Well, things continue progressing - lurching this way and that - toward whatever it is that comes next here at the ranch. The goat herd keeps on growing with us passing the 30-goat mark this spring and at this rate, the idea of hitting 100 goats per year for sale which would cover taxes and a few basics is quickly coming into view.
George's consulting has decreased to the point where he can work on ranch finances and plans with (occasionally) enough energy leftover at the end of a day to take time out for a glass of wine...in addition to being able to devote more time to the garden and researching for Peoplenomics.
Panama, after getting a lube, oil, and filter, (Oh, did we mention a new heart stent?) is spending time looking after the goats - which is very much appreciated...seen here with one of the original does, Nancy - who shortly after this picture dropped three new kids! Panama, having gone through SF Medic'ing in the Army is used to putting goats back together and all...which he hasn't had to do any of around here...yet. But we have a well equipped field surgical kit and a damn fine first aid kit. Wonder if goats do drugs like the cats.,..which are getting goofy on spring catnip that grows wild...
It's not all been work, since George found a heck of a deal on a ham radio antenna tower a while back and we finally got around to pouring a foundation for it. "We" in this case means a couple of local workers - Ken & David - who do small contracting jobs (and fine workers, I'd add). After renting a backhoe to dig down 5½' feet, the concrete for what turned into a 7-hour marathon hand pour of concrete got underway. Here's the delivery of the raw materials:
You might be asking "Why did you do a hand mix on 3-freakin' yards' of concrete? Well, the local concrete emporium had been scheduled to do the pour. BUT when they told George that we'd be on the hook for towing fees if their 45-thousand pound mixer truck got stuck in the soft red dirt (due to recent rains), the plan was changed to bring in pallets of ready to mix and we mixed 'em up 2-bags at a time and into the hole they went.
The Tower was then fitted onto the base - a marvel of rebar, concrete and 1/4 plate steel fabbed up by Tashjian towers for the 60 foot (when all's said and done) tower.
All of which sound terribly geeky. Compromise being what it is, the larger projects turned out to be the addition of the office which will add lots of library, conference, and 'soft room' space, not to mention a bathroom... This is how it started to frame up as an extension onto the office building...
A short one week later, the project had moved along with amazing speed....main room (a step down livingroom/reading room kinda thing) was done...
Even more fun (since we own as far as the eye can see around here, which makes "identification friend or foe easy) is this Throne Room with a view...
Last, but not least, the storage building is getting a make-over, too including 4" of insulation and its own small AC to keep temps under 80 for long term stored goods and to keep the freeze from burning up in the summertime. And the only carwash in East Texas I've found that doesn't leave spots on the 930 is Ma Nature's rainwater...goats come near it and there will be plenty of goat for BBQ 'round these parts...
With any luck, in the next couple of weeks all this will get finished up. Then comes the Spring Parade of Guests - George's friend Rob, Panama's daughter Madelyn (maybe), George's son, and whoever else comes along..
Did I mention the well's done, now, too?
That's Dan (son of Ken the construction whiz) helping me with the mechanical nightmares involved in boring out the well. Talented kid - and he promises the ranch go-kart will be running by April Fool's Day. Why, of course!
More pictures when we slap some paint around, get the crane in for the antenna hoisting, get some finishing trim in and then maybe we can do a 'magazine layout' of the place.
Click here for Volume 8 of Hippies 2.0
George & Elaine