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Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Ten o'clock scholar
As usual, I'm late. Spring is such a busy time of year . . . especially when you live on a ranch. We raise Boar goats---among other things---and our nannies are popping out kids faster than we can count them. We had 13 yesterday! That brings our total of new kids to 43 and we aren't even half way through kidding season.
Goats are strange creatures. Singles births are rare, and our nannies usually have twins or triplets. Since goats only have two teats, nursing triplets isn't easy for them. Many times the nanny will pick two babies to feed and leave the third as an orphan, which I then have to bottle feed. When we first started raising goats, a friend told us that if we have to bottle feed a kid we should give it away to our worst enemy. I didn't understand that bit of advice at the time, but I do now! The kids I bottle feed think I'M their mommy and they follow me around and drive me crazy.
Besides birthing kids, we are busy clearing pastures, burning brush, planting our vegetable garden and generally getting things spiffed up while the weather is pleasant. Writing figures into my daily schedule, too, and I usually find myself darting in and out of my office to do 'small' tasks outside in between bursts of inspiration.
To add to my normal schedule of duties, my daughter is getting married. We have a year to plan the wedding, but I'm already busy writing lists and jotting down ideas for the ceremony and reception. I love weddings! My niece got married at our ranch two years ago and I had a blast planning her wedding. My daughter's wedding won't be at the ranch, as she's getting married in the Catholic church, and she wants her reception to be close by the church, so I won't be traumatized by weather worries, as I was for my niece's outdoor wedding.
With so much to do, I better get busy!
Peggy
posted by Peggy Moreland at 8:20 AM
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10 Comments:
Charlene Sands said...
Peggy,
I loved hearing about your ranch! When I'm not writing Desires, I'm writing westerns and I can't tell you how much research I've done about ranches. Lots of work!
Sounds like you've got a headstart at planning your daughter's wedding too. It's amazing you find the time to write with all you do!
Charlene Sands
11:53 AM
Estella said...
How do you ever find time to write?
1:13 PM
Anne McAllister said...
Peggy, it's no wonder you were 'late!' With everything you have to do, I'm amazed you're here at all.
I totally sympathize with the wedding planning stuff. When my daughter did it, she was living in Kansas and only coming home for the wedding, so I got to do a lot of it. Being mom of the groom is soooo much easier. We've got one of those coming up in August. All I have to do is find a dress!
3:02 PM
kim said...
that is nice
6:30 PM
christa said...
Peggy
Ever since moving from a farm in Uruguay to Canada 30 years ago I have been fascinated by the workings of a farm. My sister and I had this pet sheep and it would follow us every where.
I guess you would have to be real organized to juggle all you do.
9:04 AM
Peggy Moreland said...
Charlene,
Ranch work IS a lot of work! I wasn't raised on a ranch, but my husband was and he has served as my teacher/slavedriver. In spite of how hard it is, I wouldn't live anywhere else!
Peggy
1:56 PM
Peggy Moreland said...
Estella,
Sometimes it's hard to find time to write, but I always manage. When it's pretty outside, it's especially hard, because I'd rather be outside than sitting in front of a computer!!
Peggy
1:57 PM
Peggy Moreland said...
Anne,
I have two daughters and this is the first one to get married. I have a son, too, so I'm looking forward to enjoying a wedding from the 'other' side of the checkbook!
Peggy
1:58 PM
Peggy Moreland said...
Christa,
Isn't it funny how livestock quickly obtain 'pet' status? It's more difficult with the goats, as we have so many. In the beginning, we named them all. Not so any longer! When we had cattle, I named them, too, but we sold all of our cattle a couple of years ago and decided to focus on raising goats. The Longhorns I have now are strictly pets...they COST us money, but they don't MAKE us any money!
Peggy
2:01 PM
Peggy Moreland said...
Kim,
I'm glad you dropped in to read my blog. Come back again!
Peggy
2:02 PM
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