Thank Goodness for Springtime
April 4th, 2010We’ve been truly blessed with some nice weather lately. Really nice weather. The kind of weather I was convinced we wouldn’t ever see again. We’ve taken advantage of it.
The goat barn has gotten a little update. Here’s a before picture of the storage/milking room:
Not bad. But we added a shelf, and it made all the difference - at least to me:
And this is looking from the storage/milking room over at the goat barn area:
That little wall is just over four feet tall - and little Mirrie could jump up and easily look over it. I worried she would eventually be able to make that leap and end up in the storage/milking area - with free access to hay. I have a true fear of that right now…. So, we fixed that little problem. It now looks like this:
Bernie added an upper door to the lower one I go into on the left. And he added a couple of 2 X 4’s to keep her from getting over on the right side.
I also built them a hay rack outside. Bernie will build a lean-to over this area in the very near future so it will be protected from weather.
They seem to like it pretty good.
Mostly Mirrie was interested in getting at my sunglasses I hooked on the door while we worked.
Or playing on her spool.
Georgia doesn’t really like getting on the spool, but she likes aggravating Mirrie when she’s on it.
Georgia is such a sweet girl. Just look at her precious face.
She’s good at finding browse in the yard.
And Mirrie’s good at joining in when Georgia finds good eats.
We also built a milk stand for them today.
Milking is a little way off, but this is also good to use for trimming hooves and doctoring. Once we secure the neck, we can give them sweet feed to keep them somewhat distracted while we do what we need to do.
Check out Fiasco Farms for detailed plans on this milk stand. We didn’t follow this exactly, but it certainly gave us the basis for what we built.
I also had some time to work in the greenhouse this weekend.
This was our first winter with the greenhouse, and we enjoyed tomatoes and peppers well into October with in. It also housed a few plants for me over this brutal winter. I was quite pleased to find that the vast majority of them not only survived, but flourished! Look to the right and on the floor.
The left shelf has the seeds I planted this weekend. I’m hoping they will do well in the greenhouse and flourish in the garden.
With the exception of the Sago, Aloe Vera, and fig trees, everything else spent this harsh winter in the greenhouse. I’m tickled at how well everything did.
I appreciate the sunshine, warmth, and new growth of springtime. And the opportunity to start anew. Spring allows us to do that. Start anew. Thank goodness for springtime.
Tags: goat barn, greenhouse
April 4th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
The goats look so happy! Did you order the greenhouse as a kit?
April 4th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Angie - I think the goats are happy! Georgia seems to enjoy being queen. And Mirrie seems to enjoy being….. Mirrie! They are both spoiled beyond words. Lots of love, food, and attention. We are just loving these two girls. We got the greenhouse as a kit from Costco on-line. It’s the 10 X 12 version. A word of warning - it DEFINITELY takes two to assemble……
April 4th, 2010 at 9:23 pm
Wow! Penny everything looks great! Looks like you and Bernie have been bizzy as beez ;0)
Your sago palm looks wonderful. What is that growing closest to the door on the right on the floor in the long white container? In the picture next to the last one.
Love you!
April 4th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Julie - it’s the rhubarb Danni sent me. I forgot that in the list of things that didn’t stay all winter there. It’s getting ready to go outside this week. Should have done it this weekend, but ran out of time. It’s a cool weather plant too. And it went crazy in the greenhouse! Love you!
April 5th, 2010 at 11:03 am
I see it…I see it!! I see the rhubarb I sent - it looks like it LOVES it at your house.
And again, I’ll say it. And I’ll apologize for repeating myself, but I have *massive* greenhouse envy. Not only is it super cool that you even have one, but the design and appearance of yours is just perfect to me. It’s exactly the kind I would get if I could get one. I see the fan in the front - is this electric?
Your goat barn looks like a comfortable and secure place for your goat girls to live - this must be such a relief to have this project finished. And wow - nice work on the milking stand!
April 5th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Danni - I have to tell you I was worried when that rhubarb finally got here. The roots were actually icy when I found them in the mailbox because they came during our 20 degree days weather! But I’m so pleased with how well they are coming up. I have GOT To get them in the ground this week!
That fan looking thing on the front of the greenhouse is actually just a vent. I thought it was a fan when I first saw the picture of it too. But if I open that vent and both top vents it usually pulls air in pretty well. In nice weather I almost always prop the door open - it gets HOT in there!
April 5th, 2010 at 11:39 am
OH - Danni, I meant to add, the goat barn isn’t quit finished yet, but it’s very close. Poor Bernie needs to add the soffits, trim the windows, and build the lean-to off the front. And them I have to paint it. And then we’re calling it finished!
April 5th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Mirrie looks like she’s posing for a show-goat picture on the spool.
The goat barn is amazing. Good thing B. is the ‘fixer of all things problematic’.
Love the greenhouse. We don’t have need of those here in Austin. We need ‘cold’ houses instead.
April 5th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Everything looks fantastic, Penny! And the goat girls look so happy in their new home. I’m with Danni…greenhouse envy big time!
April 5th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
I am soooooooooo not jealous, nope, not one little bit, not a smidgeon……..
ok ObloodyK I am LMFAO
X
April 5th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Wow Penny. You guys have done so much for the goats! The goat barn is just fantastic and so is that milking stand. Mirrie & Georgia are both so darn cute.
And that greenhouse. I’m officially jealous.
Yep, I’m a member of that envy club above me…. LOL