Farm Updates
I found this wonderful site for learning about herbs. Check it out! I know you’ll be impressed.
LearningHerbs.com
FREDERICK WESTON Jr.
WESTON, FREDERICK, JR. - born June 26, 1944 departed this life April 19, 2012 at 2:03 pm in his home in Louisville surrounded by his wife, daughters, family and friends, he was lovingly passed into his heavenly home. His love for life, family and his strong will allowed him to brave his brief nine month battle with lung cancer. He will be remembered as a vibrant, awesome man with an incredible personality, big smile and contagious laugh. After moving his family to Blount County July 30, 1976, he began the journey of becoming a well known and loved resident. He started his own plumbing business in 1987 "Fred Weston Plumbing" and became an even more present figure in the community. He strongly believed in giving of himself to his community. He was born in Troy, NY and raised in Clifton Park, NY by the late Frederick Weston, Sr. and Stella Weston. He was a Vietnam Veteran serving in the United States Navy Sea Bee's and retired from the Air National Guard. Fred was preceded in death by: father, Frederick Weston Sr.; brother, Tommy Belcher; sister-in-law, Susie Weston; grandmother-in-law, Lassie Mae (Mamaw) Stair. Survivors include: wife, Debbie Weston; son, Freddie Weston; son and daughter-in-law, Jimmy and Stephanie Weston, and grandsons, Brandon and Kevin; daughter and son-in-law, Lori and Charles Stewart, and grandchildren, T.J., Lindsey, Matt and Anna; daughter and son-in-law, Joie and Burt Hensley; mother, Stella Weston; brother, Jimmy Weston and nephews, Brandon and Jess; sister and brother-in-law, Chrissy and Chris Eberhart. Thank you to his cousins and our wonderful friends for their hours of help in sitting with him and helping Debbie around the house. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to: East Tennessee Technology Access Center Inc. in memory of Fred Weston specifically to benefit Veterans, 116 Childress St., Knoxville, TN 37920 (equipment available at no cost to veteran and family), Cancer Institute @ UT Medical Center or Dorothy Stephens Fund, 2121 Medical Center Way, Suite 110, Knoxville, TN 37920. Celebration of Life will be at 2:00 PM, Sunday, May 6, 2012 at Louisville Town Hall with Rev. Bill Shelton officiating. A gathering of friends will immediately follow the service. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithMaryville.com. 2012 Kidding – to life!
Just before our 2012 kidding was to begin, I visited my brother in Tennessee. He was a CB in the Viet Nam War. He is now a victim of Agent Orange. He was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer last summer. He is strong, witty and determined to survive this horrible disease. Needless to say my visit was bittersweet.
I missed my flight in Atlanta, which made me arrive in Albany very late. The following day I tried to connect with the Universe to find peace.
Our kidding has always started on the 150th day. Much to my surprise this year the kidding started early and has been pretty much been all over the board! (Maybe it was due to that warm week we had in March).
As of today, we have had 8 does giving birth to 17 adorable, healthy kids! Six does and eight bucks. We have one more doe to kid.
Yesterday I had a friend over to visit. She said….. Most woman experience giving birth at least once in a lifetime, you experience a ‘kidding’ every year, which is very special. You have that joy over and over again! I never thought of it quite like that. TO LIFE!
Happy Spring!
Awh…. it’s time for a coffee break and to let you know what I’ve been doing in the soap world.
I’ve made over 250 bars and still saponifying
The following soaps are curing:
Tea Tree
Honey Almond
Lavender and Peppermint
Plain
I especially enjoy winter. Winter, time to make soap for the upcoming year, the soap has time to cure and the house smells wonderful.
Winter, peacefulness without the urgency of goat kidding in the spring, milking the does and tending to the garden in the summer. Autumn busy with fall festivals and putting up food. Why do I even wonder where the time goes.
We are especially exciting this year because our milk plant is finally starting to shape up. The barn has been extended. The concrete floor has been poured. Now is the time for ‘hubby’ to start the inside work. We’ll keep you posted on ‘hubbies’ progress with the milk plant.
We are very pleased to announce that we now have organic products. When ordering on line you will see that the description is correct. We will be taking new pictures of our products with the new organic labels. Thank you.
May 29, 2011
Anna had 8 puppies. Six
adorable females and two charming males!
Mom and pups are doing very well.
Pictures will be posted soon.
Goat kidding continues. Four does have kidded one more to go. Again, things have been tougher than we have ever experienced. We have had one doe still born, one breech doe who survived, another doe too weak to live through the birthing. The most heart wrenching was a little buck who lived only a 1 1/2. He was weak to begin with but weaken more. It appeared to us that he didn't develop properly inside. We did everything imaginable to save his precious life. We all were comforting him even our English Shepherds who had adopted him as their own. We currently have 5 bucks and 2 does. Once things settle down a little I hope to post some pictures. Time to run,,,, yesterdays buck kid is crying to be fed :)
Anna had her 'puppy' ultra sound done yesterday and we are pleased to tell you that the vet saw at least 7 puppies. We expect puppies around May 20th. Anna has that glow in her eyes and very affectionate. She weighed in at 41.8.
If Anna is pregnant with pups she will be going into her 5th week. We are scheduled to have an ultrasound this coming Monday, May 2nd. My gut feeling is that she is pregnant. She appears a bit heavier and seems to be moving a bit slower these days and her appetite is increasing.