April 25:  This is the due date, but nothing happened!

After chores we then worked on pitching poo from the goat shed.  We took four loads to the garden and pitched it out there.  Next years garden will be there.

After that we spent the afternoon relaxing.  Husband watched the NFL Draft and I finished a pair of crocheted slippers for him.  Then I worked on a pair of crocheted socks for myself.

I was also able to watch "Paint Your Wagon" with Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin.  Good movie.

It thundered most of the afternoon and rained 1 1/4 inch of rain.

Evening chores, dinner and more TV time and then bed.

April 26:  Got up and took a long bath.  Old Neighbor and his wife came, just as I was getting out of the tub.  We are showing him how to do our chores, just in case we need an emergency chore person.  We had a nice visit of almost three hours!  Good time.

No grand plans for the day, still waiting for babies!

Worked upstairs with my wool.  Carding some Border Leister so that I can be doing some spinning while watching TV or porch sitting.

Dinner was Lamb Chops and Asperigus with Fruit cocktail for dessert.

Chores are done and now it is time for TV.

April 27:  All the usual was done, still watching Ida.  Another four loads of poo pitched from the goat shed.  Remember this...Clean out shed EVERY year!  Too much work otherwize.  The weather shut us down today.

Husband made a call to the U of M live Liver donor clinic today.  They asked him a mulitude of questions about his health and history as well as blood type.  Then I got on the line and went through the same list of questions.  We are getting things set up to be a Liver donor, when Daughter gets on the Liver Transplant list.  She is in the process of getting the things that she needs to get done before she can be listed.  Her health hasn't been very good lately and it was decided that a Liver transplant should help.  Here is hoping that one of use will be a match.

Evening was spent relaxing.

April 28:  Woke at about 5:30 AM dressed and went right out to the barn.  With the rough weather yesterday I had kept an eye on Ida, but she didn't really look like she was ready.  She was ready this morning, in fact not long before I went out she had delivered triplets!  When I walked in the barn there they were, all but one standing and mostly all dried off.

I grabbed all three and brought them into the house and put them in the half bath just off the kitchen.  Then I went back out to the barn to be sure Ida was doing okay.  All was well.

The rest of the morning was spent getting things in order to keep the kids in the greenhouse for a couple of days.  I also had to make sure that they got their coloustrom as soon as possible.  The first bottle was last years frozen and then the second was from Ida this year after it was heat treated.  I had over a quart from Ida!  Plenty to feed them.

When all was settled we had our breakfast and did the other chores.  By now Ida had passed the plasenta, so while she was on the stand eating I pitched out the stall and rebedded it and gave her fresh water and hay.

Since the weather was still wet we decided today would be a good day to do some errands in Owosso.  Just before we left we fed the kids again.

We made our visits and came home to feed kids again.  Then had our dinner and evening chores.  Another quart of colustrom was collected and treated.  We watched some TV and at 11 PM the kids got their last bottle of the day.  It was bedtime for all.

April 29:  Woke at 7 AM dressed and filled bottles.  Fed and let the kids play some, even took them outside for a bit.  Straightened the greenhouse while they ran around expending energy!  Mommy Dog (Isabeau) did her mommy duties and was quite pleased with herself.  She has a job at this time of the year and she loves it.

Did the rest of my chores and then got ready for Meals and Gathering.  All was well with everyone.

In the evening we went to look at a sickle bar cutter for hay.  It will do our hay just fine, so we bought it.  Very reasonable!  Too heavy to put into the truck, so will drive tractor back tomorrow to pick it up.

The rest of the evening was quiet and then bed.

April 30:  Got up and around early, needed to get the mower before the rain.  We had only 12 miles to go, but at a speed of only 10 mph it took an hour each way.  Our trip was uneventful, a good thing.  We got home just as it started to sprinkle.

I did my milking and then planted the fruit trees that came yesterday.  The rain was light so it wasn't much of a problem.  After the trees, I planted more Lettuce, Peas, and Green Onions in the SFG box.  That box is now compeletely planted. 

With that done I replanted some of the starts that haven't come up.  The Cabbage and Pepper seeds must have been too old.

The kids are now on a 7-3-11 feeding schedual so things are alittle bit less crazy.  They also are taking 8 ounces per feeding.  All are well and getting very active.

After doing all of the above, I then made my first Rubarb pie of the year!  The Rubarb is just now getting to picking size.  What a nice golden brown pie I made, Yummy! 

After the baking came the clean up, Husband and I did the dishes and swept the floors in the back of the house.  All nice and neat now.

A quiet evening is planned.  Dinner is to be homemade Macaroni and Cheese with pie for dessert.  Some TV watching and the usual chores.

WELCOME MAY!

May 1:  Was an off day.  Didn't do much.   Husband worked on the sicklebar mower to free it up while I did chores.  After that we put some chicken wire up in one of the smaller pens so that the kids can go out to the barn.  They like having lots more room to run and play.

Quiet evening.

May 2:  Today will be a busy one, we have an auction to go to in the morning and the evenng will be a dance recital for Dark Haired Beauty.

We got up and around and got to the auction in Owosso.  This was a city auction, so there wasn't any farm equipment, but there were a few things that I could use.  One beleive it or not, is a microwave oven.  I need one in the milking parlor to heat my washing water.  I was also hoping to get a small table and two chairs for the porch.  Wonder of wonders I came home from the auction with both of these items plus a wicker drawer set for the half bath!

Late afternoon was spent taking a bath and getting ready for the recital and dinner.  Because the recital is at 7:00 PM, evening milking will be done after.

Daughter and her husband picked me up to go to St. Johns around 6:15 PM.  We  had front row seats and the evening was nice.  Plenty of children giving it their all!  DHB did a fine job in front of all those people.

After we grabbed some fast food and went back to our place, where I changed and went out to milk while the others ate.

As I was finishing up, DHB and Daddy came out to check out the new babies.  She stayed and played with them for a good while.  Long enough that the little buck finally just laid down in the alley.  They would sleep good tonight!  So would DHB!

Inside eveyone else was watching the NASCAR race on TV.  When that was over they all made their leaves.  A good visit, but not very long.