Happenings Around the Homestead...

Emmy woke up at 3:50 am on Friday morning, way too early IMO!! However since I was up I decided to do something constructive. So I had all of these sitting on my counter.



I looked through the canning book and decided on Plum Chutney. I was flying by the seat of my pants here, I had no idea if we even liked it but I figured "what could it hurt?"

I started by cutting up 4 quarts of plums, I cut them on a plastic plate so I was able to easily get it in the big kettle.





I then added vinegar, raisins, onions, brown sugar and ginger and started cooking the mixture down. I have NEVER had much patience and as I was cooking it down I decided that this was taking way too long so I added a little fruit pectin to thicken it up. Got the hot water bath canner going, sterilized the jars, boiled the lids and rings and filled those jars up. I got 20 little jelly jars of these lovely tasting good stuff and hope the family will enjoy it. If not I have people who have already told me they would love some as gifts.



I then sorted out all the pits and put them on a paper towel to dry. I feed the leftover skins and mushy parts to the pig and hopefully will be able to grow some more trees with the pits.



Another super exciting thing that happened in my world is a friend (I only know her through animal dealings but consider her a friend) offered to sell me her registered Nigerian Dwarf buck. I have two does already, one registered and one not, and am hoping that the does will get bred very soon for spring babies. I have decided my herd name will be Shooting Stars Homestead (provided it is not taken in the American Goat Society). I went and pick him up last night and after world of mouth has spread I have two potential buyers on waiting lists for babies in the spring.

Here is our little buck Calico



Here is another shot of him meeting the doe, this is not exactly what I had in mind for the two of them to do but he is only 4 months old now and today he was already out there showing them who is boss.



I have had Jill, the doe pictured above for two and a half years along with her wethered brother Jack. We purchased another doe, Maya, about sixteen months ago. Now with Calico I can begin a small herd. I can't wait for the goat milk, if for nothing else to feed to our future pigs to fatten them up. We are also looking into raising a beef cow for a year and what another great use for excess milk.

I will leave you with a shot of the two who truly rules the outside around here. They are friendly so far except in the spring and then they are fenced in and only I am allowed in there.