Day Two of the Farmy Round up. Wow. It takes two days to walkabout the farmy now. So much to see. Here is a grubby Paisley Daisy…
..with her good friend Queenie Wineti. We tried to breed daisy twice this season but both times it did not take. Then it was too late in the season to try again. A cow is pregnant for nine months and then I will milk for at least 8 months, so it is best if she calves in the early spring. So I am going to wait so that I get her into a better breeding pattern. She and Queenie the little Hereford beef heifer will be bred in the early summer of next year. I am going to try and milk Daisy right through the winter if it does not get too too cold. 
Then we plan to find a little Jersey milk cow to see us through until Daisy is milking again. This is Daisy’s bobby calf. Bobby Blanc. 
Queenie again. She is a lovely little cow, short and fat. I am going to breed her to the smallest bull I can find so that I build a tiny herd. I do not need a lot of meat but all my beef is grassfed. Pasture raised would be a better description as they are fattened on alfalfa/lucerne. 
A while ago my friend Sara at Punkin’s Patch took a big box of mama’s wool and picked it and washed it and carded it and did some other things to it and now she has spun Mama’s grubby fleece into these skeins of beautiful soft wool. 
Yarn they call it here in America. Isn’t that glorious. She has boxed it and sent the wool to me in the post. Isn’t that the most fantastic thing. She has a great fondness for Mama. Thank you so much Sara. Mama thanks you too.
This is the wool in Sara’s garden.
Mama is hanging out with Hairy MacLairy. I am sure they are discussing making little hats for the children!
It is not often we catch Mama smiling. She is our stern policeman sheep.
Warm and windy again.
Good morning. This morning is Our John’s birthday. He leaves the house at 5am for work so he gets up at 4am. By 4.30 am he had discovered that the coffee machine has broken down again, TonTon had skunked himself and the verandah, and the vest I bought him for his birthday present was too small. So he has gone to work holding his nose instead of a cup of coffee, leaving his present behind.
Oh dear. But the good news is that he has fixed the pump. I will be giving it a trial run with the cow very shortly. So cross your fingers.
Now I must run out the door. All the roosters are crowing and I have a stinky dog to deal with before milking. Never fear though -I bought the Skunk Off stuff. I am armed and ready!
Have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
71 responses to “Walkabout the FARMY with the Big Animals”
Happy birthday to Our John and I do hope his day improves. Also, loving the image of the calf as calves were always my most favorite part of growing up on the farm, even if I knew their ultimate destiny. And that yarn; perfect for caps.
Happy birthday to Our John!
Love the wool posed with the planter!
Variations of shapes of cow breeds is interesting, isn’t it. You don’t frequently see assorted breeds in one pasture – but this is a a famy of many colors and purposes.
Lovely post
We will all be laughing when i pop a jersey in there too!! c
It looks like Mama and Hairy McLairy are telling jokes!
Look at that wool! Beautiful.
Hi there… very much enjoying your posts. Stumbled here from…. ummmmm. can’t remember now. Maybe Promenade Plantings? So glad I did.
How is it going raising your animals for meat. We are considering it next year and I’m working on how to be detached or attached/appreciative. Not sure yet. cheers… wendy
It is fine. The trick is making sure they have a good life. it may be short, but there is no reason why they cannot be good. Also I have found a small abbatoir, so they are treated well at the end too, I think this is important to the animal and my peace of mind. I always say thank you to the animal. But it is an amazing feeling growing meat with real taste, knowing what it ate for its whole life and all that.. lovely to hear from you wendy.. have fun..see you again soon c
Hi, I agree with Celi, my cattle have a good life too, however we use a home kill guy so our cattle never even leave the paddock, they are happily grazing then……
Beautiful yarn! Happy Birthday to John; here’s hoping the second half is better than the first.
Oh, I have always wished for a jersey cow.
Happy Birthday to John and I hope it gets better as the day progresses! Love Mama’s Mona Lisa smile! 🙂 Her wool is so beautiful that I just want to jump into those skeins and roll around in them…seriously. What fun it will be to make things from her wool and how fulfilling for you. WellingTon Dog…I love that name and the derivative. So what other full names do we not know about? Do tell. And hope your day is a great one!
Happy birthday to John. That wool looks just incredible! It’s hard to believe it comes from the furry little creatures. The view looks wonderful so sunny, it rainy and overcast but at least a little warmer!
I am so sorry that John had such an unexpected send-off this morning! I hope he carries the best of wishes with him throughout the day. And that wool is just grand! It’s truly beautiful, and represents the best of what it means to be living off the farm’s bounty. Have a wonderful day, Celi. I know you will. Debra
Happy Birthday to your John. What a pity his day started so – I am positive it will end just perfectly though.
Would you look at that wool – awesome stuff! How wonderful of Sara to have sent it to you in the post. What are you going to knit or crochet with it?
Have a super day and we will be sure to toast in your John’s honour this evening.
🙂 Mandy xo
Never a dull moment with Weillington Dog. Happy Birthday to your John and a big WOW to Sara. Just incredible what she did to make such beautiful skeins. And Hairy and Mama are an adorable couple. You caught such a unique moment.
Well, that’s an unforgettable birthday, lol! I think a coffee maker might be a great present;) That photo of the wool/yarn.. sooo pretty, c, do you know how to knit? I bet you do!! xx
I know how to knit and I know how to purl… that is all.. but i can crochet hats and scarves!! Actually I could probably knit a scarf too if i concentrated! c
You can do anything, c, I know you can:D I’m not a knitter nor a crocheter..
she did a beautiful job on the wool
Happy Birthday to your John! And a short herd of cows? Cool!