Tough Decisions

I’m torn right now. With loosing Josie’s calf and her not coming into milk, we need to either buy another cow or buy a milk goat. I really don’t want another cow. I’ve wanted a goat for a long time, but Honey isn’t too keen on goats. I think it’s because he thinks they are nothing but trouble. So, I’ve been doing my homework. And on Fias Co Farm, the site that’s all about goats and pretty much anything you want to know….they have a really great comparison chart.

Basically goats milk is by far more nutrient dense than cows milk, except for Vit.D. Here is the comparison of Vit D….goat 29.28 IU, Cow 98.652 IU. Vit A…goat 483 IU, Cow 249 IU. OmiGosh, Vit C…goat 3.2 mg, cow 0. Calcium…327 mg, Cow 276 mg. It’s amazing how goat is almost superior to cow’s milk all around.

Don’t get me wrong. I love, love love cows milk and I love, love, love my cows!  I also love goats milk….notice the amount of loves!

The kind of goat I’m leaning toward is a LaMancha…..they are really ugly in my opinion….they dont’ have floppy ears. In fact they look like they don’t have ears at all! But they have a high percentage of butterfat and that’s my main objective. They have 4.2% butterfat. Plus I know a farm nearby where I can buy one.  The cost will be 1/3 or more less than a cow.  The caring of it will be less.  The amount of milk will be less.  I can even put it in the back of my mini van!  Plus their young are easier to sell and we have quite a market for goat meat in our area.  So, it looks like I have a job cut out for me….to convince Honey that a goat is a good choice.  Dontcha think???

It’s a face only a momma could love!

Thanks to Mavra Chang's photo on Flickr.com

Don’t ask me what this box is….I can’t get rid or it!

Fabulous Friday

Opps. I sat down to write this….oh about 8 hrs ago. Talk about memory leakage!

I’ve been busy with the animals, cleaning house and baking more cherry cobbler since my neighbor picked me another gallon of sour cherries. Don’t you wish you had a neighbor like that! He really is super and since his wife died of cancer several years ago, I like to treat him to tasty treats every now and then.

Image from Three Irish Girls

I found this really fabulous site if you are in love with color and yarn. I am having so much fun just looking. It makes me want to break out my dye and my roving and start dyeing….but that’s for another day.

Image from Three Irish Girls

I hope you’ll stop over to visit my shop today. All your clicks help move me up in the search engines.

I hope you have a wonderful joy filled weekend.

Mendocino Vest

I just love this picture of tweedy yarn from Knit Picks.  If I could, and maybe I might….make a Mendocino Vest in each colorway.  But at the rate of $24.00 for each vest….well, maybe I’ll do one and see how much I love it.  For now, I think I’m going to go with the Cajun or Cottonball tweedy color…or maybe the Tabby.  I think I’ll order one of each and knit up some swatches to see which will work the best for the pattern and for me.

I also love the pattern Sheepwalk & Fences at Autumn House Farm.  I almost bought it at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, but I think something that buttons up is better for me in case the internal fire begins to burn again!

I’ve finished my Cable & Ladders Sweater (I’ll show you after I get it blocked) from Shear Spirit and since I love knitting cables, my next project will probably be the Mendocino Vest on page 151 from Old Mill Farm also published in Shear Spirit.