Ranch Diary

This is our own little ranch blog on the Internet. The ranch is always very busy throughout the year, we plant the spring and fall garden, can and preserve the harvest, deliver new goat kids, make cheese and dairy products and many more activities that make up a ranch. Below is our "Ranch Diary" of all our activities during the years. Take a peek below and follow two old crusty farmers as they show you what life is like on a working ranch.

July 1, 2006	Hugh has harvested the last of the black-eyed, and zipper peas and was very busy during the week shelling and blanching peas to put up in the freezer. He also made some excellent sweet pickle relish for all the cucumbers and will be making pickles this weekend. The kitchen always smells like vinegar for a few days after making pickles.
July 3, 2006	We bought a 20x10 portable car port to use as an extra goat shelter since the rainy season has started and all the goat stalls are getting overcrowded. It took only a few hours to put up and the goats and donkey love it.
July	Pam has started a new business venture a few months ago called, "Great Goat Gear", where she is making goat harnesses and other working goat equipment for sale. In her spare time (what little there is), she is busy designing and stitching harnesses. She hopes to have the website up and have a full inventory later this winter. If you look on the sales page you can see some of the items that the ranch will be selling.
July 1st, 2006	Hugh has officially retired from Polk Community College where he was a professor of accounting and business. He is now happy to be working full time on the ranch and looks forward to making plans for the new goat dairy
May 1st, 2008	Hmmm, I forgot all about this blog. Put the darn thing up here then didn't write in it for another two years. However, other than the dairy goat herd increasing, our big news is that our daughter was born December 31st, 2007 (two weeks early). Truly a miracle baby since my husband and I are as old as dirt and we have been trying to have children for over 10 years without success until now. We are truly blessed.
May 16, 2008	Hugh and I went out and picked blackberries today. I've never seen so many berries in all the years that we lived here. Blackberries like dry conditions and since we have been in a drought for about three years now, the blackberries are abundant. Hugh and I both came back with about a gallon of berries and scratches on our arms and legs. Not to mention we both had purple stained hands and the Hackney pony on our heels had purple lips.
Oct 1, 2008	The first hints of Fall is in the air. The evening milking is very enjoyable without the heat and humidity. Pam's harness shop is back in operation after being closed for a year and a half during her late pregnancy and after the birth of baby Savannah. Speaking of baby Savannah, she turned 9 months old today. :-)
Oct 20, 2008	Peabody our little Quaker Parrot, affectionately known as "that little green bastard", passed away today. He was over 10 years old and had a good life. Although his favorite word he spoke was "Chicken Hawk", he could really cuss up a storm if you didn't pay him enough attention. Sometimes we had to cover up his cage when company came over because he had such a foul mouth (Hugh's fault). I sure will miss the little guy and I'm sure he will make it over the rainbow bridge despite his back habit of cussing. Rest in peace my little green bastard.
Jan. 3, 2009	Our sweet little baby, Savannah, turned a year old on Dec. 31st. She had her birthday party today at Chuck-E-Cheese. We thought she would freak out from all the noise and excitement, but she really seemed to enjoy herself. I'll post some photos soon.
Jan. 20, 2009	Inauguration Day! This is one of the first times in a long time that I really been so excited about a new president coming into office. It should be a really interesting next four years.
Jan. 21, 2009	We had a big freeze last night and when I woke up and headed outside to do the milking, there was ice in all the water buckets. A very rare occurrence in Florida. My banana trees froze and I'm hoping that they will come back. I had these banana trees in pots and Hugh moved them out in the hay barn thinking that they would be OK, but the leaves were all brown and limp. I planned on planting these trees in front of an Indian mound that is across from the front horse pasture....I've been dumping horse manure in front of this mound in preparation for planting the trees next spring. Well, if they don't make it, then I'll just have to order some more....still looking for Ladyfinger banana trees.
Jan. 22, 2009	While sitting on the front porch today, one of our outside cats dropped a dead golden finch at my feet. I know this is supposed to be a real "gift" when a cat does something like this, however, this little finch's mate was flitting all over the front yard calling for her mate.

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