And rains and rains and winds and winds. Though today is just wind. Cold wind.
Yesterday evening, in my clown suit and jacket, I opened the gates for the cows to come up and shelter by the barn for the night and they GALLOPED through the fields to get to the trees. Clods of soil flying up behind them. Ah well.
There is still feed in the home fields so I don’t want to take them across to their winter quarters just yet. Generally the forecast is still pretty OK. Especially if you are a cow. We have done very well for pasture this year. It is almost November and I am still not feeding out. This is very good. My objective is getting to December in the fields. I have yet to achieve that though. But maybe this year I will. I love to have hay in the barns, but then feeding it out hurts! It is like spending your savings on groceries.
The only one getting hay at the moment is Lady Astor (and of course the pigs) . Lady is on dry forage to help her cut down her milk production. We are down to just under 20 pounds a day and dropping. Once a day. I need her to halve that production then I can dry her up. She is unimpressed by this new regimen.
It is cold and blustery this morning. So I will not start chores until it is full light. The animals like to stay tucked up in their warm beds until I come out with my buckets.
It will be a tucked- up-in-straw kind of day.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Love celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
71 responses to “Autumn Rains”
It is often best that I check our weather forecast by reading your blog. Your cold winds AND glorious sunshine arrived here about an hour ago. It was quite something when I was out doing the chores this morning. I’m having to dose two of our donkeys with antibiotics each morning … which works best one-on-one in their favourite donkey barn. That means the others have to be outside the stall gate … clamoring to get in so they can also enjoy the reward treats. The rain was pouring down, the wind was whipping the leaves about, the sky refused to lighten up even after ‘sunrise’. Then, an amazing glow filled the paddock as the edge of the storm system began to move off. It was a stunning contrast in a very short time.
Are your donkeys sick?
I pray the minus temperatures will hold off for you for quite a while. It’s coldish here, and Jock lit the stove this afternoon. Now I’m too hot!
Love,
ViV 0x0
It is that time of year in a month the fire will be perfect.. c
Good Morning this cool, wet, dreary looking day. Just the kind of day to do some baking and sewing here. To update on my medical condition: am now in remission, thankfully. Am still fighting some of the side effects of the chemo but am sure that………..this, too, shall pass……….and I will be free of all of this. Turns out I was allergic to one of the meds in my chemo. Am so enjoying life and grateful for every day. So enjoy catching up on this blog. Sure did miss my daily dose of the farmy when in the hospital.
You are so strong and wonderful – getting yourself through all that – well done Katy.. we are all thrilled to bits that you are getting a remission.. c
I love the contrast of the photos, cool autumnal but cosy and inviting, and the reminder of the cycle of the seasons, which seems right although it does have its challenges. But without the challenges, then what? I don’t believe we were meant to live generically, we need the climates and seasons and weather and landscapes and economies and ecologies and individuals who have beautifully crafted lives not something factory produced, processed and marketed!
I agree – there is something soothing about the progression of the seasons.. c
I did not comment on your photographs yet: They are lovely. Or shall I say: Your animals are so lovely? And you catch them so wonderfully with your camera. I love the expression of the Queenie’s Bobby’s face, the gilts seem as happy as always, Lady A’s meaningful eyes, the KuneKunes, the birds, not to forget the cats, your dogs – all count on you, all rely on you, all trust you. That gives me such a warm feeling….
I am glad Irmi – thank you.. c
I am so late chiming in, today, but I share the what-will-I-make-for-dinner dilemma. It quite boggles the mind sometimes.
There must be a better way! c
The one time of year everything seems to wear the same color scheme. Love the picture.
(Clown outfits? In wet weather I have some old foul weather sailing gear from our boat – school bus yellow(so you can been seen if washed overboard) coat with hood and farmer style overalls. Just as good for walking dogs as it was for sailing …and I have to work to stay an appropriate size in order to wear them…so motivating, too. Who knew?)
Laugh!!! c
Gray, drizzly, cold and windy here today, I’ve started a fire in the woodstove but the weather guys are saying near 70 next week! What on earth? I won’t comlain, last year we started the woodstove in October and it never went out til spring!
Yes – we have that warm weather coming too! And it is great.. I know at some point we will be slammed but am happy to wait!
I would like to stay tucked up in straw, too!
If ever you get here to visit you will be in straw heaven, c
Lady A is giving you ‘the eye.’ Better stay on her good side! I’m glad Hugo makes a suitable stand-in for her while John can’t be there. Lovely carpet of leaves prepared for you.
And a lovely day to you too! Stay dry Celi 😃