The Storm

It rained all day yesterday.  As we were out doing the evening milking it was thundering and lightning and we were commenting how nice it was to have the dairy so that neither the goats nor us had to get wet! 

Around 9:30 last night, Ethan and Noah were in bed, and the three of us girls were in Mom and Dad's room with them going through pictures, when all of a sudden it became really windy.  There was a loud bang, some rattling, and then more loud banging.  It sounded like tin, so we took our spot light out to investigate.  Dad scanned the back yard around the pool and couldn't find anything out of the ordinary, but as he shined his light over by the horse barn we noticed a rather large piece of tin in the yard.  Green tin, which meant only one thing - the dairy roof.  As he shined the light further around the side yard, we saw more pieces of the tin.  We threw on some coats and made our way to the dairy.  Sure enough, the wind had whipped under the lean to on the dairy (the goats' shed area),  pulling it off and throwing it into the yard.  As we looked at it some more, we realized it had also taken with it the 2x6 beams that the tin was nailed to.  And with one more look around, we realized that the end 4x4 post was pulled out of the ground and landed on the opposite end of the dairy!  The end of the lean to was sagging, because the next post in line had cracked, and that had to be fixed.  We just recently bought about 40 bales of hay that was also stored under that lean to, so we had to cover all that with tarps.  Poppy thinks it was a micro burst rather than a tornado.  Whatever it was, we are praising the Lord that none of us got hurt, none of the animals got hurt (although the guard dog is still a little shook up), that the tin landed where it did, and that it didn't hit the vehicles as it flew.  Another amazing thing was that we JUST got insurance coverage on the dairy a couple of months ago!  Just in time! 

This was the first piece of tin that we saw when we looked out the back door.  You can see how far it flew from the dairy (in the background).

The tin flew over the dairy, hit the windmill, and landed as shown in the above picture.

The back of the dairy from where the tin came off.  There WAS a 4x4 post in the ground towards the right of the picture.  You can also see where some of the tin is rolled back.

The tin and boards in the field.  (Some of the boards are still connected to the tin!  We teased that most people would have just lost the tin.  Poppy built that lean to too good!  It tore off the boards too!)

This picture shows the 4x4 post.  It came from the other side and landed in this small square, without hitting the fencing on either side!  It is still intact.)

The tin in the field.

So all in all, we were very blessed that it wasn't any worse. 

God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good!

Aiken Market

Jordan is back selling at the Aiken Farmer's Market!  So for all of you who have been patiently waiting to get your eggs, milk, cheese and soaps at the farmer's market again, we're back!

Springtime is finally here....

because the lawn got it's first mow of the year!  Mowing the lawn is one of my favorite chores and it must be contagious, because today Ethan asked if he could learn to use the riding lawn mower!  He quickly mastered it, so I grabbed the other riding lawn mower, and we knocked it out in no time!

Better Late Than Never

Okay, so I'm a little late in posting these pictures!  I have had this post in my drafts bin for a while, and just now got around to posting it!

These two babies we left with the mother and they were so cute to watch.  She did an excellent job taking care of them.

We also received our meat chickens about two weeks ago, and they are growing fast.

Baby chicks are so photogenic!

"Stick it up..."

Pecos, the guard cat!

An Albian or a Nupine???

After a year and a half of waiting, we finally got our half Nubian, half Alpine doeling!

Meet Maggie...

We have wanted to try crossing the two breeds to see how they compare to an all Nubian goat.  By crossing them we are hoping to have a high butterfat count, with an increased milk production, and a little bit smarter goat.  We'll see, it's sort of an experiment.

Mom and Dad were going to buy me an Alpine for my birthday last year, but none were available.  So this winter we finally bought Tasha, who was already bred to a Nubian buck.  This last Friday Tasha kidded and we now have Maggie and her brother Count.  We can't wait to see what Maggie will be like milking next year!

They look just like Tasha, except for their ears.  The Nubian ears flop down; the Alpine ears are erect.  So Maggie and Count's ears stick out like an airplane.  They are adorable!

Sweet Fellowship...

This past weekend, our new dear friends, the Yuck Family, came down for a visit.  They live in Canada, but travel to Florida every March and so decided to stop in for a couple of days (much to our delight)!  They too are dairy farmers, only they milk around 60 cows.  Our families are very much like-minded so it was a wonderful time of sweet fellowship and shared interests, along with some good hearty laughs!

One of those days we all went out for pizza with the Upchurch Family, another family that we had just met, but also have a lot in common with! 

Back row: Dad, Caleb Yuck, Mr. Yuck, & Mr. Upchurch
Front row: Ethan & Noah

Mrs. Yuck, Mom and Mrs. Upchurch

It was a fun weekend, only a little short of pictures!  They will be coming back by in April, so we'll have to make sure we get more photos taken! 

Yuck Family, we had a lovely time visiting with you all!  Have a fun trip and to coin a phrase,

"Ya'll come back now, ya hear!" -grin-

The Yucks (minus Mr. and Mrs. Yuck)
Liberty, Bethany, Blessing, Caleb, Honour, & Cherish

Update on Riley...

 For those of you who have asked about Riley, he's doing fine.  You wouldn't even know that anything ever happened to him!  He did get out of his bath that day, but we made up for it today....

...maybe I know why he ran away! -grin-

Mom's Birthday!

Yesterday was my dear, sweet mother's birthday!   

My mother and her father

My mother and her mother

Jeremiah 29:11-13:

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."

My mother asleep on her favorite horse! 
She fell asleep many times while riding this noble steed!

My mother is truly the best mother in the world.  She is always so selfless and patiently teaches us the things we need to know.  She is always there when you need someone to talk to or to give you good advice.  She is always encouraging, always smiling, always true. 

Mom, her little brother and her grandpa

"Her children rise up and call her blessed;

Her husband also, and he praises her:

"Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all."

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands,

And let her own works praise her in the gates."

-Proverbs 31:28-31

Dad and Mom

Mom is the nurse who bandages and kisses our scraped knee.  She is the teacher who instructs from infancy on up.  She is the chef who creates scrumptious meals for some very hungry children.  She is the cleaning lady who makes sure our house is presentable.  She is the cheese maker who keeps us supplied to sell at the market.  She is the farmer and the gardener who started the idea behind Trail Ridge Farm and Dairy.  She is the love that turns our house into a home.  She is wonderful!  Thanks Mom for all you do.  We love you and hope you had a great birthday!