IT ALL STARTED WITH OUR FIRST GOAT

BLUE HILL PATCH UNDERFOOT

of Ember Mountain Pygmy Goats

Patch Underfoot is Daniel's black agouti pygmy goat wether.  He was born on January 7, 2003 during a severe windstorm along with his two sisters. He came to our house at the age of 8 months and has been the love of our lives ever since. In his first year of exhibition he earned his Bronze Certification from the National Pygmy Goat Association which indicates that he was shown to be the Best Wether of the show in three different shows. Currently he has earned two more Best Wether Awards and has earned his Silver Certification.  Pygmy wethers can earn up to twelve Best Wether awards before they must retire from the show ring and become beloved family pets. Patch's favorite treats are untreated rosebush leaves,  dried sunflower stalks and apple tree leaves.  When he has worked especially hard his very special treat is a wheat thin style cracker. Pygmy wethers are a very popular first goat for new 4 H members, as they can be easily trained and form close loving bonds with their young owners. This picture was taken after the competition day of the 2004 Orange County Fair while Daniel and Patch were enjoying a relaxing time after the hectic activity of the day. We will be keeping all of Ember Mountain Friends and Family posted about the adventures of Patch this year.

In early 2005 my son, Daniel and I increased our herd to include six does and another wether.  Currently three of our does are expecting to give birth in late summer. We were pleased to announce the birth of baby kids to our doe, Rosedale Farm Naughty by Nature's new babies, sired by Amber Waves Head of State, on March 8, 2005 who presented us with a beautiful baby doe, Dusty Pines Classic Elegance and a wonderful wether, Dusty Pines Splendid Nature.  They have left us to join their new owners.  We will be posting their pictures on our favorite picture page.

The rest of our herd consists of Patch's new best friend to join him in the Batchelor Pad, Radiant Pygmies Hocus Pocus, a wonderful gray agouti wether.  Patch and Hocus Pocus share the common bond of both having earned their Bronze Certifications however, Hocus Pocus has gotten out of practice from some time off from the show ring and we will be working with him for most of the coming year to bring him back into good form for the ring. We only received him this winter but he quickly won over my heart and I hope to successfully be his handler while my son is showing Patch.

Our does represent a variety of ages starting with a yearling doe, Dusty Pines Sweet Cat O Mine, a little caramel doe who was orphaned at birth, who comes from the pairing of Amber Waves Head of State and Covenant Pygmies Miss Priscilla who was lost by the breeder during kidding. Next in age is a yearling doe, Blue Hill Sweet Melissa a black agouti who happens to be Patch Underfoot's niece from his sister Blue Hill Gale.  We will not be breeding her until late Fall of 2005. Our current bred Does are Amber Waves The Long Kiss Goodbye who was paired with Aspen Willows Terminator, who are both caramels, also Sun Valley Ashley who was paired with Amber Waves Daredevil and Cloverdale Pygmies Cleopatra who was paired with Amber Waves Scorpion King.  We will be welcoming our first babies in our Ember Mountain herd name in late summer.  Watch for upcoming pictures to be posted as well as pedigrees of the matches. In late summer a beautiful buck joins us to be a future herd sire. He is Iron Creek Hummer. More on him later....