Hello from Washington

[KellyandKatie]

Hello everyone, glad to be here!
I am living the dream out here in Washington state, out in Kitsap County. I am mom to four wonderful daughters, ages 9,6,4 and 1. We homeschool and we farm.
This time of the year we are enjoying more crafty-ness inside. My girls are learning to knit, and apples and gourds are being harvested- I love fall!
I am married to a very patient and understanding sailor, he has been in the Navy 17 years now and likes what he does. He is pretty handy and building me whatever and helping out when he is home. His absence when deployed- or rather the absence of his muscles is one of the things that led me to begin training my brown swiss heifer to pull. My husband and i can move my chicken tractors, dirt, hay, logs, firewood, brush etc just fine, but me solo or me with my nine year, or six year old daughter- well, we could sure use a little help from our cow.
We have milking goats, nubians that we adore more than some can understand. Anna is the queen of the nubian herd, followed by Jasmine and then we have Chloe the doeling and a wether Rocky Rococo. The kids have our wether goat trained to pull the cart, and in the past I have trained my now very old dog in draft and drive. Our brown swiss heifer will also be our family milk cow, so I want to be sure I understand what I am asking of her in addition to making me milk and baby cows. Hazel the cow is 16 weeks old or so now.
We have geese, turkeys, chickens, ducks, cats, dogs and rabbits as well.
And of corse I am searching for another heifer to go with my Hazel.
We have a lot of work to do on our new place, we moved out here in April, the property had been a horse property, so there are some nice touches that we are using for our animals, but in other areas, I have a lot or work and healing to do. I am becoming and expert on grass and dirt 🙂
I was born and raised on a large dairy farm in Wisconsin, and after our dairy cows we had galloway. My dad and I joke that I came by my love for cows honestly, but I can say with a stupid grin on my face that getting my Hazel was a lifelong dream come true. My own cow with my own barn on my own land
Anyway! I am looking forward to learning from everyone’s experiences and getting to know you all – hi hi hi 😀

[grey]

Greetings fellow Wet-Sider. Your Hazel have webbed feet yet? Congratulations on becoming a dirt farmer! May you make a very fine dirt indeed!

[menageriehill]

greetings, Glad to meet you. Some how I gleened from your letter that you also enjoy a good cup of coffee. Forgive me if I am wrong. Altho we have just met we could talk alot because we do share alot of things in common.Navy,Nubians,Northwest, and many more. I am now in midwest, and enjoy my goats and “draft donkey”. Glad you joined. Good luck, see you around the barn.

[KellyandKatie]

Thank you for the warm welcome 🙂

[Anonymous]

Hi Katie; My dd is in WA in Deer Park but soon to be back in Newport. She got me back into driving again. I drive a pony now; but we have two Jersey’s we share milk with other families who come to the farm to milk the cows, garden etc. I volunteer at the NICU Friday am’s so am up early. Hey from No. CA!

[Author]

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