My summer people have begun to arrive. Yesterday I picked up Inaki. (And the traffic was terrible both ways so Boo and I spent HOURS in the car – Ton had to stay home because he had been playing with a skunk in the night). Inaki is from the Basque region of Spain, he is delightful, strong and very easy to get along with. He is here for just under a month. Next week a student from the cold East Coast of the USA will drop in for a week or so on his way to warmer Climes. He is not quite confirmed yet but is enthusiastic. This means we can make a really good dent in the barn cleaning.
Today we begin in the milking parlour, so I can start the milking refresher training once that is ship shape we will move to the calving pen. If we work fast we can get a lot of the rotting material down to the compost heap before it rains then we will start cleaning the walls in there. So I will teach Inaki how to run the tractor first. The pitch fork will be second nature before he knows it.
The Cadet will begin her visits again this week. I hope to run to the feed store and collect a batch of new chicks (layers) this morning . The cadet will get them sorted out – she is good with chicks.
Inaki will also start a set of eggs to incubate.
So – you see? The summer really is getting underway now. But we got home late yesterday evening so I fed the animals fast, this morning I will go through slower. You miss things when you are in a hurry and the light is going and you are hungry.
And so to work.
I hope you have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
22 responses to “The Summer People”
Great that you now have some extra hands to help you. I am sure they are much appreciated.
Welcome Inaki! Hope you are prepared for the experience of a lifetime. Miss C will show all sorts of things that you will remember forever. Hope the weather is kind to you, can get a bit extreme here in the USA!
Hurray for summer and good help. Welcome Inaki, to the farmy. Looking forward to seeing The Cadet again too.. Laura
Inaki is such a traditional Basque name! I bet he has a surname which is full of Rs and Ks, and perhaps ends in I. It’s a beautiful language… Ongi etorri, Inaki, gauza asko ikasiko duzu! My father lived in Donostia for 5 years or so, so I’ve heard it spoken quite a bit.
Sounds like the farmy will be hopping with lots of labor and loving care!!! 🙂
So glad you will be having some help. Welcome back to the cadet. Calving time will be exciting, too.
love,
ViV x
Summer already! Here in the frosty northeast (20F this morning when I opened the barn doors) it is not quite Spring. Already plenty to do, though. Good luck with your new and returning team members!
It must be nice to have company, as well as labour 🙂
Welcome, team members! I already know how much the Cadet loves the Farmy. It will be fun to meet your newest team member, who already sounds like a great fit.
that last photo is a giant tree walking onto your farm. hopefully he’s there to help out as well…
Oh he is though he tends to drop things from a great height!
Helpers on a farm are always welcome and often needed.
HIHO!!!! It’s nice to have help!
Linda
Shouldn’t have to feed Tane so much after all those eggs he inhaled! And that’s no yolk! Cheers for your summer help!
Oh, things are heating up on the farmy — such good news about the Cadet returning. And welcome to Inaki — hope he finds his experience in America a positive one, although with your influence I don’t expect anything else. Is his ultimate purpose to learn or perfect use of English?
Hope you have a lovely day too ~ Mame 🙂
Oh, and your forsythia is in bloom, lucky you! The one in my garden is in perpetual shade so it’s always later, but I haven’t noticed others in the neighbourhood blossoming yet. Always, for me at least, it’s a confirmation of spring’s arrival.
Wonderful y !bienvenido a Iñaki¡