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Saying Goodbye to Old Friends

2012-02-05T03:54:54Z

We are going in a different direction at the Demirosa and that means change. As much as we love our animals as family it still has to be a business decision. We are spending three times as much for feed.

I have decided to reduce my goat herd by one and a half and my dexter herd by one. I sold Megan and her doeling yesterday. I do believe they went to a wonderful home. We will miss her. Sweet Pea has really been looking for Megan. By this evening we all still missed the girls but it seemed to go pretty smooth.

I want to keep the Berry line. Her bag is good and she is a sweet girl. Her doeling Stilts is going to be a great milker too. I called today on a bottle buck. The people that have the bucks I know through a friend. Lisa is going to save me a good little buck with good milking lines. Berry is one of the first registered doe's I've had. Now that I'm going to get a registered buck it will start a registered herd for me. Although I don't want a big herd just a few. I will be able to sell registered kids that will help.

The Dexter that I'm going to let go is Jake. He has bred both of my girls and now that I know the girls have the red gene, I want to bred them or AI them to a red bull next year. Due to fencing, hay and feed I just don't see why I should keep Jake.

It's always hard to say goodbye and it takes awhile to overcome the loss of a friend but we go on. Now I can concentrate on Rosie and getting Clover Bell into the milking better. I need to work on Gabby, get her halter broke and use to being milked.

I canned four pints of chicken today and made Ricotta cheese. Life goes on at the Demirosa.

What a surprise!!

2012-02-04T03:19:25Z

Bringing you up to speed. When I got Clover Bell the oldest of my Dexter heifers she was suppose to calf in two weeks and that was in August. I had pretty much decided that she was not pregnant.

Then I noticed in the first few weeks of January that Clover Bell's bag was growing.  Could it be that she was getting close to having a calf?? It was January the 13th, Friday the 13th and I had an appointment in Norman. I checked Clover Bell before I left. She had a slight discharge. Could it really be that we are going to have a baby, dexter cow!!!  How wonderful would that be.  woot woot!!

I got home late in the afternoon and I didn't see the cows. They like to go to the North pasture up in the trees. I thought I should get things ready if we did have a baby.

I heard Jake singing his way to the barn. He is such a hoot, I call it singing but it's more like a moan. As he walks down from the north he mummm, mummm, mummm. It's really funny. Gabby was following him but NO Clover Bell.  Could she have had a baby up in the trees, how will I get it down to the barn, will she let me get anywhere near the baby? Then I saw her coming out of the trees. She was walking funny though. She took 10 steps stopped. I noticed that she was holding her tail funny too.  Was there a baby hanging out of her south end. It seemed like it took forever but she finally got to the barn. Then I had to get her into the stall.  As she was coming down I ran to the hay stall and got some fresh straw for her stall. She went right in and laid down in the straw. It wasn't long before she started pushing I checked her and saw two hoofs and a nose, everything was as it should be. It looked to me like the legs were black.  I didn't care what color it was, IT'S A BABY!!! I wanted to stay and watch, give moral support but knew she would not be comfortable so I went to the house to get a coke. I text Valerie to let her know we were having a cow!! Her response was "What?", then she called.  I explained what was going on and she was on her way.  She told her boss "we're having a cow". What could he say but "Okay".

When I got back to the barn there was a slick bundle of calf on the straw. Clover was cleaning it up. It was a dun!! I was so excited that it wasn't a black. Woo Hoo!!!

Valerie got here and we watched Clover clean up the sweet little one. At this point not knowing for sure what we had a heifer or bull calf. We were finally able to get our hands on the calf and IT'S A GIRL!!! A heifer, A DUN HEIFER!!  Also I didn't feel any horns, was she polled? It couldn't get any better or could it!! I have decided to call her Rosie. So I emailed a picture of Rosie to my Dexter expert Sheila. She emailed back, "are you sure she isn't RED?" After I stopped jumping up and down screaming RED, SHE'S RED!!!   Sheila said her nose looked awful pink. On Friday the 13th, I had a RED POLLED HEIFER!!!

Clover has been a wonderful mother. Rosie is growing like a weed. She was only about 35 pounds when she was born.

I'll try to do better about keeping you up to date!!

Total Six!!

2011-12-17T21:15:21Z

This morning when I went out Megan had lost her plug. All the big animals got breakfast and milked Berrry. I feed the bottle babies and Megan still had progressed.

Megan started pushing and it took about 45 minutes for her to get the first kid out. Within minutes the second one was on its way. I got those two cleaned up and put under the heat lamp and went to get the bottle stuff to feed these two and by the time I got back the third was on the ground.

She had two large boys and a very small girl. They all seem to be healthy and doing good. That gives us six babies in all. four boys and two girls. I'm so glad to have two girls. That way I can find homes for the boys and the girls can keep each other company.

I'm feeding the babies five times a day. 8am Milking and feeding all the animals, bottle feed the babies and make sure everyone has water. Let the chickens out and makes sure they have feed and water. 11am now warm the milk and bottle feed the babies 2pm warm milk and bottle feed babies 5pm Milk and feed all the big animals and bottle feed the babies. Get the eggs and put chickens to bed. 8pm. warm milk and bottle feed the babies. My day in the barn is done. In the time between feedings I try to get other things done. Not really getting much done right now.

I hope the little boys find homes soon. It would sure help with the time bottle feeding and save on the milk.

I'm going to try to get some rest before the 5pm feeding.
I love baby goats. It's a good thing, right!!

Total Six!!

2011-12-17T21:15:19Z

Oh what a night!!

2011-12-15T03:29:15Z

As the book says the girls kid about the same time every year. So far true!! Berry was at seven and she was real close.

Around 6:30 pm Was waiting with her and I remembered that last year we stayed with her then went to the house to get warm came back out and she had a little one cleaned up. So I decided to go in for a minute and low and behold when I went back out she had a boy on the ground and mostly cleaned.

I got him and took him to the milk barn, I didn't want him to be alone in the barn where he might get cold. Last year Berry had one so I just thought that was it this year. I was wrong!! After I got things all cleaned up and milked Berry to feed the little guy, I noticed she was not finished. Bingo, a little girl came. She was bigger than the first little boy. So I got her all cleaned up and fixed up a place back in the big barn for the two babies. I noticed that Berry was laying down pushing again. I went to her and this one was coming out wrong. It was back feet first. I had to help her a bit. That had to be it three, two boys and a girl.

What a night and I'm in here and need to get back out there to see if Megan has had any kids.

Going to sleep in the cabin tonight, Pat has gone to work and I want to be close to the barn.

Need to get out there and feed the babies and check on Megan.

The time is near

2011-12-14T22:43:31Z

She lost her plug and IS in early labor. I'll keep you up to date.

Time to get back to the barn

Is she in Labor?

2011-12-14T15:36:04Z

I went out to feed this morning and everyone looked the same. They all ate like they were hungry. (as usual) I went back about an hour later to let them out and Berry was standing off and shifting her feet. To me this could be early labor.

I got some hay for the girls and Berry came over and ate with them. Not eating is usual as sign but my girls are never "normal".

I leave the stall where I put the babies open for everyone to sleep in until babies come. So I cleaned it out and put in fresh straw.

Taking Mother to town today and there is a party tomorrow so, I would imagine that this is defiantly the day Berry will kid.

Have to get to town and hurry back.

????!!!!BABIES?????!!!!

2011-12-12T20:28:20Z

Here I sit in the greatroom by the wood burning stove. Wobbie, my sweet little dog, in the chair beside me curled up in my sweater. It's cloudy, cold and sprinkles off and on. I heard there is a winter storm coming next weekend.

Most would think I've LOST MY EVER LOVIN MIND!!!!

I can't wait for baby goats. Yes that means out in the weather, whatever that might be, to feed babies and milk mommy's.  That's feeding baby goat 4 times a day, everyday!!   I'm going to be in the barn two times a day anyway to milk the big girls. Whats another couple of runs to the barn!! Keeps the old blood pumping and exercise for the winter.

The thing is, I had on the calender that we should be having babies, (kids) TODAY or TOMORROW!!    I see NO signs of kidding today but goats are like "human" kids, they will do whatever it takes to make you look like a lair!!    Should I start a "kidding pool". How would we do that, by date and time? or just date? The books say the goats usually kid the same time every year and for both of my girls it would be 7pm. Thats when they kidded last year. If you have any ideas let me know. When I checked the calender we "could" have babies from today until the 31st of December. I know this because we took the buck home. If it's after that date, well we are living in the time of miracles!!

I will keep you informed but at this point I would not be surprised if we are a week away. Then the snow storm is coming!! I bet they wait until then.

10 days to kids!!

2011-12-04T02:09:57Z

I can't believe we are this close to bottle baby goats. I have alot left to do in the barn to get ready. I need to get the milk barn ready too. I have everything I need but just haven't gotten it all together and set up. I need to finish the baby pen, get the heat lamp up and ready to go and put in clean straw. Have to pick up the alfalfa hay for the big girls, to make the milk sweet. I'm a little worried that the weather is changing this weekend, we are expecting snow on Monday. This could mean babies sooner. I'm not ready yet!! Berry's sides were in today, does that mean babies in the birth canal?? I hope not. I have been off on the dates, right Linda!! LOL

I am excited that Megan may have healthy babies this year. For the past two years she has lost her kids. Megan has had a problem with going into Goat Polio. I have to give her a shot and that leads to deformed babies. This year she hasn't had to have a shot so, maybe, she will have healthy kids this year.

A little worried about Sweet Pea. She is so small and young. I hope things go well for her. She is part of the line that I really like. They are good milkers and have great bags.

Berry's is baging up. She is getting close and I hope she waits for me to finish getting the barn ready. The thing about babies they don't wait on anyone!!!!

I am using new nipples this year, can't wait to see how they work. Instead of wine bottles I'm going to use beer bottles. They are smaller and easier to carry and clean.

Thinking about getting a buck. Not sure will have to wait and see. Having my own billy saves having to take the girls some place or bringing someone else's billy here.

It's time to go out and check the barn.

Catching Up!! (sort ya)

2011-12-03T20:21:29Z

Hello All!!

It has been so long and there is so much to catch up on. I think I'm going to do this by subject.

Demi Rosa Goats

Demi Rosa Cabin

Demi Rosa Farm

Demi Rosa Dexters:    This is a new addition that I think you will enjoy.

Year in Review.

I'll start this blog off with the farm. Such a hot dry summer that the grapes didn't do very well. The grass didn't grow much, only mowed the vineyard twice all summer. We were luckier than most we did have grass for the animals.  So many people had to sell their herds due to no hay. Hay has been coming from up North all summer and even now for the winter. My pasture is still somewhat green but again the Lord has blessed the Demi Rosa on many occasions and this is one.
The garden only produced jalapeno peppers. They are one of the only things that grow in the dry heat!! We love jalapeno poppers so it could have worse!! LOL    NOTHING!!
The chickens quite laying due to the heat. I had to buy eggs for the first time in, well I can't remember when. Dried up the goats up early. So no milk or eggs for months.    Really missed the eggs.
Have been thinking alot about how expensive food has become and butter is one thing this family would be hard pressed to due without!! SSooooooo, have to think about cow milk. I really hate goat butter. I just don't care for the flavor. I purchased two dexter heifers. I really love my little cows. I'll talk more about them later.
Have been getting the barn ready for the new kids, cows and horses. I really have to make everyone comfortable. The cows have taken up room in the barn.   I know they are cows and don't need a barn but they are my cows and MY cows need a barn to sleep in and get out of the weather. More on cows later.... a bit of a surprise!!

So Blessed!!

2011-09-05T02:29:02Z

What a strange week. After putting Kerri to rest on Wednesday, Mother and I were headed into Shawnee on Friday to shop and going down our little country road we were stopped and asked to pull over.
A house, I guess a mobile home, was being brought down the road and we needed to pull over and wait. Thing is I know the road and there is a hair pen curve that there is no way it will take a few minutes to get through. I waited for a while and decided to go another way. I back tracked to my road, Pine Corner. As we were driving south on the road I saw a fire to the south. I could tell it was just over the hill to the south of the Demirosa, (less than a mile away). The wind was blowing to the north and that means we were in the, pardon the pun, line of fire. I called a friend who is in Tribbey fire department and she didn't know about it. I called 911 and they had just heard about it. I drove home and woke up Pat to tell him about it. He got dressed and got his guns together and put in the car. Mother and I got our stuff together, couldn't go without my cookbooks!!!! If the fire made it over the hill we would only have a few minutes to get out. I would have to leave the animals. Fire is the scariest thing to me.
I took a picture with my phone that showed it just over the hill to the south of us. After I took the picture the wind changed direction and started blowing to the south east. That would take the fire to the east of us.
Pat went to see where the fire was before he left for work. He came home and said it was contained and left for work.
I took water to the guys, my friends and neighbors, who were fighting the fire.
I was sitting in Bob's drive, my neighbor and builder. He came walking down the road where the fire very nearly burned his neighbors house, to the west. I know this is very hard to follow. My neighbor's to the south on my road are Bob to the east of the road and Chris to the west of the road. The fire was on the west side of the road, my side.    For those of you who don't believe in God, I know he was there for us. Bob told me that the fire was just to Chris's house and the wind started blowing to the southeast which brought it in on it's self. He said that if it had gone straight it would have burned Chris's house and gone south for two days until it reached highway 9 ten miles to the north of me.  It would have taken us out in the process. Thank Goodness, it all worked out perfectly. I can't think of anything other than a God deal.
My stress level is about as high as it can get for many reasons, some that I can't talk about. I must trust and believe that I will know when to take action.
I sure hope things settle down this next week. I could use some piece and quite. A little rain would be nice. The heat seems to have broken . I opened the windows and it is WONDERFUL!!!!
Happy note.   Mother and I went to the store today, without having to worry about fires, on the way home there were goats on our country road. Makes me feel like things are right with the world.
Still no baby cows.    Have changed the name of Victoria to Gabby, she talks all the time and she just looks like a Gabby!!!
Forgive if this is alittle disjointed but like I said, a really hard week!!!!

Sad Day

2011-08-31T20:39:17Z

Today put to rest a very dear sweet woman! She was 53 years old and just couldn't beat breast cancer. I have such fun sweet memories of her, Kerri Kirby. Please pray for the family they are going to miss her horribly.

I met Kerri when our kids went to Christian Schools together. We served many Indian Taco's together as fund raiser for the school. Our boys were in Boy Scouts together but as the boys got older and the school closed we weren't able to spend much time together.
Kerri's Mother hired my Mother to work at the University when Mother needed a place to go. So we kept up with eachother that way.

When we first built the house and moved to the Demirosa, eleven years ago, Kerri and her mother, Ellen came to lunch. Kerri loved it here. She wanted to see the Demirosa one more time before she moved on to a better place. We planed a lunch in July with Kerri her twin brother, Gary and her Mother. Kerri wasn't feeling well that day but Gary and Ellen came. Gary lives in Germany and had heard about the Demirosa for years. He loved it too.

Kerri was a very special lady. She will be missed and she was loved by many.

Thanks for letting me tell you about my friend Kerri.

Maybe!!

2011-08-28T17:17:03Z

I've been checking on Clover Bell all day. She has been standing shifting her weight on her back legs alot today. She ate dinner just fine and loved the cubes I gave her.

She has been hanging out in the stall, which is not like her. She may be trying be on her own. Here that is hard to do. I have tried to spend as much time with both of the girls so they will feel safe with me. I don't want to have to fight with Clover Bell when the baby comes.

This evening when I feed Clover Bell put her head right through the stanchion. She didn't have any problem with it at all. Now we will see what she does when we lock her in. I will put up pictures tomorrow.

I've been told by several people that I will not be able to milk Clover and I shouldn't even try. Well that makes me want to do it even more. I have trained many cows to milk, most were on a dairy but I have had a jersey before. She had never been milked and that worked out just fine. We trained her to let two people milk at once. We were told that couldn't be done either.

I have decided to change what we call Victoria Secret. I'm trying to come up with a nice Irish name, if you have any suggestion would love to hear them.

Good news on Cody. I gave him a pain pill this afternoon and he is moving pretty good tonight. Megan is still having trouble though. When I went out to lock up chickens the coyotes were really talking in the north pasture. It means fall is coming!!! Today it was 104.

All for tonight I hope to have pictures of a new arrival soon.

Did you bring anything for ME!!

2011-08-27T12:18:02Z

The girls really like their cubes!! When I walk into the pen, "it's a stampede" They really are a friendly lot. Clover's udder is getting a touch bigger. She is still eating like a hog though. She may be one that doesn't go off her feed. (We'll see) Today we are going to get up the stanchion for Clover and hope she doesn't take the barn down trying to get out. If there is a prayer for a barn please say it!!
Victoria is just a cutie. She really likes her treats. Going to try to get her broke to lead, soon! She is doing great with a halter and I don't think it will be a problem. It's just getting it done.

My horses are falling apart. Thunder the horse has a scar tumor and we are treating that. It's the size of a basketball on his chest. I think it is from a snake bite. If it doesn't go down then its surgery when the weather gets cooler. Cody the pony is not moving very well. His front left leg is sore. I don't know if he got trapped in the stall with Thunder and hurt himself trying to get out, I'll just keep an eye on him.

The goats are well, the goats. The new one Sweet Pea is just as sweet as she can be. I took the billy home now that everyone is bred and we should be having babies the second week in December. Hopefully, it will be the same time I wean the calf. That will mean milking goats and cow at the same time. How fun will that be!! All for now, time to feed.

IT'S ON!!!!

2011-08-19T00:18:35Z

I can't believe it. I got Victoria's halter on!! WOO HOO!!

I used a smaller bucket to put the halter in so she would have to put her nose in. The first try was a bust. I scratched her neck and had and the second time I got it on!! YEAH!!!! She is so cute.

This morning she let me rub all over her and I even got to rub her udder. Unless something awful happens I think she will be a dream. I am going to break her to lead in the next few weeks. I want her to be dog gentle and I think she will be. She is a doll.
Do you have something to eat????

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, it's a halter.

Clover is getting use to me but still a cow with horns. When we bought the place there was a squeeze cute at the lower barn. We have talked about it for "years" and Pat brought it up this afternoon. It WORKS, it will be the stanchion for Clover Bell. Now I need to come up with a milk barn to put it in. I have an idea but we'll see what happens.

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting!!!

2011-08-15T21:15:00Z

No babies yet. Clover Bell doesn't look like she is very close. As far as "off her feed" when the time comes, should be REALLY clear. She's a girl who likes meal time.   Don't get upset but the way to break a cow to lead is tie her up for a day or two. I am thinking I need to put an O ring in a tree to tie her to that. It will be a nice spot during the process. There will be food and water, not to worry.

Victoria is so cute. She does the hoppy hop thing following me to her feed bucket. The wonderful thing about that is she will be easy to put the halter on, with her nose in the bucket!! It's a two person operation though. Hope to get it done in the next day or two. Pat will be home this evening. YEAH!!

Well, company coming home with Pat. Need to get the pool cleaned and of course do whatever it takes to be ready. Not as hot, makes the pool so much nicer!!

If your out there would love to hear from you!!
I noticed today that the drive in is looking like fall.   The leafs are falling and soon will have the drive covered. Fall may be wishful thinking but I am SOOOOOOO ready.

New from the cow pen

2011-08-13T05:24:29Z

The girls are doing great. I bought a halter for Victoria today. Now I just have to put it on!! LOL That could take some doing. The guy at the feed store said it would cost extra if he had to come put it on. I laughed but thought, "I wonder how much?"

Saw a friend at the store today. Hadn't seen her in years. She had been going through some tuff times but she is tuff herself and not surprising she is doing pretty darn well.

My friend has had cows for a long time. I told her I was trying to decide what to do about letting the cows out of the pen. She said that some cows walk the fence line to see their borders. I told her they were Dexter cows and very gentle. They watch the house and she said she didn't think they would stray far from the house. Then it occurred to me that Pat and his family will be back on Monday so if I let the girls out and have to go look for them, I would lots of extra help!!

Time for bed.

Barn redo

2011-08-11T21:33:38Z

I worked on the barn this morning. Storms were suppose to come through and Clover Bell is still being a bully to Victoria so I had to make a better spot for them both to get out of the weather.

Clover Bell can now see the house and watches what is going on. She stands at the fence with her ears pricked watching every move coming from the house. They both can get a better look at the goats and horses now too. I'm not sure when I going to let them out into the big world of the Demirosa. I wonder if Clover Bell will stand at the back door waiting for someone to come out. I think I'll wait until Pat gets back from Ill. to let them out, that should be Monday.

I think I made enough room for both of the girls in the barn. The goats and pony are going to have to get use to using different gates to get in the barn but they are pretty smart when it comes to finding dinner!!

Guess what!! IT RAINED!!!! It's been a wonderful day. Temps in the 70's, cloudy with rain off and on!! Sooooooo excited. The grass is even looking green. Hope it's not to late for the trees.

Watching movies all day with the Step-Mom who is visiting. She likes warm weather and it's cool and cloudy. Wish she would have come a month ago!!

The girls are home!!

2011-08-09T12:54:14Z

We went to get the girls yesterday morning. The worst part of buying new animals is bring them home. So much can happen in a trailer on the highway!! I was so stressed about the drive home.

Really like the couple we bought the girls from. They are good people and we have so much in common. Hope to have them up for dinner sometime!!

The girls were easy to load. Clover Bell was a bit of a bully with her horns to Victoria. We made it home fine, got them in their pen. Clover was still being a bully. Those horns have GOT to go. I am going to have to figure out a new place for Victoria especially when Clover has her baby. Clover was eating out of my hand by the end of the evening. I couldn't get close to Victoria because Clover would follow me and Victoria would run away.

Victoria is so sweet. I know when I get her alone she will be very easy to handel. I want to get a halter on her as soon as possible. She was a show calf, I think she will be easy to deal with and thats what I'm looking for in a cow.

A bit of sad news, Pickles the sheep couldn't handel the heat. We lost him yesterday afternoon. I am very surprised that he lasted as long as he did. Bless his heart!

Well time to go out and feed the barn animals. Wobbie wants to go out and play!!!

New Venture

2011-08-08T01:56:04Z

I am starting a new venture tomorrow. I am getting Irish cows, Dexter cows. They are an Irish breed. A dual purpose cow, meat and milk. I'm very excited!!

I have had a jersey cow before and she had a calf but all that was 20 years ago, boy do I feel old!! My Jersey cows name was Moon. She had horns and we milked her. As I recall she was a heifer as well and never milked before. I guess if I did it once..... Now if I can convince the new cow.

I'm getting a Red Dexter that is almost 2 years old. Her name is Clover Bell, I know.... right!! Clover Bell is going to calf the middle of August. (I think) She knows nothing, the meaning of heifer. Moon didn't know anything either but we made it through calving and milking. I REMEMBER sitting in the barn waiting for her to calf but she wouldn't until I was gone. I think Casey was out there when the calf came. Hopefully Clover Bell and I will have time to bond before the calf comes.

I'm also getting a 9 month old Dun Dexter heifer. Her name is Victorial, again it's the name she came with. She was a show cow from Tenn. I hope I can get her back in a show mode. I want to get a halter on her as soon as possible. I won't breed Victoria for another three months. I know people who have a Red Dexter Bull.

With prayers and patience I think we can get this done. Prayers that the girls don't tear down my barn!! Patience that I can train them well.

Prayers for feed and hay would be nice too!!