The girls have been bred by the Lady Vet and her very long very skinny silver syringe that she stores down her top so it does not get cold. Both procedures went smoothly. In a little over a month we will take blood samples for a pregnancy test. Fingers crossed now. 
If I had a penny for everytime we have had to cross our fingers I could fly home first class! You do remember that you and I are off back to New Zealand in October. This is why I am farming so intensively, no time to waste this year.
The Tall Teenager is home on leave and look what he brought me back from the Phillipines. 
Isn’ that just fantastic. it is very heavy. John thinks it is spring steel. (At least I think that is what he said) and the handle is clad in a piece of a bicycle tire! It was pretty rusty so I gave it a good scrub and an oil and when I go to the Old Codgers on Tuesday I will get him to sharpen it for me, he has one of those wheel things and sharpens all my knives. Isn’t that a fantastic present. Clever boy. I can cut up a whole chicken in no time with a kitchen weapon like this!
Russian bees are darker than the Italians I am used to but very busy. They work extremely fast. I think I can put a honey super on this coming week.
Lovely day yesterday. 
Sheila is a hot pig, but bearing up. 
Today is yoghurt day. Yoghurt on Monday, farmers cheese on Tuesday, butter onWednesday, icecream on Friday. Butter on Sunday again and bread every Monday too.
The plonkers will go into the freezers in a little under a month, then there will be more time and milk for the house and I will start making the hard cheeses. But in the meantime the milk (and whey) is the main protein for the pigs and chickens.
It is busy here now.
I hope you have a lovely day.
your friend on the farmy
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
34 responses to “bred”
The blueberries look so yummy!
Did I tell you that Lili has become very interested in beekeeping? She recently read a book called, “The Beeman” and ever since, she has talked about bees and how she wants to keep bees. I think she’ll look cute in her little bee suit 🙂
Kudos to the Tall Teenager. He knows you well.
What a lovely gift. Cleavers are my favorite blade. My parents even gave me one for Christmas after I started working in kitchens when I was 17. I still have it and still use it.
We lived in the PI for two years when my dad was stationed there. I believe the knife was what they used to cut down and open coconuts. Fresh coconuts YUMMY!!!
I hope you have a pair of Miner’s boots, I would hate the cleaver to fall on your toes! I have so many fingers crossed for you these, I am typing with my nose! Take care.
I’m wondering how TTT got on the plane with it too. That cleaver reminds me of the scene in Caddy Shack when Rodney Dangerfield insulted the chef’s food and we then see the chef pick up his cleaver to have at him.
Aaah that reminds me – a long time ago you said you would give me your recipe for your ice cream (still follow your butter making instructions!). I think I might have to ask my farmer for a second share in a cow as I seem to go through the milk so quickly these days (drink it mostly in smoothies!).
Did you ask the vet lady why Misty (I think it was the name) had an enlarged udder? Is she pregnant?
Never heard about not giving a blade to someone. How heavy is your new cleaver? Looks like it could chop a chicken up with just one whack. It seems that you just got the plonkers the other day. Time really flies by, doesn’t it?
Glad he didn’t have his chopper confiscated by customs officers!
Celi, you are so busy. Wonderful pics .. And a trip back to NZ to look forward too. How exciting 🙂
From my warm spot in the chilly early morning dark of the southern hemisphere it is wonderful to see the warmth and activity of the Farmy… all is well 🙂
Old codger ought to get a real kick out of that cleaver. He’s enjoy sharpening that one.
Our little local bees are very busy right now, too. They never seem to notice Molly being intrigued by them. Headed to a farm tomorrow to pick some fresh produce…hope they have field peas or blackeyes now or later – really sitting on the back porch shelling those – and eating them all winter!
I love the photo of the Russian bee – I’ve never see one like this. What a busy pace as the farmy goes into full production on all fronts. You will need a good rest in NZ and I hope some fine spring weather awaits you here (we are still working on it). I was so pleased to see the old thermometer back again. Then I can go ‘Wow! over 30 degrees celsius. That’s warm!’
You’re busy as a bee, maybe those Russian bees can show you how to get it done faster! 😉 Sheila’s a sweetie, love that picture of her.