Daisy was milked three times yesterday. All in all she must have given about 70 pounds of milk . Still her udder is very hard and uncomfortable, but the mastitis I expected is not nearly as bad. I will keep milking intensively until all signs of infection are gone. She is doing her best to be patient. But she is a bit of a cow after all!
We all slept well last night, and Daisy and her baby slept well yesterday. Though The Bobby and Marcel spent many waking hours conversing about the State of It. The sun hid from us and it was cold but the farmy was busy.
One of the above shots is going in the May calendar – unless a better one presents itself in the . next few days. I will make the May calendar this coming week. If you want to be on this list send a message to celima.g.7@gmail.com).
Queenie waits. Yesterday we opened up the clean inner pen, so Queenie could prepare for her birthing in a couple of weeks. The cold is just hanging on.
The temperatures are plummeting for the next few days.
So all the baby animals are getting extra rations and lamps. Though Poppy is by herself which bothers me, but she is settled and warm. We are all tired of the cold weather. I long for a run of temperatures above freezing. Soon though.
Soon. Chin up!
Dawn means milking from now on. So visceral. So complete. Do not waste a drop!
I hope you all have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farmy,
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
42 responses to “Tired Mama. Tired Baby. Tired me.”
i am so glad everyone is doing well. i can’t wait to see what you do with all of the good milk! butter, cheese, ice cream!!!
Yes! The butter churn will soon be cleaned, greased and churning again.. c
I’m sure Spring is just around the corner, so just hang on a bit longer.
You take such marvellous animal photos – you seem to have a real knack for the subject. You love of them shows in your ability to capture their lovely eyes and expressions.
It appears Daisy doesn’t want upcoming competition in the milking dept. Now if Queenie gives birth to a heifer would it be possible to train beef heifer up to be a dairy cow? Will the KuneKune be able to be a room mate/friend for Poppy? The babies are all sweat 🙂 Apologies … questions always questions! Laura
Actually the kune cannot be in with Poppy until I am sure Poppy is quite healthy, our other problem is that they are on different diets. However i am considering putting Poppy on the kunekune diet of grass and milk. That woudl probably solve many problems. All i need is some bloody grass though.. I could milk Queenie in a pinch but there is a lot Less milk and not as creamy. Of course if she has a heifer she will become a permanent resident. In the end I think I would rather have a Jersey, Maybe I should cast about for a jersey calf right now.. now you have me thinking.. c
The milk I get from my local farmer is from Jersey cows and it is sooooo creamy! And will only get better as the spring grass starts to grow!
Jersey, or Brown Swiss. Guernsey are excellent milkers with thick rich cream. I love all of these breeds, but the Jersey and Brown Swiss are my favorite.
✿♥ღ Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
The need for you to do intensive milking puts a new interpretation on the term ‘The milk of human kindness’.
Good job you’re not milking by hand, or your hands would be killing you after three times a day. Sounds like clever Daisy has more than enough milk for everyone. I hope she’s more comfortable very soon.
I hope so too.. and at the end of the milking I get the last of the milk out by hand to make sure no mastitis get to lurk in there, and even that bit of hand milking makes my hands ache! morning kate, hope there is mail in your box soon!.. c
Me too! I have TWO exciting parcels coming from the US, one featuring Miss Sheila and the other full of lovely quilting fabric. I hope Daisy’s not a ticklish milker. I used to hate it when the cow would stamp or knock the pail over…
Poor Daisy I can relate! I had so much milk with my first born, I was expressing for all the premature babies on the ward as well!!
Cold coming back here too – and a Nor’easter they can’t make up their mind whether we will get snow or not! Sigh, the warmth can’t be far away now can it? Hope you are getting rest between all your chores and have time for that cuppa – I have a fresh cup sitting right next to me and I am raising it in a toast to you my dear friend!
Hugs, Lyn
At the moment they are forecasting a couple of snowy days this week here too, but just snow showers.. hopefully not too much.. and this morning was biting cold again.. c
the lamb looks almost knitted 🙂
Lovely.
That lamb is a noisy busy mite! c
🙂
beyond my knitting abilities then….
I thought that, and I wondered if Celie would lend me the pattern
🙂
Bobby is a BIG boy isn’t he? And now he and Marcel and Poppy can all be friends…I see some great pictures in the future. Someone once said, or wrote, or commented that spring weather is fickle and I believe it. It unsettles us just enough that we stress and strain and fuss and then glory in the days of summer–at least until it gets so hot and humid and unbearable, then we whine and cry all over again.
You and the farmy are a treasure Celi. My mornings would not be the same without you all….
Seventy pounds! My eyes popped a bit when I read that. What does one do with all of that milk? Are you able to give the milk to the other animals because of possible bacteria present in poor Daisy’s milk? Would heat compresses help or just prompt more bacteria growth? What a challenge to help Daisy get better, thereby helping the other critters with the added nutrition. Go, Daisy, go!
Poppy is so photogenic. I hope her gut gets sorted out soon so she can mingle with the other animals.
Hoping for warmer weather soon for the farmy. 🙂
The milk is certainly drinkable for the animals though it is still very rich with colostrum. Of course the calf gets quite a bit and I gave some to the old dog as the raw milk helps him greatly with arthritis and some is frozen for emergencies, plus sheila had a little, the chickens got quite a bit yesterday. Later today when it begins to clear I shall give a little to Poppy, her tummy needs it but still only small amounts. In a week or so the other plonkers will come and the milk is mainly for the baby animals and pigs as I am raising milk fed pork. Later on the pasture raised chickens will get a goodly amount too.. I use hot cloths when I begin the milking and she does like that. The swelling should start to go down in a few days.. c
The calendar is lovely and I’m so glad you included Kupa. I love that shot of the 4 lambs all in a row. A once-in-a-lifetime chance. Are they Mama Meadow Minty and Matilda? You made a variety of wonderful choices!
My husband is also a photographer and he is so impressed with the quality of the photos.
Oh I am thrilled that you like it, Yes you have the sheep right, i do like that shot.. wonderful that your husband likes the calendar too, it is hard to get clarity on the run! Thank you.. I hope you found a little sun out of the wind today..we have a few cold days ahead of us!.. c
I believe I am going to stick Miss Poppy in my pocket and take her home!
Hope you are looking after yourself miss c – you need all the energy you can muster!
Perfectly adorable portrait of the Bobby. I’ll take him off your hands, should you find your farm family getting too large!
I still remember the warm taste of freshly milked cows milk…all creamy on top and comforting. Good memories of growing up rural. Poppy is so charming as are all the farmy animals.
Finally Daisy, we’ve been waiting for you to pop that cutie out! Good job! Congrats C., on your newest addition and your return to the milking routine. Possibly Daisy could raise her replacement if you could find a smart dairy baby somewhere. I’m hoping for a heifer on my end this time, it’s never too soon to begin starting the next new milker.
Good thinking but have no idea where to start looking.. i would love a little jersey next time.. c