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”
You know in your heart that you have done everything possible to get Daisy healthy once again. Now all you can do is be patient and see if the antibiotics can get the infection under control. You need only look at Marcel & Poppy to be reminded that bleak situations can turn around and become success stories. I can totally understand that the loss of Diasy’s’ ability to produce milk would be losing a huge resource for the farm. It impacts how the other animals are fed, how your household needs, not to mention a serious financial loss. While the life you are leading is scattered with life’s harsh realities, those are far outweighed by all the things that are going right for you with the farm & life in general. Let’s all hope that the antibiotics kick-in over the next few days. You are the most important asset on the Farm, so take care of your needs first. You wouldn’t expect a tractor to run without gas in the tank and you can’t function on an empty tank either. Do not forget that you are an amazing woman! You work harder than most men each day & get more accomplished in one day than most do in a month. Tonight have a glass or 2 of that wine with mead you enjoy so much and try not to worry. Trust that things will work out & tomorrow is another day filled with possibilities.
Well I certainly hope you were snacking in the garden as you were out handling all of your visitors! I feel terrible for Daisy and terrible that I know you are worried about her even though you have to put on your “farm nerves”. If she can no longer give milk will you keep her for breeding or as a pet? Horrible that she’s in such pain, I wish it would just heal immediately! Hope you enjoyed all your visitors. 🙂
you re absolutely right, I east cucumbers and tomatoes and beans by the handful as I walk about! I love having people on the farm.. maybe one day you could come too!!?.. c
Oh my goodness, what a DREAM that would be! I will put it on my bucket list! 🙂
Celi – DO look at the big picture of which you wrote and DO look after yourself first!! You have taken on so much new during the past few months: perhaps remember ‘you start at the very beginning, it’s a very good place to start’! Drop everything not absolutely essential, perhaps stop the blog also for a week or two and then add to your agenda one by one by one . . . .
I know darling eha mama and thank you, but I have a sneaking suspicion that like me, you are at your best when under pressure.. it is only in the summer, come winter I will be all on the couch with my knitting! That is if someone teaches me how to knit!.. c
Pressure: too true about me!! BUT, I DO take care of me: had a ‘funny virus’ last weekend which impinged on my three incompetent heart valves and ulcers – well, I have been virtually in bed all week [and am going back in about an hour] doing fun stuff which was different [like writing/proofreading/ writing critiques] . . . today is the first day I actually cooked a ‘proper’ meal [and just loved my osso buco/Jewish couscoius 🙂 !] . . . . OK, you have the animals, but methinks that should be all for at least a week or so, then add when things even out . . . . heaps of hugs and love and ni-ni Eha PS I just have to come teach you to knit . . . . used to do it professionally for five of my ‘difficult’ years . . . . but, umm, your winters!!!!!!!!!!!!
come in the fall, it is a wonderful time! c
Present plans [shhh!] to cross a few ponds and see a few people fall of next year . . . . ni-ni!!! E
I read this so late in the day – Celi, I am sending positive energy and praying that the antibiotic works miracles. You are such a tough lady… your kind and loving thoughts in the midst of troubles are inspiring. Lots of love to you my beautiful friend.
Keeping you and poor Daisy in my prayers.
To be a real farmer is to live with a broken heart.
I know you’re working hard with your vet but I have a few questions about Daisy. Is her teat healed from the tear? Is it healed enough that you could put the cow bra on her? An adult sized diaper, filled with water and heated in the microwave tucked inside the cow bra against that quarter might help. I know it sounds crazy but with my own mastitis, it’s what I did every time I had a flare up, and they were often. Like Daisy, I produced way more milk than needed . I would heat one of my kid’s clean diapers filled w/water in the microwave and tuck in my bra. Gave a lot of relief and helped with breaking down of the infection. Anything’s worth a try and since you have the gargantuan bra, might as well put it to use. Good luck.