Diffusion
Yesterday – right out of nowhere – the day relaxed. The air warmed up. The wind dropped. The grass seemed longer as the cows rested. The piglets dozed in their rubbish bin. Lady Astor took her baby into the field, stowing him in a grassy corner while she grazed. Baby Bobby fed on and off during the day. I moved him from quarter to quarter so Lady’s udder was evenly milked by the calf. I don’t want a repeat of the last Bobby who only drank from one quarter.
He is rather a stunning fellow. Already he knows the milking routine, she walks into the milking room and he trots past into the calf sun-room, I shut the door after him and he goes and lays down in the corner to wait.
Lady will have him all day every day for a wee while. Then I will lock him up for the afternoon. With his help Lady’s udder will slowly soften. Keeping the calf moving around her quarters helps mitigate mastitis. Her udder grew very fast (which contributed to the milk fever) – swelling and splitting – her teats more nubs than teats – but after milking Baby can latch on easily. Things are progressing.
It was so warm yesterday (76F/24C). The sun was gentle and diffused. We planted more in the North garden. Had lunch under the trees. The speckled corn began to sprout. The girls planted cucumbers and zucchinis (ever the optimist) in the North garden. The supports for most of the tomatoes were erected. The cats watched from the trees. And last night all the new plants were well watered in with a good heavy downpour. (Of course).
I found some more hay. My old hay man went digging in the back corners of his hay shed and found me 60 bales of alfalfa hay for three dollars a bale and so we drove over and took the lot before he changed his mind. He always gives me a good price. Bless him.
Lady Astor is very pleased. She loves Phil’s hay much more than mine. Such a bonus. I really am very happy to get more hay since the ground is so wet we are a ways from cutting mine.
Lady’s calcium paste should arrive today so I will give her those for a few days just to back up her IV intervention of Tuesday.
I hope you have a lovely day.
celi
Thursday 05/11 20% / 0 inCloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 62F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.
54 Comments on “Diffusion”
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thekitchensgarden 
That sounds like a much better day with less stress all round 🙂
Yes! I.ll take it.. c
I bet Lady Astor feels the same way too!
He is a good looking calf, shiny and well formed. Glad it was a better day.
Isn’t he – a lovely wee boy.. c
Exhale …. much better. Laura
I agree.. c
Perspective is variable when it comes to temperatures … You say it was so warm at 24C and here in north Queensland we got a high of 26C today and I called it quite crisp on it’s climb from 20 to 26! haha
hahaha… Yes, for sure… and right now at noon here, in Toronto Canada, it feels perfectly tropical at 10c; I was just out in the garden without a jacket. Temperature really is a relative thing, isn’t it 🙂
Yes! Today is cooler than yesterday but no rain and no wind so it feels PERFECT! c
WHAT A RELIEF! it is good to know that all is well…a bit of a bumpy ride for a while…but am happy if you are happy
Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 1:16 PM
Happy right this minute!!. c
Here’s to better, calmer days!
Hopefully more of them in the days to come .. c
No arguments there!!
Lady A and cows in general seem to think the grass, and hay, is always greener on the other side of the fence… usually near the road 🐂 🚘
Yes they always do .. c
You all deserve such a good day, hay day.
“hay day,” clever!
YES!!! c
The babies are beautiful. All of them. And I am happy for Lady Astor’s udders that there is a plan in place to keep them…well….happy. I also rather like the majestic shot of Mr. Man on top of the hay bales. Well done, Miss C.!
I hate this stage when the udder is so swollen – it never looks good
I just have one word in mind when I see it: ouch.
What a sweet little Bobby and so good. It makes life a lot easier when you have an animal that does what you want it to do!
Have a lovely calm day.
Bless his little heart – soon he will wake up and be bad!! c
Sounds like smooth sailing for a day or two… or more!
Let’s hope
You needed a good day.
Yes – we did and it was even more appreciated because of that.. c
And….. breathe out. Sounds like things are back to running smoothly. No more crises’ for a while, I hope!
I hope too!! c
The Bobby is so cute! Imagine that at what 3 days old he can trot and know where he’s to go for breakfast. Amazing!
He is lightening and gave me a proper run around this morning
That looks like lovely rich fully alfalfa hay! YAY!
It is nice hay – I can see a lot of bloom but ah well – it is gold for us right now
This post makes my heart lighter. So happy things are rolling along nicely now.
rolling along slowly now – lovely
He really does look like a stunning little fellow, to use your word. But then all babies are rather special, aren’t they. Does he have Angus in him? I love the shining black of his coat. You have so much going on there with baby cows, piggies, chicks, gardens… and all the adult animals to look after as well. Next winter’s travels will be well earned! Hope you can take a little time to smell the — well, lilacs should be blossoming about now, right? ~ Mame 🙂
Yes he is half angus. And just as well he is a bull – you know how I am about keeping heifers!
I was thinking last evening about little you in the field with a very big cow with nearly dead weight leaning against you for support. Then I thought about the vet trying to get to you when every minute matters. It made me wonder if vets have emergency lighting on their vehicles or are they restricted by the regular flow of traffic. I would like to think that at least your vet has emergency lights. Happy to read that the Farmy has found it’s rhythm again.
Yes it was against me that she was leaning but not with all her weight – that would have flattened me. But it was the type of lean that you would never walk away from. The vet does not have a flashing light but then neither do we have traffic out here!
You had such a splendid day…..and bless that hay man!
I love that hay man – he reminds me a lot of my very favourite boyfriend from years ago – I have quite the soft spot for him..
A well deserved peaceful day after several trying ones is always welcome. Handsome chap that new Bobby. The piglets look grand too. Here’s to another lovely, peaceful day.
Phew! A very smooth running farm day for you all after that awful frightening one! Your little Bobby is quite the darling fellow!
I hope John doesn’t read the blog comments because if he does he will never let you see your hay man again if he reminds you of your favorite bf! Hah!
I hope this sets the pattern for your summer. The new calve sounds interesting. I hope his good behaviour continues and he’s smart but not a smarty pants. Enjoy you day.
We have also had a prolonged period of rain, after floods early last month it has rained on and off pretty much every day, not heavy rain but enough to keep everything muddy. I actually find the mud the hardest part of pig farming, Everything gets so dirty and muddy, it never dries out enough to cut the grass and it is a constant battle to keep the pigs sleeping areas warm and dry as they drag all the mud inside. The cheapest hay/mulch I can find here is $7 a bale and that’s what I use for bedding. Lucerne/alfalfa is $17 dollars a bale from the produce store a bit cheaper if you buy it privately, it has been this way for a couple of years now.
Your lovely warm day and al fresco lunch, plus the general feeling of contentedness that permeates this post sounds wonderfully bucolic and I’m sure it is a welcome break from the rain.
Also your hay man does not look old, no no, not at all!
I was thinking the same thing. The hay looks good but so does he😉
Agreed! Perhaps Celi should receive a special ‘thank you’ for more brightness in our day also . . . oh I do wish there were not so many camera-shy folk on the farmy itself 🙂 !
With such a carefully managed regime, I truly hope Lady A’s udder survives in good shape, and that little Bobby puts on solid weight and achieves great things for you when he goes to market one day. Meanwhile, let the sun shine and the grass grow, and eventually, let there be hay!
I don’t remember anything after “three dollars a bale.” I think I may have fainted.
I know! It has a few weeds but good and edible.. c
That calf is beautiful Celi .. what a gorgeous face. Love the shots of your kitty. $3 a bale .. bargain! 😃