At milking time, Daisy sees TonTon appear in the field and then walks to the gate and up into the yards.
For a little munch.
She hears the pump go on and off as I rinse the lines and the bucket and comes to her door to watch. She is very calm, and just chews her cud as she watches me get all the feeds ready for the other animals. I line up all the buckets. Clean bits and pieces and get the house in order. Waiting for her to be ready.
As she watches she will pee and poo. Always. She will never make a mess in the milking parlour. She likes to have this all done before milking. And once I have heard the noises of her toilet then I know she is ready.
I put her feed (last night it was peeled apples) into her tray and fill her bower with the good hay as a treat. 
Then I ring her bell. Often she will ring it herself while she is waiting, but by accident I am sure. Once I have rung the bell she takes two steps back and to the side so that I can open the door and then in she goes. At this point it is important not to be in her way. She is eager to get in there. She is still milking 30 pounds in the morning and 25 in the afternoon. This is about 7 gallons in a day. I have fat pigs and a well fed happy calf. And cheese and yoghurt, butter and icecream on the go almost every day. Not to mention the huge glasses of cold raw milk with dinner. And an old dog with renewed vigor as his arthritis is subdued. 
After the milking I walk her to a new field. She just walks along behind me. She is on a go slow lately. I do hope she is pregnant. We will know in a few weeks. 
Everything is done the same way twice a day and everything we do has the company of two dogs and two cats. Daisy ignores them all. She and I walk gently to and fro. Both Daisy and I like the rhythms of the routine.
Sometimes if I am having a quiet day I take the horse brush out into the field and brush her coat. She loves to have the brush on her neck and behind her ear. So if I am brushing her considerable belly she will often slowly, slowly with the tiniest of steps, move her entire body backwards under the brush so that soon I am brushing behind her ears. Then she will stop. She will lower her head so the brush is perfectly positioned and lean her face on my thigh. There, she will say, that’s the spot. Right there.
But I have to brush you all over I tell her, as after a while I move back to her haunches. She just waits until I am settled then starts again, and ever so slowly will move herself backwards shuffling her cow feet softly so I don’t notice, until she has me positioned correctly again.
Good morning. There is the dawn and out I go. Ton is already out in the field waiting with her. I should train him to turn on the lights and flush the lines as well!
Have a lovely day.
celi
What I was making on this day a year ago.. Shepherds Pie!
The Kitchen's Garden 
83 responses to “Time for milking”
I can see you are enjoying playing with your lovely lens again Celi ! And I’m with daisy, a back rub would be nice but no brushing of ears needed !!!
Oh are you sure Claire? It is a nice scratchy brush.. c
A familiar routine is so soothing…just like this morning’s photos.
Love the fence post cat…and Ton, out in the field. I’ll say it again – Oh, my! What a sky!
That cat comes on our walks every evening and loves to pose! c
So calm and soothing to read of the morning routine, and about Daisy. A force to be reckoned with, for sure, but also gentle and loving with you! Just love the beautiful, big, blue sky with wonderful shade clouds sailing across it. Happy Sunday!
She is a force and is not always gentle, but she and I know each others soft spots!! c
Ha! Just like brushing a giant kitty 🙂 Sounds lovely and orderly and calm, well done you.
Morning hon, I had to laugh at Daisy as a big kitty! Imagine if she had claws and cat teeth.. yikes! c
Oh my gosh, I love the first shot of Daisy! I love that she rings the bell… I bet she knows exactly what she’s doing. How do people live without animals?? I think it would be like living color-blind.
I’ve read through most of your archives, but I haven’t read much about Big Dog. He’s your old fella, right? I’m particularly fond of wisened dogs, so I’d love to know more about him. What’s his job? How and where does he spend his days? And the raw milk has reinvigorated him? Fabulous!
Big Dog is John’s old dog, he was found as a tiny puppy, tied to a fence at a construction site, a failed fight dog, in terrible condition, about 12 years ago maybe more, it was way before i came. John put him in his truck and took him home and that was that. The twice daily raw milk has reduced the inflammation in his joints (arthritis) markedly, he is looking so much better this summer. Many of Johns friends have been amazed by his recovery.. Morning Lacey. Oh and he spends his days sleeping.. and his nights on guard out in the barn. he is a good old dog.. c
I revelled in your peaceful routine. Daisy is one very clever cow – but I think all your animals are clever.
It is a peaceful routine and I have never woken in the morning wishing I did not have to go out, though it is not cold yet!! morning viv.. c
I enjoy following your lovely days and photographs
Thank you Ruth i enjoy you coming to visit. c
When we had I dairy on the farm I milked 35 odd a day, it was fun the way they knew the routine.. and a whistle would have them stroll down to the gate.. I just loved that they knew their order and never one out of its place… and in the end the bull would come in for his kilo of milk feed .. there was no way you could keep him out…. I love enjoying the start to your day… takes me back many years to when I was farming…
Thirty Five is a good number, and they are so cute with their order. My old dairy farmer friend would send his dog down then go back in to make a cup of tea, when he got to the Milking Shed they would be all lined up waiting, dog thinking he had done it all by himself!!. Good that you had that bull trained to his reward in a timely fashion. I am so glad not to have to deal with a bull. c
I had no idea that a cow could have such a prrsonality and your stories about her are so vivid and beautiful. I’ve wanted to make cheese but it’s against the law to sell raw milk here. Love your photos too.
Your very fortunate to be do slim, ice cream every day would be very very very bad for me.
I find it interesting how crossing a state line can make one thing legal and another thing not. So strange. The States are like different principalities. They should draw the lines in white paint and list the laws at the gate! So confusing.. c
Gosh, what a busy morning, And there am I turning on my computer, making coffee and ensuring that Algy hasn’t returned. I’m full of admiration – not envy, admiration:)
I know.. but that Algy can keep one busy you know! c
That cow is amazing and those last two images are spectacular! 🙂
I love the one of TonTon in the evening light too, that alfalfa is getting so long! c
Maybe you could train TonTon to do the milking too – perhaps with a little help from the pigs 😉
Good thinking then i could take the day off and go to Chicago for a shopping retreat! c
Just lovely C. 🙂
Morning Chris! c
Good morning from this coast. Daisy indeed sounds like a (big) cat. I have one – cat, that is – sitting at my head right now inserting herself loudly and heavily in the moment, purring, stretching and reminding me to finish this so she can herd me to the kitchen for her food.
Herd being the operative word too I am sure!! Good morning Lynda! c
I do not comment often. The Cat on Post picture made my heart sing. So lovely… All the others speak of talent also but, Wow…. You and your writing allowed me to be with you. Yum; Fresh Milk. Hello and Good Day from Alabama 🙂
Good morning Mary in Alabama, I am very happy to have you with me as i go through my morning.. WELCOME.. c