Never thought retirement would be like this

The only way I can do the back feet is to back up to the goat and straddle each leg, like this guy. They don't kick, but some of them constantly jerk that leg all the time you're trimming.

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If I had to do it all over again, I'd buy one of these tilt tables, if I could afford it. A goat waffle iron. :)

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My parents had a Jekyll and Hyde dog like that. Really mild mannered, except when you tried to trim his nails. Then he went bananas. They had to take him to the vet to get them trimmed. They adopted him as an adult. Maybe it helps to start training them when they are little.

I've had two 100% indoor cats, and no problem at all with either. One you didn't even have to restrain her to do the front feet. I remember trimming her nails at my parents house once, when I left her overnight there. They looked at each other and rolled their eyes in amazement. That's when I first realized how good she was. I think you can't pussyfoot (no pun intended) around with cats, you have to clamp down and let them know it's no use to fuss, it's going to get done whatever. Cats don't break easily. Ha!
 

You just made me laugh! Our one little dog is an adopted adult and he is the one we have problems with the nail clipping. We did take him to the vet the last time and they had to muzzle him. We even tried the towel over the head so he would not know he was getting a nail clip....did not work...we do not like getting dog bites from our pets. And he is a sweet dog other than that?! This dog screams like a woman when you try to clip his nails! Very upsetting to me! Which brings me to mind...do goats make sounds when they are being groomed?
 
maggiemae said:
... Which brings me to mind...do goats make sounds when they are being groomed?
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Sorry for not getting back sooner. Things have not been going well lately. Among other things lightning from a thunderstorm knocked out the fence charger yesterday. Going out for another one in a few minutes, then install it. It may be under warranty. I can't remember.

In answer to your question, they never yell while you groom them. Mostly only when they want attention. Some breeds have a louder voice, more like a donkey, and those seem to be worse about yelling a lot. The white ones are very quiet, sound more like a sheep, and they're more likely to just tug on your clothes when they want attention.
 

"I'll throttle you!"

Haven't heard that expression since I was a kid. My father used it a lot---like a playful warning to you, whenever you teased him. He had, it seemed like, hundreds of those types of expressions in his toolbox.
 
Yesterday my only goal was to finish cleaning out the last little section of straw bedding in the barn, normally finished before mid May. Just finished piling it all outside when it started pouring rain.

Ever been in a building with an uninsulated tin roof in a heavy rain? Just a sprinkle sounds like a hard rain. I was stuck at least a half hour there, so decided to practice on another video, mostly to get the sound. At normal volume, it's close, maybe a little higher pitch. That's Rusty peaking around the corner at the end.


Picked up the new charger this afternoon and replaced the old one. Except for all the rain, which will now make the grass grow faster :rolleyes:, I'll be caught up to where I should have been about May 1st, as soon as I mow all the lawns again. :)
 
Love the video! Rusty looked so cute peeking around the corner! We got a big storm last night. Our neighbor's across the street had a major part of their Bradford Pear tree come down. Our grass needs mowing but it needs to dry out some before we even attempt to mow. Looks like rain all this week! Oh joy!
 
I know. Same here. The rain just pops up out of nowhere, even when the probability is low. Payback for the times we were in the Bermuda Triangle of drought last year I guess. And I need to do a little spraying on the fence too, besides mow.

I meant to ask you... Does a self propelled walk behind mower do OK on uneven and hilly lawns, or is it best for level yards? I think you said you have some steep places, didn't you? My lawns are lumpy, from tree removal damage, and clearing, and steep in places.

I don't like the riding mower. If there are a few tall weeds sprinkled in the grass, it won't touch them. And so slooooow.:rolleyes: I guess maybe I try to go too fast. "It doesn't matter how fast you mow, it's how you mow fast" <---commercial. :)
 
Oh gosh yes, a self propelled walk behind mower is the way to go for uneven and hilly lawns! We got a Honda Smart Drive brand at Home Depot and it is more "light weight" than the Toro brand we had. Matter of fact, if you engage the self propelled to the fastest point, you will be running behind it! Also, there is a difference between a front wheel mower and a rear wheel mower. You might want to do a research on the two. I believe ours is a front wheel drive. Works great on hills! I am too old to try and push a regular mower up a hill anymore!
 
What!? No 4 wheel drive? Aw shucks. :hatlaugh:

Thanks. I think that's the way I'll go. Maybe if I think about it long enough it will be November and I won't need it. Ha!
 
Yep, know what you mean....they are already talking about GA Bulldog Football around this house. I was told it was only 76 more days until the 1st game! Give me a break already!
 
maggiemae, you are probably logged off already, but I'm going to try to bug you with just one more question.

I won't ever bag clippings. The Honda from Home Depot has a rear discharge, rather than side discharge. Don't the clippings get all over your feet?

I almost always wait until the grass gets too high before mowing. :( I'll keep reading the reviews.
 
I just saw this. We never put the bagger on. You have an option for mulching the grass rather than the bagger. Go to Home Depot and talk with someone in that department. We bought ours when a landscape guy came in and said it was the best mower to buy. And when it is on mulching, it does not throw grass back at you, it puts it back into the lawn. On another note, we tend to also wait until the grass gets to high and I have noticed when the mower is on "mulch" it leaves "chunks of grass" on the lawn. We just rake or pick it up. But then you need to check the bottom of your mower and make sure there is not a lot of wet clumps under the mower base. Hope this helps! I think the rear discharge goes into the bagger and side discharge is a mulcher. I may be wrong!
 
Yes, Meanderer! I want one of those, with bigger wheels! It might get stuck in ruts, and on fire ant hills otherwise.

Better yet, if I didn't have to be there at all. Maybe something made like those Rhoomba vacuums.
 
Just a quick note on the latest wild animal. Ran up on her by accident right beside the barn last weekend, just as she was about to lay eggs. She took off. Not a nasty old snapping turtle. I think they are called yellow-bellied pond sliders. Shell about a foot long. They have both a top and bottom shell, and are very heavy. Don't know how they can swim with that much weight. I would guess this is what dug under the new fence.

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Ha! That looks exactly like liriope (or monkey grass). No wonder it is taking over parts of my back yard.

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The deer have gotten active around here again. Took this picture this morning. Looks like there may a new baby on the way. Look at that belly!DSC_0673 (2).jpg
A better look...DSC_0674 (4).JPG
 
Yay! What a great picture. Hope you can get another one when the little one arrives. Beautiful woods. Such a nice view. Is that your back yard? Do you have a back porch?

Speaking of porches, I had to go out after dark tonight. The neighbors across the street have the Christmas lights in their carport turned on. It's kind of nice actually. :playful: You probably don't remember that competition we all had last Christmas.

Update: Oh yeah. She definitely looks pregnant in the second picture. Congratulations! ;)
 
That is actually the side yard. Yes, I have a back porch that I spend a lot of time sitting, reading and just watching the birds and what ever wild life happen to drop by (I probably spend too much time on the back porch...tend to put off doing things I need to do)! Here is a picture of my back porch. I have a ceiling fan for the summer and I put an oil filled heater out there during the winter...keeps it nice and cozy!
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Yes, I do remember the Christmas "Face Off"! What a "hoot"!
 
maggiemae said:
That is actually the side yard. Yes, I have a back porch that I spend a lot of time sitting, reading and just watching the birds and what ever wild life happen to drop by (I probably spend too much time on the back porch...tend to put off doing things I need to do)! Here is a picture of my back porch. I have a ceiling fan for the summer and I put an oil filled heater out there during the winter...keeps it nice and cozy!
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Yes, I do remember the Christmas "Face Off"! What a "hoot"!
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Beautiful room!
 
That's really nice room maggiemae. Looks like you have a nice place where you live. And I remember the picture of the house from the front with your Christmas decorations.

My father built a porch that looks very much like yours on the front of their double wide out in the country. No heat and just a large window AC unit. It has since become an overflow storage room. :( [I should add that we always enter through the back door.]

Are you getting tired of the rain yet! Ugh!
 

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