Herbie put in about 3 hours cutting the hayfield, I put in an hour when it hit a rock, the red thingy dropped and the chain broke. Fished it out and got my hands all greased up. Have no idea how to fix a chain like that. So won't be finishing the field tomorrow and Herbie will have to fix it when he gets home.
Met a new friend today, Carol Johnson. She and her son came to look over the goslings, and she saw the ducklings :) so now she needs some of them too. She is also interested in ½ a beef when we butcher. She's a stay-at-home mum as her son needs additional help, and she's interested in helping and learning on the farm. She enjoyed seening the babies and beasties here.
Congratulations to Alicia and Keith on the birth of their 2nd son, Elliot, this morning. Big brother Ian gets a new best friend, as soon as Elliot's old enough.
Dolly gave about 3 gallons today, and I started a batch of yoghurt :). It's been such a long time since we've had fresh milk ! I didn't close the gate properly after I showed them to Carol, and when I came to milk her, she was happily munching hay in the milk parlour after guzzling all the grain in her milking stall. But, she didn't poop or pee up there ! She's such a good girl. Didn't give her more than her usual grain ration, and she stood very well for the milking machine. Not sure how much cream she's releasing for me, will see when I strain the yoghurt. Larry is doing very well. His front legs have straightened out nicely - he doesn't walk on his folded over ankles any more, and he runs and jumps around mum. Got up by himself today to nurse. Really cool listening to Dolly "talk" to him, sort of low, grunting noises. Then she licks him, nearly off his feet she licks so hard. Think she's still eating his poop as I haven't seen any on the ground. I got the last of the horse manure cleared out yesterday, so only have to scoop her overnight sloppies out. Think I'll take them both back to the pasture tomorrow.
Also going to take the horses out. Levi will come when he's called if I have treats, and the other 2 should follow. Hopefully Herbies dire predictions that they'll jump the fence after being scared in the pasture won't come true, and they'll enjoy the freedom and the grass. Will see how the cows and alpacas accept them too. Wish the sheep could go out there, silly animals. If only they respected the fence.
Went around the pastures today after taking Herbie a drink, picked some black raspberries and tasted mullberries from 3 other trees on the farm - and they were delicious :). Sweet and tart. Think I'll take some punnet containers out tomorrow and see if I can gather enough to make something out of them.
Spoke to my dad. Hope he can make it up here soon. He has so much going on down there, and is in such demand to help so many people.