Yesterday

Yesterday, Mama our old sheep, stood three times,  for an hour each time, inside her sling. I am getting good at getting her in and up all by myself. She is standing bearing weight on her front legs now, and moves her back legs about.  Though she is unusually calm and dreamy about the whole thing.  And when her therapy session is over she just lays back down.

Yesterday, Timatanga Moana, the kune kune pig, practiced Sit, Beg and  No – Do Not climb into the dishwasher.

Yesterday, Boo practiced Sit and Stay while TonTon got to play fetch. This is Boo’s least favorite lesson. Soon I am hoping we can practice this without me holding on to his collar.

Yesterday, Ton began a course of antibiotics for a nasty scratch across his eyeball. Origins unknown and no-one is talking.  From pups and piglets my dogs and pigs are trained to take pills from my hand, so there is never a problem with medications.

Yesterday, I had to give the red pig an aspirin as he has pulled a muscle running in from the field.

Yesterday, Daisy gave two milkings of 35 pounds each and is on her 14th clean day. No mastitis since her breeding.  Early days yet though.

Yesterday, I had to go all the way down the back of the  field and tell Aunty Del that it was time for dinner and she was to say good night to her friends and come inside Right Now her milk was on the table.

Yesterday, I picked baskets of white beets for Sheila and Poppy, kale and deep green leaves for Daisy. Forsythia branches for the plonkers, and weeds for the three different flocks of chickens.

Yesterday, Poppy was allowed to follow me about the garden for a treat but raced to and fro knocking everything flying, screeching with delight – so she was gently led back to the Corridor Paddock where Sheila rolled her eyes and said I thought you were taking her off my hands for a while – Tima trotting along behind squealing  -” See, I told you she was bad! Told you! Bad Girl Poppy!.. hee hee hee.”

Yesterday, Queenie rudely shoved me aside on the way to the dry hay that keeps her stomachs balanced with all this fast growing grass around. She  swayed like a dogged drunk on a mission across to the hay car and probably did not see me at all. Her calf obediently in tow.

Yesterday, The Big Bobby, Queenie’s Bobby, Marcel and Aunty Del curled up together in the corner of the field to have a nap looking like they had fallen asleep in the middle of a game of Twister.

Yesterday, I realised that  fifteen of the letters on my keyboard have been typed right off and are no longer legible and the rest are mere shadows of their former selves. Sister Damien from high school would be pleased that I can finally touch type but a little growly that it has taken me thirty something years to learn.

Yesterday, the bees buzzed and the gardens grew and the card in my camera finally gave up the ghost. And because my promise is that any pictures on a certain day can only be from the day before, well today you only get words. Because yesterday’s pictures will have to stay in our minds.  Words are good. And anyway,  they were your words in the first place so I am just passing them back  for recycling.

Yesterday, in the evening, I took the dogs for a walk and watched the glow of a big fire far off on the horizon, but there was no-one to ask – I wonder what that could be, so I didn’t ask anyone.   On the way back home Boo caught a firefly then looked at my slyly as he opened and shut his mouth making light go on and off. And I wondered if he knew what he was doing. This time I asked TonTon and he said the kid’s an eejit,  just ignore him.

Yesterday, in the late evening,  I drunk half a bottle of champagne by myself because our book Letters For My Little Sister, is being formatted into a  proper book which is exciting but  I miss that book, and I want to bring it back home where it is safe.

I hope you all have a lovely day.

Your friend on the farmy,

celi