Yesterday John’s little nephew arrived just after the milking, so Berit and I loaded the hay on the hay rack and they sat on it as I drove the tractor, pulling the hay rack, all the way to the old barn. Everyone needs a ride on the hay. It is actually a peaceful exercise chugging slowly through the landscape. Then we unloaded the hay and restacked it.
Once we got back I ran about doing waters and then Berit’s father arrived down from the city to give him a hand rebuilding the back wall of the Rat-house Hen-house. Which was very kind. Then my neighbours turned up with left overs from their garden, (they were pulling out all the old sweet corn.) Daisy and Queenie love sweetcorn stalks. Then the lady vet turned up with her mother and children to take blood from Queenie and Daisy for their pregnancy tests and dehorn Aunty Del. The children went egg hunting and played with Tima. So the farm was alive with people. And I missed breakfast and lunch.
I had walked out the door at 5.30 and walked back in at 3.30. Then I bottled the sauce, set the yoghurt to drain, started up the sour dough mother, loaded another batch of tomatoes and cleaned the kitchen up from the night before because I had been just too tired to do the dishes that night (bad move.)
Last night I declared it a make your own dinner night. And do your own dishes!
Daisy is not good. The mastitis in her injured quarter has surged up and is the worst I have ever seen. The quarter is swollen and so compacted with infection that I can only milk out the tiniest amount and it is bad. Even though I tried to milk it three times yesterday. The lady vet gave me some strong medicine that goes straight into the udder, but she is not sure if we are going to beat it this time.
Daisy and I have worked so hard to get this quarter up and running again. And we will continue. But it is best to remember that I will not win every battle. Though I am doggard and determined and am not known to give up easily. But no-one can win every challenge they accept. Sometimes the odds are just stacked against us. I will work very hard to get her healthy. But she is in a lot of pain. In fact she is refusing to even come into the milking parlour now. I have to cajole her in. Everything has turned on its head in the last 36 hours. But one way or the other we have to get her healthy. It is and will be a long battle.
However that is the part of farming that you and I are getting better at managing. We must be pragmatic and sensitive to the animals needs. Not our own selfish emotions. We must look at the big picture without the sad face. 
I hope you all have a lovely day. Daisy and I are in the trenches but I am sure that I will still find some loveliness somewhere during the day. You too.
Your friend on the farm
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
52 responses to “Helpers”
Celi, you must be sensitive to your own needs also. I’ve been taken care of my mom and neglected my own needs. I’m home and it shows, Take good care of yourself and good luck for poor daisy.
I agree. You need to take care of yourself, too.
That all said and thinking of dear Daisy, thank you for bringing back the delightful memory of sitting atop stacked hay on the hay rack and chugging to the barn. Oh, the scent, the motion, the loveliness of it all.
Thinking of you and Daisy.
You reminded me of a hayride I was on a few years back, before the kids. It was a family reunion on my dad’s side. I knew very few people aside from my dad, Mike and my grandparents. That night we took a hayride under the stars and I have never felt so at home. The ride, the company, the air…it’s the time that awoke in me the need for the country. Hadn’t thought of that day in a long time. Thank you for stirring the memory.
come on down! we will do it again!!..but you have to load the hay at the end of it.. love love.. c
That would be great.
Start your powerhouse smoothies again and drink them. Can’t let those beautiful farm fresh eggs go begging. Poor Daisy, sending her big get well wishes. Laura
Sorry things have gone down hill with Daisy, it seemed like it was going so well and all of your hard work with her was paying off. So frustrating to try so hard and be thwarted at every turn. You have been so tenacious and no one can do more than you are doing. I have my fingers crossed that the medicine takes. Bloody farming, pragmatism verses going broke, sometimes the options are just shitty. Hang in there.
You hit the nail on the head there, sister-in-farm.. c
Remember I am no farm person which is why I ask a stupid question.can, t Daisy, s udder be surgically removed. Like a masectomy
the idea of a hay ride is good old fashioned stuff..love it
oh good god no, there is no point to a cow without an udder.. not on a farm.. I will dry her up as soon as I can and hope her dry period is a healing one.. c
Ladies don,t need boobs
Ooooh it sounds as though you are well and truly being instructed to eat..so might be a good idea to do it.. my love to you and Daisy and I will pray for her to get well
I hope both that Daisy gets well and you get a chance to rest in whatever fashion refreshes you most!
Nancy
http://www.workingmomadventures.com
Sending strong healing thoughts for Daisy and strength for you. Do please listen to your fellowship and take care of yourself first, so that you can take care of your farmy. Truly hoping that Daisy is better as the day wears on.
I can say nothing as well as all of the above others have said. I hope the strong medicine will do the job for Daisy. You surely know we think of you so many times during the day and are sending encouraging thoughts.
I am so sorry about Daisy. We do everything we can to heal the natural way, but sometimes we have to go to modern medicine and hit the problem with the powerful antibiotics. They have their place, after all. I hope Aunty Dell didn’t suffer too much with the dehorning. The farmy would tumble down without your care…..you must take care of yourself first. I know…..spitting in the wind.
OK, so what this non-farm girl is understanding is that Daisy will just not be a milk cow anymore and she can just hang out with Sheila? You won’t have to put her down? I really hope not, you’ve had too much loss this year. xo maggie
Sheila is healthy. Daisy is chronically unhealthy at the moment. A whole different kettle of fish i am afraid.c
Oh, no. Okay I will pray harder.
Goodness! I think you need a cyber hug {{{HUG}}}! I so understand this pain about a well loved cow. We had a wonder girl called Skippy that we had for 16 years. She developed cancer in her eye. We fought it four times and WON! Or so we thought. It was a sad, hard, miserable day when we found out we had not won the last battle. I do understand, Miss C, I do. Sigh!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
I’m pulling for you and Daisy!
Wow, hard day indeed; prayers for you and Daisy and all in your life. Little by little, day by day!