Katinka 11 months

Winter stable

Parasol mushroom and others

The parasol mushroom (last two pictures) is a fungus with a large, prominent fruiting body resembling a lady's parasol (some of the other mushrooms on the pictures are resembling other things). The parasol mushroom is difficult to mistake for any other, and therefore we dare picking it! This mushroom is very popular in this region where it is prepared like a schnitzel. It is delicious and we did collect a bag full of it Yesterday, fryed with garlic, onions and peppers it made a lovely diner.

Sssssssssssunny

Nice sunny weather, lovely to take a sun bath on our doorstep.

Autumn

During the autumn months, the period of daylight becomes shorter and shorter and it’s this that signals the start of the goat’s breeding season. However I did not expect this years kids to come in heat before November, they are now 5 months old only. But rather than focusing on age, a goatkeeper should look at a goat’s weight to determine if she’s a candidate for breeding. On average, a doe must reach 75% of her adult weight before she can be bred. Today it was Tata's turn (due +/- 18/02/11) and it looks like Tita will be soon in heat as well. Our maternity ward will be crowded next year February! To prevent farherxdaughter accidents I have confined Smurdy behind a big fence.

Ready-to-use

Today we finished sawing up our winter stock of wood! Because we saw with Katinka in her playpen outdoors we needed some nice weather and no camping guest present (because of the noise...). So we waited till the guest went on a day trip, dressed Katinka with a nice cardigan and bonnet and did tackle the last big blocks of wood.

Camouflage

Adultery

Today another goat in heat, I wanted her to be mated by our Anglo Nubian billy goat (preferably even a few weeks later) - however Smurdy did break out last night so next year (+/- February 15th) we will see; more white goat kids or something colored...

Braised Red Cabbage with Apple

From the garden: apples, a nice red cabbage, few onions
From the shop: bacon, salt, pepper, vinegar.

Crisp the bacon in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Fry until evenly browned then add the onions. Continue until the onions soften and lightly brown, stirring up any brown bits from the bottom of pan. Add the chopped and boiled (10 minutes) cabbage, some vinegar and apples in slices and season with salt and pepper. Lower the heat. Stir as the cabbage begins to wilt then cover with a tight-fitting lid and slowly simmer until the cabbage is tender, 15 minutes or so.

Sister

I got some serious complains from my sister that I do not post enough pictures of our daughter Katinka.


My sister on the phone, Arnold taking a picture...


"What is daddy doing in the kitchen?"

Kidding calculator

The gestation period for goats is generally from 148 to 152 days with an average of 150 days. I used the kidding calculator to know when to expect next years kids from Smur and Sandra (being very much in love this morning!). +/- February 9th 2011 Sandra will be due if everything goes fine.

Love is in the air

Love is in the air; and we smell it!

For sale

Really great Fort wheelbarrows, imported from Holland by Hans. Very strong but light in use! Weight 11.9 kg, volume 100 litre. For more information sent an e-mail to: e-mail wheelbarrows

Living on a farm skills

One thing you should certainly learn when living on a farm in Slovakia is how to get your winter wood stock ready.
You need:
1) a lot of wood (12 - 20 cubic metre if you like it hot as we do)
2) a good working motorsaw
3) a new saw chain (every year is nice)
4) a decent axe
5) two people (plus a babysit because this is no work for a child)
and a nice neighbour who teaches you the art of using and maintaining a motorsaw because sawing and splitting wood for dummies hasn't yet been written.

Mushrooms shooting up like mushrooms

Thou shalt not cross pumpkins

Last year I grew two varieties of small orange pumpkins: Small Sugar and Uchi Kuri on the same vegetable patch, I kept some seed although I am well aware that pumpkins easily cross. However what would it matter if the small sugar and the uchi kuri would mix? I forgot that I also had another cucurbitacea on the same patch: a round variety of courgette.
So I now have loads of Courgkins or Pumgettes.... and I do not know what to do with them except feeding them to our billy goat.

Training

After three years of eating grass, chasing goats and jumping over fences (once a year), time for serious business had come. Trol our horse has been broken in. He gave no sign - just acted as it was normal to have somebody on his back. Hereby a picture of Mandy, Arnold's niece helping me to get the job done. Isn't Trol nicely following her?