As I am sitting here working on some website updates I now realized I have not made a blog post since 2017. Well here is a little update of farm happenings. We are sitting in a record heat summer for Montana. 90's to 100's with no end in sight. This is not normal for us. We haven't had rain since May, maybe early June. Pasture ground is toast. Its gone. Hay is scarce and what you can find is unbelievably expensive. We were fortunate enough to make enough hay to feed the cows for the season and goats for half a season. There is non to spare. Grasshoppers are like a disease right now eating away at any crops on the ground. Don't worry! The goats are handling the heat well. My cows and dogs are quite uncomfortable. Bears have now started to roam and in my backyard looking for any food sources. Thank goodness for those good livestock guardian dogs of mine! Early mornings and early bedtimes for my girls and I to get chores done! This year we pulled all of our babies and bottle fed them. We also accomplished a 1 day milk test early June I am still impatiently waiting to hear results from! Due to the weather we filled our freezers full of milk and dried off the does. My husband built some spiffy bottle feeding racks that made things so easy this year! My girls were in charge of feeding bottles and giving me health reports. They are now 12 and 9 so my great helpers they are! We have done a lot of updates to the barns over the last few years. If you keep watch on my facebook page you can see more there! Oh! We also started hatching our own chicks this year! It's just for fun and we love it! Keep drinking water during this heat and stay healthy!
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That was a long long long winter. I can't express in words how long of a winter that was. Yes much needed, but seriously what a long winter. I can finally see the grass!! And all the mud to me is a beautiful sight! We haven't had a winter like that in a long time! All of us and the animals are thrilled and playing outside as much as we can and enjoying the sunshine!
Once again kidding season has arrived! And it is every bit as exciting as the first. We have one buck kid for sale out of that pairing. I have retained the doe and other buck. Later this week the vet will be out again to preg check the other 5 girls I bred and also my pig!! Every once in a while I question whether or not I am in the right business and if this is for me. Whenever those feelings arise I am reminded of how blessed we are and shoved into the direction that this is what I need to be doing and what I am meant to do!! 2017 is going to be a bigger year yet!! Oh goodness, wow has it been a long time since I have posted ANYTHING on here! My apologies... What a busy year its been! Our last kidding season was a great success! So many beautiful babies. We did end up losing the 2 goats that were chosen for my daughters from an unknown cause. That was very difficult on us.
This September I had my long awaited baby girl born from Maddie!! She is perfect! Maddie certainly gave me my made to order baby! I named her Maid in Montana!! My all time favorite name ever!! Huge success with our soaps and lotions and I even sold out of Christmas scents! That was awesome!! Two more stores have since added our products as well. I am just so thankful for how we are growing! Fresh scents and spring-summer scents are now in the making and boy oh boy do I have a lot of ideas! I have also finally perfected my chapstick recipe! Now we are working on some super awesome candles! 2017 has come in like a wrecking ball. We have had the coldest winter and the most snow we have seen in a long time.... It is Montana so yes that is expected but we have been fortunate enough to have nice mild winters. Right now we are going on 6 weeks of -20 F nights. There is well over a foot of snow and more in every area of my yard. I also just had to say goodbye to my best friend of 17 years. My best dog Rose has been with me since I was a kid. She was with me through going out on my own, getting married, having kids and starting this whole farm. She was with me and let me cry on and hold her when I had a diagnosis that has forever changed my life. She was just a huge part of my life and I'm having a hard time not seeing her any more. Rose liked the help me dig in the garden. So there she was placed where I will also be giving her the most beautiful rose bush I can find. She will never be forgotten. Kidding season is quickly sneaking up on me. We could start seeing kids as early as end of February. The rest are due middle of March with the exception of 4 first freshners who didn't settle the first time and Maddie. Can't wait for those babies!! This year I will try to be more dedicated to my website and offer birth announcements!! Well I suppose its been a day or two since my last post. With all the craziness i have just not had much time to spend on my website!!
We had a very successful kidding season!! With about 25 kids on the ground!! All but on buck has found homes and we have decided to sell one of our beloved senior does. Bittersweet there. I love her dearly she is one of my favorites. We also brought about 7 new girls and a new buck plus a few keepers!! We have a few does due for fall but nothing major!! Now that all is winding down it will be time to start focusing on products!!! I have a new lotion out. And have decided to expand to facial creams. Hoping to take the next few weeks to stock shelves and get ready for craft show season!! We took a little trip, well it was an extremely long trip to the goat show in Torrington WY. Our goats did not handle that trip well and to be honest neither did I!!! Pocket did take 2nd in one her classes. The judge was really considering placing her first and commented that she had the best udder but the doe in front had some better length, which she did!! The juniors misbehaved and did not show well at all! But it was still a fun weekend and a wonderful time to get away!! Now right around the corner is the first ever show in Dutton that i need to get my rear in gear and tie up the loose ends on!! So excited to see that one come together and hope for many more years of it to come!! Here we are again!! Ending the 2015 year. Where does the time go? As a farmer, wife, housekeeper, mom, chef, nurse, personal driver and shopper, goat milk product maker, etc..(i could really go on and on) i never seem to have enough daylight hours or time in a day. You would think i would slow down in the winter months but nope!! Just means all those little projects that were neglected over the warmer months need done! In about 2 weeks we will be seeing another set of kids hit the ground! Rock Salt is about ready to pop!! And from what i can tell of her udder they are going to be doe kids! Whoop whoop!! We just finished up our last craft show of the year. Although i love sharing my information and telling people about my products it sure will be nice to have some time off for a little while! As the new year approaches i am always trying to find ways to expand my business. While bathing my new puppy, Rugar, i got to thinking........... goat milk dog shampoo!!! Why not? Its good for all skin types! I have a soon to be 16 year old pom, and when im milking i always give her a little to drink. She loves it and it has done wonders for her. I plan to have oils good for animals skin, ground oatmeal, and essential oils that help repel bugs, leave a long lasting smell and that are good for sensitive skin. Im so excited for this product so make sure to watch for it!! It will be available very soon. I also have some more exciting news!!! Here in Dutton, MT, over the weekend of Dutton Fun Day, on Friday July 8th, we will be hosting our first ever GOAT SHOW!!! Yes another show is being set up in Montana!! I have lots of help from some amazing women and it is coming together so wonderfully!! Because this show is coordinated with Dutton Fun Day there will be food vendors, pool will be open, park is right next us and there will hopefully be some other fun family activities and a silent auction!! AND!!!!! We will be hosting Montana's first ever buck show!!! This year we will be focusing on mostly just a nigerian dwarf buck show until we see how the interest is for other breeds. If interested in helping please contact me at 406-590-7162 we will be looking for sponsors very soon and also silent auction items!! This is a show you dont want to miss out on!!
 Well here we are again!!! Already half way through November!! Breeding season has begun yet again!! And boy oh boy am i excited for spring kids!!!
Rock Salt is due January 1st so that will be great to have little kids again!! Not looking forward to how cold it may be then though!!! We are slowing down around here just keeping the gang fat and happy!! We are just about ready for the 2 winter craft shows coming up very soon!! Voda, Pocket and Reba i believe have all been bred! Biscuit is now in with Wrangler. On Friday i will be moving Nash in with his ladies. Tomorrow is pedicure day! Ok so maybe im not actually slowing down that much.......... Just wanted to do a very short and sweet update on the farm!! I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! One thing i am thankful for is the home grown turkey i raised! And of course my family! And one very supportive husband!! He sure tolerates my animal hoarding habit well!! In the morning i get to wake up real early and go deliver 2 kids to Helena to there forever homes!! Such sweeties but they have a great home to go to!.
All three kids took to the bottle extremely well. Nova is in the process of being dried up. And in 2 weeks i will start my breeding!!! A few girls and boys are very very ready for their dates!! What to do what to do, well i think this week i will finish harvesting the garden. And then clean the barns once again. While im feeling real ambitious i will hopefully get the chicken coop re done!!! Whoohoooo!!! My chickens haven't given us any eggs in 2 weeks. They are hiding them and i still cant figure it out where. Soon they will have not place to hide, mwahahahahaha!!!! Should be a nice and peaceful rest of the month!! And i am going to enjoy every bit of it!! Maybe i will even get to finish some of my unfinished projects!! You know like the ones you start, get half done, and then they sit for 6 months!!! Oh come on!!! I know you all do it to!!! Or maybe i should work on that growing mountain of, (don;t worry they are clean), laundry!! With the winter months approaching, things will get pretty quiet around here with out much going on!! I sure do love walking out to the barns in the morning and all the animals yelling at me in their own languages. They are all saying, "feed me now!!! You are making us starve. You only fed us once yesterday and even though we still have food, give me more!!!" They are some of the best noises to wake up to!! However, waking up to cows in the wheat field across the road, yet again, is not something we enjoy waking up to!! Last night i separated Nova and her babies for milking. I don't expect to get much milk from her as a FF and i also don't want to keep her in milk. I do want her to learn the routine and enjoy it as well. She did wonderful!! She kicked a little bit at first and squatted a bit but at the end she relaxed and we got the job done easily and quickly! The triplets were sure happy to be back with their momma this morning!! I also plan on doing 6 new batches of soap this week! So watch for them on the store page /store/c1/Featured_Products.html!!! The scents that will be added are pumpkin spice, hot apple pie, holiday candy, cranberry fig, Christmas forest and fresh snow. I also plan to restock on lotions. Busy busy week!! Which i think that will never change! Especially with an expanding business!! That is okay though!! I will take it!!! One last thing and then i better get to work for the rest of the day!! I wanted to update on Chester the sweet horse!! He is doing better than any of us expected!! He is running around like he is 15 again!!! Oh and he is sure fiesty!! I mean fiesty!! Have a great week and don't forget to watch the store for new soaps!! Well what started out as a great start to the week is quickly taking a turn. What started out as a week full of excitement with all the new barn updates is now a week ending in heartache. Yes, as a farmer these things are bound to happen but as a person who cares and spends so much time with the farm critters you can't help but be emotional. Monday night we once again heard the sound of the pack of coyotes that are running past and through our place. We have no neighbors, no big city lights, just the lights from the big bright moon and stars that GOD gave us. While all this beauty cannot be explained in words it also makes us prime territory for predators. Our cows have busted more fence and we have not been able to find all of the spots to fix it. Usually when they get out they stick pretty close to home. Not this night. We woke up in the morning and went to go get them back in the fence and they were no where to be found. We went about 3 miles in each direction trying to find them and still came up with nothing. I feared the worse but thankfully my husband decided to keep going on one route where we had found some tracks and we found them 6 1/2 miles away from home. The coyotes scared them and started to chase them and the cows lost their sense of direction and went the wrong way. Do you have any idea how long it takes to chase 6 cows home with just a four wheeler? OVER 3 HOURS!!!!!! My trusty 3 year old did keep me company on our journey and i was extremely happy for handle bar warmers that day. The cows were tired and dehydrated and hungry. I sure hope this never happens again but i am thankful they are all safe.  Last week we also welcomed 2 wonderful horses. We will be housing them for a while for my mom. They are such sweethearts. Tuesday we went and opened up more pasture space for them and thought we had everything cleaned up and ready to go. Those boys had so much joy of going into a new pasture with lots and lots of grass to eat. Wedn i went and did my grocery shopping that morning. I came home and gave the horses a good brushing and lots of love and smooches. They each went for a walk and lead beautifully. Even Casper the stubborn one cooperated more than i have ever seen him cooperate before. I was so proud of them and myself and knowing that they fully trust me after such a short while. I left to go get the hose and started filling bowls of water. After i finished watering the goats and chickens i headed to top off the horses trough. Chester was no where to be found. I walked up a ways calling for him and he didn't come. Very unusual for him. So i though he must have gotten out somewhere and we missed a spot in the fence. I went to the barn and grabbed the lead rope and halter. I walked all the way down to the end of the 2 to 3 acre pasture. There Chester was stuck in between the bushes and caught up in a barbed wire fence that had been missed. It was hidden so well none of us saw it. I ran back to the barn to get fence cutters so i could get him loose. I finally got the wire cut and had to bolt before he would trample me getting out of there. I got both boys locked in the small pen to inspect damage. While i had gone to get fence cutters i did call the vet and had him out right away. The damage was worse than we had thought. The barbed wire completely shredded the back of his heel and as we were out cleaning up the fence Chester found we also found a chunk of his cartilage that had been cut through. It was horrific and so devastating. Chester will never be able to be ridden again. We need to now wait and see how he heals and how pain levels are. We may end up needing to make the hard decision of putting poor old Chester to rest or wait and see if he can handle a relaxing life of retirement. For a 25 year old horse he sure has the strongest will to pull through. He is amazing. His spirits are still high and he still knows where to find his treats!! We are all just devastated. He really is the best horse and friend. If this wasn't enough to handle i had my favorite cats disappear. They were the best mousers around and my favorites. They were also my first cats and have kept the farm clean for many years. My husband who hates cats, which i will confess they are not my favorite but they have grown on me, brought home my very first cat 4 years ago on the first day of the year that it snowed. So i named her Winter. She was an excellent cat. The coyote that had been taunting my cows the other night and has been living close by killed my cats. Now is when it really takes a turn for the worse. Our family could really use some prayers for healing and comfort right now. Family members are having some major health issues and it is uncertain what is going to happen. We hope and pray for the best and at the moment that is all we can do. Yes being a farmer comes with its ups and downs. Yes it can bring more heartache in a week than some people can even imagine. Yes it is some of the hardest work a person will ever have to do. Yes the work is all morning, day and evening only to start over again after 6 hours of sleep. Yes when you try to take a "vacation" all you are consumed with is the work that will need to be done when you get home and are the animals being taken care of well. BUT!!!!! It is the most rewarding and fulfilling job i could ever do. As hard as some weeks are, today could be great day and tomorrow even better!! You pull up your boots and keep going! There is no time for sulking just fix the problems and keep doing your best!! Is this job for everyone? Of course not!!! But it is meant for me!! UPDATE: Vet came out again to check in on Chester. Amazingly he is going to make a good recovery!! He will not be a trail riding horse or even a leisure riding horse but he will not need to be put to rest either!! He can probably still handle small amounts of weight like the small girls every once in a while on a light saddle even. I am so happy about this news. He is one strong ol boy who deserves some extra hugs and kisses tonight!! I will even sneak him in some treats as well!!
Nova kidded with 3 little adorable wethers on the 19th!! Prettiest kids born here yet!! It was a very easy text book kidding. No problems whatsoever!! She did excellent and is a wonderful first time momma. I am so proud of her!!
We had, yet again, several new additions and will hopefully have lots of little ones running around this spring!! Last week we also installed a bunch of barn mats in the doe barn, I cant even begin to describe how excited i am for those!! Today we are working on installing windows and doors in the doe barn as well! It will be so nice to have some natural light in there!! The buck barn will be getting a new door as well. I painted my shop floor this week. I LOVE it!! It is all starting to come together! Lots of work ahead but it will be soo worth it! The two other stalls in my 3rd barn will be finished as well this week!! Finally getting some better use out of that great barn!! I have also put an order in for some portable stalls to go in there. They are pretty awesome! I can set them up for 1 to 3 stalls! It will be perfect for holding! They should also work wonderfully for shows this year!! Last thing to do is to get a horse trailer!! It can wait until spring though so i can find the perfect one for us!! Now I need to hit the goat milk product making hard and get busy with all of that!! I need 3 of me!! |
Leigh GreynI am a stay at home mom of two wonderful daughters. We live on a small farm just outside of Dutton, MT. Besides being a mom I also run our small farm, sew, crochet, do photography and plenty more!! When I purchased my first two goats I just couldn't get enough of these guys. It started with just doing if for the wonderful milk and now for the milk and the love of goats!! Archives
July 2021
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