A Farm Full of Baby Goats

twin kalahari goats

Our Kalahari Goat farm is overrun with cuteness this month as one mother after another delivers adorable baby goats.

We’ve had three sets of twins and one single birth, and each one is unique and precious.

twin baby kalahari goats

I love how the twins snuggle together, finding sunny spots to curl up against the winter chill. And it’s been chilly. Just 40 minutes south of us they had SNOW!! Amazing. We didn’t know how our Kalahari Red kids would do in the cold, but so far, they’re thriving.

baby kalahari goat

Their faces are so sweet and tiny, their coats amazingly soft in varying shades of rich reddish brown.

kalahari red kid

The older ones are already learning to climb and jump, looking hilariously awkward as they trot along with their mothers before randomly leaping in the air, limps flailing.

twin kalahari goats

My favorite thing is watching our Maremma, Apollo, undertake his baby-sitting duties. He’s such a good protector for the littles. He sits with them while they nap, licks them clean, and chases off any older ones who look like they might have bullying on the mind.

maremma guarding baby goat

It’s such a beautiful and happy time of year on the farm. These baby goats put smiles on our faces all day long.

What’s putting a smile on your face this week? xo

Storms and Apples on the Farm

lap of apples

It’s so good to be back writing here again after an extended break to write my history book. It is done and dusted now, the launch taking place in less than two weeks! Lots of excitement about that. 🙂

It’s been a stormy sort of January with wild winds and skies full of dark brooding clouds. Sometimes the storms bring a cool reprieve from stifling heat and others bring sweltering humidity along with them.

goats in the grass

Whatever form they take, I do love a good storm. The rains have been such a gift, turning our parched, dry land into a lush oasis of waist high grasses perfect for hungry Kalahari goats.

Our Maremma dog, Apollo, has turned from a cuddly puppy into a wonderful guard for our Kalahari goat stock. He is a second mother to all the babies, licking them clean, babysitting while their Mums go off for a much-needed break and a good feed. We adore him.

Maremma guarding goats

When I can I like to take a break from house, farm, and writing work to sit in the grass with my dog Luna and watch the storms roll in over the hills and above the bush. The wind feels so good, and the reprieve from fierce sunlight is luscious. Luna loves it as much as I do, dashing back for pats and ear-scratches in between lizard hunting around fallen logs.

sitting in the grass

Stormy days are also good for my artwork, wood-burning, since it’s too hot during regular summer days. It’s so nice to curl up in a cozy chair with my tools, listening to audio books or chatting with Bear while I work. I’ve started a new line of cutting boards and can’t wait to have them in the shoppe ready for sale.

cutting board

We just harvested the first apples from our newly planted orchard, and that was so exciting. They’re only babies, too small and too few to do much with them, but they taste delicious and give us a hint of bounty to come in the years ahead. I’m excited about future days of using our apples for juicing, baking, canning, and making hard cider.

lap of apples

We finished fencing in the apple orchard and erected the arches needed for bird netting, and soon we will get the netting up to protect our precious trees from marauding wildlife. In the meantime, our Muscovy ducks are doing a splendid job keeping the weeds down and fertilizing the ground.

I’ve learned that in farming, everything worth anything takes a long time and a lot of work, but it’s always worth it. Bit by bit we get closer to self-sufficiency with orchards, gardens, eggs, meat animals, and all that sort of thing. It’s hard work, but we love it.

freshly picked apples

What are you excited about at your house this season? xo

Baby Kalaharis, Jacaranda Blooms and Homemade Beef Sausage

baby Kalahari

I always know when Spring has arrived on our Kalahari Goat Stud when the Jacaranda tree blooms.

jacaranda tree

It is a glorious sight with the entire massive tree covered in elegant spires of delicate blossoms in the palest lavender.

Our Kalahari goats love them too! When I let them out of their pen to feed, they make a beeline for the base of the tree, gobbling up as many tender, fallen blooms as they can find.

jacaranda blossom

It makes me smile to think of our goats feasting on flowers.

This particular tree is particularly climbable, and I love clambering up into its sturdy branches, losing myself in glittering sunlight and thousands of blossoms.

jacaranda blooms

I also know it’s Spring when the Kalahari kids arrive.

One of our oldest goats gave birth to twin girls yesterday and they’re all doing wonderfully. These two are particularly lovely, wobbling up for cuddles and pats before galloping awkwardly back to their mama for a feed.

baby Kalahari

Since we’re spending so much time outdoors on these gorgeous Spring days, I’m sticking to simple fare in the kitchen that can be made ahead and easily reheated.

Yesterday it was homemade beef sausage on potato mash. I love sausage but so much of it is full of nasty nitrates, too much salt, and way too many additives. So I make my own with good lean ground beef, lots of garlic, grated onion, sea salt, parsley, and smoky sweet Hungarian paprika.

It is wonderful tossed into soup, stew, or chili, delicious folded into a potato gratin or frittata. For a quick lunch, gently press the sausage meat into loose patties and fry in a hot pan about 2-3 minutes per side until the outsides are crispy and savory. Dust with sea salt and serve.

homemade beef sausage

What is the first sign of Spring (or Autumn!) in your area?

Homemade Beef Sausage

Ingredients:

1 kg (2 pounds) ground beef
1 onion, grated
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp sea salt
1/4 Italian parsley, chopped
1-2 tsp sweet Hungarian paprika

Directions:

  1. Mix all ingredients thoroughly.
  2. At this point you can force the meat into sausage casings or simply chill, covered, until ready to use.
  3. You can also freeze it for later use.