On my way down to once a day milking I milk every 18 hours for one cycle. This changes the cows from twice a day to once a day without trauma. But within that cycle is one midnight milking. It is actually a rather nice milking period once I have woken the cows up and brought them in. It is quiet, the lights are low and there is no fuss or bother, last night I had some nice classical music (Bach – cellos) which I turn up loud and I took out a very strong coffee and a glass of wine (in my jar with a lid so no bugs flew into it), and the cows and I had our midnight date. The sounds of the night are all muted, the pigs shuffle about and resettle and the cows and I work together. It takes about an hour and a half to milk and clean, strain the milk and tidy up completely and I rather drew it out last night enjoying working alone in the dark.
Today I milk in the evening and then by Saturday we are landed neatly back onto a late morning milking and ready to proceed with one milking every 24 hours. From then on I will milk after second breakfast. A perfectly civilised hour. Hopefully everyone stays healthy and we get into our new rhythm easily.
Tonight I am loading everyone up into The Boat (my newish truck that seats six) and taking them to the Italian restaurant way off down the road for our monthly woofer dinner, where the food is lovely, the owner has got in some New Zealand wine for me and no-one has to cook or do dishes. (Last nights dishes took NINE minutes – a very heavy night in the kitchen). So I might give myself a proper siesta. 
I have made marscapone for the chef as a present. I make mine with lemon juice which is a cheats way but is still delicious. It is still straining in the fridge but should be done by tonight.
Marscapone is like creme fraiche but easier. Very easy actually. Just heat four cups of cream to 190F, add 3 tablespoons of lemon juice (or vinegar) – stir until it lightly curdles then take off the heat – cool a bit then strain for about 12 – 24 hours in the fridge. It is lovely and creamy and lightly tangy. Perfect on everything. 
Easy peasy.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Love celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
36 responses to “Midnight milking”
Easy peasy…Love that phase. I think I will try to include it in my world. Enjoy your dining out tonight.
I rather like late-night driving. So peaceful. Enjoy your lovely dinner!
what a lovely post. the narration was so direct and delicate that I felt like I was living that exact moment… and the funny thing is I have never milked a cow!
Sounds so creamy. Enjoy dinner out tonight and make the most of that siesta.
What a civilised and peaceful milking session you’ve described for us. I love the ideas of the girls giving up their milk to the strains of Bach cellos. I must try your mascarpone recipe with some lactase-treated cream; I’ve had to give up the commercial variety because of lactose intolerance.
I am most surprised the cows do not object to this late milking, but on the other hand it may seem like a midnight feast of sorts 🙂 Milking after second breakfast seems more civilised indeed. Laura
Have a great dinner! Homemade mascarpone sounds lovely and what a wonderful gift. Do you make your own yogurt? Do you have instructions for that? I want to try to make some but afraid to do it.
https://thekitchensgarden.com/2012/07/01/how-to-make-fresh-homemade-yogurt-and-farmers-cheese/ We make yoghurt like this about twice a week .. but the fresh cheese I make now is a pressed ricotta – much easier.
Thanks!
Good afternoon to you all. I must try making mascarpone on day. Sounds a bit like creme fraiche. >
It really is just a thickened tangy cream – like creme fraiche but not cultured with the buttermilk. Much easier
I have a question do you use a bug (mosquito repellent) they have been biting me like crazy! Thanks-Marsha Kern
Mosquitos hate me – so I am seldom bothered by them – the flies on the other hand have been terrible this year!
Trying to picture the cows smelling the coffee and listening to Bach while you and the bugs and the wine get to work. You have a way of unifying life’s small moments into something larger and rather pleasing!
I love marscopone..absolutely delish! But I think that your homemade is far better than i buy in the supermarket and I am not clever enough to even attempt to do it myself..also it is not possible to get real cream in Bulgaria. They have the cows but no cream !!!…I really hope that you will enjoy your meal out ..it sounds yummy..lots of love
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2016 at 1:32 PM
I’m guessing that you don’t live in Sofia or Plovdiv so maybe can’t get it locally? But here’s a forum that discusses the different types of cream there, so someone must carry it. http://www.proz.com/kudoz/english_to_bulgarian/other/282013-single_cream_vs_double_cream.html Hope you find it.
The pictures of the fields today are exceptionally beautiful, so easy to tell that autumn has arrived. Have a wonderful dinner tonight.
Have a fantabulous evening! I am currently almost kitchen-less and almost bathroom-less, utility as soon as I’m back up to proper cooking speed I’m going to make mascarpone!
Enjoy your evening out!
That sounds like such a peaceful night with the milking cow, Bach,and wine . The pictures are beautiful. have a wonderful day☺
And the cows were perfectly behaved too.. luckily they did not want any of my wine! c