Milk-less in Ohio

Even though I am "enjoying" my break from the twice daily chore of milking the goats, I am so missing the rewards of milking the goats.  I guess you can't have one without the other!  I so did enjoy the goat's milk yogurt and cheese.  But, I am also enjoying having more "free" to get other things done - like HOUSECLEANING.  Yikes!!  I hate to admit it, but this house is in need of a serious housecleaning - now where is that MAID????  Oops, I forgot . . .  I am the maid!!  Oh well, it will get done, slowly but surely.

So for the time being, I will have to "endure" store bought yogurt and cheese.  I know . . . life is rough!

Hawks!!!

Just when I thought "predator" (i.e. foxes) season was almost over, a new predator arrives on the scene - hawks. Sigh!  Yesterday afternoon, I heard a ruckus coming from the chicken pen.  I looked down there and all the hens were nowhere to be found but Mr. Rooster was having a major fit.  Hmmmm, something must be really wrong.  So I grabbed the gun (I'm getting good at that!!) and went out to the back deck.  Just as I did I saw something swoop down to the fence surrounding the chicken pen - a hawk.  OH YEAH!!  Without hesitation - I fired a shot.  What turned out to be Hawk #1 flew off followed by Hawk #2.  Both of them flew up to branches in neighboring trees.  OH NO you don't!!!  Two more shots were fired - Bye, bye hawks!!  And please don't come back!!

Alas!! Here comes our first "taste" of Winter

I heard that dreaded word "SNOW" in the weather forecast today.  Are you serious!!  Obviously, this is some type of cruel joke the weatherman is playing on the viewing audience!  Nope, he mentioned it again.  Yep, I heard it a third time - Oh darn!!  Good thing I spent yesterday afternoon in my garden harvesting what is left!

I was able to get a lot of produce from my garden - green beans, several jalapeno peppers, a couple of banana peppers and bell peppers.  Those big long green things are really luffa gourds.  I will let them dry and eventually remove the green skin and make luffa sponges out of them - how cool is that!!  I also pick some herbs - rosemary, mint and basil.  These will go into herbal vinegars and what is left will be dried to be used for future soaps.

I do hate to see the cold weather coming on, but I guess it is that time of year.

Endings

As the saying goes . . . All good things must come to the end . . . and so it goes on a goat farm.  This week I will be hanging up the milking bucket for the year.  Milk production has taken a huge dive and it is time to call it quits.  I always do this with mixed feelings.  It will be great to have the much needed rest from the daily chore of milking twice a day.  I will miss the fresh milk, goat cheese and yogurt.  BUT I can look forward to that for next year.

This weekend will be the last market day for Market on the Square.  What a great year this has been!  Best year EVER!!  I am going to try the November Market (weather permitting!).  Then, in December, the Winter Market begins.  Hopefully, it will be better than last year.

My Favorite Time of the Year

This is one of the "back" roads near my house.  The "girls" (my two shih tzus - Ella and Choo) and I walk this everyday.  At this time of year, the trees are absolutely gorgeous!  So many vibrant colors!!  And each day it is different.  Yesterday, as we were walking, I noticed we were being watched by two deers.  Oh how I love living out in the country

I love the Fall - give me a big, comfy sweater any time over a skimpy bikini!!  Trust me - you don't want to see me in a bathing suit - not a pretty sight anymore - maybe 30 years ago, but not now - I shutter to think about i!!

Camp fires!! Is there anything better than sitting around a camp fire at night and just talking with your friends??  It just don't get any better than that!!  Hot chocolate with marshmallows - you HAVE to have the marshmallows - it just isn't any good without the marshmallows!!  Chili and warm, homemade soups - I am making myself hungry!!!  Pumpkins everywhere!  I love pumpkins!!  Big ones, little ones, whole pumpkins, pumpkins with scary faces, pumpkins with elaborate pictures carved in them . . . and, of course, pumpkin pie - YUM!!!

Of course, with the onset of Fall, my garden is pretty much over and done with.  But, pretty soon, the seed catalogs will start arriving in my mail box and visions of next year's garden dance through my head!

I hope you are enjoying the Fall and all the beautiful colors God is sharing with us.

Time Sure Flies!

Can it really be the middle of October ALREADY??  Amazing!  It seems just like yesterday that the market opened up for its 9th season and here we are with only 3 more weeks left for the Market on the Square - WOW!  And what a fantastic summer this has been!!

I think the goats are all bred.  Bucket, my buck, reeks (UGH!!).  I guess the does (the girl goats) must like it but it is disgusting to me.  And I tell him so everytime I go over to the goat pen.  Of course, he ignores me and wants to rub his obnoxious, stinky self on me!  Ah, the joys of goat farming!

And, boy, are the retailers pushing Christmas!  I saw a Christmas tree in my grocery store two weeks ago.  I wonder if the retailers are nervous with all the antics going on in Washington and how this is going to affect the country and, in particular, their sales.  What a sad situation our country is in!  All you can do is pray.

BUT, life goes on at the goat farm . . . as it should.  My goats and chickens don't seem concerned about the idiots in Washington, DC.  They continue to lay eggs and give milk.

I do love this time of the year - the trees look so beautiful.  I do feel sad that my garden is on its way out.  I still have some peppers and my lettuce is doing well.  I had so much fun with my garden this year and am already mentally planning next year's gardens!

A "Day Off"

Because Hyde Park is having their annual Hyde Park Art Show, the Farmer's Market is being moved back to US Bank Parking Lot.  The Art Show is HUGE and the crowds are HUGE.  Which is great for the Art Show and you would think it would be great for the farmer's market.  BUT, the crowds are there to buy art not produce.  I have sat in the Bank Parking a many Art Show days and watched crowds come through the Farmer's Market - many, many lookers - hardly any buyers.  And the sad thing is that the Art Show crowd took up all the parking spaces so our regular customers can't park.  So while it is a great day for the Art Show, it is not a "so-great" day for the Farmer's Market.  So here I sit at 9:30 (when the Farmer's Market opens) sitting in my PJs drinking coffee on the computer.

So what does a Goat Farmer do on her "day off"?  Does she sleep in - HA!!  Well, maybe a little.  Does you lay around the house all day watching TV - sure!!

This is what I have been working on all weekend . .

Politics

Normally, I stay out of politics.  It gives me a headache.  But, I have been watching the antics in Washington, DC this week with mild amusement and disdain.  I can't help but think what our forefathers would think of this fiasco.  They must be rolling in their graves!!

It seems like the majority of the week has been spent finger pointing - it is the Republicans' fault, it is the Tea Party's fault, Harry Reid won't negotiate, President Obama won't negotiate, etc., etc., etc.   They sound like a bunch of children fighting over a prized toy!!  Unfortunately, the public can't send them to bed without their supper (or some similar type of punishment).  And, who is suffering the most from all their antics??  WE ARE!!    I keep wondering WHEN are they going to start acting like the leaders we elected them to be!!

Instead of finger pointing guys - I had a great idea!!  Why don't you all sit down and figure out how to get the United States out of this mess that you got us into!!  And stop listening to Frank Sinatra's song "I Did It My Way" - it's an oldie and no longer a goodie!  Just git 'er done!!

I will get off my soap box now - this is just one Goat Farmer's opinion!