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”
Well done, All at The Farmy, especially Chief Celi!
Really lovely photos…. so many clouds!
Is Kevin from Argentina? Or was he using Fede’s book to cook from? The name ‘Kevin’ doesn’t sound terribly Argentinian… but you never know.
Sounds as though Ton has trained Boo on bringing home the cows.
The hay does look wonderful all stacked up on that wagon but it does appear it would topple at the slightest hint of a breeze. Glad you got it into the barn before that happened.
Hope you have a lovely day too. ~ Mame 🙂
Kevin is an American but got hold of Fede’s book – he did a good job of dinner too! c
Fabulous hay! Love your cow and Boo stories! and the photos today are absolutely stellar! Cheers!
You are making me homesick with that photo of hay bales stacked on the trailer. I can almost smell that fresh hay.
I do remember the smell of fresh hay and I’m getting homesick also. Great photos !
Excellent pictures. I love the marmalade cat. Nice progress report on your farm and your team. Made my day! Enjoy yours!
Have been following you; a daily ritual, but finally getting Windows 10 and I together to show visible thanks for posting; best to yhou
Glad you have things in order.. c
Esther turned me on to your blog about a year ago. One of the best things she’s done! Much love, Gayle
Today’s photos look particularly fantastic! 😀
It sounds like Lady is being much better this year and doesn’t require having John in the barn to be milked. Practice (on her part) makes perfect. 🙂 Beautiful shots of the hay and clouds.
It seems that she does not mind who is managing her feed as long as someone is. And Victoria is very good with her.. . c
Happiest memories of childhood..feeding my soul even though I wasn’t aware of such a thing…walking Bossie to and fro the barn and helping on hay making day !
I loved that cow…..it felt magical and important. I am right there as you describe it…..
Banana Cream Pie! It sounds like Lady Astor is settling down, I’m sure that’s a relief. I don’t know how all that hay stays on the cart!
And the minds all work as one.
Linda
Oh how I miss those high summer clouds in the country. Thank you for sharing the views. It makes my heart happy.
It sounds as if Victoria has good vet instincts, if she’s calm and gentle and acceptable to Lady A. I love the idea of Aunty Del and Boo doing their Milking Training together. They’ve both heard the call and seen the blue shepherd’s staff before, so nothing is too new or alarming. And as for that gorgeous piggy face peeking out of the root cellar, yes, Mad’s right, just crown it with a black ARP (Air Raid Patrol) tin helmet, possibly with a daisy stuck in at the side….
Seems this group of photos has triggered a bit of homesickness in many of us. Those bales and wagon. And those skies with the perfect clouds! It looks more like Montana.
How is it that the root cellar is unused (except by the piggies)? When I had the stables there was an actual air raid shelter, complete with air filtering, floor drains and electricity. It was two smallish rooms and while I used it to store all sorts of food and supplies its best use was for shelter from tornadoes and a cool spot for the dogs to lounge in the summer.
I don’t use it for anything as it is all the way down the back in a field – i think that is where the first house on this property was.. way too far for me to store food let alone run there in a tornado! c