It's about that time!

It is getting to be that time of year when I put away the milking pail and give the goats (and ME!) a much needed rest from milking.  By now, all the does should have been bred - that is, if the buck is doing his job.  Judging by how bad he smells, I think he is!  And, BOY, does he reek!!!  I won't go into details but, trust me, it isn't something you would find at the "better" department stores!!

I always feel a little sad when "milking" season is over because that means no more cheese, no more goat milk yogurt, no more fudge, and no more goat's milk ice cream.  I have checked around to see if I could another goat in milk to carry me through the Winter, but haven't had much luck.  So for the next couple of months, we will do without until next year when the babies are born and the cycle begins again (isn't that where Elton John starts singing "The Circle of Life") - I know, too early in the morning for that!

A very rude awakening!!

Very early yesterday morning, our shih tzu, Ella, began barking and won't stop.  We figured there was a deer or maybe a raccoon in our front yard.  My husband would turn on the spotlight and won't see anything.

Well, this morning around 12:25 a.m., Ella and Choo (our other shih tzu) started barking again.  My husband told them to SHUT UP!!  Ella won't.  So, once again, he turned on the spotlight and didn't see anything.  He was ready to go back to bed when he heard someone outside cough.  He knew that meant trouble.  He thought maybe someone was going to steal one of the goats.  He went downstairs to get the gun.  When he got to the front door, he saw our car being driven out of the driveway.

Thinking fast, he immediately called the police.  Woke me up because his wallet was in the glove compartment of the car and to start calling to cancel all the cards.  What a sickening feeling that is at 1:00 in morning!!

Fortunately, there was a Sheriff at the local gas station at the bottom of the hill and got the call about the stolen car.  Saw it go by and a chase began.  It ended with the car jumping a curb and landing in the local playground.

We moved out here to get away from this.  But, I guess this can happen anywhere.  My son always jokes about our "wimpy" little shih tzus and how they aren't good for much.  Well, it seems to me that if it weren't for "wimpy" little Ella, we would have never seen our car being stolen.  Thank you Ella!!!

My Poor Pitiful Garden

All good things must come to an end - as the saying goes.  Well, so goes my garden!  It is looking rather pitiful these last few days.  Oh, but what fun I had with it this year.  HUGE zucchini, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, beans (and more beans and more beans - LOL!!) and lettuce.  And I can't forget my lavender and yesterday I pick a bundle of mint to dry for my soap.  I really hate to see it go but it is that time of year.  Soon I will be planting the garlic for next year and starting to look at the seed catalogs planning next year's garden (ah, the circle of life!!).

It is beginning to look like Fall

Oh, how I love this time of the year!! The trees are just starting to turn those beautiful colors!  And temperatures are OH so nice!  Sweater weather!!  Crisp mornings!! Just cool enough to put on a sweatshirt or a sweater in the morning.  And the afternoons are just warm enough to walk around in a t-shirt and shorts.  Not too hot. not too cool - just right!!

There are already some leaves covering the yard and I would the sound as you walk through them.  I am half tempted to sweep them all up into a pile and jump into them as I did as a kid.

How can you not love the colors of Fall - the vibrant oranges, golds, yellows and browns!  Every color more gorgeous than the last.  I love just sitting on my deck (in my rocking chair) drinking coffee and admiring the beauty of Nature that God gave us.