Been fairly industrious these past few days. Scubbed spots on the carpet where Sargeant had "marked". They now come up as paler spots, no longer the dark orangish colours. Vacuumed, twice, yep, Herbie thought he'd died and gone to heaven. Made yoghurt, did ½ the batch as it was a little softer than Herbie usually likes it, changed out all the Water Kefir, cleaned off the wood cook stove, did many many loads of laundry, weeded the rose garden, and the rock garden. Have milked, fed beasties, moved the pasture beasties back into the vegetable garden.
Sold 6 ducklings and 2 goslings to Carol, so went a-catching last night. 1st try caught the 2 baby goslings. The parents were agitated, but none attacked me. I was surprised as the White Chinese geese are more dominant than the larger Toulouse. 2nd foray, caught 1 Blue Swedish duckling, as with the 3rd and 4th forays. Still hadn't caught a single Gray Swedish, but they were wise to what I was doing. Had the 12 adult geese, 3 older goslings, 5 baby goslings, 12 ducks, 12 older ducklings, 3 newly hatched ducklings, 10 adult sheep, 9 lambs plus an assortment of chickens and guineas milling around in the chicken yard while I was chasing after the ducklings trying to catch them. It was utter mayhem. And noisy ? Everything shouting at me. Put the goslings in the dog carrier in the garage, and the ducklings in a plastic storage crate. Carol came around 1pm to collect them, and we chased the Gray Swedish, cornered them 1 by 1 in the actual chicken house, so she got all 6 ducklings and 2 goslings she wanted. Realised that the chicken house stank. Those damn sheep had pooped and pee'd inside before I barricaded the back door shut with a pallet, and wet chicken poop stinks to high heaven. As they were gorging on fresh, green weeds, leaves and grasses, they weren't making sheep pellets, but rather small cow-plops. Nasty. Add cleaning out the chicken house to my to-do list.
Carol is interested in the things I make. Tasted feta, yoghurt, kimchee, sauerkraut, water kefir after 1st and 2nd fermentations, and one that had been in the fridge for a while. Gave her a started water kefir jar.
Amy came to get her milk, also had a started water kefir jar for her. Nice that so many people are wanting to improve their diets.
Delivered milk to Jim and Jenny as I was walking Dolly up for milking when I saw him disappear down the driveway yesterday. Dolly is limping badly. Been soaking her back right hoof in epsom salts while milking her, and need all my strength and agility to keep the bucket under her leg, while keeping the milking machine attached And not getting myself injured. Wow, does she try and kick it off. I'm half covered with epsom salt water by the end. See that she had a sore spot on her inside "knee". Wonder if that's why she's limping. I switched the water from hot to cold as she really didn't like her hoof in hot water. She stands in the pond, learned behaviour from the Scottish Highlands, to cool off. None of the other Jerseys do that.
Tonorrow we're getting up early, doing the chores including the milking as Betsi gets milk tomorrow, then we are taking Noddy for an outing. Don't know how to spell it, but will give it a try. Shipshewana down in Indiana. It has been a very long time since we've had a day pleasure trip. This will be the 1st one since we've been living on the farm, so nearly 5 years. Think it will be good :)