February
Boy- am I ever glad that JANUARY
is over... Even with our best efforts, the does kidded on the coldest days (and nights) and we lost almost half the
kids to the freezing temps. A 4 lb kid has no chance against -9 degrees. Especially if it is a triplet...
Mom can only clean off so many kids at a time..
Good news is that if one doe lost a kid and another refused one (due
to us soaking them in the sink to thaw- lesson learned, put the kid -up to their head- in a gallon zippie first, then put them in the sink) we had successful grafts so no kid was left as a bottlebaby. Huzzah!
We had 52
born and lost 24, more or less. Will have some still with serious frostbite issues- ears mostly but a few back feet
too- so that may up the attrition tally. Overall, the does did as good as we could ask but never again we we let the
sneaky buck stay in with the does on a July day, not matter what!
The "big snow" brought us 5.5 inches. No ice so we
are not complaining. Power stayed on, the house stayed warm and our bellies are full. We are fortunate.
Savannah
has speech competitions a-plenty coming up. She recently placed 5th in the poetry division at the last meet.
She was runner-up for the 10-county District American Legion speech competition and even at that level won a 4 yr/ $5,000
scholarship to Lindenwood University. She was most pleased! District honor band meets in the middle of the month
and she was one of a couple freshman chosen to participate. She is playing a "Mozart etude " for solo competitions
in March and it is sounding very nice.
Glenn is keeping the drive cleared and hay out for the animals. Beggin is showing
signs of impending calving and I cannot wait for her little one to be here. We are slooooowly getting stuff moved up
from the old house into the new place. Just always have other things to do or the weather is just too lousy to schlep
stuff to and fro.
Until March, pull out that Baker Creek Heirloom Seed catalogue out and make your plans for Spring.
Time for me to get back at doing our taxes. Joy Joy!
~Mary Jane
