Here's the rest of the fun stuff that I wasn't able to fit into yesterday's post!
Last weekend despite our sick goats we still managed to do some hefty barn chores. Twice a year (Spring and Fall) we do a big clean out of the barn. That means scraping poop and hay. Bunny poop, chicken poop, goat poop... the whole nine yards. It's never a fun time. I shouldn't take credit, Dave does all that work. Though we have found ways to make it easier. First off, a pitch fork! I think that's Dave's saving grace. Last year he did it with a shovel and I don't think I have ever seen him cry so hard in my life.
A lot of people ask "what do you do with it all?" Well, this year we piled a lot of it into some garden boxes. Things probably wont grow that great this year but when next summer rolls around we'll have some wonderfully fertilized soil. We also mixed some compost in there too. The rest of it we just chuck on the ground at the farm. Actually, we should probably move some of it so some areas on our yard where the dirt was washed away. Between the goats and the dogs they squish it into the ground and it becomes a soupy smelly mess in this rainy weather. But when the sun comes out it breaks down pretty fast and the grass grows pretty well on it.
So for those wondering why I avoid farm visits this time of year... that's why!
A lot of people ask "what do you do with it all?" Well, this year we piled a lot of it into some garden boxes. Things probably wont grow that great this year but when next summer rolls around we'll have some wonderfully fertilized soil. We also mixed some compost in there too. The rest of it we just chuck on the ground at the farm. Actually, we should probably move some of it so some areas on our yard where the dirt was washed away. Between the goats and the dogs they squish it into the ground and it becomes a soupy smelly mess in this rainy weather. But when the sun comes out it breaks down pretty fast and the grass grows pretty well on it.
So for those wondering why I avoid farm visits this time of year... that's why!
One of the veggie gardens filled with goat & chicken yuck
Along with cleaning out the barn Dave added a little area for the goats. The goats now sleep there because they're safe from any cold drafts. I think it's going to be great for them in the winter! I took a picture of the barn before it was cleaned with the extended area below. It used to be an area for us to walk and sit and store some things.
 The space to the right is the addition |  There's the little doggy door they use to get in and out of the barn |
If you're curious as to why we have a broken dog kennel in there... when Kevin was a baby that was his little 'safe zone' where he would hide when Sam and Dean pushed him around. Eventually he outgrew it and they broke it but he still goes and hides there when he gets scared. We just don't have the heart to take it away from him!
While Dave was working away inside the barn I was lobbing down stumps and branches. Last summer we added a grazing area for the goats behind the farm. In the last year they have completely cleaned it out. And I mean they ate so much that they ripped the bark off the trees! See the before and after photos below. We'll be adding on another section for them this summer.
BEFORE
Summer 2016
Summer 2016
AFTER
Spring 2017
Spring 2017
Okay I'll stop boring you with landscaping and gardening stuff.
Any of you guys love your poodles as much as I do? I thought I'd share with you where I got these awesome pants! I fell in love with an artists paintings a few years ago. She does beautiful portraits of poodles usually setting in France. But she doesn't stop there... she does a little bit of everything including illustration's for children's books and of course now she does clothing! BUT if you look at her website and you don't connect with anything you see, she does commissioned pieces of art work and also does custom designs for her clothing. Click here to see her work! She has Facebook, Etsy, Instagram etc if you ever want to follow her amazing work like I do!
My poodle pants!
So along with a lot of exciting things there always comes some not so happy things. That's life. One of those unhappy things was one of Audrey's puppies was returned to us. Unfortunately, one of the families we chose to get a puppy could no longer care for their puppy because of some personal issues at home with one of their children. We were heart broken to have anyone go through a situation like this. Thankfully, it was in no way the puppy's fault and we were very sad to have to re home her. The good news is that Luna, (Dobbit's Vanilla Bean) is in wonderful care now and is very happy in her new home.
Luna enjoying her new home!
Okay, back to happy things!
And oh the most exciting things!
I saved the best for last!
2 weeks from today we will be driving home with our new puppy! Can you believe it!
It still doesn't seem real. When we got Audrey and Lucy we had the ability to go visit but since this puppy is all the way in Quebec we don't have that luxury.
The puppies are 6 weeks old now. And NO we still have not yet chosen which cream boy we will be taking home. They change so much during those first 8 weeks of life it can be hard to pick which one! We do have a name picked which we will announce later and I almost have a registered name picked... I need to get on that! The breeder has been awesome and sending lots of photos to help us make a decision.
The breeder gave them all temporary names, as you know. Below you'll see Moose, Makaw and Finch stacked. How does one decide!? They are all so cute!
And oh the most exciting things!
I saved the best for last!
2 weeks from today we will be driving home with our new puppy! Can you believe it!
It still doesn't seem real. When we got Audrey and Lucy we had the ability to go visit but since this puppy is all the way in Quebec we don't have that luxury.
The puppies are 6 weeks old now. And NO we still have not yet chosen which cream boy we will be taking home. They change so much during those first 8 weeks of life it can be hard to pick which one! We do have a name picked which we will announce later and I almost have a registered name picked... I need to get on that! The breeder has been awesome and sending lots of photos to help us make a decision.
The breeder gave them all temporary names, as you know. Below you'll see Moose, Makaw and Finch stacked. How does one decide!? They are all so cute!
More puppy pictures!!
Thanks for reading!
- Amanda
- Amanda