Around the farm-new life and life that ends....

Well Draco (our dog) finally was taken into the vet.  Our usual was to hire the vet to come to the home, give the shots for our horse, treating all larger animals that needed anything, and then give the dog his shots.  I thing they are good for the dog for 2 years.  We lost our horse over a year ago, so now when Draco was due for his shots, that would mean we would have to take him into the vet.  I put that off because he is not an easy dog to take into a public place.  He does fine out here with the vet.  He will do fine with people at our property if were right there, so he knows we accept you....but come onto our property with out us here-warning: Dont. You might be eaten alive.

So to the vet we went. 

Our oldest daughter came to help, bringing her dog, and our youngest son and his wife brought their two small dogs-all four of our dogs needing their shots.  Their 3 were in one auto, (Draco would eat the one for a main meal, and have the two small dogs for a dessert) and Draco was in our truck-

We arrived to the vets, on a snowy day, blazing a trail on back roads for awhile.  I went into the vets and saw about 8 people with their dogs.  Two of the dogs were pit bulls.  Everyone holding back their dogs from attacking other dogs.  I found out which person was the last one there and told them (in case anyone else came in) that I was after her with her dog, but was choosing to stay out side for now.  One man with two big dogs said, you can come in here there's room, I laughed and said no, my dog would  not do well.  We walked our dogs, Draco first, then put him up into the truck and the other 3 were walked.  Finally there were only two dogs left in the office-both of the pit bulls.  shsss.  But in we went with Draco when one the last one went back.  empty waiting room, would be good.  Then the door opens and in walks  2 huge dogs with their owner.  (one looks like a Alaskan type of dog).  It took both me and Anastasia to keep Draco calm and back.  Finally Dustin too had to help. Then a woman walks in to look how many are in the room and announces she has 9 dogs to bring in.  I ask her if she will wait until Draco is out of the office, and she says sure-and does what I had done, making sure who she will be after.  We assure her we will make sure to keep her spot 'in line'. (After all, to Draco, Dustin is still 'his' boy).  When we took him back to the room he did fine.  Held still, friendly and all. 

So finally we went home.  What a day!

One of the goats we lost , she was a good mother too.

Today, is a different day.  We have been having a bit of a tough time on the farm.  Lost 2 goats this winter, and one sheep.  

They just went down, gave antibiotics and all, just never recovered.  Then one of our best sheep (a female, one of the first ones) went down.  That was over a week ago.  We continued the antibiotics  but she never could get back up.  She was called Marshmellow.  Here is her photo  from a year or more ago:

Scott was having a hard time putting her down, so we stopped asking GOD to heal her , since she was suffering so, that HE just take her soon.  HE did, in HIS mercy.  So this morning Scott built a large bon fire to dispose of her body.  This morning he also found one of our young sheep down, gone, who had died trying to give birth.  The baby was gone too.  This is the first one we have lost during a birth.  

So we began with 18 sheep when winter began, we took two males in to be butchered, lost one sheep.  began lambing season with 14 females and the one male.  And now lost 2 more.  Our little herd is dwindling down.

We had a new baby born this morning, probably the last for this mamma.  She is the remaining oldest sheep, a sister to Marshmellow.  It will prob be the last lamb we allow her to have...unless she becomes a better mother with this one.  She was always a great mother, but does not allow this baby to nurse unless Scott stands right there holding her pinned against the barn side.  Then the baby can nurse.  The photo below is of this mamma and her new baby.  A little female lamb.

 Here is Scott with them 

Hot Dry Weather

Bob the goat is still a problem.  I just watched him squeeze out of the fence to the 'world' of weeds by the woods.  Bob, (sorry everyone), will become dinner someday.  






It has been so hot this past week.  Draco -the family dog, has been allowed in the house...he seems to like the air conditioning.  

So does Kadia the cat.  Todd (the other cat) was out side somewhere and can not be found currently.  Hopefully he is just out hiding in the shade due to the heat...or did he get into the basement and no one noticed??? I guess I will have to check on  that-later. 

I went outside to day to see what the girls had accomplished, they come over and did some work around here to help out which we appreciate a lot.  They painted the sheds ( all of them needed a new coat of paint before summer was over in preparation for winter).  I picked out the color, but the green is a bit brighter than I wanted, but it will do. It looked darker in the store, or is it my older eyes and eye-sight----no, cant be that. I am not gonna get any new paint to re do them!  I am too cheap!

They do look better!

They even did a coat on the small trailer that needed it really bad!  Their dad was pleased with that.  I think I would have wanted a purple trailer actually had I known it was to be done.  But I guess it blends in with the barn and sheds better this way!

Now scott just has to put the two pieces back together..

I think we need to add a new bottom to  it first! It is very warn...






Well as I looked around I see they left a message for me...I had asked them if they painted the front of the shed too but no...they did it their way...saying something about it will need to be done later...

The chickens are enjoying what shade they can find...

and the cow is just enjoying the sun...

                           The goats do not seem to mind the sun...(A rumor says they got into the paint and some horns are now green...but they would not come close enough for me to confirm this rumor)

The garden is doing good,  we finally watered it today, praying for some rain soon!  Well, I will stop writing-I know this is short, but I am tired...been a long couple of days...I will end with with some photos of the garden and I hope you all have a great week!

Another New Baby

Well, a new baby on the Keeslar Farm...We knew the momma goat was expecting, but not sure when she was due.  Signs pointed that it would be soon, but as far as looking that she was expecting, she really did not look too large!  

 Yesterday Scott went out and realized there was a new baby in the field...so not sure when she had the baby, but here he is!

Around the Keeslar Farm....

Last week on the farm the youngest grand children visited...Grandma made eggs with cheese, fresh fruit and some chicken.  Then I even made cookies, but they enjoyed the fruit and chicken more!  Good for you kids!!! I love what the shirt says that the youngest one is wearing!!!

Our youngest daughter also visited...and her father (my hubby) brought the youngest goat in side for a visit!  He was named Bob by our other grand children, although we are not really sure if that name will 'stick' but time will tell!

This is 'bob' outside in his stall...under the heat lamp...

Our two twin lambs -so far named salt and pepper, but those names will change too, are growing.   They sneak out of the pen and roam around in the barn all over!  When you go out to the barn and go in, you will often surprise them and they look at you like "were not into anything --really"

The other goats are all getting along just fine, these are the two babies that we  got last year...from our pastor...

 And I had to show the peacocks new tail feathers.  We are finally down to only one peacock!  yeah!  After years of having up to 23 at one time!

His color looks sort of reddish in the light, and yes it really looks that way.   When he moves into a slightly different light, it changes.  So pretty!

awaiting the birth of babies on the farm...

This is the male sheep...he is kept from the 4 females we have, until his services are needed. Here he is begging food from me...after all it is feeding time and it is winter so he is very dependent on us for food right now!







































Here is one of the older mothers, who we think will be having babies soon, by her appearance...

















This is one of the 'daughters' from last year, who is not expecting...as far as we can tell, but she too will be a part of the herd to have more babies by next winter....










and here is one of the other daughters from last winters babies, she will be one to have babies next year....













here are all four 'women' of our little herd, two are the older sheep, who are expecting, and the more fuzzy ones, are the daughters from last year, and they are not expecting....but will be by next year!













Here is one of the mommies that is expecting!














Another photo of one of the mommies...















one of the female goats...
















One of the younger goats...













And here is Sally, she is expecting too! soon we will have baby goats and baby sheep!