The new wood stove is SO much better. It's much easier to build a fire, we get more heat from every piece of wood, and a glass door means I can just look over and see how the fire's doing without getting up to open the door every time. Plus, it takes up a fraction of the floor space. It weren't cheap but it was money well spent.
After a conversation I had with son Josh when we were visiting in early Sept. I decided to make an adjustment to my diet. My routine was to have a cup of coffee and dessert each night shortly before going to bed, but when I got home I eliminated that luxury and give myself no more than one "cheat" per week. Lately that's been a pastry at the donut shop on Thursday mornings while I work on my class content for Sunday morning. I still have the cup of coffee in the evening but either nothing with it or one half of a PB&J sandwich with some very low sugar jam Pam made.
Since that visit in Sept. and my dietary change (no other adjustments) I've lost about 11 pounds. And that's without going to the gym for most of that time because of my hip and back issue.
The problem now is finding jeans that fit. The jeans I was wearing are way too baggy; they look and feel bad. But my combination of waist and length numbers make it difficult to find jeans that fit well.
Four months ago Stella gave birth to Frenchie and one month ago I moved Frenchie up to the weaning pen to join Donut. Today I moved both kids down to the main pen, putting them in the small room at the end of the barn that I use for kidding. It has a short door separating it from the main room with an opening big enough for young kids to get through but not adult goats. That allows me to give them all the alfalfa they can eat in the feeder in that room while keeping it away from the adults who shouldn't have that much alfalfa (it's too rich for them but helps kids put on weight).
Within two minutes Frenchie and Donut had gone through the small opening into the main room and five seconds later they were under attack. Stella started butting Frenchie (so much for maternal instincts) and had her trapped against the wall where she rammed her repeatedly. Dolly went after Donut, daughter of the late Sundae. The soundtrack to this melee was unsettling with young kids screaming in fear.
Sometimes I have to get really physical and intervene in a bad situation and this was one of those. Adrenalin helps. I grabbed Stella by her collar and pretty much threw her across the room. Then I got ahold of Frenchie and tossed her into the kidding room. Repeat with Dolly and Donut.
I closed the cover for that small opening so the two kids can't get out into the main room again.
I asked Marta and she said I should leave the kids in there for at least 24 hours so they can learn that's their safe place and where they should go if threatened. Then I'll put both kids outside with one adult. That gives them more space to flee and they can't get caught up against a wall and rammed repeatedly.
A little extra excitement on the farm today.
Pam had an appointment with her new cardiologist this afternoon and I went along. It was very ....... enlightening.
Mostly we were glad to learn her heart is now in good shape and everything is under control. She'll continue taking the meds that help her heart accept the stent and do some cardiac rehab, but all is well.
T'ank you, Fadder.
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