Kimberly J Egan
Bio
Welcome to LoupGarou/Conri Terriers and Not 1040 Farm! I try to write about what I know best: my dogs and my homestead. I'm currently working on a series of articles introducing my readers to some of my animals, as well as to my daily life!
Stories (58/0)
BuckyBoo is now "WetherBoo!"
There are few creatures on this planet that are cuter than a goat kid, especially a Nigerian Dwarf goat kid. Sure, it might take a couple of days to go from "aw, shucks, the polyfil in my stuffed goat toy is all flattened from being in the washer" to awesome fluffy bouncey ball on amphetamines, but yes, that change will inevitably come--and with it the soft-eyed wide-legged stance that just begs you to pick them up. (DON'T DO IT. Your bouncey ball will explode into a thousand legs and hooves and start to scream!)
By Kimberly J Egan8 days ago in Petlife
Looking Back: Glitter
Say what, now? I've said it before, and I'll say it again: there is something special about a terrier. Terriers are bright, happy, energetic little dogs that have the ability to think and to reason at close to human levels. Terriers are also exhausting, which means that those of us who own them also tend to own a breed that potentially allows us to rest for just a minute without hiding under the covers from them in the morning. For a lot of people, their second breed is often a poodle of one variety or the other. For me, my "second breed" was often a mixed breed, although in the past, I've also owned Dobermans, a Dalmatian, a Pekingese, a Japanese Chin, and a couple of MinPins. But, having been an avid reader of Albert Payson Terhune while I was growing up, I desperately wanted a rough collie.
By Kimberly J Egan12 days ago in Petlife
What on Earth is a Teddy Roosevelt Terrier?
I remember the day I saw Tank's picture. His noble black-and-tan face peered from the page, his gaze fixed on something in the distance. For a fleeting moment, the image reminded me of a Doberman pinscher, although I knew it was not. "What is it?" I wondered. I tapped the photo to enlarge the thumbnail and the entire image came into view. His broad neck smoothly tied into powerful shoulders, underneath which rested legs that were under one half the length they were "supposed" to be. The rest of the dog was equally as sturdy and powerful. I stared at it. I had never seen such a dog before. It wasn't a Doberman. It wasn't a Russell terrier, not with its smooth, gleaming black coat. The caption read "Teddy Roosevelt Terrier." Me being me, I had to enter the breed name in my browser. I can't let mysteries pass without researching them. I wasn't disappointed.
By Kimberly J Egan21 days ago in Petlife
Pattypan Squash!
Growing Up "BP" (Before Pattypan) After leaving Fort Bragg, my family lived in New England. I grew up during the sixties and seventies, long before the Internet became a thing and before Walmart was a major grocery retailer. Not only did we eat a lot of local produce, but I had no idea that certain types of food outside our region existed. "Lettuce" meant iceberg lettuce or, if you were fancy, Boston Bibb. Ear corn from the was mostly a solid yellow variety of moderate sweetness, although we got some butter-and-sugar corn from local growers and from my grandfather Cabral's garden. And squash? Yellow crookneck and zucchini were grown locally. Anything else--usually winter squashes, primarily acorn--came out of the store, whether fresh, frozen, or in a can. I liked my veggies, but they were "same old, same old."
By Kimberly J Egan27 days ago in Journal
Some thoughts on Memorial Day
I try to stay away from being too serious when I post here. I can post about serious things, but, in general, I like to think that I can post serious things in a light-hearted way. But here we are, Memorial Day, and I see and hear people around me being concerned about last day of school bussing and cookouts and rain, rather than on what the day is supposed to reflect. Sacrifice. Love for country. Preservation of tradition and ideals.
By Kimberly J Eganabout a month ago in Journal
I Envy Your Lifestyle!
I know I've said it before, but I lead a blessed life. That doesn't mean that it's the perfect life, but I am truly blessed. I'm not wealthy, but I don't want for much. I don't eat out a lot, but I have all the eggs, milk, and vegetables that I want and need. I work hard during deer season, but I am able to put up some of the finest meat around, so that the dogs and I can have it year-round. And, while I do sometimes hear sirens or the chicken plant trucks going by and planes going overhead, most of the time it's just like this: my rooster crowing at his hens, Buckyboo calling to his mom, and the birds singing in the trees. For all these reasons, and more, I am blessed.
By Kimberly J Eganabout a month ago in Journal
Welcome, Levi!
Back many moons ago, when I was still working for the orthodontist who started my love affair with dairy goats, I had a favorite buck named "Erroll." He was a super-special purebred LaMancha buck, sweet and gentle even though he weighed close to 150 pounds. I could lead him around with a rope around his neck, although he was strong and could have crushed me like a bug in his paddock. Erroll was born what most people would consider "red," but his color faded over time to an almost clear white. His massive forelock and his ridiculous long beard gave him a nearly comical expression. I was crushed when we discovered that the abscess on his jaw was symptomatic for Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL), a disease probably brought in by a buck or a doe that had been purchased within the previous three years.
By Kimberly J Eganabout a month ago in Petlife
Patience
Being a farm cat isn't for the weak of heart. Unlike house cats, who pretty much rule the roost, farm cats have to constantly struggle to keep their position in the group. Patience is a young female barn cat who, over time, has come to be the new matriarch of my small clowder. She has more status than any of the other cats, other than Creamsicle, my old male. She eats first and sleeps the highest. Her status was cemented in place by having a litter of kittens this year--the first successful litter of kittens we've had since old Target (Tarjay) died.
By Kimberly J Eganabout a month ago in Petlife
Introducing: LoupGarou Holley Girl Remington Steele
I know that I've written about Steele before, but I think I'd like to introduce all of my dogs (and maybe even all of the goats!) in a series of articles. They're all such important parts of my life, they certainly deserve to have a formal introduction. So, here we go!
By Kimberly J Eganabout a month ago in Petlife
We're Getting Fiber Optic Cable!
Rural living can be tough when you live in a technological world. Technology has always seemed to leave rural homeowners behind, from electricity to the telephone to the Internet. I actually live in an area with an electric cooperative, which brought electricity to our area when the major companies chose not to do so. Sometimes, the lack of growth and technology is not a bad thing. My town lacks any traffic lights and fast food, neither of which are missed. On the other hand, we lack all connection with the cable company that serves surrounding communities, so we rely on satellite companies, hot spots, and even our own phones for connection to the Internet. Parents complain that their children are left behind at school, given that they have difficulty doing their homework unless they travel to town to use the computers at the library.
By Kimberly J Egan2 months ago in Journal
Why Dairy Goats?
As I sit here, getting ready to write, it occurs to me that I am blessed. I don't have a perfect life, not by any means. Last week, such a tough one, was testament to that. Fortunately, we came through it. No one died, although my car was comatose for a bit, and I'm capable of smiling and shaking my head about it as I sip my coffee, cooled by fresh goat milk. I've just come inside from the garden, where I've spent a half an hour walking, weeding, taking pictures, and getting adoration from my cat, Little Brown. I've done my morning walk-by with the goats, and, as soon as I'm done here, I'll be out to milk Sunshine.
By Kimberly J Egan2 months ago in Petlife
Subscribe to my stories
Show your support and receive all my stories in your feed.
Send me a tip
Show your support with a small one-off tip.