Life on the Farm Known as Critterhaven

Welcome to Critterhaven Farm's Blog

Raising Nigerian Dwarf Goats in Southern Middle Tennessee

Welcome to my world....

I have used this phrase often, mostly when talking to my hubby.  Like last night.  He got home from work, I was fixing supper and in and out with the goats, the kids were fussing with each other, and the dogs were chasing the kitten.  And poor little Noah had pooped his diaper.  He finally said, "It's crazy around here!"  And I said.....

"Welcome to my world."

I had brought the pups into the house from their pen in the garage to take pics to put them on my petfinder site, and Keesha our senior keeshond was in the house, and she is in dire need of a hair trim, our newest kitten Fridge was in here (named so because she can't seem to stay out of it), and then of course the usual house dogs Cricket the terrier, Bea the papillon, and Heidi the Aussie were in here.  Oh, and then there is Hawk the 2 year old black cat.    Not to count the cockatiel and the hamsters (were 2, now about 16), and the fish.  I think that gets all that is supposed to be in here.  Anyway, somehow I managed to tackle some of the mess in our 1500 sq. foot home even with all this.  And he thinks it's chaos.  To me it is commotion but when it isn't here I can't function.  I think there is a name for that...probably some kind of disorder.

With the rash of burglaries in the area lately, I'm kinda glad to have my own alarm system here at the house.  You don't dare walk in unannounced.  You are greeted with barks and growls.  Thank goodness.  And that doesn't even cover Aslan the pyranese outside.  Our goat guard.  Times are hard and it appears people are resorting to any means to make a buck.

Me, I'm on ebay today...honestly I might add.  Dr. Phil had on a couple yesterday that made about 15K on ebay monthly by selling stolen goods they had shoplifted.  I can't imagine making that...even on an honest dime.  I'm happy with my little chip of the block.  So today so we will have some money for the kids Christmas I am selling on ebay.  My daughter has asked Santa for bunk beds since we have moved her brother into her room and made his room a playroom.  They are 2 and 4.  We are okay this way for now.  And now we can reach them in case of fire in their beds at night without the toys all over the room blocking our paths!  Today I'm also planning on taking 2 - 55 gallon trashbags to their rooms and clearing out the 'old toys' they don't play with anymore.  i'll bet I can repackage some and they would think they were new!  This Christmas will be lean, but I plan on making up for it with homemade cooking, decorating the tree with the entire family, and truly making it a more traditional Christmas.  One they can remember, with friends and family coming over throughout the season.

To add to the chaos I've picked out paint for our bedroom and bath, and the living room and my computer area.  I'm so tired of the pastel pink/peach that is in here....country look I am not.  So for the bedroom I chose a purple called Sensuality and a green for the bath called Emerald Isle.  Can't decide for the living room yet...either a brick red or a brownish red.   Guess what we'll be doing over Thanksgiving!  Not hitting Black Friday I guarantee.  DH is off all work....another plant shutdown to try to save the company...but we'll take shifts working at the family business that week to still bring in income.  The other days....ebay.

I still need to mark my items for my booth at the local antique mall.  Hopefully by Christmas that will generate a little more income also.  If the weather would cooperate I'd love to have one final yard sale, but alas, with it 40 or below...not many people are in the mood to yard sale.

I have done really well on my promise to give away at least one thing daily.  Today I had sold my wet vaccuum but found 2 bottles of the floor cleaner unopened, so up they go on our freecycle yahoo group today.  I have a couple of kids coats for tomorrow.  They should go fast.  It is such a joy to see what you give away making someone else happy.  And what doesn't get taken, other than the free hamsters, will be taken to Good Samaritan.  

Our baby goats are growing strong.  We are preventative treating for coccidia today again..this is the 3rd day and so far everyone seems to be taking it very well.  I had one doeling that was acting puny one night and the next morning she was deceased.  No idea why.  I can only wonder if maybe she had an allergic reaction to the Nuflor shot I gave her before bed.  I won't do that again.  Not when I'm not there to watch.  I learn something every year....like this year not giving the coccidia medicine in their bottle.  I learned the milk lowers the efficiency of the drug.  I didn't know that before.  Now I do and we give it straight to the babies.  You should have seen us weighing them in the corn sack with our antique scale.  Some struggled, some just lay there swinging.  It was so cute, but we got accurate weights on them all, something I usually do not manage to do.  Glad I found the old scale.  Yard sale...$4.

I have also been having a cup of hot cocoa at bedtime.  It SO helps me sleep. Last night hubby got up sick at 2:30 and I never heard him.  My son is running a fever last night and today, but no other symptoms.  He is playing quietly now, so I know he doesn't feel good.  After he ate his pancakes this morning he was ready to go lie down.  NOT normal, so we'll be watching him.  Seems like someone is always sick at the holidays. 

AND my New Years resolution has started early.  Eating salad for at least 2 meals a day, I've been able to lose a few even with the cold outside.  As soon as my son starts feeling better we'll be picking up our daily walk again.  I'm determined by April or May of next year to be well on my way to my pre-kidding weight! *g*  I started with taking about 7 inches off my hair.  May have been the wrong time of year to do it...my neck is freezing...but after having longer hair since 1998 at least, this is a change.  But I love it and have had many compliments on it and the darker color...so it was a welcome change.

Better get on and get with it.  The goats have been let out to graze on the open field, and now it's time to tackle what I've put off...picking up the kids rooms!  I told my daughter it would be changed by tonight...so I'd better get started.  I'll post later after...here is before...wish me luck!

Then off to ebay.  I plan on listing at least 5 auctions a day until after Thanksgiving, then re-evaluating and seeing what I have left.  Wish me luck there also!

Until later.....everyone start enjoying life, and the holidays.

Oh, I read a passage I love today on one of the yahoo groups.  Proverbs 27 I believe...

 23 Know well the condition of your flocks,
And pay attention to your herds;

This really does apply when you own goats.  DAILY.

Susan