Frankly speaking...................it's an unveiling of epic proportions

Well, I know you've all been anxiously awaiting the unveiling of my official portrait as Chief Executive Goat of Mountain Top Fibers, and the staff photographer, Dan Johnson of Forty6 Photography in New York was on site last week to take some publicity shots. Oh, wait.  You were really waiting for the baby goats pictures?  SHEESH! well, ok... here you go.

Miss Mae had twins on Saturday, March 2nd.  Wench was down at Echoview Fiber Mill learning about mohair and the like, and builder told her when she got home that it was looking pretty close for ole' Miss Mae.  So, she went down and checked and viola!  twins.  One boy and one girl.  June and July (get it, Mae, June and July?)

Then, on Sunday, March 3rd, Faith had twins around 6 PM.  Two boys.  Unfortunately, one of the boys didn't make it, so the twin that survived is named Hans Solo.  We'll call him Hans for short

On Monday evening, March 4th, JUST when the official photog was arriving at the farm for our visit, Hope brought forth twins as well.  In all the confusion, the little girl got stepped upon, so she had to go to the vet for some healing medicine.  She'll be just fine, and her name is Pinky and her brother is Moose

So, you can see, we've been busy around here.  The official photog followed us around like papparazzi one day, but most of the time he just hung out with his mom, the wench.  It was great having him here, because she left us alone most of the time, just coming down to feed us!

Now, I know you've been waiting for this next shot, so, without further adeiux, here it is - my official CEG portrait!

revel in it. and thanks for reading Frankly speaking

Frankly speaking....................a spokesgoats work is never done

This afternoon I had a talk with Nigel, just to make sure his broken heart was mending...

and he assured me that he was ok.  Not too happy with that FarmGirl for cutting off his ramparts, but still, he is able to deal.

So, I get back to the barn, and what do I find in my stall? another note.  For a little background, you must know that we are babysitting Abbotts Rabbits for a couple of weeks.  There are two Jersey Woolies, one lionhead and nine french angoras, three of whom came from here, and one satin angora.  We are currently at full occupancy!

anywho, here is the note:

Dear Frankie,  I would like to lodge a complaint about the service at this spa.  I understand that you are the Chief Executive Goat around here and as such am in charge of things.  The brochure was not representative of the accommodations.  For instance - I have been on a (sort of)  hunger strike since arriving.  No one has begged me to eat, tempted me with yogurt covered raisins or put a mint on my pillow or a towel shaped like a duck on my bed.  Sheesh!  What kind of a place IS this?  Can you please speak to that haywench and get her to pay attention to me?  After all, my parents, Todd and June, promised me that I would have just as much fun as they were having on their cruise, and I can say unequivocally that I am not.  However, it is pretty cool seeing all my bunny buds from when I used to live here.  Anything you can do to step up the service around here would be appreciated.  Sincerely, MaryKay Abbott (nee: Clemens), representative at large, Abbotts Rabbits.

Jiminy Cricket on a stick.  Can't I catch a break?  I did speak to the wench about her performance and she promised to do better. (not really).  here is my reply:

Dear Mary Kay,   You are a rabbit.  Not a goat, or even a dog or cat.  Goats are the most important animal on the earth, and especially at this barn.  I spoke to the wench, but don't hold your breath.  She is too busy attending to my needs to pay you much mind.  If I were you, I'd suck it up because your parents will be home in a week or two and then you can go back to Mt. Airy where you are the queen of the place and even the dogs are small by comparison - you don't have goats to compete with, and that, in a nutshell is the crux of your problem.  Frankly speaking, you are barking up the wrong tree.  (can rabbits bark?)  Sincerely, Frankie - CEG Mountain Top Fibers

Now, back to relaxing in the sunshine.

We may be having some babies soon.  I think Mae is going to be first, then Faith, then Hope.  Annie, I think, has escaped this round.

I need a nap.  I work too hard.  Thanks for reading Frankly speaking!

Frankly speaking...................what's love got to do with it?

On this lovely day, I'd like to wish all of my fans and friends a happy VD (Valentine's day, silly).  As a goat, and a wether at that, I don't get much romance in my life.  Oh, the wench loves me, but inter-species respect being what it is, she's ok and I'm ok, but the most personal I ever get is snapping her straps when she sits in the doorway to the pasture just reflecting on the flock. Who I feel sorry for, though, is NIGEL, our jacob wether.

Just the other day, I found this note in my stall:

Dear Frankie,   I hope you can help me.  I am SO in love with Daisy and she won't give me the time of day.  Oh, she's affectionate when it comes to sharing our grain and living in the same stall and all that, but I'd like to take our relationship to the next level and maybe make some little sheep... she doesn't seem interested and I don't know what to do.  Can you help me?  Sincerely, Nigel

Oh, the work of the spokesgoat is never easy.  I had to break it to him so I called the wench and dictated the following response: (wench used to be a secretary and can actually take dictation, but she uses literary license quite frequently which used to drive the old boss crazy..... now that she works for me, it's ok because sometimes I get grammatically confused you know ,being a goat and all)

Dear Nigel - GET OVER IT you are a wether.  You don't have the equipment necessary to make little sheep! We only have one baby maker at a time on this farm, and you ain't it.  Try to be content growing your fleece and giving it up once a year to blend with the mohair and angora.  That's your job.  You might consider meditation classes which I conduct each afternoon in the pasture.  Cud chewing also helps.  Your mentor, Frankie

So, as you can see, I give no nonsense advice to the lovelorn.  If you have a problem that you think I can help you with, please feel free to email or reply to this post, or, post on the Mountain Top Fibers facebook page and I'll try to straighten you out.  Because, after all, I'm Frankie and I'm awesome.

Frankly speaking......... the Carolina sunshine is pretty nice!

Please forgive me for being rather reclusive lately, but it's been busy here.  We are growing our fleeces in anticipation of shearing in March, and enjoying the Carolina sun on most days.

On days like today we are happy to be living here in the south instead of up in the frozen tundra where they had a ton of snow lately.  We spent A LOT of time in the barn when we lived in New York, but here, we get to hang out in the sunshine!

So, in the news department, we have some new bunnies in 'da hood..... and so I present:

isn't she beautiful?  This is a Satin Angora doe.  Our friend June has a buck she's going to be meeting when she grows up a little, and in the meantime she'll do some shows and get to know the rest of the gang.  We are calling her Ruby because she just looks like a ruby, all shiney and red and everything....

Mutiara and Brice's litter of two have been weaned and taken their place in the rabbitry, they are one buck and one doe, and very very cute.  Their names will be Tish and Tosh

The litter of pointeds is also weaned and put in their own cages, two by two... these guys will go on to other homes.

so if you are looking to add some pointed frenchies to your herd, speak up.

We are very happy to have CHANG back in the barn... he's been up in Pennsylvania working and came back this past weekend, not wearing his coat

We offered him a straw filled nest box to hang out in if it got cold, but he seems to be just fine without a coat or anything.  He is our traveling ambassador, he's worked in several other places, but we are always glad to have him home...

We figure new goat kids will be getting here in the next six weeks or so... the girls are looking pretty rotund

not daisy, she's just a heifer wannabe.  But see Hope in the middle and Faith behind her?  ya, that's what I'm talkin about... twins I'm thinkin.......

Oh, and an executive decision I've made since I became the CEG:  the rabbit part of the farm has had a change of name.  From this point forward, it will be known as Mountain Top Rabbitry.  So, all the rabbits live at Mountain Top Rabbitry, and some work for Mountain Top Fibers.

Making these decisions makes me tired.  So, until next time, thanks for reading Frankly speaking...

Frankly speaking.................... there are animal crackers in my soup!

Isn't that an old song... animal crackers in my soup?  Well, around the mountain, animals crackers are our favorite snack.  Of course everyone has their own preference, I prefer those shaped like bears, Mae likes the bunnies, etc. As the CEG (Chief Executive Goat, in case you didn't get the memo) I sometimes get called upon to do parlor tricks, which I do, because I like the rewards.  There is a photo of one of these tricks out there on facebook, but I have hidden the evidence and if you want to find it, you'll have to go hunting.  hahahah

In other news, I see a lot of folks publishing pictures of their goat kids on facebook, cutie patooties, all being born around this time every year.  We have a few more months to wait, because it doesn't get cold here in September like it does up north, so breeding season begins a little later.  The cool part of that equation is, we get to go outside almost every single day all year long.  We only stay inside when it's raining.

So, how about some other kinds of baby pictures?  Nimbus and Duckie's litter of 8 is progressing beautifully:

and Mutiara and Brice's litter of 2 are just beautiful!

We are pleased to announce that the former chicken area has been turned into more goat space.... and Geronimo has taken over this area.  He spends every other day here, and every other day outside.  The little girls get every other opposite day in or out - wench doesn't want them to be bred by Geronimo because they are too little.

Gary used to hang out with Geronimo because he doesn't like to be alone, but, he doesn't know how to play nice, and poor Gary was getting beat up, so, Geronimo has to suck it up and be alone, the loser.

I know, he doesn't look too happy, but he really has a nice area, and at night, the sheep come in and keep him company.  If he knew how to behave, he wouldn't HAVE this problem

Notice the lumber used in these new stalls?  It comes from the builder's new toy, the sawmill.  He has been busy building (what else) and made a cute little train station thingy for his sawmill.  It has a roof to keep it out of the rain, and it is working out quite nicely.

This is at the top of our pasture, so I get to supervise what goes on in the building business.  I think the next tree victim will be this guy:

because builder's main goal is to open up the view without sacrificing every tree around here.  We don't mind, it should grow some nice pasture for us... right now we are eating hay, but in the spring expect there to be some green growin around this mountain.

We are busy growing our fleeces, and thought you might enjoy seeing how pretty we all are... two more months until shearing...

I think we all know the answer to that question.

Well, that's about it from around here.  Thanks for reading Frankly speaking -- until next time!

Frankly speaking...........................a year end report

Well, fans and friends, 2012 has been quite a year for us here at Mountain Top Fibers.  We said so long to Norman, our friend and herdsire, and hello to his son Geronimo who will be the herdsire for 2013.  Norman had developed into a very handsome buck, a perfect gentleman, who only gave me fits when it was breeding season.

We miss him, but, don't want him breeding his daughters, so, he got another job and moved to West Virginia (it's ok if he breeds his daughters in West Virginia... hahahah)

His son, Geronimo, is trying like the dickens to be the clean up buck, making sure everyone is preggers, and he is just acting like some obnoxious 18 year old boy

So, now, because he has to be SEGREGATED so he doesn't try to breed the little girls (he has no couth... acts JUST like a goat) the wench asked if I would try to teach him some manners.  Sheesh.  I have to do everything around here.  I told that wench that I would need more pay and a promotion to take on all this extra responsibility.

Therefore, I am pleased to announce that I, Frankie, have been promoted to CEG of Mountain Top Fibers (that is Chief Executive Goat for anyone who doesn't know).  Here's my corporate portrait:

notice, I have to wear a tie to work now.  Oh the price we pay!!!  I do get a little extra grain each day, and all the cheek scritches I want, and animal crackers, don't forget them.  THEY are my favorite.

I do take my new position seriously though, and consult with the wench and the builder on a daily basis about what is going on in this joint.   The builder is busy (what's new) with his new toy, the sawmill, building huts.  The first thing he built was a new chicken coop and pigeon loft and goat shed combination.  This edifice is located at the top of the hillside pasture

The chickens are out of the barn (thank God, they were SO MESSY) and will be working to assist the builder and wench with the gardening.  All of the uh, fertilizer, is dumped up by their new house and they rototill it, adding more fertilizer, eating the bugs, etc.... (everyone around here has a job to do) and producing eggs.  The actual garden will be fenced to keep the deer out and then the chickens will get the weeds, etc. in their smaller outdoor pen which is adjacent to the garden.  Twice a year they will get free range in the actual garden itself, to do their thing.

The pigeon area is in the first part, and a flight cage is attached.  Pigeons don't really serve a purpose, but the builder and the wench both have dads who always had pigeons, so, they wanted them to honor their dads.  I guess that's a good thing.

Over on the side, by the tree in this picture, is a little goat shed so, just in case someone is in this hillside pasture and it starts to rain or something, we can get out of the weather.

Thanks to Pam Williamson, our neighbor, who had some trees taken down and so she donated the logs to make this house.  We love Pam around here... she always comes over and pets me!

The other hut he built was a house for the sawmill itself, to keep it out of the rain:

In this picture it isn't exactly done yet, but he's working on it.

He also is making new pens for us, out of lumber this time instead of poles.  It will be much more comfortable when it comes time for babies, and will afford each momma goat some privacy.

In other news, we have some new stuff going on at the rabbitry part of the barn.  Welcome, please, a new breed of angora:  the SATIN angora, which is a rare breed, almost extinct, and so we are starting the conservation of this bunny.  Meet Gay's Josh:

he looks a little stuck up in this picture, but he's really very nice.  And his betrothed, Divine:

isn't her fleece just Divine?  so shiny. This will complement the french angora/mohair/wool blend we do here, very nicely.

Just for the "cute factor" wench brought home a few of these guys, too, a month or so ago

LIONHEADS.

Haven't we got enough cute around here?  Well, Elsa and Kimba are the does, and Aslan is the buck, and once we get a litter from each of these girls, they'll be looking for pet homes.  Any takers?

I think the cute factor is already covered around here between the baby goats and me. gheesh.  But, we do have some cute baby rabbits....

this is Abigail-Elizabeth's litter, just starting to come out of their nest.

and this litter was born to NW Nimbus and GW Duckie just last week!

This is Nimbus, being shy.  Her two daughters from last year are bred, too:

Athena

Aphrodite

Mutiara had a litter of two just the other day, but she wasn't having any pictures taken this morning.

So, anyway, it's been a productive year, we've said so long to some friends and made some new ones.  2013 should be a good year - now that I'm in charge of things, maybe we'll sell some yarn!  So, as usual, thanks for reading Frankly speaking..... have a happy new year! kiss kiss

Frankly speaking............................ a Christmas wish for you

T'was the night before Christmas

and all through the barn....

The angoras were busy

spinning their yarn

Not of the kind that makes hats or mittens

but the kind that keeps you people smitten

Cause on Christmas eve, so long, long ago

the animals spoke to let the world know

that the child was born to bring them redemption

and the goats said the most cause they liked the attention

Now on each Christmas since, the animals talk

so be sure to listen and not take a walk!  (sorry that's kind of lame, but it does rhyme...) anway here at Mountain Top Fibers,  we talk all the time.  After all, how many barns have a spokesgoat?

We have FAITH

and we have HOPE

and GRACE

and we have GLORY

and we have Gary and Geronimo...

and of course me and my sister, Annie

and we all wish you a Merry Christmas!

Frankly speaking.............................Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm glad I'm not a turkey

but a goat of special stead

I'm snuggled in my barn today

all cozy in my bed

We celebrate our bounty

in this Country all so great

in other countries far away

it's GOAT they ate.. they ATE?

I'm thankful  I'm a special boy

A meal I'll never be

I wish for you

my fans and friends,

A thanksgiving blessed be!

Frankly Speaking................................Happy Trails my friend

Well, I knew this day was coming, but I wasn't looking forward to it.    I knew that my friend Norman had applied for a job up in West Virginia, working at the Grinlow farm, where there are a few nice does and a lot of pasture..... and today he got selected as their new herdsire, and decided to leave us, his buds, in his dust.  

I hope you have a great life and find your peace out there Normie..... we'll miss you.  However, I won't miss you pounding on me during breeding season.  I thought we had an understanding, but... we did get caught up together in my stall one day this week (don't ask) and I took a beating.  Not. funny. norman.  But, now that you're gone, I can be the chief goat again and pffft to you.  That wasn't very nice, was it?  sorry.

Norman got all spiffed up for his 3 hour car ride.  He selected the "lion-head" for his new do at shearing:

and he had his nails done and his de-wormer, so he's in good shape now. Geronimo, much to his relief, has been let out of his stall so now he doesn't have to cry all day like the baby he is.  Of course, he is trying to breed all the girls (who are probably already bred) even his MOTHER.  What does THAT make him?

(a perv, I'm tellin ya).

In any event.  I promised the big reveal of the latest in goat hair dos - and so................without further adieu................

I give you

and from the side:

Faith decided on the friesian goat look:

and then, of course, our token sheep, Daisy, decided on the holstein motif:

Nigel will get shorn in the spring, because he's a Jacob and they only are shorn once a year. Daisy is a goat wannabe, so she gets shorn twice a year with us goats.

So, that's the news for this weekend.  We will miss you Normie, but you did leave behind some pretty nice babies!

So, as usual, thanks for reading Frankly speaking

Frankly speaking..............your timing couldn't be worse!

You know me, I tell it like it is.  The "shearing team" finally got their act together this week and decided it was time to remove some fleece.  The fun part of this is that we got to choose our new "do" this year.  I decided to go for the 50's do-wop look, like Frankie Avalon or something; Mae went for the alpaca look, and Annie decided on the Chinese Crested dog look:

So far, all of the babies are sheared together with myself, Mae and Annie.  Here are a couple of the babes - before:

and after:

Daisy will be next.  Hope, Faith and Stinkbomb,er... I mean NORMAN, will be last because he stinks and has other things on his mind right now.

The babies all went to my old stall in the rabbit barn because once their coats came off it got cold and rainy here.  They can't go outside all nekkid, so they are hanging out together getting weaned and enjoying some baby time.  Gary, the tiny boy in the picture with Gracie, is going up to Ken & Sarah's place for a couple of months, later on this week, so he can try to breed Nora.  Nora came here last year, but Norman wasn't interested in her - he only dates the girls who are tall enough to be supermodels, not the itty bitties.  Anywho, he'll stay up there for a few breeding cycles and see if he can't have some jollies with little Nora. Then he's coming home to get NEUTERED and begin his studies with me, as spokesgoat underling.  I will teach him all I know, just like a master and a grasshopper.

Geronimo has to be locked up these days, too, because he's trying to beat Norman's time with the ladies and Norman is getting annoyed.  He even had the nerve to come after ME of all things, so I'm staying out of his way until everyone is bred and things calm down a little bit around here.  It's very cozy and warm in the barn now that the builder put up the storm windows - no drafts, and the wench just keeps bringing the food and clean water, so, who could ask for more?  Here's a hint for you, though... if you think your water is getting a little stale, just POOP in it and viola! the wench cleans out the bucket and brings you fresh water.  She grumbles a little bit, but it's actually pretty funny.  I do this often just for my own entertainment.  Of course don't do it unless someone is there to clean the bucket, because if you get thirsty when no one is around, it's not very appetizing to .. oh, never mind. Well, back to my nap.  That's all the news that's fit to print right now... thanks for reading Frankly speaking.

Frankly speaking.................who's a hot steamy mess?

NORMAN, I tell you... is a mess.

you see, with the cooler weather comes breeding season.  Being the spokesgoat, I am not bothered by this type of thing.  But Norman, poor guy, is having a hard time.

He has a job to do and he is focused.  He is a gentlemen (pretty much) and even stays out of the way of the wench who has a healthy respect for the buck and his job.

Geronimo is watching all this and trying to emulate his dad. without much success.  the girls treat him like he's a fly or something... get away gnat!

notice the new salt block in the barn... yum-o a sulfa salt block.  gives me a focus when Norman is so busy these days.

In bunny news, we have a new buck in the barn.  His name is Point Dexter.  He comes from east of Raleigh, NC and will be debuting at the Pennsylvania state convention for his show career, or maybe sooner if his coat grows back in quickly

meanwhile, Queen Julianna is relaxing in her new, bigger cage

she is waiting to get registered and then granded, then her coat will come off and she'll have a date with Point Dexter.  The naming venue for his babies may be crime show characters (Dexter, get it?) so we could have Lennie Briscoe, Jessica Rabbit, those types of names.   He had a date with Julianna's sister Lillianna earlier this week, so we'll see if anything comes of that.

We are still waiting for the shearing team (builder & wench) but they seem to be pre-occupied with things important to people - can't imagine anything more important than your goats, but WHATEVER... hopefully it'll be soon, I'd like the opportunity to grow a little fleece before the cold weather sets in. gawd, it's hard to get good help around here.

ok, enough complaining.  I'll talk to you soon --- and thanks for reading Frankly Speaking.

Frankly speaking...........................Queen for a Day?

Remember that old show?  The wench does... she was little and her momma used to watch it every afternoon.  Well, there was some excitement around here yesterday, letmetellya  -- we had our own queen for a day - can you guess who it was? Think it was beautiful Annie?

Nope.

How about little Gracie, the cutie-patootie?

No, not Gracie.....

Daisy?

No, not Daisy, either (nor Nigel - he'd get mad if he knew I called him a queen, but comeon, look at those horns... what better crown?) but I digress...

How about Eva the diva?

No, not her, either, but you are getting warmer....................

it is, may I present, Mountain Top Fibers FIRST EVER Best in Show bunny:

JULIANNA!

she was so excited.  A newly crowned grand champion!  She's pretty special.

Of course, not as special as me, because let's face it.  I'm awesome.  How many goats do you know who can blog?

Hay, (I mean hey) stay tuned.... shearing should be this week and we'll have some before/after glamour shots... so, until next time, thanks for reading Frankly speaking!

Frankly speaking..................Happy Cheyanne's Birthday! (and other news)

Do I have you totally confused?  Who is Cheyanne and why do we celebrate his birthday?  Why do goats bang their heads together? Why do fools fall in love? there are a lot of unanswered questions in the universe, but, frankly speaking, you are lucky to have ME, Frankie, to splain it to you once in a while, ya know? So, Cheyanne was this horse.  Not just any horse.  He was the wench's very first horse.  His birthday is on labor day because that is the day he came to live with the wench and the first original builder (her dad, also called Clem) and gave up his career as a riding academy hack.  The wench was only 9 years old, and every year they'd bake a mashed potato cake, decorate it with corn and carrots and invite all the other horses who lived in Bayport over for cake and a ride.  I am grateful to Cheyanne because he started the whole animal loving thing with my wench and as a result, she's pretty responsible when it comes to making sure we come FIRST like we should.

Every year, the wench would call her dad on labor day and say Happy Cheyanne's Birthday!  Since her dad passed away in 1995, she says it out loud to no one in particular, hoping that he'll hear her.  I'm listening.

So, in other news, the babies continue to grow up and pretty soon it'll be time for their first shearing.  We are all lookin pretty fluffy these days, except Geronimo, who still hasn't decided if he wants to go to Asheville this fall and be a show goat.

Gracie just continues to get cuter:

and the rest of the gang just is hangin out growing our fleeces

Annie is looking particularly beautiful this summer and is growing up into quite a nice young lady

Norman is looking a little horny these days:

He does not find my humor amusing

Not to change the subject, but the chickens have been enjoying some freedom these days, now that the 2x4 fence is up and they (hopefully) can't get into the neighbors' yards, but they have an annoying habit.  They go to Norman's stall and make a nest every day and lay their eggs!

Daisy and Nigel were hanging out in the barn today.  They make a cute couple, don't you think? (for sheep, that is)

Eve the cat even came to visit... although she didn't come all the way to the barn.  I guess when you are 22 years old (that's like 300 in cat years I think) you can do what you want.

Well, that's about it for the news now..... as usual, thanks for reading Frankly speaking.  I'm working on a post of all our yarns, rovings and T SHIRTS with ME on them which I hope to get published next week!

Frankly speaking............................food is pretty important to a goat

I would like to dispel a common misconception right off the get go.  Goats don't eat tin cans.  Never, ever ever! Goats have rather delicate digestive systems as a matter of fact, and a sudden change in food can give us in-di-gestion which calls for pepto bismol, which gives us pink goat lips, which.... it's better not to even go there in the first place.

In any event, around here, we eat pretty good, which is evidenced by the girth most of us carry around.  The builder is trying to seed the pasture for us, so, he takes three or four bales of hay and puts them out on the terraces and then it is our job to pick through, eat the hay that is not seed worthy, fertilize the rest, and generally just have a good time.

See?:

Did you happen to notice that Geronimo has less hair than the last time we posted his picture?  He done got shorn just in case he goes to SAAF for the angora goat show (the shearing date was 8/1).  He is also learning to act like a gentleman and not a crazy goat, by having his supper in the shearing stand almost every night where the wench and the builder handle him a lot and poke at him to desensitize him to people a little bit; he doesn't mind...

Gracie and Greta have a little creep feeder outside their pen with their momma because Faith is a pig.. er, excuse me I guess that isn't very polite, but it is TRUE

In other news, you know that Smokey Lonesome went to live at Avillion Farm down in Western North Carolina, and so now we are interviewing for his replacement.  We have already on the buck staff: GW's Duckie, a pointed white buck, Clem's Brice, a pearl buck and HH Hugh Humphries, a tort buck, but a solid colored buck is our next acquisition.  Here is one candidate which we are thinking might be IT:

Isn't he cute?  He's only 5 weeks old, so we're pretty sure he's a buck.  Son of Duckie and Creme Brulee.  He's cute all right, but not as cute as me!

Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking...............until next time!

Frankly speaking....................................pass the 'bone suckin sauce' please

Hey, remember that tree that the builder cut down for us on July 19th? Well, there's nothin but BONES left I tell ya!

So, it's time for the builder to cut down another tree..... meanwhile, the hillside pasture over on the other side of the barn, is pretty lush, so Faith, Greta and Gracie got a chance to go over there today.

Today the temperature in the mountains is only 79 degrees.  That is a relief!  We've had some pretty high temps around here, which makes it difficult for angoras, both goats and rabbits.  Most of the rabbits are cut down for the summer, but there are a few who need to maintain their hollywood facade for the upcoming show season. Like this girl:

Julianna had a chance to have a litter this spring, but passed it by, so she's going back to the show ring.  When she was a little bunny she was given an honorable mention for Best in Show, and now that she is a full grown beauty, we are working hard to keep her weight in check.  Her sister, Lillianna, is already a retired grand champion, and her sister from another litter, Eva, is over weight and struggling at fat camp for rabbits to get back into fighting shape.  She passed on the whole baby thing, too... but has to lose some weight before she can compete again.  Julianna is about 4 or 5 ozs. under the maximum weight limit for a french angora. 

Ok, enough about fat rabbits!  I was enjoying some cheek scritches this afternoon when the wench was outside looking over our tree skeleton...

Well, I heard there will be t-shirts coming soon with my picture on it, so I'll keep you updated when they become available!  Until next time, thanks for reading Frankly Speaking!

Frankly speaking...........................sometimes the mountain comes to you!

You know the old saying...... you have to go to the mountain because the mountain won't come to you? (or something like that)..... well, I'm here to tell you, that is not always true.

As my fans know, goats love to eat trees.  I started eating trees as a little bugger... I've always loved to climb... but some trees are just too tall to reach:

Well, after much schmoozing, I convinced the builder to cut down one of the really really tall black birch trees in our pasture

Don't worry - the baby goat wasn't IN the tree when he cut it down, we were all safely locked up in our barn when Norman and I heard this giant CRAACCKKK!

So now we have this humungo tree to eat.  We are SO happy!

So, as you can see, we're pretty busy around here.  When we are done cleaning up this tree, the builder plans to drag it up to the landing above our pasture, and when he gets his band saw mill he'll cut it into lumber so he can build more stuff... that's what he's about, that builder.  It's a good thing he is a good builder.  He was in a fleece contest over the weekend, and he only came in second,

So, that's it for this edition of Frankly speaking.  Thanks for reading...... if you'll excuse me, I have work to do

Frankly speaking.................................beat the heat!

Wow, it's hard to believe it has been so long since my last post!  It has been pretty warm here, with temperatures hovering around the 90 degree mark.  We are lucky to be living in the mountains, where the trees provide lots of shade and the wench makes sure that we have fans blowing all over the place to move the stagnant air.  We get plenty of fresh water and the builder knocks down trees (black birch is our favorite) so we have good greens to eat. When it's really hot, like today (it says 100 on the porch of the house), there is a special treat to cool us off - WATERMELON!!!!!

Of course, not all goats know how to share.  Like for instance:

He wouldn't let anyone else have any.  He just stuck his big old head right inside that ice cold melon and went to town.

Even the babies couldn't get any and had to resort to scraps and seeds on the ground.

Well, I am sure we'll get treats tonight, too because that's just the kind of place we live in.  In the meantime, Norman is looking pretty smug:

He has watermelon juice all over his beard.  I hope it gets sticky. HA!

The wench tells me that the spring clip is back from Echoview Fiber Mill and it is pretty nice.  Once I have a chance to asses it myself, I'll be posting a shameless self-promotion.  So stay tuned.  And thanks for reading Frankly Speaking!

Frankly speaking........................who is taking the summer off?

To "the builder" taking the summer off means only doing little jobs around the farm like putting up all new fencing, building stalls, remodeling other parts of the barn, putting up shade tarps, etc. etc.... the guy never quits.  Good thing.  We appreciate good room service here at this hotel. hahahah.  Broccoli stems are on today's menu, from our own organic garden.   Here is the view from the studio stairs, of our newly fenced area.  We are hoping that grass will grow on these terraces eventually, now that the builder has cut down enough of the yummy trees to let some sun on the mountain.

We are bracing ourselves around here for another population explosion.  Seems ole Smokey Lonesome has been pretty busy breeding most of the angora does and everyone is due around June 23rd or so.  You see, Smokey is going to work on the Avillion Farm and so we will be saying so long to him next week.  He has left his mark here and been a grand herd sire, and now it's time to sow the seeds of smokey in other places.  I suppose that will happen eventually with Norman and Geronimo too, but NOT ME.  I am the spokesgoat and we all know how important that job is, after all, if it wasn't for me, how would you keep up with everything going on around here?  Gary, the new baby buckling, will be wethered too, and him and me will be buds, keeping everyone in line and he will be my understudy in the spokesgoat department.

Now, here's another little project the builder has been working on -- new stalls.  One for me, one for Norman and one for whoever is trying to be the queen at the moment.  Right now it's Faith.  She thinks she is all that, so she gets her own room with Grace and Greta, and so no one gets hurt.  This also makes Annie a regular part of the flock, which is something she needs to learn.

In other rabbit news, Ganache and Chang's litter is coming along nicely - four torts and three pearls

and the litter between Nimbus and Chang has two nice survivors, both REWs

Well, that's about all the news.... thanks for reading Frankly Speaking - I'll update you again soon!

Frankly speaking............................YOU'RE FIRED!

Excuse me while I channel my inner Donald:

This week, I had a tough job.  I had to tell the sheep THEY WERE FIRED.  Nigel and Daisy are still here and will become honorary goats, but Katherine, Sasha, Tasha, Terry, Del, Ashley and Marty have all gone to work at a petting zoo over in Mt. Airy.  Which is much better than going to that OTHER place in Mt. Airy known as the stockyard.  A very nice family came with their trailer and took them home on Sunday.  I know the wench is missing them, but let me tell ya, it's a lot quieter around here without all that BAAing going on. 

And now we can concentrate on the real deal around here: GOATS. oh, and honorary goats, too, like Daisy and Nigel.  This all happened because as I previously reported, there have been some executive decisions being made behind the scenes here at Mountain Top Fibers.  With the arrival of five adorable baby goats, came the harsh reality that this farm is only so big and able to support so many of us.   When I sat down with the wench and the builder to discuss all of this, the solution was clear:  we needed to shift the focus of the farm to the luxury market.  Of course that means MOHAIR, not necessarily wool, and ANGORA as well.  Wool, make no mistake, is a necessary commodity, because mohair and angora on their own don't have a lot of memory so some wool is good.   The remainder of last fall's sheep wool and this spring's clip are at the Echoview Fiber Mill being processed, so we'll be reminded of those sheepies again in the form of roving, but once that's gone, it'll be luxury all the way.......angora,mohair  blends, yummy.......

ok, back to growing my fleece for your enjoyment.  That's the update - thanks for reading Frankly Speaking!

Frankly speaking.................thanks to the Vets!

Even though every time I see one, they usually stick me with a needle or poke or prod, I still say thank you to the vet. OH, WAIT a minute... not THAT kind of vet!  - I know, had you going there a minute, didn't I?

Seriously - I am so thankful for the men and women in uniform who write that blank check to all of us.  The wench's dad was a vet, and her nephew Jim is a vet, and many of her friends are vets and so she makes it clear to us all how important they are.  So thank you.  I am glad I live in a free country where my admirers are free to spoil me right rotten, instead of some other country where they eat goats (even beautiful ones).  thankyou thankyou thankyou

In my last report, I told you about the mission we had undertaken.  Clean up the back yard to get ready for the backhoe.  Well, here it is:

the builder rented this baby for a couple of days and it rained a lot, so much that this monster machine couldn't come up the mountain; so now we have it for a few more days.  That builder is also a sculptor, and his medium is clay.  Although not polymer clay or clay for pots or any of that, good old North Carolina red dirt clay.  YOWZA.  He worked really hard to make us our pasture.  There will be new fence going up probably by fall, which will allow us free access to the entire farm almost.  On this flat spot where the machine is right now, he plans to put a wood boiler and a band saw, so he can make lumber to build us playgrounds and stuff.  I KNOW that is his priority, isn't it? 

After he was done, he took a well-deserved snooze on his hammock that the kids got him for his birthday

In other news, the wench went to the rabbit show in Taylorsville and took Obsidian and Andrea and Hugh.  They did ok, but you can tell the end of the season is coming, so Obsidian will most likely lose her coat today and the other two will go to one more show, just to see  what's up.  We have a new red-eyed white french angora doe baby named Sirrus, so she will be growing up here and having babies, too.  She won't go to the show because she wasn't born here, and usually our own breedings are shown, not those bunnies brought in from the outside.  Hugh was an exception this time, because we needed a buck to round out the class, and he was the only one with any coat.  After June 9th, his coat will come off too and then only the juniors will be shown in the fall.  complicated, isn't it?

The goat babies are growing up and playing, very grateful to have that YUCK medicine for coccidia overload done with.  yikes.  Coccidia is necessary to develop their rumen, but it is a delicate balance and when the balance tips the wrong way, it's 4 days of ca-ca medicine.  They run away from the wench when they see her coming.  In a few weeks they'll forget all about it and then they'll appreciate that wench for her cheeck scratches and treats.  She really loves us and it's only right that she does. 

Well, that's it for this edition of Frankly Speaking.  As always, thanks for reading - enjoy your holiday!  I will enjoy mine because I heard a rumor there are some strawberries for breakfast! YUM