All sorts of fun...

So we have had all sorts of fun in the last few days... this blog covers Friday and Saturday.
Farm life is not for those with a weak stomach so just be prepared if you are munching on something you may want to put it down a second. 
So Friday when we went to let everyone out we noticed Sugar had vomitted. (told you to put down the sandwich) I figured she had some imbalance going on her stomach(s) so I decided to run to the Co-Op and get Feed Grade Soda. ...........Let me back up a moment.... We had invited company down on Saturday which means that the farmhouse needed a little sprucing. My mother was kind enough to come down to assist- and hang out so she was here for all of the fiasco mentioned above...
So Sugar was a mess and I decided that she needed some help getting her stomach settled. Goats are ruminants and the natural digestion/ fermintation of their food causes gas. Sometimes they need a little help keeping the ph level balanced so that gas doesn't cause bloating or ultimately the 'disease' Bloat. Believe it or not Baking Soda helps with that. I suppose you could use the kind from the grocery store- but that would cost a fortune. So Arm and Hammer (really!) actually sells a Feed Grade quality 50# bag just for Ruminants. Who would of known?
So we went to the Co-Op, got the Soda and I also got a Goat Block (mineral block for goats) for the goats. I got a bag of scratch for the chickens and a new waterer for inside the chicken house and 10 bags of Cedar Bedding.  I like Cedar bedding because it helps keep mites away (for the chickens) and fleas away and other bugs as well. -It also smells much better than the normal aroma of the chicken and goat house.
When I got home I put out the Soda and the Goat Block and since then Sugar has not gotten sick (as far as I am aware)
 NOW what I did notice today is that Spot has clumpy poo. It is a never ending battle.
So Saturday we had company- with kids- ---I'll just say I discovered my goats wouldn't be the ideal petting zoo goats.
*Sidebar-The animals are a novelty to most people, but they don't understand the whole connection I think. The desire to be connected to the land, to be self sufficient sounds cool to others but to our family it is not just an idea that's cool, it is a reality that is somehow deep within us a necessity.
So the kids fed the goats through the gate and the chickens were fun to pick up and pet and watch, I also left the eggs for the kids to gather (did I mention 8 eggs on Saturday?!!!)
the rabbits just hung out - I didn't want anyone bothering them because the bunnies are not yet a week and I am protective of Precious' nerves.
Thanks to my mom my house looked great and my food was good too.

BTW- want a good Pulled Pork BBQ recipe?
1- Pork Butt or Shoulder Roast and
1- 2 liter of Root Beer
Your favorite BBQ Sauce (we like Jack Daniels or Sweet Baby Rays)
thats it!
So in a Crock Pot cover the cut of pork with the root beer. Cover, let it cook on medium for at least 12 hours (I like overnight) then turn off the Crock Pot and move to large bowl/ plate. After the Roast has cooled pull apart and remove fat. Drain Crock Pot and place Pork back in the Crock Pot along with BBQ sauce (enough to coat sufficiently) Cook on Low for a minimum of 2 hours.  TA DA.

SO all in all Saturday was a sucess!  Thanks Mom!