The afternoons are spent in a series of gentle moves that culminate in The Milking. I put Naomi into the barn about 2pm. She just runs straight in every time. 
Her mother waits outside in the yards and we milk her about 5pm. I usually get about two gallons which is plenty for the house hold and the animals.
Sheila my big fat pig waits on the other side of the barn, with her feet in her water, hoping for a little left over milk.
The milking shed smells like essential oils, the floors are washed with lemongrass and peppermint oils mixed with water and a little Dawn (dishwashing liquid) to keep the flies out. I don’t know if theses oils actually do repel the flies but it smells just lovely. We make the oils ourselves so they are very strong and the scent lingers all day.
Aunty Del always comes in at milking time and watches from her pen. She likes to be part of the action and Our John brings her fruit. He always cuts the apple or pear into quarters and she does not give up searching for her treats until she has had all four pieces. Lady Astor refuses to eat fruit even when I cut them up small she will leave the apples on her plate.
I notice these things for you. When you see something of interest do you point it out to whoever is close to you. If you see a a hawk, or a deer, a helicopter or a funny looking cloud. A rabbit or a cat in a tree. A rainbow. A shadow. Simple things. Do you point and say hey look at that! And we really don’t mind who we are sharing this vision with. We can discuss it with a bank teller, or the girl at the check out. A friend or your beloved. Or the dog. We just need to feel the realness of a vision shared.
I remember when I first moved to America about eight years ago now, I saw a snake, a big one, in the compost heap. I screamed (as you would), threw the pitchfork away (as you do) , turned, tripped over the fence (literally), picked myself up and raced through the garden, up the steps and into the house to get my phone and call my daughter in New Zealand to tell her straight away that I had just seen a snake. I wasn’t afraid – I just wanted to tell her straight away.
As human beings we have a very deep need for someone else to see what we see. Feel that same delight. Connect. Maybe if someone else sees what we see it proves that we really are here and seeing what we are seeing. I would hate to be a figment of my own imagination. I don’t like to use the word share because it has been so overused in the blogging world. But we all do love to share what we see, it is a natural thing.
A good thing.
I am lucky because I have Camera House so I can share what I see with you every day. Maybe this is why blogging and commenting comes so naturally to many of us.
I hope you have a lovely day,
Your friend on the farm
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
55 responses to “Waiting for the Milking”
Lady Astor is quite a character, just like that big fat pig 😉
Am I early or you late ? I never normally get here until after a hundred other people ! This is my reward for going out to supper with a lonely girlfriend on a cold wet winter’s night, and coming home to find you !!!
Thank you for noticing and sharing. 🙂
Well said (and shared).
Connecting. I think that is the thing. It is wonderful to see or experience something. But the wonderfulness doubles when you can share it with another. Even that heart shaped cloud in the sky or the large bumble bee that chased you around the yard. We are meant to connect. It makes for a fulfilling life. ❤
I love this…all of it. Thank you for the reminder to show (and talk about) the things we see. And PS I wish I had a cow. 🙂
Your blog seems to me like a diary, a modern day diary that includes pictures to document the happenings at the farmy with a few memories/stories thrown in for good measure. A digital diary that you show us everyday. It is a joy. Have a wonderful day C.
Can I come and be your dairymaid? A day spent gently amidst the aromas of mint, lemongrass, hay, cow and milk. Time to brush the cows and talk to them. Time to greet Sheila and give her a nice slosh of fresh warm milk. Time to milk Lady A, on a stool with the bucket between my feet, and my forehead pressed into her warm flank and the noise of munching and occasional cow flatulence. Bliss!
Talk of a la carte menus!! Auntie Del and Lady Astor sound like school age kids one good with fruit and veggies and the other tight lipped and shaking her head 🙂 !
your days have such a lovely rhythm- and yes we are always pointing out little events such as our Jackrabbit who for what ever reason is not afraid of us…he or she continues to much on the nearby grasses while we go about our outside projects. I guess because we are just two humans quietly moving outside.
Just love that you share photos and shots from the farmy with us daily. It is a treat we all look forward to each day, that’s for sure! Sharing seems to make life’s big and small events even more wonderful! Just love Sheila’s picture today! 🙂
Then you’ll be happy to hear that it’s blowing a gale and there’s hail rolling off the roof tiles and any apple blossoms that stick remained on the trees are now blowing their way toward Calais. Goodness the weather is strange! Good afternoon, c, and thank you for the charming photos today.
Human need I believe, that need to be connected to someone or thing. We are not meant to be solitary creatures. I am thankful for the many connections I have made through simply tapping out words on a keyboard. You must have the most wonderful barn ever with those scents mixing with the animal smells. Can I live in your barn Miss C…
You have the gift of noticing, and we have the gift of your noticings. Like you, I’m always saying “look at that” or “did you see?” But mostly Jock says “so what” or grunts into his beard. He’s not a noticer.
That Sheila is a cheeky one! I love that picture of her waiting for milk.
Have a lovely day,
love, ViV xxx
Where did you get your equipment to make your own essential oils? Love you stories, your blog and most of Nanny Boo!
I found it on the internet – it is a very simple process in fact i might start another peppermint one tonight.. c