Nanner, nanner on me! I don't get to bottle feed the baby goat.
Our friends (owners of goats) took the baby to their house and hand-fed it overnight. Today, when they took the baby to the barn, she went right to her mom and nursed and then went to sleep with her brothers. That is really good news b/c the baby needs to be with its mom - not me. Right? Right?
But these friends are now officially out of town, and I get to go check on the babies to make sure they are all doing well. One mama goat has one baby that is several days old. The other mama had THREE babies (and one of these is the runt that they thought I would have to take care of).
Tonight, while we were at kickball, my friend called and said another female was giving birth as they were leaving and would I please go by and check on it and move it to a new pen.
At about 8:45 pm, we got there and found that the newest mama goat had given birth outside. She had only one baby (didn't find any stillborns, thank goodness). The tricky part was that there was only one way into the barn - a small, square cutout in the side of the barn. I had to carry the baby inside, and it was crying loudly the whole time. Luckily, all that noise made the mama follow us inside. Then Paul grabbed her collar and made sure she followed us into a new pen. We got them some food and water set up, and Paul spread two bags of shavings on the floor. It was all a really fun adventure.
Then we headed to the other pen with the two females and their babies (the ones mentioned above - 2 moms and 4 babies in all). Abbie and Paul got to see the tiny runt who is soooo cute. I held her mom's collar while she nursed. She needs all the help she can get to make sure she gets her fair share. We plan to go back everyday just to be sure the runt is doing okay. And there is another mom that will give birth soon (she's about as wide as she is tall - she's probably got 2-3 babies in there).
Hopefully, I'll remember to take a camera tomorrow.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Nanner - Nanner - Nanner
Not bananas! "Nanner, nanner, nanner" is me saying "too bad, so sad, don't you wish you could be me."
Why?
Cause I'm 99% sure that I will be bottle feeding a newborn nigerian pygmy goat over the weekend. She is new and tiny and needs ME! Even though I'll have to feed her every two hours, I will love every minute.
Try not to be too jealous! :)
Why?
Cause I'm 99% sure that I will be bottle feeding a newborn nigerian pygmy goat over the weekend. She is new and tiny and needs ME! Even though I'll have to feed her every two hours, I will love every minute.
Try not to be too jealous! :)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Comfort Foods
I've been a little sick this week. Just a little head cold. No fever, no aches. Just stuffy nose and head ache and lack of energy. But I know just how to treat it: mucinex (big ole horse pills that work really well on breaking up congestion in your head or chest), tylenol, and sleep. Rest and sleep work wonders for your body when you're sick.
And cats - that's the wonder drug of choice in my house. The last two days, after I've taken Abbie to school, I come home and go back to bed. The kitties get in bed with me and snuggle close. Going to sleep hearing their purrs is so sweet. When I wake up, I usually have all the cats in bed with me. Angel is usually on top of me, Friday is on one side of me and Little Man is on the other side. Or one cat is at my feet.
In the past, Baby is also one of the caregiver-kitties, but right now, she is addicted to sleeping on Abbie's bed.
Comfort food is also essential to feeling better. Today, I felt well enough to go to the grocery store. I made taco soup (not a comfort food (for me) but it is easy to make when you don't feel like cooking) and baked mac & cheese.
I have tried many mac & cheese recipes - trying to find the best one. I keep coming back to my friend Leslie's recipe, but I have modified it a bit.
Baked Macaroni & Cheese
8 oz elbow macaroni, prepared according to box directions
2-4 cups shredded cheddar cheese; depends on how cheesy you want it
1 cup milk
1 egg
salt and pepper
This recipe makes enough for a regular size casserole dish (2 quart size???).
In a sauce pan, I mix the milk and egg together and add 1-2 cups of the shredded cheese - cook over low heat, stirring often until the cheese melts.
Pour half the cooked macaroni in the dish and salt and pepper it. Pour half the melted cheese on top. Sprinkle with some shredded cheddar cheese. Add the rest of the cooked macaroni - salt and pepper it again. Pour rest of melted cheese on top. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes.
And cats - that's the wonder drug of choice in my house. The last two days, after I've taken Abbie to school, I come home and go back to bed. The kitties get in bed with me and snuggle close. Going to sleep hearing their purrs is so sweet. When I wake up, I usually have all the cats in bed with me. Angel is usually on top of me, Friday is on one side of me and Little Man is on the other side. Or one cat is at my feet.
In the past, Baby is also one of the caregiver-kitties, but right now, she is addicted to sleeping on Abbie's bed.
Comfort food is also essential to feeling better. Today, I felt well enough to go to the grocery store. I made taco soup (not a comfort food (for me) but it is easy to make when you don't feel like cooking) and baked mac & cheese.
I have tried many mac & cheese recipes - trying to find the best one. I keep coming back to my friend Leslie's recipe, but I have modified it a bit.
Baked Macaroni & Cheese
8 oz elbow macaroni, prepared according to box directions
2-4 cups shredded cheddar cheese; depends on how cheesy you want it
1 cup milk
1 egg
salt and pepper
This recipe makes enough for a regular size casserole dish (2 quart size???).
In a sauce pan, I mix the milk and egg together and add 1-2 cups of the shredded cheese - cook over low heat, stirring often until the cheese melts.
Pour half the cooked macaroni in the dish and salt and pepper it. Pour half the melted cheese on top. Sprinkle with some shredded cheddar cheese. Add the rest of the cooked macaroni - salt and pepper it again. Pour rest of melted cheese on top. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Tuna Salad
I felt the need to post instructions on how to make great tuna salad, but I also feel the need to say that I really dislike the tuna commercial where everyone is making the fish lips. And I also feel the need to tell you (the crickets) that my mom taught me everything I know about tuna salad.
Recipe:
2 cans solid white albacore tuna in spring water*
6-7 sweet gherkin pickles**
sweet pickle juice
3 hard boiled eggs***
2 spoonfuls of mayonnaise
*Growing up, my mom used the regular tuna which was tan/brown in color. That tuna is okay to use - I'm not sure if there is a difference in taste. Once I tried white tuna, I've stuck with it b/c I like the color of the salad better - to me, it looks more appetizing. Brown tuna salad reminds me of a sandwich you'd get out of a vending machine. Yuck!
** If you and your whole family loves dill pickles, I suppose you could use dill pickles. I wouldn't hold it against you, but DON'T ever serve me tuna salad with dill pickles.
Put eggs on the stove to boil. In the meantime, open and drain tuna (I usually rinse mine too). Dump tuna in a bowl and use fork to break it into smaller bites.
If you buy larger pickles than the gherkin size, you may not need this many pickles. Using a chopper, chop pickles 3-4 at a time. You can chop the pickles fine or medium; I like medium to get a better crunch and taste of pickle in the salad. Pour a little sweet pickle juice in the bowl with the tuna and chopped pickles - about 1 to 1-1/2 tablespoons. If the eggs are done, peel and chop them with the chopper. Again, you can chop them fine or medium; your choice. Depending on how "wet" you like your tuna salad, you may want to add just one spoonful of mayonnaise to start. Mix everything together and add more mayonnaise if you like - I almost always add 2 spoonfuls. I don't like a dry tuna salad, but do keep in mind that it will get juicier while it sits in the refrigerator.
You can start eating your tuna salad immediately, or you can let it chill in the refrigerator for an hour or so. Tuna salad is great as a sandwich (with fresh, soft, white bread or on toast), served with club crackers, or on celery. I've also eaten it straight.....with just a fork.
Despite being a picky eater as a child, I loved tuna salad and still do. Luckily my daughter does too so I had to make a second batch last night due to her special request.
Recipe:
2 cans solid white albacore tuna in spring water*
6-7 sweet gherkin pickles**
sweet pickle juice
3 hard boiled eggs***
2 spoonfuls of mayonnaise
*Growing up, my mom used the regular tuna which was tan/brown in color. That tuna is okay to use - I'm not sure if there is a difference in taste. Once I tried white tuna, I've stuck with it b/c I like the color of the salad better - to me, it looks more appetizing. Brown tuna salad reminds me of a sandwich you'd get out of a vending machine. Yuck!
** If you and your whole family loves dill pickles, I suppose you could use dill pickles. I wouldn't hold it against you, but DON'T ever serve me tuna salad with dill pickles.
Put eggs on the stove to boil. In the meantime, open and drain tuna (I usually rinse mine too). Dump tuna in a bowl and use fork to break it into smaller bites.
If you buy larger pickles than the gherkin size, you may not need this many pickles. Using a chopper, chop pickles 3-4 at a time. You can chop the pickles fine or medium; I like medium to get a better crunch and taste of pickle in the salad. Pour a little sweet pickle juice in the bowl with the tuna and chopped pickles - about 1 to 1-1/2 tablespoons. If the eggs are done, peel and chop them with the chopper. Again, you can chop them fine or medium; your choice. Depending on how "wet" you like your tuna salad, you may want to add just one spoonful of mayonnaise to start. Mix everything together and add more mayonnaise if you like - I almost always add 2 spoonfuls. I don't like a dry tuna salad, but do keep in mind that it will get juicier while it sits in the refrigerator.
You can start eating your tuna salad immediately, or you can let it chill in the refrigerator for an hour or so. Tuna salad is great as a sandwich (with fresh, soft, white bread or on toast), served with club crackers, or on celery. I've also eaten it straight.....with just a fork.
Despite being a picky eater as a child, I loved tuna salad and still do. Luckily my daughter does too so I had to make a second batch last night due to her special request.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Confessions
A fellow blogger posted their top ten confessions on being a mother and challenged others to do the same. I'll give it a shot.
1) I remember great things about the baby stage. I remember being a zombie from about 6 months to 2 years old.
2) Lately, I have felt pretty great about my mothering skills. I'm screwing up a lot less!!! :)
3) My child will soon be ten. That freaks me out a little. I'm planning a "ten" themed party. Shhhh.....
4) Abbie knows what she wants to be when she grows up. I can see it happening. I'll be working for her someday.
5) Sometimes, I really think I have been cloned in my child. I can see myself in her (not looks). It's kind of like watching yourself grow up. I hope I can steer her around the backwardsness that plagued me.
6) I love that she likes to read. I just found some books I had in elementary school, and I can't wait to share the stories with her.
7) My one big regret is not having another child.
8) My next big regret is not having a smidgen of patience.
9) I hope she will enjoy scrapbooking and traveling so that we can do it together.
10) If/when she goes to college (she says she's not going - ha!), I secretly plan to move to wherever she goes.
1) I remember great things about the baby stage. I remember being a zombie from about 6 months to 2 years old.
2) Lately, I have felt pretty great about my mothering skills. I'm screwing up a lot less!!! :)
3) My child will soon be ten. That freaks me out a little. I'm planning a "ten" themed party. Shhhh.....
4) Abbie knows what she wants to be when she grows up. I can see it happening. I'll be working for her someday.
5) Sometimes, I really think I have been cloned in my child. I can see myself in her (not looks). It's kind of like watching yourself grow up. I hope I can steer her around the backwardsness that plagued me.
6) I love that she likes to read. I just found some books I had in elementary school, and I can't wait to share the stories with her.
7) My one big regret is not having another child.
8) My next big regret is not having a smidgen of patience.
9) I hope she will enjoy scrapbooking and traveling so that we can do it together.
10) If/when she goes to college (she says she's not going - ha!), I secretly plan to move to wherever she goes.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Say What?
Recently, I got some compliments, and I wanted to comment on each one.
A few weeks ago, someone told me I had great hair. Of course, on the inside, I was pleased, but compliments on my appearance make me a little embarrassed. I wonder if I blush? And wouldn't you know that I have NOT been able to recreate how my hair looked on the day I got that compliment! Which is exactly why I have a love/hate relationship with my hair.
Tonight, someone told me that I am the "glue" in a committee that I chair. Again, I think I blushed, but it was nice to know that I've been an important part of the committee and will be missed. Then Paul made a smart ass comment.
And last night, when Paul came to bed, he told me that he was so glad he married me. I was so tired and sleepy that I didn't ask him why he told me that (we had just finished watching "New Moon"). Today, after he got home from work, I asked him what made him tell me that last night, and he didn't remember saying it. I decided he was just delusional when he came to bed. We joked around about it for a little bit. Then I told him that he was my Edward, and he told me that I was his Jacob. :)
I just told Paul that he was in trouble for the smart ass comment he made. But he's still my Edward.
A few weeks ago, someone told me I had great hair. Of course, on the inside, I was pleased, but compliments on my appearance make me a little embarrassed. I wonder if I blush? And wouldn't you know that I have NOT been able to recreate how my hair looked on the day I got that compliment! Which is exactly why I have a love/hate relationship with my hair.
Tonight, someone told me that I am the "glue" in a committee that I chair. Again, I think I blushed, but it was nice to know that I've been an important part of the committee and will be missed. Then Paul made a smart ass comment.
And last night, when Paul came to bed, he told me that he was so glad he married me. I was so tired and sleepy that I didn't ask him why he told me that (we had just finished watching "New Moon"). Today, after he got home from work, I asked him what made him tell me that last night, and he didn't remember saying it. I decided he was just delusional when he came to bed. We joked around about it for a little bit. Then I told him that he was my Edward, and he told me that I was his Jacob. :)
I just told Paul that he was in trouble for the smart ass comment he made. But he's still my Edward.
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