Photogenic dwarf goats

Goats are photogenic. I don't have many, but I enjoy taking their pictures. Louise had quadruplets this year, but one had to be euthanized (urinary problem) and another one died from an unknown cause. So, she's raising twins (both males). For the second year in a row, Thelma didn't breed. Bye Thelma.

The boyz

Louise and her two kids

My whole goat herd

Coming in from the field

Polled buck

When they were smaller

Newborn care

Quads: sadly only two survived past a week

Three plus three

Though there's been a least one year, I can't recall a year when I didn't have bottle babies. Several of them. It's common with a breed as prolific as Katahdins. I always say that I'd rather have a ewe that has triplets and only raises two than a ewe that births and raises twins. The extra lamb is a bonus. At the same time, many of the ewes can raise triplets.

Tippy: the lamb that had a broken leg

This year, I had two sets of three lambs that I bottle fed. They overlapped very little, so essentially I hand fed lambs for about twelve weeks. I wean orphan lambs at about five weeks of age. I could probably weaned them a bit earlier, but five weeks has been working for many years -- and I'm a softy.

The first bottle lamb (Doc) was a single out of a 10 year old ewe. She didn't have any milk. I shouldn't have kept her, but she used to be one of my best ewes. For the previous two years, she birthed triplets and I raised one of her lambs. The twins she raised were always quality lambs. Kept her one too many years. I kept Doc with his mom for bonding. For the longest time, he liked to be held for bottle feeding. Towards the end, he would feed with his two front legs up on my lap.

The next bottle lamb (Raúl) was a triplet. His mother had too much milk -- believe or not. The teat on one side was large. The lambs wouldn't nurse that side. I milked the side out several times (lots of milk--fed it back to them), but they never seem to nurse from that side. Raúl kept consuming full amounts of milk from the bottle. The ewe raised the other two lambs on the one side. Raúl stayed in the general population. Like Doc, he liked to be held for bottle feeding until he was almost five weeks old.

The third lamb was also a triplet. She had a broken leg, either born with it or injured shortly after birth. I figured she could complete with one sibling for milk, but not two, so I removed her (Tippy) for bottle feeding. She went up into the garage into her own pen. She had goats for neighbors. I set her leg with vet wrap and paint rollers. It healed nicely and you can't tell she ever had a bum leg. She's still quite attentive to me, whereas the boys have largely assimilated into the flock.

Dr. Long with the lambs he delivered via C-section

The first three lambs were just about ready to be weaned when one of the yearlings required a C-section. She hadn't dilated sufficiently. I/we couldn't get the lambs out. Both lambs were alive. I immediately began feeding them colostrum. The vet suggested I keep the lambs with their mom. She woke from the anesthesia quickly and seem to be rebounding, but didn't last 24 hours. She must have hemorrhaged.  Her lambs became orphans. I dubbed them Keith and Ray after the young vet that delivered them.

The final bottle lamb of the year was a twin ewe lamb out of another yearling. Her mom didn't want her. I probably could have eventually gotten the ewe to take the lamb, but her udder was small and she didn't seem to have a lot of milk. I was already feeding the C-section twins, so what was another one? I named her Heidi. These second three lambs were the most primal I'd ever fed. I was definitely just a big tit to them. They've been weaned for several days now and are eating and drinking well.

Fort Ritchie with Ty

May 12, 2026 -- Mom and I have visited Fort Ritchie many times since discovering it on a Sunday drive several years ago. Ty had never been to Fort Ritchie. So, I took him today. The weather was splendid, in the 70s and sunny. We walked along the lake and up past all the Finger buildings. I met someone who was living in one of the Finger Buildings. He gave us a tour of his two bedroom apartment. It was really neat. He said his monthly rent was $1400. 

Lake Royer

A small waterfall

Also called Upper Lake

Ty enjoying the lake scenery

Older couple sitting by the lake

Canada geese

Ty in front of the Finger Buildings

For Rent - $1400 per month

The buildings at Fort Ritchie are gradually being developed. The ~35 long narrow buildings are called Finger Buildings. When the base was operational, they were used as classrooms. Now they are being renovated for various purposes, including residential and small businesses. A law office and barbershop are coming soon. The apothecary is a relatively new addition. There are several Airbnds, which keep moving according to the resident I met. Mom and I plan to stay overnight in one of them soon. Ty, too.

Barbershop coming soon to Fort Ritchie

Watching the traffic go by

High Rock Revisited

May 10, 2026 -- High Rock is constantly changing because the graffiti on the rocks is ever-changing. The views also look different in different seasons and under different weather conditions. Today was Mother's Day. Mom and I went for a Sunday drive. We ended up at High Rock after visiting nearby Fort Ritchie. A new addition to High Rock was the safety rails on top of the overlook. Probably long overdue. Did I climb up there before without the safety rails?

Mom's view from the car

Ever changing graffiti 

High Rock Overlook

Cumberland Valley 

Such vivid colors

An assault on the eyes

New safety railing

South Mountain

A walk along the Potomac

May 2, 2026 -- Ty and I walked along the Potomac River today. The Potomac River is one of the most scenic rivers in the eastern US. It offers diverse scenery:  rocky gorges and waterfalls, forested banks, rolling hills, and iconic vistas. 

The towpath is stone and gravel.

Below the dam: the Big Slackwater

The C&O Canal runs along the river. There is a 184.5 mile towpath that stretches from Georgetown (in DC) to Cumberland, the beginning and end of the canal. Ty and I often walk sections of the towpath. The weather was ideal today. Spring is splendid time to walk the canal.

White blooms

Along the shore of the Potomac

Furry friend along the path

Pink posies

C& O Canal Dam #4

Hydro-electric power plant

Spring daisies

Calm waters of the Potomac

The Big Slackwater

Leaves

Ty at the top of the dam

Foot prints in the sand

Full bloom

Coming down

Mushroom

Round