Thursday, March 1, 2012

Meet Our Goat Kids and Find Out Who the Giveaway Winner Is!


We just bought our farm this past summer.  But we can both recall the first time we came to look at it, walking around the ten acres and admiring the various structures that came with the property. 

What goat wouldn't want to live here!

One structure of note was a little wobbly shed in a fenced in area that we immediately referred to as the goat pen. 



We're not even sure why it came to us that way, neither of us had ever mentioned wanting goats – guess it just seemed obvious. 

Once we had physically relocated to the farm, the goat shed became a frequent topic of discussion.  We discussed various types of goats, but we didn’t want to be tied down by twice daily milking and had no interest in goats for meat.  However, we became very interested in a type of goat known for its fiber, the Pygora goat.  The pgyora is a cross between an angora goat and a pygmy goat.  So they are of smaller stature meaning a little easier to manage for shearing and hoof trimming.  Additionally, their fleece is a little bit finer than a full angora, which makes it more useful for spinning.  We like our farm critters to help earn their keep if you will.


Looks rough here but spins beautifully!

While browsing the web, we ran across Hawks Mountain Ranch in Oregon.  They focus on raising Pygora goats and are well respected for the quality and upkeep of their herd.  Once a year, they literally drive across the country delivering goats that have been ordered, everywhere from California to New Jersey.  Unfortunately, the one time of year they do this happens to be in August.  We had only been on the farm for 2 months.  Alas, we didn’t want to wait another year for the next cross country trip so we took a leap of faith and ordered five goats for delivery within a week.

The five goats we picked were.....
Luna
Hermione

Minerva

Dumbledore, our buckling

And Hagrid, our wether


Did we mention the original goat shed was wobbly?


Reinforcing the wobbly, soon to be, boy shed!

  Boy did we have some work cut out for us.


And putting the finishing touches on the new girls shed!

We meet George, the driver, and our goats, about an hour away from the farm.  Five goats were loaded into dog crates in the back of the Excursion and we were homeward bound.






Sassy...the herd dog! Doing what she does best!

Our five little goats bedded down in the barn for about a month while we finished putting up new fencing and building an additional shed for the girls, the boys would be housed in the newly reinforced and less wobbly original shed.

I don't think we're in Oregon anymore!!



They really liked eating off the chow wagon!!

We did their first shearing in October, when they were about six months old.  They were not too excited about the process, and we were a little apprehensive ourselves.



"Just a little off the top please!"....says Hagrid

We did have one little mishap when we nicked little Luna’s back leg with the shears. 


It's awfully warm for a sweater!


 It did require some stitching up (we always have supplies handy) but she is none the worse for the wear.

See.....all better!

Hagrid and Dumbledore....sporting their new doo's!
In November, Dumbledore went into rut, as bucklings will do! His fleece is growing back in as you can tell.

Dirty face....but king of the stump!

They have proven to be far craftier than we initially gave them credit for in terms of trying to get to each other for mating season.  This has kept us on our toes quite a bit for the last few months. Minerva has proven true to her colors, she is most definitely the "black sheep" of our flock!!!

We have really come to love these little guys.  Letting them out and checking on them is one of the first thing we do in the morning.  Giving them their chow and tucking them in with hay and fresh water is the finish to our day.  Nothing better than a good night kiss from your goat! LOL

Luna says "We are not amused! Where's the chow!"

They are very comfortable with us now, and come up to us for petting and attention. 




They are very funny to watch as they hop around and play on their stumps and tree trunks.  Wow....what a great life we have here on Just BE Farm. 

And now....what everyone is waiting for....The winner of the giveaway!!

First we want to thank everyone in the blogging world for such a warm welcome.  And an extra-special thank you (and hug) to our dear friend Vicki at 2 Bags Full.  We would be nothing without her support and guidance.


Drum Roll Please.....And the winner is......Tanya of Bead and Needle!!!! Congratulations!

Tanya, please send us your mailing address and we will ship this gift out to you as soon as we get your information,


Thanks for stopping by again!!! Stay tuned for the next adventure at Just BE Farm!!!

Next time, we will introduce you to our featherd critters!! 

37 comments:

  1. the goats are just adorable! I think I must be a distant relative, as my hair is just like theirs!
    How exciting it must have been to see the farm for the first time and know you were going to be living there.

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    1. Kath,

      Thanks, and yes, it was very strange to walk around the farm the first time we looked at it and see all of the work to be done and too look at one another and see the wheels turning and the motivation to make it our home. We both looked at each other and said "This feels like home"… and here we are...Just BE farm was born.

      ~Bobby & Eric~

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  2. Well congratulations to Tanya, but shucks that means I didn't win!

    Love the story of your goats and LOVE their names. Might there be some little goats in the future?

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    1. Kim,
      Yes, we plan on having kids in the spring of 2013, they are too young to breed this year (kids havin kids isn't good) So we are excited to let them "just BE" goat kids for now.

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  3. I was just reading along here, as happy as could be, about the beautiful goats (Sassy in the car with them cracked me up) and their non-wobbly barn, and truly just JUMPED when I saw my name! I ACTUALLY DID! What a fabulous start to a day - you guys ROCK!!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I LOVE this blog and your critters!

    Happy March 1st...again, you guys ROCK!

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    Replies
    1. Congrats again, and you are most welcome!! Sorry we're just getting back to you but Eric has been on spring break and we decided to take out the walls between out living room and kitchen as well as the dining room and kitchen and build an island....a new post in the future I'm sure. All the best!!

      ~Bobby & Eric~

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  4. Congratulations to Tanya, lucky lady!... your goats are all just precious and I love all of their names... I can't wait to see when you spin their fleece into wool and knit something wonderful!... how cute to see Sassy, their little herding friend... I am so glad you took that "leap of faith" and ordered them... and I cannot wait to see Spring arrive at your beautiful farm... you have a wonderful life indeed, full of love and furry (and feathered) friends, actually they are family I am sure, like mine... xoxo Julie Marie

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  5. I love visiting your blog,you are both Blessed to have such a wonderful life.
    Goats are such delightful companions and your crew is handsome and lovely.
    Congrats to the lucky winner too!
    Hugs

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  6. Having 8 pet Angora goats (inc. 1 cross) meant reading this story was just a joy!
    I know all the things they get up to and the love and happiness they give.
    Each one has it's own personality and we just don't give them enough credit for their abilities for sure - it is so wonderful how we can bond with these beautiful 4 legged beasties unlike sheep and they do respond to their names!
    I have the most delightful video on Christmas goats showing how clever they really are.
    I will go and check your address!
    Wishing you lots of luck and wonderful times with your gorgeous goat friends.
    Suzy

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    1. Thanks Suzy!! And that video is just too dang cute!!! We cannot wait to have babies next spring!

      ~Bobby & Eric~

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  7. Love the goats! They look just a tad like they will get up to no good anytime!
    The last of the Goat 'intro' pics looks like a Gremlin...remember the rules, Don't feed after midnight....LOL!

    Congratulations to Tanya.
    And a big THANK YOU to Vicki, she introduced me to your blog.

    Do you spin the wool yourselves?

    Well, have a great weekend,

    Sandie xx

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    1. Sandie, Good advice and yes, we have been going to a group close to us called The River Cities Fiber Clan and learning to spin. We'll keep you posted on our progress, our carder and spinning wheel just arrived a couple of weeks ago....sooo we're off!!

      ~Bobby & Eric~

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  8. I was greatly surprised to be enchanted by these dear goats. Actually I have seen goats at the MD Sheep and Wool Festival - and thought they would be fun to own. But I am very sure they are work - taking care of living things is always task filled (taking care of living things the right way !!)

    I am so enjoying your blog. Thank you Vicki for sharing.

    Thanks for sharing.

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  9. Can't have too many goat pictures (I have cashmeres) and now I am looking forward to the finches as well :)

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  10. they are just the most darling animals!!
    how fun they must be..even with caring for them,they just seem so enchanting!!..they have the most wonderful eyes...such beautiful wool on them!!thank you for sharing your farm/life!!!..i do envy you both!

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  11. What cute goats. They look full of personality. My Uncle once gave me two goats as a joke to my parents. I only had them for two weeks. They were so much fun. They ate the neighbors clothes of the clothesline and all of my mom's roses. Then my dad said, The damn goats got to go." I was so sad. We loaded them up and took them to a goat farm. I see how they get the name of "kid." They are just like onery kids.

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  12. Oh the goats are so cute Luna's fleece/coat just glows! I have heard when you shear sheep they are shunned by the other sheep. Does that happen with goats as well? Seems like the farm is coming right along and all is well.
    Deb

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    1. Thanks Deb,

      Yes, Luna has a beautiful fleece, and when they are sheared they act like kids getting out of school for summer break! They are so happy and jump around like the air feels great on their new short fleece!!

      ~Bobby & Eric~

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  13. Due to a combination of large thumbs and small iPhone screens, this comment got inadvertently deleted. We have copied and pasted it here. Sorry about that Kris.

    Kris has left a new comment on your post "Meet Our Goat Kids and Find Out Who the Giveaway W...":

    Congratulations to the winner! This is one of the sweetest post I have ever read and one of the most interesting! All of the goats looks so happy and contented. Do you spin the hair or do you send it to someone to do for you? This post is also very entertaining and it brightened my day. Now, I want to go out and buy some goats for me! LOL LOL

    Thanks so much for sharing this with us!

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    1. Kris,

      Thanks for the comments and yes, we are learning to spin as well as knit, our dear friend Vicki is teaching us the knitting, and we are going to a local group to learn to spin...Get you some goats!! they are a blast!

      ~Bobby & Eric~

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  14. Darn Tanya! she is so lucky at giveaways! Well, I can still beat her at keno!
    I love the goats, always thought they would be such fun, I love any animal with lots of personality, so goats would be great! I think it is so neat how they like to be king of the hill, stump, what ever is in the pens! I bet Sassy is happy she can finally herd something for real! Oh and it is always a plus to have a hunky carpenter on the farm!! Lucky you!

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  15. Congratulations to Vicki; she's as nice in person as she is in blogland! I love Pygora goats and used to have some when we first moved to Thistle Cove Farm. They have fabulous personalities and I wrote stories about mine...
    Agatha and Esmeralda; those Fabulous Goatini Sisters!

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    1. I love those goat names!! We may have to borrow them in the future if that's okay with you!!

      ~Bobby & Eric~

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  16. Bob and Eric...I just returned from my mail box, and am speechless at the INCREDIBLE, FABULOUS box of goodies that was awaiting me. I WILL be blogging about it in the next few days (have an out of town guest tomorrow, but after that I am free and clear to post away!), but wanted you to know how dumbstruck I am at your kindness! Yes, you two ROCK - THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU...can't wait to dig into the homemade items, especially! Happy Wednesday - you've made my whole, entire month...XOXO Tanya

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    1. You're welcome, and it's all good but the apple butter is the bomb!!!

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  17. What can't you two do?! Great post and very informative. you have your hands full! Congrats to 'Bead and Needle'! Looking forward to learning about your feathered friends.

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    1. Thanks Jim, We haven’t ran across much that we can't do, I can however tell you that we both hate pluming and I (Eric) do not get along with electrical repairs very well, but we still both do these things as well. Feathered friends post coming soon!!

      ~Bobby & Eric~

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  18. Those goats are little darlings...at first I viewed them as normal sized goats but in the shot where they are sheared the obvious is so visible...tiny fellers. Love the post and waiting for the birds posts. Thanks for this and congrats to Tanya!

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    1. Hey Sophie!!

      Yes, I think you are taller than the goats, they do love to play head butting games with our bullie girls! it's a hoot!

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  19. Hi Friends--
    Just "off the ship" and trying to catch up a bit!! Oh I love the story about the sweet little goats-- you know I love those little cuties! You guys have so much to show for all of your hard work- your farm is just wonderful-- such a perfect place for all your animals!!

    Congrats to Tanya for winning the contest- she is one lucky girl!!

    Love-
    Vicki

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    1. Vicki,
      Thanks, and welcome ashore!! We can't wait to see your pictures from this trip!! You live life to the fullest!

      ~ Eric~

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  20. SWEET, too sweet these gorgeous little goats; I love their wonderful curly coats; and biggest compliment for your work on the pretty goat-paddock!!!

    We were thinking too of taking some little goats; we'll see; actually they would love it here in the woods!

    Wonderful socumentation of the first "shaving" session..!!

    Have fun on your splendid farm!

    ciao ciao elvira

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  21. Congrats to Tanya! Your goats are so handsome and oh my goodness the bonus of having angora yarn. Do you have plans to put it to good use with the knitting lessons you received from Vicki? Looking forward to seeing the birds! ~Lili

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    1. Lili,

      Thanks, and absolutely we plan on spinning and knitting with the fleece... Vicki has taught us the basics and soon we hope to learn more from her expert hands, she's fantastic!!

      ~Bobby & Eric~

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  22. I just found your blog via Tanya and Bead and Needle! I am hooked! What sweet pictures! I can't wait to read the rest of your blog!

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  23. Just finished a lovely scarf with hand spun yarn So soft. Love your pictures and notes.
    DreamChallenge jan

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  24. Hope everyone is well and enjoying the great Spring weather!
    Susan x

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