Frankly speaking.................special goats, special mission

This morning the builder gave us a special mission:  clean up the back yard!  As followers of this blog probably know, the builder has been working on my house (barn) for a year, and now, that the second phase is done he plans to rent a backhoe and re-sculpt the back yard.  This will create PASTURE for us -- yippee!  

Today we had a little talk, and it boiled down to this:  I got to go to the back yard and be tied up (how humiliating - but it is for my own safety.... there are azaleas around the front of the house and we can't eat them) so we can clean up the yard to get ready for the backhoe.  I got to select my crew:  Faith, with Grace and Greta, Myself, and Annie.

We are having fun!

Well, I'll get some good pics of the babies when I'm done with this mission, and give a full report on the weekend at the Carolina Fiber Fest.  Right now, it's back to work!  as always, Thanks for reading Frankly speaking

Frankly Speaking..................have you missed me?

Hey there fans ———– sorry it has been so long since my last post.  Spring has sprung and we are busier than one armed paper hangers around here (or three peckered billy goats, but we don’t have any of those here…hheehhehe).  The babies are busy growing up and sneaking out of the stall for extra rations ( something I am unusually good at); there are new litters of bunnies being born, seven chins for Rockstar and Anne Hibbins, and seven angoras for Ganache and Chang;

In some upsetting news, Obsidian is in isolation because she apparently picked up some sort of pathogen at Nationals – Dr. Wilson over at Twin Oaks says it isn’t fatal, and that some antibiotics can clear it up.  The wench told me that she is on the mend, and will be back in the barn on Monday if all goes well. 

I am sending the wench over to Raleigh this weekend to attend the Carolina Fiber Fest and then report back as to the possibilities of me going next year.  Sometimes that wench can be a slacker, so I have to keep on her all the time.  Mountain Top Fibers is a fun business and keeps me in grain, so I have to make sure she is taking care of business, after all I don’t have thumbs, otherwise I’d do it myself.

We’ve been having some secret meetings, away from the sheep, to discuss their future, and it doesn’t look good for them.  ah well.  I’ll let you know as soon as the final decision is made and we have a plan.  In the meantime, we are looking forward to seeing the new litters grow, eating the trees and hanging out on the mountain.  Nigel is settling in and him and Daisy have formed quite the friendship.  He’s a nice sheep. 

kiss kiss — till next time, that’s it for Frankly Speaking — thanks for reading!

Will post some pictures of the babies next week…..

Frankly Speaking ..................... an update

Good morning fans, how's the weather where you are?  It's been pretty warm here... glad I have my fleece off! In the new barn, part of our house is under ground, built into the mountain, so it stays pretty cool.  That is where I sleep.  Norman and I are back to having our own stalls, while the babies pretty much all hang together with their moms.  Except Geronimo.  He lives with his mom in her stall over by us, because we are special.

There has been lots going on around here... let's see..... first, the wench went up to New York for the Angora Nationals.  From the reports I am getting, the competition was pretty steep.  Obsidian came in 2nd out of a class of 28, in one of the three shows they did,  so that was pretty good.  She's pretty proud of herself... also got herself registered with ARBA, so when her 3rd grand champion leg is won, she can get her GC certificate.

Eva, on the other hand, was quite embarassed over the whole ordeal and got stressed out big time.  The Judge said she was FAT.  I suppose I should have been truthful when she asked me if she looked fat, but, I like a voluptuous rabbit.  But, standards are standards, and so now Eva is on a diet.  Rumor has it that she will get some babies soon, and has a date with GW Duckie later this week.  Yesterday her fleece was cut off (bet that felt good and was good for a few lbs right there!).  Obsidian (on the left) will be going to shows until she gets her last leg, and then, if Eva has a litter, gets back down to fighting weight, she'll go on the show circuit this fall.

There are three new American Chins in the barn as a result of the last weekend, and four of our bucks are now in other homes.  The American Chin nationals was in the same place as the Angora nationals, which I guess caused quite a bit of running back and forth for the wench.  ha.  she can use the exercise.  Actually, if it wasn't for my friend Pat Parsons, the wench woulda been sunk.  Pat was here in January and I'm looking forward to having her adore me again in July on her annual 4th of July visit.

I know how much you all love the baby pictures, so here is a treat..... two of Layla's last litter - aren't they cute?

The great sheep exchange finally took place.  We are glad to welcome NIGEL to the flock.  Well, we are... the sheep aren't too sure.  There is some sort of lesson here for all you sheeples.  The wench, who, in consult with me, makes most of the decisions around here, can not tolerate a mean spirited animal.  So, while normal goat behavior is ok, pecking order and all that, if you are downright mean and nasty,  you will "lose your happy home" as she likes to say.  I hear there may be some changes coming, but I'll report on that later.  Nigel, in the meantime, is welcome to be here with us and he's pretty cool looking with those four horns.

Nigel has the most beautiful fleece.  He comes to us courtesy of Laura Frazier of Farm Girl Arts.  Her work is just amazing..... take a look:  www.FarmGirlArts.com

So, that's it for today's edition of Frankly Speaking.  Thanks for reading - I'll keep you up to date on any changes.

Frankly speaking....... it's a little fuzzy at the goat nudist colony

When you first see this:

it can only mean one thing.  That I am next to be shorn. 

So, the shearing went without a hitch OR a stitch (haha, I'm so funny) and I got some nice extra grain because I behaved so well.  I must say it feel GOOD to be nekkid

Norman got his haircut too.  My locks were much softer because I have the job of being the spokesgoat, not the billy goat, so there is no extra-t floating around making my fleece coarse.

Afterwards, everyone got together for a meet and greet at the goat nudy colony

it's always fun to see everyone without their fleece on.  It settles down after a little while and then we went outside to play.  The sheep know it will be their turn soon, and I'll let you know how they do.

In other news, Layla's litter is looking good:  five squirmy bunnies, four lilac-looking buns and one REW.  The lilacs could turn out to be pearls because there is some whiteness about them.  We'll have to see in a little while what color they actually are.  They aren't out of the nest yet, just getting ready to come out and open their eyes.

Well that's it for this edition of Frankly speaking.  Thanks for reading. 

Frankly speaking..............the milk bar is closed for remodeling

Well, the twice annual ritual shearing has begun.  This morning the three mommas were shorn, and oh my goodness, those babies were sort of confused!

Geronimo kept running in and out of the regular pasture while Mae was on the stand.  She didn't hold still very good and got a couple of nicks.

Faith and Hope were troopers.  Their babies, however, didn't understand the concept that mom is not available for nursing RIGHT. THIS. MINUTE. 

Tomorrow Norman and me get our locks shorn. Locks of Love.  Yarn for you.  We'll get some pictures.  Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking - there might be another post tomorrow. 

Frankly speaking.........................just some Sunday sundries....

I know how much my fans like to see my pretty face, so I thought I'd start this post with my latest picture.  If I look a tad perturbed in this picture, you are pretty intuitive.  You see, Norman and I are locked up WITH THE SHEEP of all things, because those darn sheep keep slipping under the fence and getting out.  They think it's great fun until they get out there and then they are scared as... sheep.  Criminey.  Norman and I don't get out, (we actually have it pretty good here, but don't tell the wench - it might go to her head) so why are we locked up on this beautiful and sunny 77 degree day?  The girls and the babies are out enjoying the sunshine, and here we are with these freakin sheep. yikes.

Well, it shouldn't be too long, there is a rumor going around that the builder is running an electric wire.  I'll laugh when those sheep get zapped.  I'm smart enough to know not to go anywhere near that electric fence.  I did it once and that's all I needed to know!

So, I promised some updated baby pictures, and here they are.....

Ok, enough cute.  Now on to beautiful.  Yesterday, some of the angoras (and a few chins) went to the Rabbit Show in Taylorsville, NC. 

In the first show, Eva won best of breed.

In the second show, Obsidian got best of breed

Now the trick is going to be to hold on to those show coats for a couple more weeks, so they can go to Nationals in New York. 

I am hoping to lose my coat during that time frame.  It's starting to get hot here in the south and we have some pretty good looking mohair to give up.  Norman is looking particularly furry these days:

Well, looks like we might get outside yet today, so better get off this computer and make sure those sheep behave!  Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking!

Frankly speaking........................girls just wanna have fun

Well, the last time I posted, we were poised for the great sheep exchange.  One of the people involved got ill, so we've postponed the exchange for another day.  I'll be sure to introduce you to Nigel when he gets here.

In other news, some of the 'girls' have been getting in a little bit of trouble.  Annie, my half sister, has this annoying habit of shimminging under the fence and helping herself to the other side of the fence.  She's giving us a bad name.  So, Annie gets to go outside in the morning, but when she gets bored and lets herself out, she goes to GOAT JAIL.

Annie, looking contrite (yeah, right)

and there she stays, for the rest of the day.  This routine won't continue for long, I understand, because the builder plans to move the fence and give us a bigger place to play.  First he has to rent a backhoe and move some dirt around and all that, and as usual, I'm sure it will be great when it's done, but for now, there are some places in the fence that are not too secure for the littler of us.  Just this morning, Marty Thunderbolt, one of our ewe lambs, got out, and she was so scared, that when the wench came to rescue her, she ran right over and forgot to play hard to get or catch me if you can!  We try to keep her on her toes, that wench, and not be too compliant.

The babies, Gracie, Glory, Greta, Gary and Geronimo are doing well, growing fast and getting strong; they go out to play almost every day.  Mae and Annie had a talk the other day, and afterwards Mae slipped under the fence and was in the feed bin having a blast.  It was almost like Annie gave her some tips and pointers on how to escape.  You see, Mae, Annie and I all have one thing in common.  Our sainted mother, rest her soul, APRIL.  She taught us all well, as she was the ultimate queen of the escape.  WE miss you momma!

 speaking of cute babies, thought you'd like to see my baby picture:

Well, that's it for this edition of Frankly speaking.  I'll get some updated pictures of the new babies and get them posted for you, although I'm sure you'd rather have pictures of me, because let's face it:  I am awesome.  Thanks for reading Frankly speaking - see you next time!

Frankly Speaking ...... the sheep exchange program.

Today we have visitors coming to the farm.  Some pretty talented fiber folk are coming to see me, Frank the Goat, because they know how awesome I am. 

Normally we don't make too many changes around here because the wench gets attached to the critters, but an opportunity has arisen for the farm. 

Maya, one of our beautiful black ewes, is going on an exchange program.  She will be moving out to Kernersville, NC to enhance the herd of artist Laura Frazier, and in exchange, Nigel, a wether (like me!) will be coming here.  He has creamy colored wool, and that is the reason for the exchange.  Here, saying so long is :

Maya

It almost looks like she is not excited about this prospect and is saying "kiss my ..." in this photo, doesn't it?  I know it can be scary, because she was born into this flerd and has never been anywhere but with us, but, she will make a good ambassador because she has a great personality and is a nice sheep.  She might even get the chance to have babies, which so far isn't happening here, because we have no ram.   We are sort of short on space around here, so we take the opportunity to have more GOATS instead of more sheep, because, well, let's face it, goats are much cooler than sheep. just sayin.

Anyway, I'm looking forwarding to meeting Nigel later today and will post his photo in my next post.

In other news, Clems Smokin Opie, french angora buck, went to live in Virginia last month.  As his parting shot, he made some babies with CT Layla, our pointed french doe, and they were born yesterday - lookin like five new angoras on the planet.  Opie is the dad of some of our nicest angoras, and so he went to work somewhere else, leaving his legacy to his two sons who are now here, Clems Chang (pointed white) and Clems Brice (smoked pearl).  As previously reported, Smokey Lonesome & Clems Mutiara's litter is also here, and they seem to be doing well. 

Well, gotta get preened up for my fans later today, so.... thanks for reading Frankly speaking.  I'll blog at you again in a few days!

Frankly speaking.................. it must be spring!

I realize I have been lax in my posting here; but it's been busy.  On my last post, Faith was in labor, and viola! twins... Greta and Grace

Then, on Friday, the 23rd, Hope brought forth Glory and Gary

Then, the last of the mohicans was born to Miss Mae, so his name is Geronimo

Everyone is healthy and happy, and so the herd size is doubled now.  I suppose I will have to take care of the boys in about six months, because they'll all go to the boys pasture from about July til November or December when it's breeding time again...

This morning, Clems Mutiara had a litter of five french angoras with Smokey Lonesome. 

This is Smokey Lonesome. 

This is Mutiara (that means Pearl in Maylaysian...) Both parents are granded, so we are hoping this will be a nice litter.  One is dark like dad and the rest are lighter colored.

In other news, I thought you'd enjoy seeing the other critters of the farm.  We are home to some Melatonic Mutant Pheasants.  We are waiting for eggs, but so far no luck:

We have some more bunnies due to be born in the next couple of weeks.  I'll keep you posted on everyone's progress.  Thanks for reading Frankly speaking...

Frankly speaking....... baby fever

So, now that I'm all healed up and back to my beautiful self, we've had some stuff going on here at the farm.  First of all, the wench and the builder got a new person in their life, a baby girl born to Sarah Jean (I like her) and Ken (he's ok too) named Amelia Elizabeth Caron.  She was born on Thursday, March 15th, and all the people got pretty excited.  Yeah, well, another person around to adore me is always ok.  BUT, as I write this, Faith is in labor.  So, there will be MORE new kids on the block.

While the wench was waiting for Faith to decide to come into the barn to labor, she was cutting off Annie's coat with a sissors.  You'd a thought she was cutting her to pieces, not just taking off her hair!  I guess it is pretty scary the first time you get sheared, but I'm an old hand at it now, so when it's my turn, I'll give it up without a problem.

We enjoyed some carrots this afternoon, so thought I'd share some pictures of me, Miss Mae and Norman - we ARE the original three amigos. 

That's Norman on the left, Mae in the middle and me on the right.  Aren't we shiny!?

I had just told the others a joke, and Norman was laughing in this picture.

OK, enough for now - I'll keep you posted on the baby arrivals around here... and as always, thanks for reading Frankly speaking!

Frankly speaking ...... some bunny is pretty excited

Thank you for all the cards and letters inquiring as to my health; I am healing up nicely, thank you... the cloud is beginning to lift from my eye and soon I'll be just as handsome as ever (was there any doubt?)

My Portrait.  I know.  I know.  I'm awesome.

Anyway, this past weekend, the wench took a few of the angora bunnies and went to the North Carolina State Rabbit convention.  The girls reported back this morning that they did ok; they were cramped in their carriers from Friday until Sunday, and handled by Judges, poked at by strangers and generally adored and admired, and Lillianna may have earned her grand champion status.  If that's the case, then she can retire and have babies instead of going to shows.  Here they are getting ready for the big weekend:

That Eva is such a ham.  Lillianna is hiding next to Creme Brulee, and Obsidian is on the right.  Judges had nice things to say about them. Once the whole grand champion thing is finalized and official, we will add her to the Mountain Top Fibers Hall of fame.  First we have to get the Hall of Fame up and running. hahahah. 

Three American Chinchillas went to the show too, and Rockstar and Anne Hibbins earned their championships, as well.  We do appreciate the American Chins here at Mountain Top Fibers, even though they are not fiber animals, they "technically" are meat rabbits and so the line is drawn between fiber and meat, and no one would ever think to eat a goat around here.  Good thing.

The beautiful North Carolina sun is shining today and we are all outside playing on the mountain, having a good time and growing our fiber. 

I'll check back with you later this week.  Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking.  I know how you all look forward to these little missives.

ARGGH tis a pirate goat I'll be!

Well, I know I promised you some pictures, but there has been some excitement around here lately.  As you know, the barn does revolve around me and if for any reason I'm not at the top of my game, the world stops.  

Last week I started to get a twitch in my eye, like something wasn't just right.  Mom (a/k/a the hay wench, it just doesn't feel right calling her 'mom' after all, April was my real mom) flushed my eye with warm water for a couple of days but then it really started to hurt.  It got runny and pretty swollen and so today, the wench called the vet.

It could be two things, so they wanted to take a look at my eye.  Dad (who I will now call "the builder" because he is always building something, usually a barn for me to live in) brought down the CR-v.  (it's a good thing they didn't try to make me ride in that crummy old van) and the wench got out the frosted mini wheats, trying to entice me into the back, where there were towels and hay and other things to make me comfortable.  Of course I played hard to get.  Pretty soon the builder came and helped me into the back of the CR-v and off we went to town.

I caused quite the stir at the Twin Oaks Veterinary Hospital.  All of the ladies came over to ooh and aah about what a beautiful and handsome goat I am (we knew that).  One guy thought I was a dog.  The wench told him I was a horned dog.  She thinks she's funny.

In any event, they gave me a shot and some ointment for my eye, and even though I wanted an eye patch, I didn't get one. But, I thought you'd like to see me with the patch on anyway!!!

and so, now I have to have two more shots and ointment in my eye twice a day.  I should be good as new soon.   I'll keep you posted!

Frankly speaking

My career as a fiber goat has been enjoyable so far, but I think it is time to expand my horizons just a little, and so I've decided to take up blogging about farm life.  I hope that my many fans will continue to inquire as to my health and happiness, and now there is a way for y'all (I'm a southern goat now) to keep up with what's happenin with Clems Critters. 

For those who don't know me or are not personally acquainted, a little background:  I was born at the Warm and Wooly farm in Verona, NY and came to live with the Clemens' when I was about six months old.  I have been the undisputed king of the farm ever since.  I was named Frankie because I have the most amazing blue eyes.  There is also someone else in mom's life named Frank, so when I am an old goat, they will continue to call me Frankie after him (I have not had the pleasure of meeting that other Frank).  There are other goats, who I will introduce you to as this blog progresses, oh, and sheep, too, and angora rabbits.  You'll get to meet them all as we go along, but just remember, it's all about me. Frankie.  I'm the king of the farm.  and don't forget it. okay?

Anyway, we all moved to North Carolina in 2010 when mom and dad retired, and it has been an adventure.  Now we are all working for Mountain Top Fibers and our fleeces are being made into yarn and everything! pretty exciting stuff.

I am hoping to report periodically to bring everyone up to date about what goes on at the farm.  If you look at the avatar on the left, that's me, in cartoon form, in the middle.  I AM the balancing factor of this place. Everything revolves around me.  Just so we're straight on that fact. 

Gotta jet.  It's time for me to eat and that is a pretty important part of the day.  I'll get some pictures of the crew (and of me, of course) and put them up later today!  Thanks for reading Frankly speaking.

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