And all the hay is in the barn and all of us went to bed early last night. Kevin was kitchen Mama yesterday making an Argentinian meat pie and banana cream pie.What a relief it was NOT to have to cook after loading 156 bales of hay. As you know one of the hardest parts of being a female farmer is having to cook and run a house at the same time. This crew I am weaving together now is incredible at sharing all the work! 
Today has dawned fine and clear – I am drinking coffee number one, laundry in the basket, all the lists are on the board, work will commence shortly so I had better go out and get the cow in. Victoria will be up soon to help she is one of my volunteers is milking with me now so she is getting up earlier- she is on track to be a vet and so she is going to slowly get closer and closer to Lady until she can milk her by herself. The experience alone is enormous for us. I have never let a volunteer help milk before and am really impressed with the results. And Lady is being a star.
Here are the pictures from yesterday. I will talk to you in the comments today. So ask any questions. But for now I had better stroll out and bring the cows in. 
Good morning!
Here is an interesting thing. This is Lady Astor’s second season being milked and she is used to being brought up by Ton and I. I call to her wave my blue stick around as a signal and Ton just trots along behind her as she comes up to the barn, she ignores him and they both go to where they are going without any fuss. But this summer I am bringing up Del as well. And BOO has taken to trotting quietly behind Aunty Del as she walks up to the barn exactly like Ton. So I have two cows being followed by two dogs and me with my blue shepherds stick walking with them all, calling “Up the the barn, cows! Up to the barn.”
Sometimes this farm has a mind of its own!
Have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
59 responses to “156 Bales”
Gorgeous sky and clouds. Have a great day.
take one down, pass it around, 155 bales of hay in the barn. … thanks for the earworm!
you are CRUEL!
heh. she started it!
Laugh! Dammit now it is my head!
Went mushroom hunting in the forest yesterday and got a big basket of chanterelles and porcini. We call them girolles and cepes. Made a cepe omelette for breakfast and planning in veal and girolles in cream and white wine for dinner. But, making a strawberry clafoutis first. Busy kitchen day here.
Did Ton say ‘watch and learn’?! Boo doesn’t want to be left out. If I’m fortunate, WordPress will let me comment… Pics beautiful as always. Masses of sky, amazing. Glad your team is working well. Have a good day!
The old store house, now pigsty, looks like an air raid shelter, complete with air warden. They used to wear black tin helmets 😉
I was thinking the same thing! Although I didn’t know it was for storage, I assumed it was an unused storm shelter.
It is a root cellar and Yes! mad – we have them all along the shore in Napier New Zealand – why didn’t I see that before.. c
Aaah back at last. My electronics all decided they didn’t want to speak to each other any more and cut me off completely. All sorted out again, thank the gods. Read al the posts back and then forwards again 🙂 busy time on the farmy indeed. Laura
Wondered where you got to! c
First comment disappeared, probably in your spam box 😦 Been away due to technical hitches, all fixed now. Farmy sure is busy now. Laura
Good to see you back here Laura! Glad you are back online.
So – if you get another milk cow – will you need another pup? Could you get a cat or peahen to sub in? Happy Wednesday!
The weather has been perfect the last few days. I’m so glad as my little town has its yearly festival this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, complete with carnival, carnival and church food, big parade Saturday afternoon (yes I have a float) and much entertainment under the Big Tent on Main Street each night. I will be one tired soul by Sunday. (I am on the committee) Your place looks so peaceful….I may have to come out for a visit……and a coffee!
OH! Maybe we will try to come over .. c
That might be fun..text me if you decide to.
Well done all of you. There is something very satisfying about a hard days work
Whoa! That wagon load of hay bales looks so…..how shall I say it…….ready to tumble over at the slightest nudge. Do you rope them altogether before pulling them back to the barn with the tractor? Or are they securely stacked with no chance of falling? Just love the way the dogs help you! Yes, it makes sense that Boo is also involved with the herding now. It is in his genes! xo
No rope – my hay man stacks them well – plus when i drag it up we have to go up a hump to get on the track – it can get a Bit hairy.. c
Look at that mountain of hay! It’s going to be a good winter!
Do kids today still make wishes when passing a hay wagon? That’s a lovely one. How lovely the hay loft will smell! ( and such memories of playing in those retangular bales – the huge round ones have their charms, but stacked hay in a barn – lovely
That’s an impressive load of hay!! I’d bet everyone fell into their beds after a full day of hard work. I love the shot of the pig coming out of the cellar. Is that a storm cellar? It’s time to get my first cup and take it out while I water the very dry garden. The heat has finally abated and normal June temps will resume. This triple digits isn’t even good for the birds. Don’t want to see anymore of it. Hope the milking goes well. You make me smile at the vision of two dogs herding two cows and the shepherdess waving her blue wand over the lot. You are making magic there. 🙂
I relish all of your posts, but, today, this one really sings to me; you, the cows and dogs and walking stick heading up to the barn, your helpers and their contributions, everything coming together under those impressive clouds. All that – and 156 bales of hay. You do good work, Celi, and I thank you.