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In Loving Memory of Sunny Baby |
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All images © 2003-2014 Angelika Munter |
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Daisy is due around April 20 She was bred to Henry |
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Last addition to kidding schedule for 2014 |
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StewieLudwig |
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Ludwig Jr |
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During the summer months we sadly lost numerous chickens, one duck and a goose to repeated fox attacks, including our handsome Cuckoo Maran rooster as well as our momma hen and two of her chicks. One of the two surviving chicks turned out to be a rooster. Not only that, but to our surprise, he is the spitting image of his dad. |
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As another year on our small farm is coming to an end, we look back at all the experiences we had, good and also bad. It has been quite a year. Sadly we had to deal with a lot of losses, which is a part of hobby farming just as all the exciting and fun experiences are we have along the way.
For the first time we had to deal with pneumonia in our goats and two calves this Spring after some crazy, sudden weather changes. We also learned more than we ever wanted to know about CAE in goats. Unfortunately we had to learn the hard way as we lost our sweet little Caylee to it. We are no longer living in a fools paradise about the disease, which we just thought we would never have to deal with on our small farm. Four of our goats turned out to be CAE positive and we had to make adjustments and still have to continue to do so. CAE prevention and testing will now be a permanent part of our management practices. Since we are small hobby farmers and not producers, of course our CAE positive goats will be staying right here enjoying their lives as long as they are healthy.
We also had very big losses this year to several fox attacks. We lost not only six of our egg layers, but also both of our handsome, young roosters, a mother hen and two of her chicks as well as our lovely goose Abigail and one of our duck oldies Splash. It was a tough Summer. We tried everything to catch the fox with no luck, the attacks just stopped as sudden as they had started, leaving us rather frustrated and upset about the losses .
Of course when you raise animals you have to take the bad with the good. There will be sad times and plenty of it, but the good times make up for everything tenfold. This was also the year where our very first black spotted doeling was born. Dixie is a happy, healthy gorgeous girl and we are quite proud of her. For the first time we also were able to only use our own bucks to breed the girls. No more drop of a hat car rides to visit a buck on another farm. Which made things so much easier especially considering we also for the first time- bred five girls this year. So we have lots of babies to look forward to comes Spring. Once again our gardening skills proved to be rather non-existing. Even though we are almost there, we are not giving up yet, we will try one more time next year. There must be some hope even for us gardening challenged. We also for the first time whipped up a couple of batches of handmade goats milk soap. Even the first try was a success and we have been enjoying lathering up with our own soap. So this will be a project we plan on expanding next year when the milk should be flowing quite heavily. We are also quite pleased with the huge progress we made fencing in several new goat pastures.
Everybody enjoyed the free range heritage Thanksgiving turkey and also some delicious goats milk eggnog. (for the recipe see below) So looking back, despite some setbacks and sadness, it was a good year here on Sunny Acres and we are looking forward to an exciting New Year. So be sure to check on all the news and happenings on our website and if you like what you see, or have any comments please sign our guest book. Feel free to contact us we are always happy to help any way we can and we LOVE to talk goat!!!
With this we wish everybody a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a happy, healthy NEW YEAR
See you in 2014 Slade & Angelika |
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Homemade Goats Milk Eggnog 1 cup plus 4 teaspoons sugar, divided 1/3 cup all- purpose flour 2 quarts whole goats milk 4 eggs separated 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Nutmeg for garnish 1. In large sauce pan combine 1 cup sugar and flour. Gradually whisk in milk. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat whisking constantly. Boil for 1 minute stirring constantly. Set aside 2. Whisk egg yolks in bowl. Add about half a cup of hot milk and whisk to combine. Return sauce pan of hot milk to stove and add egg mixture whisking constantly. Bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute. 3. Stir in vanilla and set aside to cool. 4. Beat egg whites while gradually adding remaining sugar until whites are stiff. Stir in egg milk mixture and chill for several hours. Garnish each mug of eggnog with sprinkle of nutmeg. ENJOY !!!!! |
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Unfortunately we have to end the year with some very sad news. We had to say goodbye to Sophie, our sweet, lovely, beautiful old lady. She has been faithfully by our side for nearly 15 years and it will be very difficult to adjust to a life without her in it. We will miss her terribly and the only comfort is the hope that she is now playing with her old friends Sunny and Petey and will be waiting for us at the Rainbow bridge. |
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If Love could have saved you, you would have lived forever |
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