Do I dare write on this again? It's been so long ;o)
Things are going well here at the farm, but there has been a lot of changes. First, the house and property are for sale. We just want to downsize and get out of debt. Many of our goats as well as both our horses are for sale too. We just don't have the time and money to take care of them all. But everything is good. It is truly amazing all the different and unexpected roads life takes you on!

Oh Dear!

Oh dear! I have been very remiss in writing on this blog! And now that we have had a camera for over a year it is about time that I put some pictures on! Hopefully someday I'll get to it. We still have some goats for sale, but I think that we might have someone that wants to buy the rest.

I truly feel terrible about selling them for food. Whether it's part of life or not, I just can't feel good about it, or about myself for being part of it! Maybe that's why this goat 'business' just isn't working so well. ;o) But I have had so many good learning experiences!!!

By the way, I'm selling my horses! If any one is interested or knows someone who is. Let me know. Feeding them is SO expensive!

Anyways, so that's life on the farm right now. We're trying to get ready for the winter, and hopefully will live through it! My Dad's ready to sell it all! I'm just hoping we stick it out till next fall. I hope this doesn't sound really depressing. Things aren't terrible, and I know the Lord helps us with all things, but this is just how life is right now. But that doesn't mean that we're not still smiling!

KIDS!!!!!

Well, a quick update. We have 21 kids!!! Baby goats that is ;o) We had one mom have 4! That's new for us. Then one had triplets, one had a single and then we have a whole bunch of twins! We have 5 more mothers due soon too! Lets just say we've be outside a lot and I have gotten really sunburnt! Hopefully it will tan!

Kidding Time

Well, it's kidding time here on the farm ;o) We have 3 does that could go any day now, and 4 or five more in a few days. Pretty exciting! It's always fun to see how many each has, and if our 'estimations' are right. ;o) With school done I'm really going to try to get more things done outside! Horray for May!!!

THEIF!

There is something eating our chickens! We had one hen go missing and then yesterday morning my poor brother found another one disassembled around the chicken yard. It's been hard for all three of my siblings because the chickens are dear pets for them.

We've moved the rest to a different spot closer to the house hoping the predator will be discouraged from coming for more. I hope what ever it is decides to move! We took pictures of all the tracks we found in the chicken run, (and if we had a computer I'd post them) but we're not sure what kind of animal it is. Hope everyone else on our street isn't having chicken problems!

It's Cold

Well, it's the new year and there are many things to do here on the farm. We need to put all the goats in their 'rightful' pens, but we haven't gotten up the courage to do it yet with how cold it is. At least it's 28 degrees outside today. We'll probably end up doing it sometime this weekend.
I am SO excited for kidding season. Baby animals are always SO cute!!!
If anyone is interested we have a Nubian buck for sale still. I haven't been quite on the ball with selling him. Hope everyone stays warm!

I know...

I know it's been WAY TOO LONG since I've written on here, but I've been busy. We have one Nubian buck still for sale, and may I add he is gorgeous!!!! I LOVE his coloring! I wish we could keep him. He is also very much a people goat. I am going to put him on KSL soon with pictures, and on here with pictures too, if I can figure out how.
I can't believe it's fall/winter time already. So much to do. We have started breeding season for the goats, but I think we missed a few Does, so I believe we will have to figure out how to make sure they kid next season... Some how!!!!
All the little girls we have are SO cute!!!!!!!!!! I AM going to put pictures of them on here when I do ever figure out how.
Our farm is growing! Now if I could just figure out how to work on it more!

Blessings!

Yesterday (while I was at school) someone came from Richfield and asked if we had any goats for sale, just out of the blue. So they bought 5 of the bucks we needed to sell! It sounds like a good situation for them too! Now we have only two left, but they're dairy goats so they will be easier to sell, I hope!
The Lord seems to bless me the most when I am feeling down the most. I am SO thankful!
And I know that there is no possible way that I deserve, or will ever deserve everything my Heavenly Father does for me, but that makes me all the more thankful!
The Lord will always love us whether we deserve it or not!

GOATS!!!

Anyone have any ideas how to keep goats in their pens and off the highway?

Work, work, work!!! More whistling?

I think the most time for work on the farm is preparing for winter and then recovering after winter. Then by the time you're finished recovering it's time to prepare again. It NEVER ENDS!!!!!!

Something always has to be done. We can never just sit back and look at everything without thinking of something that needs to be finished out there. Such is the joys of farming!

The End of Summer

Summer has come and gone! I can hardly believe it! Pageant came and took a whole month away, and then dance and preparing for girl's camp and girls camp itself took July and now August is nearly half over, and in two weeks schools starts! We have SO many goats now! I almost feel like a nursery rhyme:

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe

She had so many children she didn't know what to do!

Mine: There was a small girl who nearly always lived in a pen

She had so many goats she had no idea what to do with them!

I know it needs some work, but it just about covers it! :D We have SO many bucks we need to sell, but they've become my friends! Maybe it's just me, but sometimes it really seems like animals really do like to listen to you. I guess it's the way the tilt their head and look up at you.

Well we've sold 4 of them already and we just have 6 to go! Oh boy, (overwhelmed sigh)

Well, life goes on! And I do know that I really wouldn't be happy if it stayed how it is, even though it sure feels like I would. And now matter what happens Heavenly Father and the Savior are there for us if we look to them, no matter how big or small our challenges may seem, even the challenge of selling goats ;o)

"When God closes a door, somewhere he opens a window."

New School Year

Boy am I behind on this!!!!!!!!!!! I am starting a goal that I will write here at least once a week!

I think. When school starts I will try! I am quite excited for the new school year, full time college will definitely be a new experience, and to be honest I am kind of excited for the challenge, it will be quite the challenge for me! Well, ttfn! Tata for now!

Kids!

We had 2 Nubian kids and 5 Boer cross kids born in the last week of February, but unfortunately 3 of them died because of unknown causes. But the last four are doing well and we will be selling 3 bucks.
We also had 2 purebred Nubians and 2 nubian/angora cross kids born on April 30th. All of them are doing very well and we have 3 more bucks to sell. If you or anyone you know is interested please e-mail us at john.ruell@snow.edu
Happy Spring!

We should be having more kids (possibly two doe will be kidding) in May and we may possibley be having 4 more does kidding in July. I will post all of these as soon as possible. Check our website as well because I update that more often. goldenruellfarm.webs.com

New Year

This New Year is going to bring so many changes! My mom and I are taking classes at Snow College, then I will graduate from seminary in May! I have to keep reminding myself to take things as they come!
We will be having at least 3 Goats kidding in the next 2 months! And maybe 3 or 4 more in May! So much to do!

Almost Christmas AGAIN!

I can't believe it's almost Christmas again!!! I wish we had the internet at home, then I could keep things up to date! It's breeding season here at the farm and with so many goats now it's SO complex! My mom and I are also starting classes at Snow College in January! Things change so fast! We're all excited for Christmas! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!

Our Life!

Our Life! It's amazing what life will put in front of you! Things can change so fast.

Our horse Lady got Pigeon Fever, not something that you want going around. We have been giving her antibiotics and she seems to be feeling a lot more chipper. I can't believe it's the New Year already! This coming year (2009) I think will be one of the most important and interesting years we've ever experienced, not only for me personally, but for my whole family. I am constantly reminded that everything is in the Lord's hands, and the only thing I can do is just follow him and do as he asks. All in all this has been a great year. I have come SO close to my Savior, and the experiences I have had, the feelings I have felt, and the things I have learned this year will go with me throughout my life. I am so thankful for everyone I know who has taught me things and been good examples for me and my family. I am excited for this coming year and for what the future holds. I am nervous yes, but excited all the same. We have truly been blessed this year.

May the Lord bless everyone we know, and everyone we don't! Love Always, the Ruell Family

I am SO frusterated that this won't let me post everything want!

Sorry the stuff by the pictures below is hard to read! I wasn't quite sure what I was doing! If you can't read it at all let me know!

Some of my Trek pictures!

Sorry! All the pictures are out of order!
To the left is a picture of the sunset at one of our campsites. Isn't it amazing!!!

Top to the right:This is a picture of Independence rock. I had to take it while I was in the bus because I forgot to take my camera with me while I was on top of it!

Below left: The antelope were really close to us! They didn't seem to be really afraid!

These two pictures are of Martin's cove! I thought it was SO beautiful and peaceful. You could really feel the spirit there!!!


The picture to the left is where we crossed the Sweet Water river! I was actually kind of warm!

Below is a picture of us all on the bus on the way home. Lets just say our legs (actually our whole bodies) were really cramped!

This is a picture of one of the
graves at rock creek hollow!

These are a spot of willows at rock creek hollow! The handcart companies went there to get warmer!

This was a huge Eagle's nest.
This is a spot of rocky ridge. One of the rockier places! You can actually see the wagon markings of all the pioneers worn into the rocks!

Pictures!!!

Here is a picute of my trek "family".

We had So much fun together!

Here is me infront of Martin's cove! I thought it was SO beautiful. The scenery, to me, was breath taking! And you could feel the spirit SO strong!

This is a picture f Independence rock. But I forgot to take my camera with me while I was on top of it so I had to take the picture inside the bus!

Here is a spot by Martin's cove in Wyoming!

The scenery was amazing! And the antelope would come SO close to us!