Call me Fickle.

Love those fuzzy faces!

Could you say no to one of these sweet faces?

I have been waffling back and forth over goat breeds that would work best for my small homestead. I love the funky look of the La Manchas. They also have many attributes that would work nicely for this new goat herder and maybe one day I will be able to add one to my herd but just not right now.

With all that considered I think I am going to go with the Nigerian Dwarf goats. They are of small stature, have higher butterfat, seem to be more readily available in my area and are just darn cute. I love the goats with blue eyes and moonspots. I want a colorful mini-herd of two or three. Being a dwarf breed I can easily handle them plus the enclosure I'm planning will be plenty roomy.

I stopped at the Tractor Supply on my lunch hour to ask the manager if he had any word when "Chick Days" would commence. I learned they will be getting chicks at the end of the month. My expectations are running high to find different breeds to add to my dwindling flock. I know I definitely want more Red Stars for their jumbo brown eggs my family loves. Rhode Island Reds are on the list too. I hope I will be able to find Black Stars and a few Cochins too for a colorful flock.

My flock of hens now stands at two. Yarrow and Sage are the only residents of the new hen house Daddy and I worked so hard to build. My newish girl Parsley began crowing early last week. Parsley had been living on my little farm for months so it with total shock I heard crowing coming from the hen house. I called the friend I bought the newest girls from and she couldn't believe it either. So now the rooster, formerly known as Parsley, has been returned from whence he came. No roosters are allowed in town.

Better head home. The temperature is in the low 60s and I have a few outdoor chores to take care of before we get rain. :)

Looking Back & Pushing Onward

2012 was a roller coaster of a year. Some steps were made forward and a few were  made backward. 

I added three Blueberry bushes because the bushes I planted last year did not come back last Spring. Although we had a mild Winter the Grape vines didn't come back either . Daddy and I  made a few raised beds and two of them are planted in Blackberry and Blueberry bushes. 

My little Fig trees came up but didn't do a whole lot with the drought hitting us so hard. I did soak them, and the Peach tree, a few times a week during the driest part of Summer. The Peach tree had a wonderful crop of fruit. The one peach I was able to eat, before they were stolen off the tree, was a perfect peach ... sweet and so juicy. 

Last Fall I added three rhubarb plants and two Currant bushes. I am eager to see how they fare this Spring. I want to make Rhubarb crumbles and Currant jelly, after the bushes mature, maybe Currant wine too.

Late last Fall I added two Dominique pullets and two Welsummer pullets. Unfortunately a raccoon recently raided my hen house and killed my original flock ( Tansy, Rosemary, Frick and Cicely) plus both Dominiques and one of the Welsummers. Losing my original girls was a very bitter pill to swallow. I raised them from chicks and they were like feathery cats. Whatever I was doing they were right there to "help" me. If while I was walking and stopped too quick it was common for Frick to run into me. [sigh]

As soon as the Tractor Supply Co., and Orscheln's, begin their Chick Days I will begin a new flock. I think in addition to the Red Stars I will try some new breeds. We'll just have to see what choices they will be offering.

Looking ahead to a new year of homesteading I've been researching dairy goats. The LaManchas have really caught my attention. LaMancha goats are sturdy animals with very small ears. They originated in the United States and were developed for their delicious flavored milk and sweet disposition. They are suppose to be a quiet breed which is a huge plus since I'm an Urban Homesteader. No one has ever complained about the chickens and I don't want goats to put my neighbors over the edge. [smile]

The new season will also include more raised beds, a few finishing touches on the hen house, more Herbs, Grape vines and Fruit trees.

The greenhouse will be getting a workout this year. I learned quite a bit last season so I'm expecting more plants for my family's use and to sell at Market.

I will leave you with this quote I found buried in my email ... I think it is a good one.

 
Attitude

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company…a church…a home. The remarkable thing is, you have a choice everyday regarding the attitude you will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. You are in charge of your attitudes.

-Chuck Swindoll