Notes

I feel like so much is happening recently... I suppose it's much the same story as every spring, but this year it seems magnified.  I'm overtired today, and a bit overwhelmed.

We have 11 kids on the ground now.  8 boys and 3 girls.  One of my leased does kidded the day before yesterday, a big and beautiful 10 pound buckling.  He's been moved out to the kid pen with all the rest, because he pees bucketloads and is sucking down 1/2 a gallon a day already.

I think all that's left for now is Iris, who is as big as a house.  If Yesna is bred, then she's hiding it pretty well... though every once in a while I think I can see a kid in her, but not most of the time.  Iris has milk now.  She could go anytime.  It'll be twins or triplets for her... wish for some girls for me.

This week we're switching up the feeding regime for the chickens.  A reindeer farmer in Wasilla has been getting spent grain from a brewery in Anchorage for years, and is recently selling it by the tote.  Add that to the freezer full of burnt salmon that came home this week, and the birds are happy.  

Arnold, the pig, got new digs this week.  I wish we could just let her free range, but she chases the does around trying to nurse.  So now she sleeps in the old generator shed and has a 600 square foot pen all to herself.  I might move the big bucklings in with her soon.  There's plenty of space.

Mango is suddenly giving nearly 2 gallons a day, pushing our daily take to over 10 gallons.  That's alot of milk, and more than I have shareholders for.  So it's time to make ice cream, and sour cream, and fool around with some lowfat cheese recipes.

I sampled the Tomme d'Arles sheep cheese last week... everyone loved it.  I'm getting ready to make another.  Now that there's a "catch lane" built, it's no problem catching Honey twice a day- and don't tell anyone (like Ben) that I'm thinking about getting another milk sheep.

Speaking of Ben, he came home from spring bear hunting for something like 36 hours.  And now he's off to the Alaska Peninsula to guide and fly for his brother's outfit.  I'll see him again at the end of May.

Meanwhile, things are moving along.  I've got ads up at WWOOF and ATTRA looking for a summer intern to help me manage the farm and take over for me when we're gone fishing.

It's getting greener... the leaves are just about to pop out on the trees and there's grass coming up here and there.  The garlic is ready to be uncovered, and I'm just waiting for the pump to get things rolling.  It should be here any day now!

I'm a little behind on the garden front... with as much going on as we do in the livestock world, it's totally possible the garden will just have to take a back seat this year.  But maybe I can get organized enough to really make it happen.  All I can do is try.  I'm stretched pretty thin right now.

Well, I think that about catches us up.  I better get chores started and make a plan for dinner.  Cheers!

Comments

[Graham]

If I covered all the involved costs, would you be willing to ship cheese to Arizona? Is that even logistically possible?

[Ariana]

I can be there by next week! I'll be your woofer :) Did I tell you I learned to milk a goat? I'm still kinda slow though.