On a side note, this past year has had many ups and downs.  I tend to focus on the positives going into the next season.  The negatives are important as well.  Without negatives, there would be no learning or growth.  So here they are:
Negatives -
     1.) I lost Topaz to a uterine rupture (This taught me that even when I think things are okay, bump the bottom of the does.  It is horrible after the fact to realize that more babies are in there.)
     2.) I lost Snowy (This actually made me understand how good care can keep a feral barn cat for many years.)
     3.) The sweet corn failed miserably (I came to understand that mixing different varieties can actually be detrimental.  The corn can revert back to hard field corn. Yuck!  But the goats loved it.)
     4.) A. I. bombed (This is just a matter of practice.  I'm glad that I attempted it even though the does did not take.  And I'll get back to it next year!)

Positives -
     1.) I finally learned how to can! (This was a completely self-taught process, and I loved every minute of it.  It is so nice to have tasty, canned goods in the winter.)
     2.) We got the John Deere 6x4 utility vehicle (This new toy has helped out incredibly on the farm.  Its amazing!)
     3.) I've started adding trees to the property (We have added both Sugar Maples and native Oregon White Oaks.  Now to build the barricades to keep the goats out.  As much as they'd love to eat them, the goats will do much better with the future shade the trees will provide.)
     4.) I made farmer's cheese.  (This was very easy and gave me confidence to keep going with my cheese-making.)   

     My hopes for this upcoming year:
​
*  To finally keep some goats of my own (with my herd name on them) 
* To participate in both milk test and linear appraisal through the American Dairy Goat Association
* To explore cheese-making and perfect soft cheeses especially chevre and mozzarella
* To start selling my delicious goat milk from my farm
* To raise turkeys again
* To keep working on my veggie garden so that I can share the wealth of my harvest
* To learn to trim fruit trees for myself
* To keep exploring new ways to preserve what I grow


This next year is full of promise and new discoveries.  I love the work that I do on my farm.  I feel so fortunate every day that I was given this life and that my family gets to experience it as well.  I always encourage everyone that I meet to get your hands dirty and observe all the things around you.  Farming doesn't have to be complicated.  My farming once was solely done in planters on my back deck.  Every time you grow something or care for an animal, you, yourself, are growing.  Take my advice, get your hands dirty.  You'll be amazed...

     Here's to another season of baby goats!  It's so hard not to get overly excited.  By this time next month, we'll be welcoming some new additions to our farm.  Persey really is looking big.  I'm betting on at least 2 if not 3 babies in there.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a successful and easy kidding.  Ari was not bred this year to let her grow herself and gain some structure as a yearling.  I've decided to only breed my does at their second season mark. 
     The addition of the new barn cameras has been a necessity.  Our old ones were slowly dying after 4 years of use, and it was time to invest in some new ones.  It helps incredibly to be able to watch our does as they begin their labor process without interrupting it.  With the ability to observe them without disruption helps me decide if intervention in the process is necessary.  Fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly.  

     The girls are so tuckered out after a day in the pastures.  Persey always trails behind the others on their way back in for the night.  She's a trooper though and the exercise is good for her in the final phase of her pregnancy.  Before long, she'll be back to her normal self with babies in tow and ready to continue to reign as herd queen here at Franke Farm.   

     This year has been a year of great changes.  The biggest change being selling off my sweet herd of Nigerian Dwarf goats.  That, in itself, was a difficult but necessary change for me.  As much as I loved those little goats, the smaller quantity of milk and having to care for a greater number of animals caused me to finally make the jump to a standard breed. I ended up choosing purebred French Alpines.  I am so happy that I made the switch!  French Alpines are so sweet, friendly and quiet.  These goats fit into our relaxed lifestyle perfectly. 
     I have just been so impressed with this breed.  They are very docile and gentle.  I am looking forward to the increased milk supply too.  Living through the Covid pandemic has forced me to finally make time for the personal hobbies that I wanted in my life.  I am looking forward to making cheese this upcoming year.   

     I have definitely mastered the skill of soap making.  I really enjoy making trays of soap each week. I love creating soap recipes and working on new techniques.  I really appreciate everyone who has purchased my soap.  I try my best to use local ingredients whenever possible.  I'm trying to keep all of our soap themed with Oregon scents.  We love living in this state!  
     Our two Signature soaps, Hazelnut Honey soap and Myrtlewood soap will be available year round.  Each season we will also have a specialty soap that showcases that season in Oregon.  I am so excited about this endeavor.                

     2019 season is coming to a close.  Our Linear Appraisal was another wonderful learning experience and DHIA milk test will most likely be wrapping up in December.  My good friend, Jenna has been an irreplaceable assistant in these performance programs.  I owe her a huge Thank You!  And thank you to my husband, Daniel and kids for always supporting and listening to my non-stop goat ramblings. :) 
     It's been eight years since I started raising goats.  I have definitely had my fair share of ups and downs like most breeders.  But I can honestly say that I love working with these animals more and more every year!  They are such loving and sweet creatures.  We have been slowly creating our hazelnut oil goat milk soap to hopefully sell next year at our local town farmer's market.  On the cheese front, my goal with the remainder of this season is to make some easy soft cheese like ricotta.  We are currently only milking four does after selling two does in milk so we are limited by amount available daily.  Still, it will be fun to do some experimenting yet this season.      

    With the season finishing up, I once again am looking forward to next season.  I've been fine-tuning our 2020 breeding schedule and making my own personal picks.  We are also keeping our very first buckling, Ferdinand, this year.  His dam, Cocoa is a phenomenal doe and remains on the ADGA Elite Doe list to this day.  My hope is that his sire, Bugatti will help bring down Cocoa's height and improve her rear udder while retaining her amazing performance in the milk pail.  I have some very tight line breedings planned on my Pholia Farm line in 2021.  So this next season and the one to follow are going to be very exciting!  Stay tuned!

        

     So another rainy winter season begins. The girls are mostly bred for the spring at this point. We are at the familiar point where we settle down for the winter and prepare to tough out the rain and worse, mud! As we go into this season, we have learned a tremendous amount over the past 7 years.  I feel extremely fortunate to have gained this knowledge even if, at times, it came through some unfortunate events.
     This coming kidding season I am becoming more aware that I will have to deal with the eventual decline of my aging goat, Dutchess.  She is a wonderful creature and I feel so blessed to have been able to have her in my herd.  My hope was that I could pass her very dairy genes on in her offspring and even improve upon them.  I am so glad that I have Empress from her and this might be possible.  It is a strong possibility that Dutchess is pregnant at this time as well.  To breed or not to breed becomes a very real concern when you having an aging animal.  Pregnancy is a prominent threat to a geriatric doe.  Goats dying in labor is quite common.  So as we go into this year, I am leery of kidding season.  We will upgrading our current barn camera system to be wi-fi compatible.  Then I will be able to monitor their progress from my cell phone, no matter where I happen to be.  It is imperative that I am present for my kiddings, especially when it comes to Dutchess.  So here's to keeping my fingers crossed and my toes crossed too!  Wish us luck!

     I absolutely love this picture!  Every time that I look at it, this picture just makes me feel good.  The sun was spectacular that day.  Since then we've had rain, rain, rain...  But this is Oregon:)  We are well into the winter rainy season now.  Our last yearling does are in the breeding pen.  And soon, we will hopefully be having happy and healthy babies from our older doe, Dutchess.  We are praying for a successful kidding and some baby doelings to add to our herd. 
     Also, we will finally be participating in the ADGA's Linear Appraisal and starting on milk test this year.  My own babies are slightly older and time is allowing me to put our does to the test!  The wonderful thing about both these programs is that they can assist us with our future dairy program.  Our plan, at this point, is to essentially grow our own, with only the occasional new buck addition.  We might also try our hand at AI in the future but that is in the distant future for sure. 
     Thank you for all your support over the years.  We hope to continue to bring you excellent goats for both milking and show.  Take care and Happy Holidays!
                                            ~ Dawn Franke and Family