I thought July kicked my butt, but August is shaping up to be somewhat similar. I’ve spent hours and hours helping my poor hosting clients move from my server to a new one with Midphase. Something that was supposed to be fairly straightforward was a bit of a nightmare, especially for my clients with multiple sites.
Ever since we sold our fabric business and it moved to a new server, our big, expensive server with Liquid Web didn’t make much sense anymore. I thought I had more time to get everybody moved, but alack and alas. It was a full bolt run to the finish line, and I think we’re all a bit bone weary.
Just ten more sites to move, and then diet or no, I’m going to seriously eye some Moose Tracks ice cream to celebrate. A big thanks to the team at Midphase for all their help, and an even bigger thanks to my family, friends, and clients who had to scramble (and are scrambling) to move before the August billing cycle kicked in.
Is this a repeat? I can’t remember what I posted before I moved my own site. It’s been that kind of a week. Goodness.
Well. Speaking of clients, I’m still going to be offering design work and have currently been working on a site revamp for my friend Jennifer. We worked out a deal, and as payment, she was to help us get our hands on some lovely Dwarf goats and teach us how to care for them, and milk them. On Saturday she and her husband drove up with a horse trailer attached to their car, and just look at the adorableness that came prancing out:
Augh! So, so sweet. The mama is about a year and a half old. Her name is Faith. She had twins but the previous owner sold the boy goat. She’s left with Hope, who is keeping her milk going (we hope- ha, ha) until we can learn how to milk her ourselves. We gave it a try tonight after watching Jennifer milk her full sized Nubian goats like a total pro, but we were not successful.
They are both so friendly and come when they are called. When we let them into the backyard (with the dogs locked up of course) they like to bleat at the back door when we go inside. “Where are our people?” they seem to ask.
E. is planning a total revamp of our chicken area so he can build a goat shelter. For now, they are sleeping in a well littered pen in the shop. Today is construction day so hopefully I’ll have a nice goat shed to show you soon.
In the meantime, I’m enjoying the last few crumbles of the artisan feta cheese we bought at the Farmer’s Market last week. I can’t wait to try my hand at my own! Happy Monday!
Oh! They are really adorable, they look so small! It took me a couple of weeks to get really good at milking my goats. Since your’s are already that friendly it shouldn’t take you that long. I bet before it’s over though, you’ll get a whole new appreciation for the phrases “don’t cry over spilled milk” and “kick the bucket” I know I did! ;-) Can’t wait to see you new goat digs.
*your* new goat digs… still too early to type it seems.
No spilled milk yet, but she keeps putting her hoof in it! Argh! She doesn’t love the whole thing yet, but she’s getting calmer and calmer. She’ll let me stroke her back and down her leg now without immediately starting to kick. Progress!
Shut. Up!
One week we’re talking about how we sure would love to have a couple of little goats, and the nect… Bam! You actually do.
Enjoy those sweet faces. Hope the current chaos levels out soon.
Do it! They’re so sweet! Everyone was like, “Oh you’ll wreck your yard” and I’m surveying our weed riddled lawn thinking, “And that would be bad?” They’re so little they can spend all day grazing on the grass and not even make a dent.
Oh, and the book Little House in the Suburbs has good, readable goat info.
Thank you, going to look that up right now…
I am so jealous that I don’t even know where to begin! Can’t wait to hear more about the goats–they are adorable! Is goat-cheese making in your future?
Thank you! Yes!! I can’t wait! She’s still nursing faith so we aren’t getting much but as she weans we’re hoping to keep her supply up.
I love dwarf goats! Growing up, we had neighbors who owned a pair of them and we never could resist sneaking over with arm-fulls of wild oats to feed them. They really are irresistible!
I can’t believe how personable they are! I’m so glad they seem to like ‘their people.’ :o)
Ohhhhh, squeeeee! SO cute!!! We keep toying with the idea of goats for our farm. I am itching to make cheese. But the idea of milking them all the time is fussing me. What if we go out of town for the weekend. I don’t think we could ask our neighbor, “Hi, could you feed the cats and the dog, and collect the eggs, and, oh, yeah, milk the goats so they don’t dry up? Thanks, we’ll bring you a souvenir shot glass…”
We’re so lucky to have good friends who keep goats, so if we go out of town we can pay them to come milk them and let them keep the milk. Yay!
LOL, maybe they’ll take a shot glass as payment *grin*
I almost fainted from the cuteness. I can’t stand it. You need a llama.
Alright, I’m drawing the line at llamas… at least until we get on more acreage!
Jessica–
I went to a person who lives near you that has Nigerian goat babies. We are actually thinking of getting pygmy goats! Do let us come by and see them?
Sure! Come on over!
The next time I come visit you are going to have a full-fledged farm! I’m so excited for you guys. One more step toward where you want to be!
You should see E. He is so made for this. He is loving every minute with these animals!
Those are incredibly adorable!!!
Kids (of the human variety) around me thought I was crazy when I excitedly read this in my email. How awesome! I’m excited to read about your life with goats now!!!
Ha ha! Thanks! I’m hatching plans for a kid playground now, goat variety!