we won't be able to heat through December. Spending $250/300 each month on propane is simply not an option I'll consider. So as soon as he gets the truck working I plan on locating a wood source to go load it, haul it, and stack it myself. A rick of hardwood (hedge, it sparks HORRIBLY and can only be used in stoves) is going for around $50 and that's a good solid month's worth or more. Just crossing my fingers that he gets it running.

We had a wonderful visit with my in-laws last weekend and are looking forward to spending a day of shopping on 12/16. My SIL and I will head out, childless, to the stores while the menfolk watch the kids at their house. We plan to supplement them well with plenty of crockpots full so they can just snack all day. I'll even pack a couple coolers for us because I figure it will be packed at all the stores and restaurants. I haven't done shopping on a Saturday during the holidays in I can't remember when so I'm actually looking forward to it!