Oh, Boy!

This morning while I was feeding the goats I did the usual udder check on the does. We are getting close to having kids! Oh, boy! If they took on the date I think they did, they are due next Wednesday-ish. This will be my first time to have more than one doe in milk and I'm scared to death a little nervous. In the past, my one doe was milk stand trained and an experienced mom. I could leave the kids on her and still get plenty of milk for our needs. This time around I've got two newbies. And all my well laid plans for milk stand training went out the window when the fence broke and my MIL went into the hospital. I had managed to get them on the stand to eat but we never got around to udder touching. Oh, boy! The plan is to sell the kids as bottle babies and train the first fresheners as milkers. And I am fully prepared for the first days (or weeks) to be a rodeo. Oh boy!

Another thing- do you remember a couple years ago how excited I was because DH was going to fashion us a sort-of milking parlor? I was tired of milking in the rain (which ruined the milk) and having the wind blow "stuff" into the bucket (which ruined the milk.) Well, that never happened. Since these does won't have kids on them, I will have to milk twice a day. And since they're not trained, I don't expect the process will be fast at first. Oh, boy! Well, today I decided to fashion my own sort-of milking parlor. I already have a frame (a nice sized dog kennel) in the goat pen. The milk stand is already inside it and the does have no problem going in and out of it. All I need is some kind of rain and wind protection- easy-peasy, right? Oh, boy!

This weekend I'll be playing with my grandson and getting the spare bedroom ready for the son who has just finished up his time in the military. And I'll be searching the internet for the best way to cover a dog kennel and block the wind. If you've got ideas to share, I'd love to see them! 

Also, the good news: We found out this week that in August we are getting another GRANDSON! OH, BOY!!!!