Sunday, August 16, 2015

So IThought Goat Milk Would Sell!

       But I was wrong! My fridge runneth over! I had a few sales, but not consistent enough to keep the milk manageable. She only gave me less than half a gallon a day, but still that was too much. Yes, I could have frozen it, but soon my freezer would be full. It's not that big. So, I sold her. I still have the other doe and her doeling, but I'm not milking her. I hope to sell them together when the right people come along. But for now, I'm just enjoying their presence. I had no intentions of selling the goats when I purchased them. But things didn't work out the way I thought they would. My guys didn't like the milk. The cheese was too goaty tasting, etc. I tried different versions of cheese and they all had that taste. It's the aging that does it. The milk doesn't taste goaty; at least not to me. Homesteading means you have success and you have failures. One must learn to adapt to them both. That's what I love about homesteading! It is a wonderful learning experience!

      The garden is still producing! I think the pinestraw mulch is helping to keep in moisture. I've only had to water a couple of times, in this heat. I still want to make lots of improvements. There again with the learning. I want to get the tall, grassy areas mowed and some sort of mulch put down. If I can get enough newspaper, I'll start with that. Then I want to put down cardboard. Then, I'd love to get woodchips. That is the hardest thing to find. We don't have a muncipality where they dump them. The tree people don't do the chipping; and the Asplund tree workers are hard to contact. God will lead us to them when the time is right. I have faith. 

      The girls didn't come this weekend. I sure do miss them! They are all in school now. And, we found out we're going to have a great-nephew in December! Finally, a boy to go with all these girls! I'm excited to get to spoil a boy again. I haven't gotten to since Skylar. I hope ya'll are enjoying these dog days of summer! I'm trying to, since the weather predictions for winter is not good: cold and rain. My two worst enemies for winter! Thanks for stopping by! Blessings from Bama!

Jalepenos on the left, fooled you peppers on the right. The jalepenos were grown here, the Fooled You elsewhere.

My first canned salsa!

Freshly dug garlic. I had to wait for it to rain to soften the ground. I think I waited too long!

I love this view!

I'm steaming a Candy Roaster pumpkin. I hope it tastes like sweet potatoes. I grew it in our garden.

Locally sourced chicken. We're grilling it today. It's $4.50 a pound! Yikes! Purchased within fifteen minutes from the house. Now that's local!

More salsa. See the chunks of garlic from the garden?

I purchased this honey within walking distance of my house. Nice to have local honey!



14 comments:

  1. First, I like the header and the view! Yes, that is what homesteading is all about - trial and error - success and failure. We sure had our share of that. I always wanted goats to have milk and make soap. I never liked the taste of it and the cheese...I hate goat cheese...it smells "goaty" to me. As I loved their companionship - in the end - I gave away ours too to a 4H family. We have been dry here too - my corn is just about ready - but, we need rain. I've been making fresh salsa from my tomatoes. The rest of my garden didn't fair so well...there is always next year. Congrats on the great-nephew - exciting. Have a great week.

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    1. Hi Jacky! Thanks! Funny how things look different in a photo. I was walking around that day looking for eggs, and looked up. The view was breathtaking to me! I wished I had a little cottage where I stood to see this vew! I'd never leave it! I didn't get to make soap. The cheese tastes goaty but that's not a bad thing. I like a little goat cheese sometimes. I just don't want my ricotta and mozzarella to taste like that. Oh, I hope you get rain soon! We didn't grow corn but I know it needs lots of water. Yes, there's always next year. Too bad you can't have a Fall garden. Thanks, we're looking forward to his arrival! Blessings!

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  2. Guess maybe 'success and failure' could also be how we respond to 'life'?.... not just to homesteading?!!! :) What is admirable to me, is that you are always willing to try and learn something new..... and are wise enough to make (sometimes hard) decisions if it's not working out for you and your family. Your salsa looks delicious! Glad your garden is doing so well!! Have a great week! :)

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    1. Hi Lisa! Yes, you're absolutely right! Oh, thank you Lisa! I really try to be in touch with the Lord and let Him lead me. I'm so thankful He allowed me to have these goats! They have been a blessing! Thanks, it is! I'm so thankful we've had just enough rain to keep the garden producing. The bugs have had a hayday, but at least I'm harvesting still! Blessings!

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  3. Hi Bama Girl! CONGRATULATIONS on the new Lad in the Family! What fun!
    You know, it takes a lot of wisdom to know when to cut your losses regarding the goats. But, I'm sure it is hard, yes? Hopefully, you find someone soon that needs them.
    Your view IS breathtaking! I didn't know you lived so remote! Just the right setting for "homesteading", eh? Just right!
    Hugs to you and your fam! Cheeryshirley

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    1. Hi Cheeryshirley! Thank you! I can hardly wait! Yes it does take Godly wisdom! I've already sold the one I was milking! Well, it's not really remote; that view just makes it look like it. That's why I love that view. There are lots of homes around us, just spaced out. Hugs to you too!

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  4. This is my fear about buying goats. I am afraid we wouldn't like the milk, I tried the store bought goats milk and didn't like it and I am sure if it was all we had, we would get used to it...but I just don't know. Congratulations on the new baby!

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    1. I undersrand your fear, Becky. I just decided to take the plunge and go for it. Turns out, Nubians are a good investement. You can at least get your money back for them. Try asking around, maybe even run an ad on Craigslist to see if anyone has it for sale, before buying a goat. I really like the milk but that's me. It tastes more 'goaty' the longer it ages. The store kind doesn't do it justice. Thanks! We're so looking forward to his birth in December.

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  5. Hi Felecia, I am sorry your goats didn't work out but that is something you wanted to try and you did it!! Love your header picture and the salsa is tempting to make but we don't eat a lot of it. Congratulations on the upcoming new baby boy!! I am sure you will spoil him every chance you get! Enjoy! Nancy

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    1. Yes, Nancy, it was something I really wanted to try! I'm so glad God allowed me to try them! Nubians are lovely animals! It I don't sell the other two, I'm ok with that. The only time I ate salsa at home was in a recipe. I just don't care for store-bought salsa. But now that I've made my own, Oh man! I hope I never have to eat store-bought again! I want to can all my tomatoes into salsa! We eat it like crazy now! Thank you! He will definitely get lots of spoiling!

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  6. Felecia, that's too bad about the goats. Some do give a stronger flavored milk despite keeping everything clean and sanitary. Sometimes it's diet related (lack of cobalt or vitamin B) sometimes it's breed related. Apparently the breeds that give a higher butterfat content milk give a "better" tasting milk. Even then, some goats give strong milk, just as some humans have a keener sense of taste when it comes to it. At least you tried!

    Everything else looks great. How wonderful to have local sources for chicken and honey! And so close, too.

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    1. Hi Leigh! Yes, that's true. I guess I thought all Nubians gave a higher butterfat contentent in their milk. The milk didn't taste goaty cold, only when it was heated. Yes, I'm glad I tried! Yes, I'm thankful for these local sources! Thanks for stopping by! Blessings!

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  7. Love your new blog header, Felecia! Too bad about the goats!
    Your salsa looks so yummy. I used to can it too. Now I just use my food dehydrator and dry tomatoes. And buy salsa, though home made is much better! We buy local honey too, local everything is so much better, isn't it??!

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    1. Thank you, Donna! Oh, that's a good idea using the dehydrator! Yes, it is so much better! Local is the way to go! Blessings!

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