Wonderland Farm

Whew, it's been a good while since I've blogged, but I *promise* I'm going to start keeping up with the blogs. Life has been good but certainly busy lately. Brownie kidded with a beautiful solid black buckling, who is now wethered. He is terribly cute and I named him "Black Beauty" because he reminded me of Black Beauty the horse, from the classic novel. I was hoping for a doe, and for multiples, but that's life for you. Since Beauty is the first kid born here, I decided to keep him. Later on, when I get a buck, he will be his companion. For the time being I am focusing on does and using outside bucks to keep my genetic options open. I will begin looking for a buck sometime in the spring/summer of next year, but for next year's kidding I'm hoping to have more than one sire.

Sandy did not kid, so either she did not come in season and get bred while with the buck, or she simply didn't take. I'm going to try again with her next year, to the same buck- Chinook Winds Deep Blue Sea. He has some awesome genes in him, being a Bay Watch son, and I really am hoping for a doe from him next year to have that awesome pedigree in my bloodlines. Tons of great goats in that pedigree. Huge thanks to Mark Newbill from Sawdust Trail Acres (http://www.sawdusttrail.com) for letting me use his buck.

In other news, we're in the process of building a larger fence - with more yummy weeds - for the Nigies. The pen they're in now will revert to a kidding pen rather than a permanent housing area. I will post pictures when we get it complete. But for the time being, I just want to comment on how awesome a gas auger is. It's got to be at least 10x easier to use than a traditional post hole digger. A friend let us borrow it, and it was such a time saver.

Mom and Dad working the auger.

One more bit of news: Our first LGD, a female Great Pyrenees, is coming to live with us this Saturday! We'll be taking an eight hour trip (four hours one way) to pick her up from Clear Creek Farms (http://www.motesclearcreekfarms.com). I am extemely thankful to be able to end my search for an LGD with "Mellow." Of course, there will be pics of her this Saturday. Also, I'm working on adding a couple new does to the herd...I'm talking to their breeder right now. More info on that will come soon.

Hope everyone has as awesome of a week as I am sure I will have!