Coffee anyone ?

[Honeybee Hill]

Morning all! First cup in, heading to put on another. I am coming down with yet another cold/flu/whatever the heck it is. I also have another eye infection. When did this unhealthy business grab hold of me? Probably stress, as DH (not a medical professional) claims. (He's probably right!)
We were supposed to drive up to Oneida today for a holiday party with the Indians, but he's so swamped with work-I get to stay home and not infect an entire tribe of people. I guess that's good.

I worked yesterday and felt glazed all day so I think I'm going to take it easy-next week will be a nightmare-Christmas and Hanukah flowers and centerpieces...little boxwood trees that must be created-so many of them. I found sap behind my ears from the pine and fir branches so I'm really getting into my work I guess.

I started attaching some plywood to the chicken coops to protect the girls from the nasty weather we all know is coming. They're not happy about their view being obstructed, so they get extra grubs as treats to keep the complaining down. Egg production has all but stopped with the older girls since daylight savings so I'm back to purchasing eggs.

My little dog has a body odor problem. It's not her teeth (and she was NOT happy when I checked them) I think she's back to rolling in turkey poop so DH will have to watch her carefully-the smell is nasty!
Fire Department elections are this Thursday, and I must say-there's nobody qualified to take my job, and frankly I don't want the stress of it, so the Chief will have to appoint someone-I'll let ya know how that goes. The girl who wants it hasn't showed up in months, but suddenly she's around 24/7...wonder what she's been doing while everyone else did the work. I'm not a fan, but I will buy popcorn and watch the show. Election time in the department is like the twilight zone, people we haven't seen in months show up like dawn of the dead. Crazy stuff, but I'm keeping myself out of the "vollutics" I'm Switzerland at this point. Neutral and staying the heck out of it.

we woke up to a pretty dusting of snow yesterday, and an hour later it was gone. But DH was enthralled with how the meadow looked in white, so he's praying for more snow. Ugh. I don't like snow unless I can sit inside and enjoy the view. I'm too busy at this point so I'm hoping to get a snow free rest of the month.
I need to get on the ball with Christmas shopping. I put up the tree, and that's all the energy I could muster. Getting ideas from these kids is like pulling teeth. You'd think I was asking for a kidney. One kid told me he needs dress clothes for student teaching next semester-sizes? I'm supposed to guess I think.

Well, heading in for more caffeine. Have a great day, everyone!

 

[Mini Horses]

Welcome coffee! My usual wake up beverage. Been home 4 days, so back to work today and tomorrow. Chilly 37 but some breeze, so feels cooler...plus light overcast. Definitely jacket weather. Not bad overall -- it is Dec, after all!

Walked the fields with goat herds yesterday and most all are obviously preggers and bucks on fence line not interested -- except last group. Those 5 I'm not as sure, so I see p-strips will be used this coming weekend. If not blue enough, they'll meet Cosmo or Squeak. I let them onto a larger field yesterday. Been separated from others a month and no one sick with them or already in residence. Didn't expect a problem as they were good when I bought....but better safe than sorry.

Plan to double check winter "things" this weekend to be sure I'm prepped for our normally worse weather in Jan/Feb. Then I can relax a little until kidding. Need to buy several extra bags of bedding for those events...have divider panels ready. double check meds, supplies, bottles, nipples, blankets, towels, etc, etc. . Things in pretty good balance so far.

 

[canesisters]

Plan to double check winter "things" this weekend to be sure I'm prepped for our normally worse weather in Jan/Feb. Then I can relax a little until kidding. Need to buy several extra bags of bedding for those events...have divider panels ready. double check meds, supplies, bottles, nipples, blankets, towels, etc, etc. . Things in pretty good balance so far.

Is kidding normally in the winter or do you arrange it that way?
I try to plan for Eva to calve in the winter solely because I despise milking with flies and sweat dripping off of me and her.

 

[Mini Horses]

@canesisters the kidding is somewhat controlled by market needs/sales but, also by goats cycling habits. Most large dairy breeds are seasonal....most only cycle well Sep-Mar, although can vary and are more likely to start Aug, than go into Apr. The Boer are year round breeders. So you have a little more diversity, as well as ability to have 3 kiddings in 2 yrs. That's almost impossible in most large dairy. Nubians used to be yr round, mostly not so much now. Individual animals can vary.

Sales for sheep & goats are best for young ones that coincide with several ethnic holidays -- although there are sales year round. Dec born kids/lambs are good for sellers....overall, as they are ready for Mar sales. Nov/Dec sales of market kids are not great around here, would be summer births. Varies by area of the country to some extent. Lamb is a touch more saleable year round than goat but, cycles with holidays.

Milking goats you have to really watch breeding if you want winter milk. . You have to hold breeding until Mar for a summer kidding. Juggle your product and lactation.

 

[Blue Sky]

Watching the weather and getting ready to stack feed bunks. Probably see severe t-storms, power out, hail, maybe a tornado. Phone app from the county 9/11 set. Weather radio set. But it should be over in a couple of hours.

 

[Baymule]

I slept late till 8:00! Woke up to text from therapist that they got papers from doctor extending my therapy, could I come in at 9:30? Sure I can! I had to hurry through chores, slap on town clothes, scarf down a bowl of cereal and go. NO COFFEE!
Sleep hangover + no coffee = headache.

I’d rather BE a headache (to someone else) than HAVE a headache. Oh well.

Had to stop and get feed, come home, unload, finally got coffee at 12:53. On my second cup.

Got weather channel on, tornadoes in Texas, confirmed in Dallas area. @Blue Sky I hope you are safe! Supposed to come here. Weather channel named Lufkin, Texas as at risk, that’s 25 miles away.

 

[Blue Sky]

I slept late till 8:00! Woke up to text from therapist that they got papers from doctor extending my therapy, could I come in at 9:30? Sure I can! I had to hurry through chores, slap on town clothes, scarf down a bowl of cereal and go. NO COFFEE!
Sleep hangover + no coffee = headache.

I’d rather BE a headache (to someone else) than HAVE a headache. Oh well.

Had to stop and get feed, come home, unload, finally got coffee at 12:53. On my second cup.

Got weather channel on, tornadoes in Texas, confirmed in Dallas area. @Blue Sky I hope you are safe! Supposed to come here. Weather channel named Lufkin, Texas as at risk, that’s 25 miles away.

All ok here and I think it’s about done. Hubbs is in Dallas but ok hopefully not stuck in traffic. Phone app9/11 works, weather radio ok, but accuweather app lagged. No wind and about an inch of rain. Hope you’re ok, glad to hear about your therapy. These December tornadoes are crazy.

 

[Baymule]

I’ve fed early, sheep, dogs and horse. Ate an early supper myself. Storms usually knock out power, so no microwave to heat leftovers. LOL supposed to get hard rain’s around 5 and again at 8 PM.

 

[SageHill]

On second cup - was up and out early after a quick breakfast sandwich.
I took the sheep out to graze - I don't know who needed it more - me or them . Missed three days of doing the graze and walk about. First was just get things done that weren't on the ranch - which was ok, then day one of rain - ok got things inside done, then day 2 of rain and I was worse than grouchie. Out this morning - cold (38-54 today) -had to wait a bit because..... it was raining. We need it. I've got some erosion things to deal with - but it has to wait for tomorrow - things need to dry a bit before I slip slide with the utv and the tractor.
All is good here I've been out and am warming up with cup #2.

 

[Show Sebright]

So I made these chocolate cupcakes. The key if to use coffee. And ofc I made my favorite coffee and put some in the cake batter and the rest in my cup. They have a peppermint icing.
My advice to any bakers it: Do Not Use a recipe that make 3, 9 inch cakes to make mini Cupcakes. You will get around 150.
I’m not sure exactly how many I made but I was in the kitchen from 4 to 10.
they are very pretty tho.