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.
The Kitchen's Garden 
54 responses to “Diffusion”
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! 😃