Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Tuesday--Supplement

The children and I were headed out this afternoon to join our homeschool group for activities and stopped at the goat pen to check on things. What did we see but a new baby, born to another mama! I immediately called our friends and let them know that we wouldn't make it for our lessons today. We've spent the afternoon and evening helping this baby along and hoping for the best.

I'll try to post more pictures soon!

Quick update on our baby goat

As I said in yesterday's post, we lost one of our baby goats. The remaining kid seems to be doing fine. We've given her some milk replacer as a supplement to her mother's milk. Mama and baby were both up and walking around this morning, so we are hopeful that this baby will make it. I'll keep you posted.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Sad afternoon around here...

When I went to check on the baby goats this afternoon, I found that we had lost one. She was lying, limp, in the shelter. We immediately brought the other baby into the mudroom. So far, we've gotten some milk replacer in her and she's moving around and letting us know, rather loudly, that she's not too sure about the new set up.

I'll keep you posted on our progress.

Update: The surviving baby seemed fine after we got some milk in her. She's producing urine (a sure sign that milk is getting through) and one of our "goat friends" said she should be okay to go back to her mother for the night. We'll keep supplementing with milk replacer until she's a bit stronger.

Friday, January 27, 2012

More Baby Goat Pictures

Okay, prepare for cuteness overload. First up, is a little girl completely in love with a baby goat. Me, also completely in love with a baby goat. The milk around her mouth is the icing on the cuteness cake.

Kids learn to walk really fast, although they are still adorably wobbly.



Even Abby, the gigantic Great Pyrenees, is falling for the babies. She constantly woofed at the other goats when they came too close.
Excuse me, but I have to go check on the kids. I think they miss me.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Look what I found in the goat pen!

I came home last night around 6:45 from a run to the fabric store and look what was in the goat pen! Andy, my husband, had checked on Mama Goat around 4:30, but no babies. Lo and behold, when I came back by two hours later--kids! They are adorable and our children are in love. They are walking around, sort of, and getting plenty to eat from their very sweet mother.

I'm completely smitten.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Another place I'd like to visit...

is the Baltic Coast. I have to confess that the desire to see the Baltic Sea came from a television show. There's a show on the weekend (on a channel called HDNet) that's all about the coast of the Baltic Sea and the people who live there. It's cleverly titled Baltic Coasts.
A number of countries border the Baltic Sea, including Sweden, Germany, Latvia and Lithuania. If you're trying to picture where this is, start at Italy and head north for a while (through Germany), then slightly east.

The scenery is stunning, with green fields, lighthouses, farms, cities and of course, the Baltic Sea itself. The show features individuals that live along this northern coastline. They've had people who's lives revolve around the sea, such as fishermen, artists or harbor workers. There's also people who farm or raise animals in the area.

The show was almost exclusively filmed in the summer, since the weather always looks beautiful. I realize that it's not like that year round, but it tempts me anyway. And I'm sure, if I ever make it there, it will look just like it does on TV. (Don't disillusion me.)

Monday, January 23, 2012

The Tooth Fairy



My youngest daughter lost her first tooth yesterday morning. It was rather anti-climactic. When the older children lost their first tooth, there was a bit of excitement and maybe some tears when there was a bit of blood involved.


This time though, my "I'll do it myself" kid came into the kitchen and said, "I don't believe it. My tooth fell out." That was it. No need for hugs from mom. No need for a cold wet cloth to bite. Not one tear.


So, last night we got out a little bag (leftover from a party we went to last month) and carefully put the very tiny tooth in it. It went under the pillow and this morning she woke up to...apparent disappointment. Yep, she seemed to think that two quarters was not up to the Tooth Fairy's reputation. Turns out, she was expecting a toothbrush and a bit more cash.


So now I'm looking for ideas. I'm not into upping the ante for a demanding child. I refuse to be played by a six-year-old. However, I'd like to be creative about this and offer something that makes this right of passage a memorable event.



I read a clever idea on the internet this morning. It involves a note from an international tooth fairy and coins from other countries. I kind of like that. Although it will require a bit more work on my part, I think it might be worth it.



So, now I'm open to suggestions. How have you handled the Tooth Fairy at your house?

Monday, January 16, 2012

New in the Bede Sisters Etsy shop!

I've had a great time making baskets for Easter. The fabrics are the fun, bright colors that I love and the baskets are just so cute! Turtle basket


Butterfly basket


Ladybug basket

Do you have any new projects for spring?



Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Dense Fog Warning

I was looking back at my blog posts from last January and noticed that one year ago today, we woke up to snow. The ground was covered with an inch or two of the white stuff. And it was the second time we had had snow that winter. This year it's been fairly warm and definitely no snow. The high today is expected to be in the upper 60's with rain tonight, maybe even storms.

Right now, we are under a "dense fog warning" until 10 am. Kind of like me, before coffee. Hey, that's a good idea. I should issue "dense fog warnings" to my family, until mid-morning or until 2 cups of coffee, whichever comes first.

How's the weather in your neck of the woods?

Monday, January 2, 2012

Another place I'd like to visit...

Botswana. Yes, the country in southern Africa. Over the past couple of years I've been reading Alexander McCall Smith's series The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. He paints a beautiful picture of Botswana and it's people.

I was so excited when a friend told me that there had been a television series based on the books. I rented the series and loved it. Although the actors in the series weren't exactly as I had pictured them, they were all just right. Now, I can't see them any other way.

Has a book ever made you want to visit a somewhere?