Got Goat Coats?

Isaac sent this email to Abbie with pictures and details for goat coats.  So my mom, being wonderful and all, emails Isaac back asking for more specific measurements.  So Isaac did.  Then, last week, Isaac got a package in the mail.  This is what was inside...

Each of my kids went and put a goat coat on each of their goat kids.

They velcroed underneath and I don't think the goats were quite sure of what to do.  Waffles was unable to walk after the coat went on, so Ruthie carried him.

Abbie also sent a dog sweater that didn't fit her dog.  Why not try it on the goats?! 

It fit.

So there you have it.  Isaac also emailed Abbie with ideas on how to make the family Christmas Eve party cooler next year.  Such a hoot.

Love Is In The Air.

Our neighbor Randy got a billy.  That's a male goat who can breed, in case you wondered.  And we have been looking for a billy to breed with for a while and have been unlucky in love.  So to speak.  But Randy got a billy at an auction.  So Randy and Daniel struck up a deal.  Daniel tossed the 4 does over the fence. More fun for the billy.

That's Biscuit.  She has no idea what's coming. Iris had to be sent back home, though.  She wasn't very nice.

So for the next month 3 of our does are going to partake in the goat love fest at Randy's.

There's the billy there on the left with the hefty build and beard.  All the ladies stand a bit away from him.  It's like a junior high school dance. 

If all goes well, we'll have goat kids in June.

Turn Out The Lights, The Show Is Over.

Last night was the goat show.  The kiddos got their goats washed and dried and brushed and leashed and walked and good and tired out.  Here they all are right before the show.

Just entering the show ring. 

The goats are 3 months old so they were in the Pet class 0-6 months old. 

Waiting for the judge.  This year's judge was (I thought) much better than last year's. 

Here is the judge with Isaac and Jake.  He got down with each goat as he talked to each handler.

With Sam and Woody.  He asked what the goat's name was and then told them to tell a little about their goat.

With Ruthie and Waffles.  The judge had a smile on his face the whole time and laughed and was extemely friendly.

Walking around the arena.  Ruthie's goat Waffles, not wanting to walk.

As she got into place, Waffles buckled his legs and she ended up dragging him.  The judge went over and helpedr her put him right and then brushed him off for her.



They each got a blue ribbon for participating.  They each also get $3 for their participation.

They did such a great job.  We are very proud of them and their goat skills!

First Fair Day.

So our first day has blended into our second day at the county fair.

At the end of the first day, we had to have Daniel put some mesh up around the fence because Waffles kept leaving.  We didn't want to lose him.  As Daniel worked on the fence, Sam and Ruthie took the goats out and leashed them to the fence.  Then the crowd began to grow.

 It grew and grew until they were surrounded by kids and their moms snapping photos.

 

 They were surrounded much of the time.  They had a container of goat feed and would put a little in each tiny hand that reached for some.  The kiddos would feed the goats and pet them.  Finally the goats stopped eating.  They were stuffed and then we put them back in the stall for the night.

Now... On to my cookies.  Um, my BLUE RIBBON COOKIES!

I got a first place ribbon on my chocolate chip cookies.  And notice that of the 4 cookies I entered, one ENTIRE cookie is gone.  Other plates had a bite taken from the fourth cookie.  Mine are that good.

And on to my BLUE RIBBON CINNAMON BREAD! Yep, my bread got a first place ribbon too. 

I am pretty excited to have award winning recipes. 

 Ruthie and I have made a list of baked goods to enter into next year's fair.

Come see our goats and my award winning baked items at the Weber County Fair. 

Fair Flair.

The Weber County Fair begins tomorrow.  It goes through Saturday if you were wondering.  And for the second time, we are putting goats in the fair.  This time all three of my children will be showing their goats.  The goat show is this Friday at 4 pm in the show arena by the barns,  You know, in case you wanted to come.  Otherwise, if you happen to come to the fair another time, you can see our cute kids down goat alley (I just made that up, but there is one "alley" where all the goats are, so why not?!) on the east side, with the doors in the stalls.  We've trimmed hooves, practiced walking with a leash and have all of our goat things in order.

They will go in tomorrow morning.  Here is our sign.  I had wanted to have a sign made for the show and for our pasture.  But I didn't quite get to it.  So I made one myself.  We are calling our pasture "Vegeta's Goat Hide Away" after Vegeta the goat who was born here and died here. 

Here's an exciting addition!!  I have entered two yummy treats in the fair! 

My yummy and delicious chocolate chip cookies.  When I took them in this morning, the gal entering me looked at them and said "Ooh, they look yummy.  I want one.  I really don't like chocolate chip cookies, but those look wonderful!"  Or something like that.  I was pretty tickled!  But she's not a judge, so I have to wait and see...

I also entered my yummy and delicious cinnamon bread!  I made one large loaf and then 3 small loaves so I could manage the size of the large loaf.  Whoops.  I miscalculated the large loaf.  It came out flat and, well, flat.  So I quickly added to the recipe that it makes, not just 2 large loaves, but 6 mini loaves.  And then I took this magnificent looking mini loaf and entered it.

My entries cost all of $1.00.  And I can"make" all of $3 per entry!  Ruthie wants to enter next year.  We'll certainly do that and make more items.  And remember to not put our names on the recipe card.  And make the bread regular-like so I have a magnificent large loaf.  And get an awesome sign made for Vegeta's Goat Hide Away.

More fair news later in the week.  Wish us luck!



Goat Babies!

Introducing....

Jake, Isaac's new wether.

Isn't he cute?!

Witty, Sam's wether.

Sam wouldn't put him down for his individual picture.  They have a close bond already!

And, Waffles, Ruthie's wether.

So adorable.

These three wethers will be trained to be shown in the fair this August. 

Let the work begin!

Goodbye Goats.

Today these goats go to auction. 

Mama Cass

Felix

They have been too aggressive and had to go.  We were getting ready to put them on KSL, but our neighbor behind us, Randy, asked to buy them.  Last night he came to get them and today he takes them to auction.   

The upside to losing two goats is, the dynamic outside is changing.  And we'll get a few new kids soon. 

Goodby Mama Cass and Felix.  May all your goat dreams come true. 

Or.. may the BBQ be delicious!

Introducing!

Introducing....

The new goats

Angelica



and Bella

And you already know...
Biscuit

Felix (the wether)

Iris (the award winning doe)

And Mama Cass

The Goat Girl.

Hey there boys.  Waiting in the arena on Friday afternoon.  Waiting for the goat show. 

Bye boys.  We were waiting for a while.

Hey!  It's show girl Ruthie.  She had just the hour before done the following... Bathed Iris.  Watched as our 4-H friends blow dried Iris.  Walked in circles with Iris while I played judge and she practiced moving around the front of Iris depending on where the judge (me) went.  Then she put Iris in to rest and got dressed in her show duds.  Then we walked into the arena with Iris and watched the dairy goats show.  Then we went around to enter the arena.

Here she is waiting for the Pygmy/Nigerian 0-6 month group.  The gal in green is Maureen, our 4-H leader.  She gave Ruthie small hints and loads of encouragement.

And...She's off!  Into the arena she goes.

Watch this!  It's so funny to see.  You train the goat to walk by tugging under the chin and pulling the tail.  When Iris would stop, Ruthie would just touch her tail and Iris would bolt.  I leaned over to Daniel and said her tail is an "on" switch.  Watch!  Wait.  Sorry.  You can't watch.  But it's fun to see.  Trust me.

They all lined up and waited for the judge.  The real one this time.  She kept turning around and smiling.  It was working!  Iris was doing great and Ruthann was awesome!

They walked around the arena again. 

They lined up again.  This time the judge went to each goat.  She looked at their teeth, their unders and felt their backs.

Then she sent them each to the center of the arena one by one.  Ruthie was the third over.  She was just so smiley!  It was fun to watch her. 

There they all are.  Ruthie is 3rd from the left.  It's the little ones on the right that were first and second.  I quote what Ruthie said when it was finished, "I wasn't dead last!  I was dead third (from last)"

She got a blue ribbon for her showing.  She also got $3 for that blue ribbon.  Awesome possum.

The blue ribbon is now hanging on her lariat on her bedroom wall.  She's already making plans for next year's show!.  And so are the boys.