Triplets!

She seemed quite rotund for her first time pregnancy, the little dwarf goat named, Cookie, that our daughter and her husband own.

There is such excitement in waiting for a new baby of any sort. Anticipation is such fun. Being a first timer for baby goats made our daughter pretty anxious as birthing time neared for Cookie.

She knew the signs to watch for and had her birthing stall all ready. She’s going to be a good midwife I thought to myself last week when I was there for a visit.

As we were preparing lunch , we heard an odd sound from outside.

“What was that?” Helen said. I did not know, when suddenly she exclaimed, ” It’s Cookie!”

She was right, for Cookie had birthed her baby in front of the grain barn.

Helen quickly got to work rubbing down the big baby with a towel.

She needed to be in her birthing stall away from all other livestock. So we pushed and pulled Cookie into her stall, where she gave birth to number 2 baby.

Husband Jon and I were running around doing birthing jobs, while Helen tended to momma and babies.

Number two was healthy and responding well, when suddenly Helen announced the third baby coming!

Helen did a fine job of the attending midwife to momma goat and her sweet newborn babies.

To me birth of any sort seems a grand miracle. You did a great job, Helen, and Cookie is one good momma!

Cookie and her three healthy babies.
Helen was a fine goat midwife!
The first born was the largest, and a male.
Cookie tending to her newborn babies.
Cookie needs some nourishment!
Hello world, I’m the third-born baby!
Aren’t my babies wonderful?
Cookie tending lovingly to her babies.
Welcome to the world cute baby goats!

It was great being a midwife assistant!

Oh, the joy and mystery of birth! Thank God.

Save Your Seeds?

Do you save flower seeds for next season? Several garden flowers and vegetables are easy to save their seeds.

Cosmos. These simple, fun flowers come up all over if given the chance.

Cosmos seeds are easy to save. They grow happily anywhere it seems. However, late in season mildew can be a problem on their leaves. Spray if you desire.

Leave a few flowers to dry on the stem.
Look at all those seeds from part of the seed head!

Coreopsis are just as easy.

It is important to allow the seed head to completely dry on its stem.
Seeds come right off when dried.
Simply dropping seed back in flower bed.

Truly, I have success with sprinkling the seed simply back in the bed. They will winter over and produce next season. I also put some in a marked envelope, save for next season or share with friends.

Lettuce gone to seed.
See the tiny lettuce seeds?

Allowing lettuce to go to seed will produce enough to share with others next season.

Note: Saving vegetable seeds works only with Heirloom plants. Hybrids are not dependable, only purebred seeds.

Dill is another easy one.
Beautiful flower head of dill.
Drying sunflower.

These big, full sunflowers heads dry on their stems. I will cut them, save some seed and leave the flower head in the garden for birds. It is fun watching the Goldfinches eat from them.

There is much joy in sharing too. Would you like some? Let me know. I would be happy to mail some for your garden!

Happy end-of-season to you!

Wanna Take a Dip-Dip?

This question gets our corgis all excited for they know it means swimming! Boy, do they like swimming! Apparently not all corgis do, but HoneyPie and Buster are all about it.

When HoneyPie was a puppy she would jump into the stock tanks. Good sign that she liked water.

HoneyPie’s puppy pool—the stock tank!

Buster being two years younger than HoneyPie is no less exuberant.

I am grateful for their joy of water. Corgis are active dogs. Swimming sure helps get energy out and offers great exercise.

Walking before me to the pond, they both turn around to check I am still coming.

We start slowly at the first of our swimming days. Cold months with no swimming means we must pace the dogs until their stamina is built up.

Buster goes full-steam ahead on retrieving.
HoneyPie and her big dive.

Looking for sticks, the right stick is a job. Once I tossed a stick in for HoneyPie and it sank!!? I realized the value of another one close at hand. She went after that one. Thank goodness, as I am not sure how long they would look, and tire themselves out.

Sometimes they are anticipating the wrong direction a stick is thrown and jump in before they see it hit the water. This puts them on a wrong path. I have learned to throw a stone in near the stick that grabs their attention and puts them on the correct path.

The stick caddy.

Well exercised dogs are happier dogs which makes for happy owners out here on our farm!

Water reflecting on the leaves is pretty.
Let’s go again says HoneyPie.
Buster on track.

Do your dogs like swimming?