Desmond

Desmond doesn't like being photographed.  Whenever he sees one of us with a camera he typically runs and hides.  

Hehehe...I tricked him into looking!

Desmond is one of our LGDs (Livestock Guardian Dogs).  He is a Great Pyrenees that we adopted from the Great Pyrenees Rescue of Atlanta in April of last year.  His foster family had goats, so we figured he would be the perfect fit for us.  He definitely has been.  

I have never been a huge "dog person", but I'll make an exception for Desmond.  He is a great guy.  Sweet, docile, obedient (for the most part), and great with both humans and goats.  

Our other Pyr, Rousseau, is a different matter.  Not that she isn't a lovely and sweet dog, but she definitely still has a lot of puppy in her and is, let us say, a bit of an attention hog.  For example, the other day I was feeding some grass through the fence to Dean and Rousseau shoved him out of the way and started eating the grass.  Now there is no way that she could have really just wanted the grass--she just didn't want me showing anyone but her any attention!  Sigh.  I know she'll grow out of it.  Hopefully...

So, I am taking another math class.  Whoop-do-doo!  This time I have actually been doing fairly well...until last night.  Oh gosh.  It was a rough night.  

So I'm on the chapter about solving all sorts of linear and rational equations.  I really don't know why it is so difficult for me!  I just can't seem to get it right--I always make some simple, stupid mistake that throws off the whole equation.  Davis has patiently and sweetly helped me with my homework, but I think both he and I are beginning to feel like this again:

Well, we can't all be good at everything, right?

Sigh.

I'll keep you posted on the goatees!  May be babies today!

Bessie

Irma Louise Miller

Isn't she lovely?

Irma is getting ready to give birth for the first time.  She is due any day!

Buttercream is still holding out on me, but she seems to be getting closer.  I noticed her acting a little funny today (strange stretching, soft talking, going away from the herd for a bit), and also that her udder has gotten bigger over the course of the day.  Her back ligaments are softer as well.  Perhaps we will have babies tomorrow?? :D

Someday that baby will come...

But when?!

Buttercream doesn't seem to know either.  Or maybe she does, and she is just stringing me along. Apparently that is quite common...

Lately she has been spending a lot of time with her front feet elevated on this rock.  They say this is a common practice as the pregnancy progresses--the kid(s) are probably putting pressure on an uncomfortable area, and the doe is trying to alleviate the pain/discomfort.

Look at that huge tummy! Her butt looks funny because I shaved it.  Yes, I shaved her butt.  It is common practice in the world of goat keeping--helps you to be able to see any developments easily, and when labor comes, keeps her from getting yucky goo all over her fur.

This was right after the butt-cut, hence the hair all over the floor. 

Her udder keeps getting bigger and bigger!  It is filled out even more since I took this picture a couple days ago.

The other day I though Buttercream had gone into labor.  So I gathered up my kidding supplies and waiting outside with her--to no avail!  This is a picture of my kidding kit.  Paper towels, colostrum supplement (just in case), warm water, soap, raisins (to give the momma after she kids), baby goat sweaters, plastic gloves, naval clamps, iodine tincture, scissors, and a few other things that I can't think of right now because it is morning and I am not fully awake. ;)

These are the baby goat sweaters that I made out of the sleeves of an old sweater.  I'm not sure how many kids Buttercream will have, but I made two just in case.  In the winter it is good to have these on hand to prevent babies from getting chilled.

So Buttercream is still holding!  I do think she was bred before I got her, which means she was bred to Dean's father, Gumby.   If that is the case, then the date of the breeding was probably around the beginning of September.  Goats have a 150 day gestation period, so that means she could go anytime over the next week or so.  Ah!

Little miss Irma is looking pretty preggers lately too!  Her udder has gotten a lot bigger.  Maybe she conceived the first time I put her with Dean?  I'm such a newbie at this.

Thanks for your comments on my 1920's post!  I love 20's fashion, too.  It is interesting to me how, while trying to be more masculine in appearance, the clothing was still very soft and girly.  One thing I have noticed is that a lot of dress patterns from the 90's emulate the same straight-waisted designs that are found in 20's fashion.  This spring I am going to use a few 90's patterns as bases for some 20's inspired designs and see what happens!

Have a lovely day,

Bessie

Waiting, waiting, waiting!

Oh goodness, this weekend has been interesting!  One of my does, Buttercream, looks like she is going to be giving birth a lot sooner than I originally expected.  Yesterday she was showing signs that labor was imminent, and so I waited and watched and sat with her all day...but no babies!  I went out to check on her today, she is still baby-less.  So I guess we'll see what happens!  I am afraid to go to work--I don't want to miss the birth!

It has been so rainy lately.  Everything is wet and muddy and gross.  Usually I love the rain, but I am just about sick and tired of it right now.  Wet, gloppy mud is not the greatest factor when you are feeding animals.

My sister Jenny reminded me about ModCloth the other day, and I have been drooling over a few of their adorable dresses.  Makes me want to sew so badly!  I am having more problems with my machine.  Something is seriously wrong with my tension, and nothing I do seems to put it to rights.  Berninas are not supposed to have tension issues!  Plus, I just took it in for a tune-up a few months ago.  This is ridiculous.

Well, if I ever get my machine up and running again, here is a little bit of what has been stirring my soul lately, fashion-wise:

Off to check on Buttercream!  Hopefully I will have goat baby pictures to share very soon...

Bess

My New Friend

Well folks, my wonderful husband bought me a new computer for my birthday, so I am back to blogging!  Yay!  I almost had a cow when my photos loaded quickly and without distortion onto blogger.  Hallelujah.

So back in the fall of '11 (I know, it's been such a long time), I picked up this little baby at a local thrift store.  Isn't she cute?

As you can see, she is missing the screw that holds the presser foot in place.  Other than that, she runs great.  Whoever owned this machine before took really good care of her.

This is one of those posts that I have been wanting to do for about 4 months.  Better late than never, right? 

In other news, the goats are getting closer to their due dates and I am getting a little bit nervous!  My mother bought me an awesome kidding kit from Hoegger goat supply for Christmas, so if I do have to reach in there and pull a baby out, I'll be ready.  At least materially, anyway...

See Irma's baby bump on the right? :)

One thing that I have really loved throughout this kidding experience has been this breeding/kidding spread sheet by Molly at Fias Co Farm.  If you have goats and breed them, you should check this out!  It is extremely helpful.  I am also about to purchase an herbal pregnancy tonic for the girls from Molly's Herbals.  Whoop!

I hope you all have had a lovely holiday!  I'll be posting soon about some cool vintage finds my husband and I stumbled across while thrifting last week (ever heard of Alfred Shaheen?), so check back soon!

Bessie

The Plaid Dress

A little somthin' somthin' I've been working on (s-l-o-w-l-y but surely):

Version 1 (in the foreground) w/short sleeves

I had a bunch of this cotton plaid left over from my wedding and thought, "Gee, that would make a cute dress!"  

I was lazy and pinked the seams. :D  I love pinking.

The sleeves turned out nicely.  I haven't attached them yet.

An inside view of the bodice, pre-lining.

An inside view of the bodice, w/ lining pinned in place.

This is about as far as I have gotten.  I've stitched the skirt together, but still need to attach the sleeves, attach the bodice to the skirt, and finish the lining.  

I think it will be a cute one! :D

P.S. I'm pretty sure Irma is pregnant!  AH!  That means we'll have at least two baby goaties this spring...

Have a lovely December day,

~Bessie

Winter Doings

I'm so sorry.  I cannot tell you how many posts I have backed up in my brain that I have not been able to actually POST because my camera and our computer seem to be incompatible.  ARGGHHH!!!

That said, I am going to try and upload a few pictures of what we've been up to at the Miller place this past month or so.  My apologies in advance for any wacky photo distortions.  Sigh.

Yep...Buttercream likes attention.

Buttercup carries our first Christmas tree!

I was finally able to use all those wonderful vintage ornaments I've been collecting for years!

Don't you just love that rubbed off, oxidized paint look?  :D

I've been working on a very cute little dress...(view 1 w/short sleeves)

It is not very cold here in north Georgia, and doesn't really feel like winter yet.  Ah well--we usually have late winters.  Maybe it will snow again in January 2012. :)

Buttercream looks more and more pregnant every day.  I'm pretty sure she will have multiples, as she has a history of twins and has given birth many times before.  Irma on the other hand, if she is pregnant, will probably only have one kid.  Angoras usually have 1-2 kids, and young/first time mothers usually only have 1.  I guess we'll see come February!

I hope you are all enjoying a lovely December so far.  Remember to sit back and enjoy the moments of your Christmas season this year.  

Blessings,

Bessie