Old places and pens

Last night we went out an pulled fencing from the house where we use to live. I did not grow up here, nor do I have any family here, but it is still interesting to look at where the goats use to live. Such a small area compared with the pasture they have now.

I know that the house has nothing to do with me, but it was really the first place I felt safe after high school, maybe even jr high. Like no one was going to get me there, I could hide there. I know it was more the people than anything else, but even when I was alone there was something comforting there. I am not sad that I left, but there is some emotion there, even if I can't seem to figure out what it is. Maybe a little bit like pity for the house, I'm not sure.

Messy Seeds

There is something about this picture that reminds me of my life as it stands right now. Full of Lepidium seed and really messy and lost. Sad but true

Nothing like the ego boost to see how fast they will run to you. Oh course they are really just running for food, but I try to think they really love me that much

Catch up

Okay, so I am falling behind again, but I was very busy and honestly I am trying right?

I saw this cooker when I was clothes shopping. What is not to like! It looks like it does it all, sigh, why didn't they have this when I was a student.

Every week of the summer the plant science dept does a cook-off where each lab hosts. Well our theme was that everything had tomato in it, from the chocolate cake to the salsa to the lasana. I think it was a big hit

Went up to see the family camping at Bass Lake.

Audiobook

Some people are taking this project as a chance to improve their photography skills. I wish I could say I thought I was going to improve my skills, maybe I will and maybe I won't but for me it is more a chance to really look at the year in photos. As a result, today's picture, although taken my me is really not that exciting, however it does allow for a 2 fold comment on my life.
First I spend a lot of time in the car. A LOT of time. I hate it really. However I have discovered that audio books make my commute a little more bearable. Plus it forces me to actually read/listen to the whole thing, not skip around when it get boring.
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Second is the Abhorsen trilogy. Less and less am I getting swept away by books. Captivated by the idea of what they are presenting. Probably one of the reason I like fantasy so much is that you do not have to follow any of the same rules that you have to follow in say historical fiction. Don't like the idea of no telekinesis - put it in the story. Don't like the idea of not being able to see the future - put that in too, want dragons or talking dogs - sure why not. Although I have not come across it often, I'm sure there are books where gravity is broken. Still there are only so many plot lines, but this series really made my imagination work a bit and what I also liked is that Garth Nix did not spoon feed me the way the universe worked. I had to work out a bunch of it along with the characters. Sometimes I was ahead of the characters, sometimes behind, but it never left me disappointed with the result. In other words, I laughed, I cried, I went home happy.

The Herd and the New Herd Additions

It is amusing to me when pictures come in sequence. The picture above is an amusing picture of the herd. As we drove in from grocery shopping Monday night, all the goats jumped up and came running to the gate to tell us how starving they were. Oh course you can all see the lush clover behind them. Ah well, it gives you a glimpse of the herd as it was Monday

And now, because we are all a little insane, I would like to introduce the two newest members of the herd. Lanney, on the left, is a 5 year old doe who stunned us with her General Appearance when she walked over. Keegan, who we loved on paper when we saw her pedigree was an easy choice once we saw her live. A very correct little yearling milker with a smaller but extremely strong udder she was by far my first choice.

These girls were so sweet once we got them home. Lanney acted like a perfect show doe as Jenn clipped her and clipped her hooves. Keegan is not as familiar with the milkstand, but even she is quickly adapting to the milking routine. I probably didn't need another goat, but honestly I am really glad to have these girls and will be happy to see what they look like come spring.

Baby boys and shopping

At least I tried to combine two of the funny pictures into one so that it would not be all one image. Today's official picture is of Brian, by friend Diana's new little boy. He looks so much like his sister it is amazing. Laura had a party to let everyone meet her little boy Linzy (such a good idea if you ask me - get all those curious people out of the way at once). Any way, being able to cuddle Brian as well was a great bonus. What a sweetie!

To finish of the day, and since we had already driven all the way over the hill, we went shopping at the Gilroy outlets. These mannequins were in the store window. Who knew the fall fashion this season was paper wrapped around your body?!?! Man that will be a fun style when it starts raining.

Eggs + Cemetery = ???

It happened again, two pictures for the day. Sorry but I take these lovely pictures in the morning and then later something happens. This morning these yolks turned into our breakfast, but not before we got to admire the very different colors they have.

Well then I am driving past this cemetery and saw the sign. I couldn't help it. Who would make a "opening soon" sign for a mausoleum. Really, this just BEGS for the joke to be made about it is so awesome that people are just dying to get in. Okay, I'll admit it was bad, but you thought it too right? Right?

Katie, Zaire, and the little ones

The cool thing about doing a blog instead of JUST the project is that when I have two pictures that seem to work equally well for the day, well then I just post both of them. So the top picture is of Katie (on the left) and her two daughters Alaska (middle) and Arizona (right). The thing I love about this picture is it shows how much these girls have grown. Goodness sakes, they are almost as big as their mom! We keep making jokes about how we don't know if they will be big enough to breed. On the other side (you have to look through the feeder) you can see Ysis and her daughter Artemis. Although less nurturing and mothering then Katie, it is undeniable that the mother-daughter bond is present. The girls are all getting a rare treat before they are sentenced back to the weaning pen (let me tell you, they are taking advantage of it) and get to be out with their mothers for a while on pasture. They will eventually be back, don't worry, but not until the does are dried off so that there is a reduced temptation to nurse :)

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Once I took that picture I turned around and there is Zaire standing at my front door. Apparently Jenn (my roommate/best friend/co-herd owner) had let her free on the milk stand but Zaire had just stood there finishing her grain. Oh course as soon as Jenn when into the house Zaire got all worried and ran over to the front door and stood there nibbling on a weed by the door. I had to take this picture because it was just too funny to pass up. Apparently Zaire jumped 10ft in the air when Jenn re-opened to door to come back out, but sadly my back was turned so I missed it.

Alfalfa flowers

Okay I am giving up a few pictures. If you REALLY must see them, they are on the calender. They are really just filler pictures because I did not have a picture for Monday, and Tuesday my camera got left at school so I had to use something else.
Todays picture (in addition to me playing with my camera's features) is of alfalfa flowers. The funny story behind this is it took several weeks before I realized what this plant my co-worker was growing. Good grief, I see alfalfa every day! but no I did not recognize it. Really it is quite a pretty plant.
Okay now, off to bed.

State fair

Today we have several pictures from the last few days when Internet was less accessible and sleep was even less present. Also they are in reverse order starting with the latest one and going to the oldest ones.
Little-Bit (aka Acorn) drove home with me in the truck. Since we took 2 cars to State fair (too long of a show to pack everything in one car) she drove with me alone and no passenger's lap to sit on. She was tied to the door so she could not full on jump onto my lap, however she got as close as possible by driving the whole way on the arm rest between the seats.

Two pictures for Saturday (July 31). I was doing all the grand champion line-ups as my pictures this week, but then as we are pulling Alaska and Arizona out and talking about how they are still rather chubby she goes and looks like this. I mean really, if it was Arizona there would not be a better capture of her personality right now and for Alaska it is also a good representation. Above is the Lamancha Champion line-up. As expected Evian won and then went on to win Best Doe in Show (BDIS). Honestly one of the most beautiful and well-deserving does.

Recorded Grade champion line-up (Fri July 30). Another set of beautiful does. Mon-Amie (3 year old) won, and a well-deserving win in this line-up. Such a pretty doe AND a Saancha like Ysis.

The Saanen champion line-up(Thurs July 29). Jewel (4 year old) was the champion. Although the line-up was nothing you wouldn't expect, it is always stunning to watch and see such beautiful animals.