Belle Kidded!

"And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up." Exodus 19:20


On Friday, I noticed Belle's udder had filled rather quickly.  I figured she would kid within three days. When I went out the next morning, I knew she was in labor. I had to run a few errands and attend a conference for my signing language class. I really hoped that she would wait for me!

I arrived home around 1PM and sat out in the barn with her. After about a half hour, I noticed that she was giving little pushes. 

 I quickly called some friends who wanted to see the birth. Shortly after they had arrived, Belle kidded two handsome bucks.

Short story: several days before Belle kidded, I had a dream that she had kidded.  Her first kid was all black with a little white. I checked and it was a boy! In my dream, I called him Elkanah.  After that, I greatly anticipated Belle's kids coming.  Sure enough, her first kid was all black with a little white.  And it was a boy!! I named him Elkanah which means God has created.

  I wanted to name the second boy Bullseye but no one seemed to get the reference so I prayed and asked the Lord what I should name him.  I was sitting out in the barn (again : P ) and the name Sinai popped up.  It means "out of the clay desert" which I thought was rather fitting for him but I also liked it because that is one of the places where God spoke to His people. Thus Belle's boys are Elkanah and Sinai. I think they're perfect. Don't you?

Cattle Show & Horses

"He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth." Psalm 104:14

Had a fun day with friends  yesterday!

 Watched one of them show his calf...

 and took some photos of the horses in the nearby pasture.

 Afterwards, we headed to their aunt and uncles who own a horse rescue.  I was so excited to get to help feed the horses.  After lunch, we got to ride a pretty mare named Crimson.

Yellow Bellied Racer

"And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den." Isaiah 11:8

Look what I found!

It's a juvenile Eastern Yellow Bellied Racer. I hadn't seen one for a couple of years and was afraid they were all gone.

 I'm so happy to have this guy on our place!

Tana

"I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire." Genesis 30:32

I'm so excited about this girl! With super soft teats and open orifices, she's a dream to milk. Out of all the other Nigerian Dwarfs that have freshened here, Tana's is by far the most promising. I finally have a goat with an udder that I can drool over on the farm!! Will be clipping her soon to get a better look!

Broody Hens

 "The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house." Psalm 104:16,17

We have another broody hen! That makes three now! Honeysuckle's eggs will hopefully hatch in another week or two.

 And, thanks to a friend of mine, Suri got seven eggs (plus two of mine which may or may not be fertile ) which should hatch three weeks from now!