After a bit of trial and error trying to keep the goats where they belong, I'm happy to say that they are now happily staying put where they are supposed to be. We fixed a few points in the fencing that needed more reinforcement, adjusted the electric fencing, and made sure they had plenty of feed. No more wandering goats!
Last night when we went to check on the goats and our guardian pups who were just moved beside the goats (more on that later), we noticed that one of the expecting mommas had given birth to twins. We knew some of the goats were expecting when we moved them a few weeks ago. But we weren't quite expecting them just yet.
When it came time to feed the goats, my son herded the goats to the feeding station, but the new momma wasn't ready to make the treck with her babies. They just weren't able to keep up with the herd. So my other son and I headed over and carried the babies, making sure momma saw them in our arms and knew they were safe. She then followed us to the feeding station. Since she was late getting there, we gave her a little extra feed to ensure that she had enough.
My husband then walked the land to make sure all of the after birth had been disposed of. Good momma goats will take care of it, keeping the area clean and safe. But not all mommas know to do this so we had to be sure. If it isn't all cleaned up, it's an invitation to predators that we don't want around our goats. Thankfully, our momma had taken care of it all.
Once we made sure all was well with the goats, we headed home. This morning my son checked the goats and fed them, but didn't see the new babies. The momma had come to feed so my son was concerned about the babies. I headed over to help with this new game of hide-and-goat-seek. Thankfully he found them safely hidden away. Once again, momma took care of things and made sure her babies would be safe while she headed over to the feed station.
So fare there are no more babies, but we are keeping a close eye on 3 more mommas-to-be. This goat adventure keeps us busy! But seeing those newborn healthy babies makes it all worth it!
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If you have never heard of a Runza before, let me just tell you...they are sooo good! I grew up in Nebraska (well, at least 6th-12 grades, then back for college) and there is a food chain called Runza. Talk about tasty! Since I haven't been to Nebraska in probably 18 years, I now make my own runzas at home. So good!! Even my picky eaters like them. I call that a win!! Of course, they are best served with fries. I choose to make them fresh and bake them in the oven. Yummy!
Now, let's get to the recipe!
Homemade Runza
Ingredients
Dough
Dough
- 4 1/ 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 pkgs (1/4 oz) yeast (or 4 1/2 tsp)
- 1 tsp salt (I like Himalayan)
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 eggs
Filling - 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 small onion
- 4 cups cabbage, chopped
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tsp dried rosemary
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions:
Dough
- Place 1 1/2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt into large mixing bowl, fitted with a dough hook.
- In small saucepan, heat milk, water, and butter to 120-130 degrees F, over medium heat.
- Pour heated wet ingredients into flour mixture and mix slightly before adding beaten eggs.
- Continue mixing while adding remaining flour, 1 cup at a time. Mix/kneed until dough comes together and is smooth and elastic.
- Place dough in greased bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour.
Filling
- While dough is rising, cook beef and onion over medium-high heat until meat is no longer pink. Drain if needed.
- Stir in seasonings and chopped cabbage. Stir gently and cook until cabbage is cooked (about 2-3 min).
- Remove from heat and let cool a little while the dough finishes rising.
Making Runzas
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Punch down dough and divide into 12 equal portions.
- Roll out each piece of dough into a rectangle.
- Place 1/2 cup of filling in center of each piece (you can add a little more for fuller runzas, I like to have some left over for another meal so I only do 1/2 cup).
- Add cheese if desired (see note below).
- Fold over dough to encase filling and seal the edges.
- Place on greased baking sheet (edges can touch but they cook a little better with a finger's width of space between them).
- Back at 350 degrees F for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Note:
I like to use the leftover filling to make another half batch of runzas or to serve over rice for another meal.
These freeze well and are easy to thaw in the fridge and reheat.
Can add a slice of mozzarella cheese if you want to add a little cheesyness. Yum!
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Once again, our goats got out. My guys went to check on them yesterday afternoon when they got off work...only to not be able to find them anywhere. They spent about 2 hours looking for them. They made it almost home (about a 20 minute drive) only to find out that a neighbor on the land next to where we have the goats spotted them. We quickly headed back out to look for them...for almost an hour before it just got too dark to see anything, even with a flashlight. Thankfully the neighbor said it would be ok to leave them overnight.
So, first thing this morning, we got up and headed over once we had daylight. Two of my guys were with me, which is good since the goats don't really know me yet. We searched for almost an hour before finding them. They were back on the right land, but not near at the right area. So we herded them back, which took another 20 minutes. They were surprisingly easy to herd. It took a little bit to get them to go back into the fenced area, but once a couple of them found their way, the others quickly followed.
Now, if we could only figure out how they keep getting out. We did some adjustments on the electric fence and hopefully they will be staying put now. After all, they DO have a nice 20 acres to roam, lots of trees and vegetation, and 2 ponds. They really don't need to go anywhere!
Moral of the story: We need to learn to be satisfied with what we have and be happy with what we have been given.
Don't be a goat, always looking for something better.
Next up in our goat adventures: building shelters and making an area to help introduce our livestock pups to them.
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Last night was a big night for us. We moved our 51 goats onto their new land. We have kind of done this whole "homesteading" thing a bit backwards. We got the goats and guardian dogs before we had any land. And then we had to move our dogs to another piece of land, leaving the goats where they were for almost a year. So we have been working on moving the goats for a few months now. And, no, neither piece of land has been our own. We have been blessed to have friends who offer up their land for us to use while we work towards owning our own property.
Now our pups and the goats are all on the same land, but not together just yet. It will take a little bit of time to get them all situated to where they can all be together as planned. Like I said, we have been doing this whole thing backwards.
We had a bit of a late start last night, due to our hard working guys and their work schedules. So we weren't even able to get things started until 5-6 pm. All 3 of my guys went to the new land to check the new fencing and finish preparing it. Then my hubby stayed behind to finish up while our boys went with our friends to pick up the goats in their horse trailer. By this time, sunset was quickly coming. Thankfully they were able to load ALL 51 goats into the trailer. Then they made the 15 mile drive and safely delivered them to their new home.
As if that isn't exciting enough, we realized that some bales of hay needed to be moved OUT of the fenced in area. So, after dark, after the goats were unloaded, it was time to move the hay. In the process, the goats got out...maybe all of them, I'm not really sure...I just know there were a lot of goats to get back into the fence. One of them, called Skittish (rightfully so), wouldn't come back. She hid off somewhere in the tall grasses.
We decided to stay close by the area the goats were in to make sure they didn't escape again while the hay was being moved. When it was time to go, I drove slowly back down the drive. Thankfully we found our missing goat! She was just outside the fence, between the fence and the hay bales, looking for a way back in. My two sons corralled her using the bales of hay and she found her way back into the fence and headed towards the rest of the herd.
When the hay was all moved, the fence was tested and seemed to be working fine. So we took a chance and left them for the night. Our friends live on the same land, but a ways off. We live about 15 min in another direction, so we certainly weren't close by to keep an eye out on them. Our youngest son works out on the same ranch and thankfully, when he went to work this morning, the goats were all happily inside the fence where they belonged. I call that success!
Next up, acclimate our pups and the goats so the pups can finally enjoy roaming free and keeping an eye on their goats. Stay tuned for the rest of the story!
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Step into Lavender & Coffee: A Sip of Serenity, a haven for moms seeking support and community on their journey to fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers with grace and purpose.(for moms only)
As a busy mom juggling homeschool, homestead life, and family needs, it's often hard to find time to take care of our relationship with God. It's so easy to let faith slip into the background when life gets hectic. Finding a balance between faith and family doesn’t require huge changes but small, intentional moments of connection with God woven into the everyday routine.
Here are a few simple ways you can add time with God into your daily routine:
Starting the Day with Prayer
- Start the day with a short prayer or devotion. Whether it’s in quiet solitude before the kids wake up or as a family prayer at breakfast, dedicating the first moments of the day to God sets a positive tone.
- Example: Read a favorite Bible verse together as a family and using it as a focus for discussions throughout the day.
- Application for Kids: You can also use this as a teaching moment for kids by helping them understand how to start their day grounded in faith. Set the example and invite them to follow.
Weaving Faith into Daily Chores
- Use daily chores, like cooking, gardening, or even laundry, for opportunities for reflection and prayer.
- Example: Share a story of offering gratitude while cooking or praying for patience while homeschooling (a word of caution on praying for patience...you will get it, but maybe not the way you hoped it would happen. lol)
- Listen to faith-centered music or a podcast while folding laundry or sweeping the floor.
- Think on Colossians 3:23, about doing everything as if for the Lord, to help you view even mundane tasks as a way to be thankful for all you have.
Faith Through Family Meals
- Family meal times can be a great opportunity to incorporate faith. Saying grace together can become a cherished family tradition.
- Example: Say a prayer before each meal. Maybe even include a "Thankful Thursday" idea where each family member shares something they’re thankful for.
- Mealtime conversations can occasionally be about Bible stories, blessings, or challenges in faith.
Bedtime Prayers & Reflection
- Bedtime is another natural time to incorporate faith into your routines. This could be an individual or family prayer, gratitude journaling, or reading a short Bible story together.
- Example: For moms, use this time to reflect on the day, pray with your kids for things that matter to them, and close the day by handing over worries to God.
- Personal Reflection: Take a few minutes for personal reflection—journal your thoughts, prayers, and moments of gratitude for the day.
Using Homeschool & Homestead Lessons to Teach Faith
- Many homeschool families aim to educate from a Christian perspective. This is an easy way to incorporate faith into your day.
- Example: Nature walks could include discussions about God’s creation, or gardening can be connected to spiritual growth and nurturing faith like you would a garden.
- Practical Faith Learning: You can also use everyday moments like caring for animals or preserving food to teach lessons on patience, gratitude, and stewardship, by tying it all back to faith and how God takes care of us.
Integrating Faith into Challenges & Stressful Moments
- Challenges, whether it’s sibling conflict, homeschooling difficulties, or just the chaos of family life, are a part of the journey.
- Try taking a “faith break” during stressful times, (try something like this 60-second reset). This can provide spiritual grounding and help you, as a mom, approach the situation with calm and prayerful thought.
- Spiritual Tool: Incorporating a “prayer pause” during moments of stress or frustration can allow for a quick reset that invites God into the process.
Need help juggling your homeschool and life schedules? Check out this digital homeschool planner!
Or, maybe (like me) the Ultimate Mom Planner is what you need. It is a one-stop planner for busy moms! It's available as a PDF download you can print or as a digital planner that can be used on notetaking apps like Goodnotes.
Join our HomeGrown Homestead community—a place where we learn, grow, and share our homesteading journey together, fostering a bond of shared wisdom and experience. (everyone is welcome!)
Step into Lavender & Coffee: A Sip of Serenity, a haven for moms seeking support and community on their journey to fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers with grace and purpose.(for moms only)
