Fall at 'Little Dixie Farm'!

      I've never mentioned our goat herd name before, have I? Well, it's 'Little Dixie Farm'. Even though we now have Nubians, I think the title still fits. Since we have less than three acres, especially. We almost didn't have Nubians! You see, I thought I wanted to sell them. I thought they needed a place with other Nubians and a goat barn. The ad on Craigslist was about to run out so I was surprised that I had gotten any calls. I was beginning to get sick with the flu that weekend and told the first gentleman so. He said to call me when I felt better. A couple of days later, another guy, very insistent, called. Long story short, I sold him the Nubians. Yes, I called the first gentleman and he said it was OK. I think I was out of my mind! After they were gone and I had time to think about it, I was so sad! I was even more sad the next morning and contacted the guy who bought them. He asked me if I wanted them back. I said yes, that I had acted in haste. We had to drive and hour and a half to get them, but they're back! Yay! The doe didn't have much milk so he wasn't too interested in keeping her. He sells goat milk for $16 a gallon! I thought $9 was plenty! I learned something about Nubians that I hadn't realized before. Nigerian dwarfs can breed any time of the year because the buck always seems to be in rut. I just thought all goats were like that. Not so with Nubians. The Nubian bucks only go in rut between August through December. The guy who bought them from me had a buck that was already out of rut, in only October. I want a Nubian buck now. I have not been successful in locating one at this time, but when God is ready, He'll show us the one.

      I am loving the cool nights and sunny, warm days we're experiencing! We are finally having a Fall! It usually stays hot right up until November, so this coolness is refreshing! I've planted a Fall garden and have been harvesting some mustard greens. They are so good in a salad, at least when they're small. I ate some last week that must have been a little strong cause my tummy let me know! I love them cooked and eat them with hot pepper sauce (acutally it's hot green peppers pickled in vinegar) and cornbread. So delicious! I hope to cook some this week. There are carrots, beets, and spinach coming up, as well. I'm not sure if that's kale coming up. I planted kale, but it could be a weed. It needs a little more time to tell I guess.

      The chickens are laying good again! The spring chicks are just starting to lay, so their eggs are small. I especially like getting the real dark, brown eggs! But the ducks haven't started laying yet. I'm really anticipating getting duck eggs for custards, pies, and cornbread dressing! I have even been able to sell a couple dozen eggs sometimes! I haven't sold anything else, but that's OK because I'm not really trying. I have so much to do, especially since I was sick for so long, trying to catch up. I still have a nagging cough. I'm just glad to be back to myself! Having the flu is no fun! I pray none of ya'll ever get this stuff!

      Ya'll enjoy the Fall! There is so much to see and enjoy this time of year! Stay safe! Blessings from Bama!

You know I can't write a post without sharing these beautiful faces!

Where's the snow Uncle Randy?

Layla doesn't like riding in the sled.

A new hydrangea I purchased a few weeks ago at half price!

Here's the name, Zinfin Doll. It starts out white and continues to change until it's a burgundy color.

The candy roaster pumpkin ready to be used in pies.

Our beautifully colored eggs!

The last candy roaster ready to be roasted.

The sun oven has been in use a lot lately.

Candy roaster cooked in there.

Randy has been working in the flower beds.

I know you can't see them, but this thing is loaded with bees! Especially honey bees!

You wouldn't believe all the weeds that were in here!

Now to get to work on this bed!

My sweet Nubians! It sounds like they say "M-a-M-a!"

See how the colors have changed?

I Am Thrilled to Introduce Ya'll to Our Newest Homestead Members!

      I've been goat sitting since April. I have to admit, I have grown attached to these little critters! They are Nigerian Dwarfs, relatives to the ones we sold earlier this year. So it got me to thinking about becoming a goat owner again. This time, I wanted a larger goat that I could get more milk from. I started searching and found nothing. More searching. Nothing. Seems no one around here has Nubians for sale. I don't even know if there are Nubian owners around here! I started looking further away. Several came up outside the Atlanta area, but that would be about a 3 hour drive or so. I kept looking. Still none here. I found some on this side of Atlanta. Still a bit far. More looking. By this time, I'm putting in an ad in search of Nubians. In two separate places. No answer. I finally found a place that was only an hour and a half away. Bingo! The right goats at the right time! And delivered to our property! That was a God answer! For us and for the former owners! We ended up with two does in milk, and a beautiful doeling! I have been on cloud 9 ever since! It's such a wonderful thing to have God answer your prayers! Even if it's not exactly when you ask for it. He knows the right timing for everyone! So if you're praying and it doesn't seem like God is hearing you; much less answering you, keep on praying! He is listening, and He will answer you when the time is right! 

      Randy is having to assist with the milking process. I believe in time, I will be able to do it by myself, but he is so very helpful. He doesn't actually milk her, although he tried a time or two. He gets her out without all the other ones coming out. That is a job to hold all the other goats in there, all the while, letting only Bambi out! He gets her onto the milk stand and stands there keeping her occupied while I milk. The first time was terrible! I barely got two cups of milk! The milking has gotten easier and she now gives us a quart, twice a day. I love this process! Tomorrow, I'll be making mozzarella! I'm excited about all the things I can make with the milk. I have some buttermilk culturing now that I will use to make chevre. Then I plan on making ricotta with the leftover whey. I hope there won't be much waste of anything. What's leftover, I'll feed to the dog and chickens. 

      It's gotten really hot again so I'm having to stay inside until the sun begins to go down. Then we still have heat and humidity; and mosquitoes! I get eaten up every evening when we milk the goat! Oh well, it's worth it for me! Just like getting chiggers to get blackberries! I have poison ivey too! I think I got it from petting the goats, since they eat it! Got to take the bad with the good sometimes!

      We saw all the girls this past weekend! I am so glad we spent the weekend hosting them! They are growing up so quick! I don't know when they'll be over again, but I'm looking forward to seeing them soon! I hope ya'll are staying out of this heat! Stay hydrated as much as you can when you do have to be out in it! Have a great week! Blessings from Bama!

Meet the girls: Trixie, Dixie, and Bambi! Bambi is the light colored one I milk.

Going to be made into cheese tomorrow!

What sweet faces! Yasmine with her icecream cup and Riley with her playdough!

Lulu giving her Mom a hug since she hasn't seen her since the day before! Mommy's girl!

Dairy goats, do you raise them?

      My husband and I have been talking dairy goats again. He brought me a copy of "Storey's Guide to Raising Dairy Goats." It is full of valuable information on anything one could ever ask about the care of dairy goats. My problem is, which dairy goat do I want? Most people around here raise Nubians. That was the breed I was about to choose until I read about the LaMancha's. The LaMancha's are a large breed like the Nubians, but without visible ears. They also are quiet compared to the Nubians. The LaMancha's personality seems to be much more docile than the contrary Nubians. These are some things that I read about in the book and also in speaking with a LaMancha breeder. I'm just not sure if I want to pay his price. The Nubians are much more reasonable, or so I've heard. The LaMancha's can produce up to a gallon of milk a day, which would be much more than we could drink. I guess I could freeze what we don't use and/or make cheese with it.
      Do you have dairy goats? If so, what breed do you raise? Have you raised other dairy goats and prefer one over the other? What made you choose the goats you raise? Is there a market for your goats? I hope someone reads this who can answer my questions, or provide a contact person I can ask.
      While I'm asking questions, is there anybody you know who has a garden? I would like to speak with an experienced gardener who cans their own produce. Do you have excess veggies and/or fruit? I need green beans, squash and anything else I can 'put up'. I've picked almost four gallons of blackberries that I can use later. I've also dehydrated potatoes for using later. There is so much I would like to do, but I don't know anyone with a nice, big garden, to share with me. If you or anyone you know does have excess, send them my way. I'm always feeding people, so the food will be shared with others.
      Hope you are enjoying this blog. If so, leave me a comment below. Have a blessed and safe Fourth!

Full of valuable information!

First fruits. What are the spots?

Two quarts of dehydrated potatoes.