Yes, I know, it's been awhile. Sometimes I just get so busy and forget what happens around here to write about. This weekend I had my entire family over to celebrate my birthday. It was a very nice time. Lots of food and fun.

Steve and I moved the goat shelter and the chicken coop over the weekend too. Sometimes it is best to make do with what you have, which is what we do a lot lately. Actually, I just supervised the moving. Our son, Sam, helped Steve do the actual physical act of moving things. The goat shelter was just shifted some, to face more squarely to the east. This gives the little bucks a little more shade from the sun in the morning and the afternoon.

The chicken coop, formerly also a goat shelter, was turned completely around. It now opens toward the west. The chickens seem to like that better. I don't know why exactly. Maybe the trees and bushes posed more of a threat to them than the evening sun. Anyway, we put some old pallets in front to close the opening and make it more cozy for the chickens. I also put some old dog crates and some new plastic filing crates inside for use as nests. I can close them inside by shifting one of the pallets like a sliding door. I haven't felt the need to do that yet.

We also removed one of the sections inside the goat barn where Little Bones and Caramel stay. Now little Bones has an indoor space as large as Caramel's. There used to be 5 kennel runs in the goat barn. We have reduced that to 3 runs in order to give the goats more space and more inside shelter. Eventually I would like to get another pasture fenced for the does and just use the kennel, now the goat barn, for does who are about to give birth. Hopefully in a few months, we will have the funds for that and other improvements around here.

We are thinking about winter too, although, we have been having record heat lately. It was 103 yesterday. Not cool! Ha! I'm thinking about how much straw we will need for each shelter and each pasture. I do not think I will breed any of the does this season. Poor Falkor! He won't have any fun for awhile. Oh well. It will be better for the does and for me. They will get a rest and get in better shape and I will have time to figure out my goals and what I really want to accomplish with our little farm.

I have contacted the shearer but have not heard back from him yet. I will call him again if I don't hear by the weekend. I have been busy sewing. I made a long skirt for my daughter's halloween costume. I also finished an apron for Christmas and have another cut out to sew. I seem to only be able to work in my "shop" early in the morning or late. It is just too hot during the day. I told Steve I need a room air conditioner out there so I can get more work done!

After 36 years, I lost the diamond in the first "promise" ring that Steve gave me when we got engaged. I still have the ring on my finger with my wedding diamond. Steve said that maybe we could trade them both up for a new ring. Maybe, just maybe, I deserve it after all these years! Ha!

It is so cool this morning that I dragged out one of my flannel muu-muus to keep warm. Yes, I made flannel muu-muus. I adapted a short sleeved muu-muu pattern and a long sleeved nightgown pattern and made several. They are long and comfortable and if I get really cold, they are big enough to put t-shirts and longjohns underneath! Ha! I usually don't need that many clothes here but I am thinking of getting some high-top slippers to cover my ankles.

We decided that Big Red was getting old and senile. He was crowing all night instead of just in the morning. The neighbors complained about the noise. So I gave Steve permission to put everyone out of misery and shoot the old bird. He was then deposited in the wash so the coyotes and buzzards had a nice little feast, Big Red, not Steve. I'll probably keep it a secret if I ever decide to deposit Steve in the wash! Ha! Just kidding!

I plan on calling the shearer today and setting up a time to shear the goats. I read another angora breeders page online. I guess most angora breeders sell their fleeces in the original condition in which they come off the animal. They remove as much vegetable matter as possible and sell then as is by the pound. It looked like this particular breeder sold hers for about $24 per pound. That's a lot of money if you get 4 or more pounds from one animal.

This weekend is "Alpaca Farm Days." Alpaca farms across the country are having open houses and inviting the public to visit their farms. Some will also have demonstrations, food booths, spinners, weavers and food. It is an opportunity to touch the alpacas and see what raising them is like. I hope you will all go visit a farm near you. Someday, when I get more alpacas, I will join in the National Alpaca Farm Days too.

I forgot to say that I did manage to get the chickens moved. They are not very bright however, and have not used the shelter at night. We plan on turning the shelter around, putting a new roof on it and making a smaller entrance for the chickens. Maybe they will like it better and I will be able to close them in at night. Otherwise, Big Red crows all night disrupting everyone's sleep. It would be nice to get one of those Amish built chicken coops. Maybe someday...

I read a bird article that said the hummingbirds and the bats really are leaving the area for the winter. It also said that some hummingbirds stay all year and to leave one feeder full all year. Today I will fill one of them up and try to keep it full this autumn and winter.

It is cool again this morning, only about 60 degrees. That means it will get to be at least 90 degrees before the end of the day. The pool will be a little too chilly for me but maybe Steve and the grandkids will swim.

The cooler weather has me thinking about keeping the animals warm this winter. I will have to figure out how many bales of straw we will need and where to put them where they will do the most good. Straw bales make a good wind blocker for the alpacas. They are also good insulation for the goats and chickens. We usually only have one or two snow storms so I don't really need permanent heavy duty shelter for all the animals. I worry more about keeping them cool in the hot summer.

I hear Little Bones bleating and demanding her breakfast so until next time, have a great day!

I love the fall here in Southern Arizona! The nights and mornings are very cool and the days are warm and sunny. The wind has picked up again and seems to blow non-stop. This morning it was coming straight out of the east, a good sign that the monsoon is over.

The animals seem to enjoy the cooler temperatures too. Buddy and Lux raced and played all over the yard this morning. I had to remind Buddy not to jump on me, he was so exuberant! The alpacas ran up and down their pasture. The goats play fight and leap around. The goats will have to be sheared again soon. They produce so much fleece that they need shearing every six months. The alpacas won't be ready til the spring.

The hummingbird feeders are empty again this morning. Maybe I won't fill them again since it is fall. The bats and the hummingbirds should be leaving for warmer winter skies soon.

My workroom is cooler now. I have started sewing fall curtains. The fabric is a simple cotton print of fall leaves. They are simple rod pocket panels so I hope to finish them in a couple of days and get them up by the "official" start of fall on the 22nd. After that I will finish some projects for Christmas and do some spinning. It would be nice to get enough yarn spun to make more hats for family members this year. So, I'd better get busy before my grandson wakes up from his nap!

Steve fixed the old goat pen yesterday so now I can move the chickens into their own space. I was going to do it last night but got too tired and forgot. Getting old does that to you! Ha!

The hummingbird population has gotten smaller since I was away. I don't know if some of them left because the feeders were empty or if they migrated already. There are still some here but not the 15 to 20 I was seeing before vacation. The feeders are still being emptied but not by the hummingbirds.

The bats have arrived! They can empty all three feeders in one night. So I am filling feeders up every morning now. The bats are harder to watch than the hummingbirds. They are almost like a shadow and sometimes it seems like you imagined them passing. These are not the small bats that eat the bugs under the security light. These are bigger fruit bats. They don't land on the feeders, they hit it as they pass. So there are splashes of the red liquid feed on the house after they leave. Late last night I got up to let the dog out and watched several bats hitting the feeders. Just a flash of brown wings in the darkness. I probably couldn't see them at all without the small string of lights on the porch. Nature is amazing and seems appropriate for this time of year.

Our trip to the great state of Oregon was pleasant and unmarked by any travel difficulties. Thank goodness! We mostly ate too much good food and slept alot. We got to visit all the relatives and had a couple of family get -togethers to mark nieces and great nieces birthdays. Overall, a very nice visit.

Upon returning to Arizona, we learned that we missed the most rain we have had all monsoon season this year. My daughters said that it rained for 3 days straight. Now everything is greener than it was when we left and some of the weeds finally got fence high. It is still rather humid and damp feeling. The weatherman says this is the last of the monsoon this year. We shall see. The rain or the season has cooled the temperature somewhat. We have only been in the 90's since we got home. That is a relief.

All the animals are fine and didn't seem to miss us too much. My daughters did a good job of taking care of them. I missed all of them though, especially the dogs. We saw "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" while we were away, a very cute movie. It made me homesick for my dogs and all the animals.

Now that we are home, there is a lot to do. I need to schedule the goat shearing for next month and start thinking about the holidays. I'm wondering also if the neighbors are planning a community yard sale this fall. I may have to be part of that this year just to get rid of STUFF, Or maybe sell some fleece.

Just a short note to let you all know that I will be off line for a short time. I'm leaving our little farm in the capable hands of my 2 daughters. I'll return on Sept 9 and tell you all about our trip.