BUSY, BUSY, BUSY.....

Hi Everyone,

I know it has been a while since I blogged and I really am trying to get better at it but I have been quite busy since I lost my Jenny! I have turned the old staff room into my craft 'den'. Those of you who know me well will know that I have always been a bit of a dab hand at the sewing machine (I got hooked when I was about 7)and some of you may even have had gifts in the past that I have hand crafted (and one or two wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, curtains, you name it and I have probably done it (within reason)).

Well it can get a bit lonely here when Mike's away so I have been throwing myself into the crafts and, believe it or not, am starting to sell them through our web site and at markets etc. And what's more, I love it!

So now I get to cook and sew, a real home maker!!!!! Take a look at the 'Gracious Mountain Gifts' part of our web site to see some of my creations.

Loraine

My Beloved Jenny has passed away

Last night I had to say goodbye to my beloved Collie, Jenny! Very sad, but unknown to us she had become diabetic. Sunday we started her with insulin but she wouldn't eat and although with the vets advice we tried her with glucose, by Monday evening, after her not moving all day, we had another blood test done and it appeared she had severe liver damage. So with many tears I said my goodbyes.

Jenny had been there with all the goat births - she thought every single kid was exclusively hers! Kidding just won't be the same without her and she will be sorely missed. Her other love was catching the bubbles from my bath water! I did shed a big tear in the bath last night when I had put a little too many bubbles in and there was no one to catch them! The bathroom seemed very empty.

In the picture here Jenny is in the foreground, then there is Jake, my mother's German Shepherd (who we also lost earlier in the year) along with Dolly. What a year it's been! I am sure that the two of them will be chasing goats together in the next life! Dolly is feeling a little lost but we still have Kiri's dog, Missy for company for her.

Loraine

Is it summer at last?

Hi Everyone

Well haven't we been lucky in the past few weeks. Here in Wales the weather has been fantastic but I have to say I am pleased to see the little bit of rain that we have had in the last couple of days! The grass is finally beginning to grow and the goats are loving it!

This year's kids are having a great time playing in the shed and we have also found some fantastic new homes for some of them - obviously we can't keep all of them so if anyone is looking for goats do give me a call and I will hopefully be able to help you.

I am off to Ireland tomorrow to do a bit of networking for a couple of days which I am really looking forward to. Hope the wind dies down a bit though otherwise the crossing will be a little 'choppy' and then guess what, I am having a weekend off with Mike! Yes we have everything covered so that we can get away for some R&R and visit his family - whoopee!

Of course it has meant working doubly hard in the last couple of days to make cheese and fudge but its worth it.

Well I have some packing to do so I am going to sign off.

Keep smiling!

FFYNNON'S FOLLY

Hi Everyone

Gosh I didn't realise it had been so long since I last came on the blog. Please accept my apologies!
Here at Kid Me Not we have some exciting news - a new cheese - but with a big difference. By popular demand we are launching our first cow's cheese. It is a mild and creamy farmhouse cheese. Delicious on its own on a cheese board, but just as good cooked or toasted. In fact I have just had a good wedge with my coffee for lunch - yum!!!

So you see I have been working hard even though we have had some exciting weather in December and then of course in January I managed to hurt my neck and spent a week sitting in a chair unable to go to bed - that was fun, especially as I am not the sort of person that can 'sit still' for any length of time without going out of my mind! My poor parents (Mike was in London) were extremely patient with me, until Mike took over at the weekend.

Anyway I am starting to ramble. Our new cheese is available on line or at our usual haunts around the country. If you can't find it shout and we will try and put it in a shop near you.

Take Care

Loraine

A SPECIAL INVITE!

Well here we are again with Halloween banging on the door, it is time to start thinking about those Christmas orders. Kiri is beavering away making chocolate santas and snowmen for those special stocking fillers, and her new boxes of chocolates are to die for. You see we just have to try them before they can go for sale!!! Well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!


November is nearly here and I am starting to get quite nervous. You see I have received a very special invite. I have been invited to a reception this month at Windsor Castle to meet the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, along with other people who work within Rural Communities!


Well the first thing is what on earth am I going to wear? The invite says dress/lounge suit. I don't have to wear hat or gloves apparently - shame I have a great wooly hat that keeps me warm during kidding time, not the prettiest of things but very practical. And then I love my fingerless gloves for markets. And well, I rarely go anywhere without my wellies and it is for "work within rural communities" - what do you think?? Kiri reckons I need to get more 'into the groove' or modern, but I'm not sure. I looked in my wardrobe the other day and it seems I could probably offer most of it to the costume department for some 70/80's revival shows! I've always thought my clothes were classics but unfortunately they haven't kept up with my growing years - in more ways than one. Well when you can't get a dress up over the knees or passed the shoulders there is definately something amiss! This is where the chocolate tasting has really taken its toll and who else is qualified to check the fudge before we pack it!


So what do you reckon? Any suggestions as to what I should wear? Come on guys I really need some help here.


I await your thoughts and will let you know how I get on.


Loraine

Busy Busy Busy

Its that time of year when down on the farm here in Talley we have to all wear many hats! With kiddings coming left, right and centre, produce to make, young stock going into parlour for first time and trade shows each week during March, there are not enough hours in the day. We also have March as our end of year, so in the office we have accounts to finalise and chasing to get everything sorted for the new tax year! Oh well no time to get bored then!

What a glorious day it is today though. Having stopped for five to have my late lunch - quick ham sandwich and cup of black coffee - I took a few seconds to glimpse out across the field where the boys (our male goats) are strolling around without a care in the world, the sun is just glistening on the hill tops, wonderful!

Down in the unit the girls are busily making our new soft cheese, absolutely delicious - even if I do say it myself - the Sundried Tomato and herb is particularly good. If you are around Roath or Mermaid Quay in Cardiff at the weekend or Kidwelly on Sunday then do come and try it, you'll know then that I do not exaggerate. I am hoping that next week we will have our new labels for them and then they will be able to go out to the deli's and farm shops.

Yesterday I escaped onto an e-commerce seminar - had a fantastic day and met some interesting people, especially a lady called Rhiain who I teamed up with for the day. Hi Rhiain if you are reading this, do keep in touch, you were great company yesterday. Of all the speakers we had there were three gentlemen who really were brilliant - Mark Shaw who talked on twitter, Mike Southon who spoke about entrepreneurs and Alan Stevens who had a wealth of knowledge on PR. All of you SME's out there like us do google them, well worthwhile!

Oh dear the clock is ticking, the baby alarm is screaming (or rather the goat inside the barn that's about to give birth) must dash. Speak soon.

HAPPY 2010 ALBEIT A WHITE ONE SO FAR!

Well what a shock for the system! We have spent the last three weeks bucketing water from the house to the goat shed and stables. Along with many other farmers out there the past three weeks has been hard work and gutty!! Carrying many 20 litre buckets in a relay system with six of us across the yard, twice a day has been unbelievable but at least we have managed to keep our sense of humours and have a laugh. My mum has been baking non stop and I think we are all getting to the point of being "souped" and "caked" out - although there was a particular carrot cake recipe which was a particular favourite, it was gone before the end of the day! (Actually most of the cakes were gone before the end of the day if truth be known but I know I thought I'd sneak an extra bit of this particular cake only to find someone else must have got there first!!!).

Anyway the thaw seems to have started today so much so that I have found three burst pipes so far so we will have our friendly plumber visiting tomorrow no doubt. But at least there is water now in the barn with the goats.

We must not complain, what is a little bad weather when you see the tragedy that is Haiti today. My thoughts and prayers go out to the people there.

I will write again to let you know how we get on with our water situation.