Boo and the cats have an arrangement. They don’t run – he won’t chase them. But he still watches them very carefully in case someone wants to play. 
We had a little gap of brighter cloud-shine at the end of the day yesterday. Today is dawning clear though.
It seems I have very little to say though. We are just slogging through.
Lady Astors milk production has dropped enough that I can probably dry her up now. Knowing that this is the last of the milk until next year is making me reluctant, I love the cream, and that butter, but it has to happen. I made a decision to be milk free for 2018 so I can put my energy into other enterprises. And she is getting tired of the continual production. She is not a young cow. And milking for almost a year is really not natural. Though dairy cows are not natural either!
So if she continues with this drop, her last milking will be tomorrow. Tomorrow I leave for Chicago then California for my annual visit to my son and his family. If I am not here all her triggers for milking are gone. She is lovely and healthy. I have a stack of grass hay for her to eat as she dries up. No more alfalfa.
Also no more lifting that pump up and down those steps, dragging that pump back and forth through the snow and milking in this cold. You would think everyone will be grateful. But I always miss my cows when I dry them up. MIlking is my favourite time. Just me and the cow. It is not a chore really, more of a contemplation with movements. Because her udder is so long and ruinous Lady cannot be bred again, it would be irresponsible, so this is her last milking ever.
It is a relief to decide to finish milking though. I have been putting it off. Poor old Lady.
She is not going anywhere – she will wander about our fields for a few years yet.
I hope your day is lovely – we have SUN! That is lovely!
Love celi
PS That mess of soaking flaxseeds in the silver bowl is the beginning of some sprouted seed crackers. They have been in the dehydrator all night. I will tell you about them tomorrow.
WEATHER: Sun. Cold sun.
Monday 02/12 10% / 0 in
Sunny. High 18F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night 02/12 10% / 0 in
Partly cloudy. Low 6F. Winds light and variable.
Sun
6:51 am 5:23 pm
Moon
Waning Crescent, 10% visible 4:44 am 2:37 pm
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
42 responses to “WATCHING”
Store bought milk now I guess.
I can’t really drink the store bought – it makes me queasy – I will just as happily go without milk now – back to black coffee!!
John will buy himself some milk though. Butter on the other hand I will not go without! – I WILL buy that.
I could not agree more. I am not a milk drinker, only use it for baking.
Good Morning! What lovely pink piggies! And that butter is making my mouth drool! I know you will miss your milk, cream and all the dairy products next year, but we must do right by our animals….. Enjoy your trip and enjoy being out of the SNOW and cold a few days.
Out of the cold and snow sounds wonderful right at the moment – but there you are – it IS winter after all
A very good post and nice pictures. Thanks for sharing!
You are welcome Henrietta. c
Gosh, do I understand about the milking! It will be a nice break for you, but no doubt you’ll miss the closeness to Lady, and all of the animals who shadow you to the barn during milking time. It will be so freeing! I’ve decided that I’m only going to milk our goats once a day this year, in the mornings, as the twice a day schedule can certainly cut down on any sort of social outing in the evenings. As you well know, when milking twice a day, everything revolves around milking times! How wonderful to be off to CA and family! I think it will be warm out there! 🙂
Once a day right from the beginning and you will be fine – just think of yourself as another KID! c
I don;t envy you dragging the pump back and forth – it must have been hard labour in the old days, milking by hand. Maybe you could start an ex milker herd – the restaurants would be queuing up for the tender mature beef in a few years time.
Bon voyage!
They must have Frozen too – an experienced milker can get it done in 30 minutes of so i heard but it would take me an hour!! But that is still a long time sat on a stool in the cold. c
I know it’s not the same, but I enjoyed breast feeding for a while with all 3 of mine, but boy when I was done, I was done! Kinda felt like a cow sometimes that needed to get milked. Lady Astor may be happy, even though you’ve enjoyed. You take such great care of your animals. Safe travels to California!
I breast fed mine too and I totally concur!!
Happy retirement to lady A. Happy and safe travels, the sun awaits you ☺
I hope so – I tend to bring rain with me and they do not want rain there now that the blossoms are all out.
Oh it must be such a relief for her not to have anymore babies…she has done well but now deserves e rest. I do hope that you will have a safe journey and that your visit to the windy city will be mighty good….
On 12 February 2018 at 14:47, thekitchensgarden wrote:
> Cecilia Mary Gunther posted: “Boo and the cats have an arrangement. They > don’t run – he won’t chase them. But he still watches them very carefully > in case someone wants to play. We had a little gap of brighter cloud-shine > at the end of the day yesterday. Today is dawning clear th” >
Yes I hope so too!
Safe travels. I know how much you will miss the milking, but it’s nice to be free of that schedule too!
Yes – I look forward to a different kind of summer this year – taking a summer off the intensive work.. c
Enjoy your trip to California. I’m sure Lady will enjoy her retirement.
I am sure she will too – she really is like a great big dog – following me to and from the barn
Lucky Lady- she has you to care for her.
Indeed – and she has looked after us in a way for such a long time now. c
Well, welcome to extremely warm California…burned forests, cities, mudslides, floods and all!
I remember being with my grandpa in the barn while he was milking and talking to Bossy. Tucked her tail in the crook behind his knee while he sat in the 3-legged stool, rested his head against her side, and milked away, once in a while aiming a squirt in the direction of the kitties. What comfort that old barn had for everyone who spent time in there!
Come safely, Ceci!
I am going into the Central Valley – near Fresno – thankfully no where near all your troubles. Just a very early spring which has the growers unnerved. Your grandfather in his barn sounds like a glorious memory.. so lucky you were.. c
Maybe we can shed some chores together this year. I’m cutting back on the garden and I won’t be taking on orphaned critters as we have several events to attend in Nebraska this spring and summer. I wish you a wonderful trip!
I guess I’m the odd one but I drink soy milk. Allergic to cow’s milk. How old is Lady? Have an enjoyable trip, Miss C.
I bought Lady in and she had had two owners before so I think she will be about 11 or 12. Young to stop really but her udder gets in such a mess i cannot risk another pregnancy.
A very last milking for Lady A; a bittersweet time for sure ): thankfully you’ve got sun to help take the sting away… The butter “churning” looks so inviting. (Lol, how things have changed, hey? – I still remember how excited my Great Aunt was when she got her electric Separator: )