Not sure...

Many of you know that I absolutely love my significant other. He is my best friend. Like all relationships are, you have your good and your bad. I truly can't say that there are any bad parts of our relationship. Even thou we have been together for years.

However, I may have created a bad part. All because of the newest pets on the farm. I don't hide anything from my significant other, but this one I did. I hide it because I knew it would be a no. I've asked before and it's been that every time before. So I went off and got three alpacas today:/

I've been talking about it for a long time. The three I got weren't in the best shape, but the guy had to get rid of them, because he was moving in a week. They haven't been shaved in years and their toenails are all curled up and down and all around. They were somewhat friendly. I knew we could give them a great home and maybe even they could be beneficial around the farm.

I know there fiber could be sold, if you knew how to sell it or had someone whom could spin it. I was thinking more beneficial as far as helping to protect the goats, and calm some of our horses down. They don't eat a whole lot of food, just as much as a dog. So the expenses aren't all that great for these animals, which was a huge bonus.

I'm in a little bit of deep water right now. I feel bad that he doesn't like them and that I didn't ask for his permission. I'm very glad that I did get them. They are so personable, and they like being around people. I already spent some time with them outside and they really are interested in people, despite not having the best care in the past. I'm hoping, not only can I help these alpaca's out, but hoping that the significant other can understand why I did what I did.

I'm hoping that the significant other will like them as much as I already do. I promise no more animals without permission, except chickens, a calf and maybe a sheep or two! I'm hoping that I get permission for that, rather than having to sneak them in also.

We will have to see how it goes having the alpacas here on the farm. I'm excited to see how they are going to work out with the goats:) Hoping it goes as planned. Then we will work on the other animals!

My goal is self-sufficiency. With that comes raising your own food, which would include animals:)

~ Angela

Feeling Great

I haven't had a day for me in a long time. Thanks to a hectic work schedule and the farm, I do keep very busy. Today was different. I did the chores, milked the goats and got some housework done. Due to the heat and humidity, I wasn't much for going to the garden or working outside.

I needed to burn off energy somehow. The gym I thought!

Was I crazy? I haven't been to the gym since the snow melted. Luckily our gym is just in town, and it's the only place we have to watch TV. Even more of a reason why to go.  We can't get any channels where we live without expensive satellite, that thanks to our wind probably wouldn't work half the time.  Off to the gym we went. After 2 miles of walking and running I was wiped out. It felt great to get back to the gym. I'm hoping to keep it up and continue with the hopes of shredding a few pounds.

I'm very much a goal oriented person. I think to help with shredding a few pounds, maybe I need a goal to walk so many miles. Something to keep me motivated. I feel great after I go, but then life and work gets in the way. I'm great at making excuses as to why I shouldn't exercise. Not as to why I should. Different train of thought on my part is much needed.

I spent the rest of my day doing a few chores and relaxing. I haven't relaxed in a long time, doing fun things I've wanted to do. We played a game of cards and went to go see Mr. Poppers Penguins. It was a great movie, with adult humor that kids didn't get. I love movies like that for kids.

We got home just in time to see that a few goats managed to get out of the fence again. Off to walking fence lines again in this hot weather. Most defiantly will use a fence stretcher next time we put fences up. The goats are jumping on the fences, making them looser and then going underneath. Ugh.. one more lesson on the farm. It's the learning and living that I love everyday of life.

~Angela

First Timer....

Just like any first timers, not sure what to say on my first post. I'm not a professional writer and I started this just to share stories with others. So here's a little bit about us:)

We live in Northern Iowa on a small, 10 acre farm. We wish to expand that someday, but it will take time and some persuading of the big farmer next door for some more land:) We know that is a few years off. In the meantime we have plenty of work to be done. The house was in good shape when we bought it, but the outbuildings and land were not in good shape. It's been a long few years of work in progress.

Right now we have a few horses that we have rescued over the years. We also got into dairy goats this past year. We have 17 dairy doelings and we have 3 milking does. I'm hoping to use the milk for cheese and other goat products. Haven't had time to experiment with any of it. For now, it's in the freezer for other critters.

I would like to add some more critters on the farm. Chickens, turkeys, pigs and maybe a calf or sheep would be great and useful. We would need better fences than what we have right now, so for now they are out of the question. One of these days hoping to have time to re-fence more areas of our farm off for smaller livestock. Still thinking that some free range chickens would do all right for now. Just have to decide what kinds we want and a brooding area for them. Hoping to have some for the freezer this winter.

Our garden didn't work as well as we were hoping for this year. It's all a work in progress. With a lot more work needed than progress right now:P Just as long as I get enough to can for over the winter, I will be thrilled. Our fruit orchard isn't complete and we are hoping that by next year we could get a few apples or cherries out of it.

It is time to do chores, off I go. Enjoy your weekend everyone:) And stay cool if your anywhere near us.

~Angela