Foundation

Yeah! We have a foundation! The mason and his crew stacked the blocks in one day. It's very exciting to see an actual structure going up. The next step is for framing of the first floor to begin which is scheduled to start this Tuesday. These last few days have been wet and cold. Hopefully, the weather will lighten up a little so that the first floor and decking can get done on schedule. Our logs are "in line" to be cut in the next few weeks.

The kids are very impressed with the "functional" temporary addition to the jobsite. Invariably, someone (or sometimes everyone) HAS to use it everytime we are up there. Hmmm... if it blended into the scenery, might consider making it a permanent fixture. Yes. Just kidding.

Fortunately, not much to say about the goats. We have a few that have scours (bad poop) and are re-treating (again) for worms. No recent losses. The three little boys, a.k.a. bucklings, are adjusting to their little bachelor's pad well. No escapees and no crying for their mama like we had feared. We hope to get another field fenced in soon so that we can separate the little girls, a.k.a. doelings, from their moms to give them a chance to grow (as they are not on the top of the totem for grain) and so that we may breed the nannies.

And, the chickens. We are still waiting for the arrival of the first eggs. They are surely getting close to being big enough. They do prize their "free range time" but are getting themselves into mischief as a half-dozen of them seem to find themselfs in the utility shed at any chance they get. Yes. This is where we keep the grain. Appearantly, goat feed must not be too bad for chickens as they knocked over a bucket and found themselves a little treat last week. It wouldn't be so bad if they didn't poop everywhere. (!) We plan to build a separate storage shed just for feed so eventually their reason for being in their will be gone... but, in the meanwhile, we are trying to "train" (ha!) them to stay out. If it is anything like trying to "train" our previous flock from getting on the back porch, we will have no luck. Oh... and, as you may notice from the photo. They appearantly do not care for straw in their laying boxes. In no time, they all moved all of the straw out onto the floor. Hopefully, they'll find saw-dust more appealing. Otherwise, they may be laying eggs onto hard wood. We shall see.