Nope, didn't get Gracie up to the barn today.  She came with Dolly, all the way out of the pasture, then spooked on the back lawn, missed seeing Dolly enter the lower barn enclosure and go down into the lower barn, got lost and bewildered.  Fetched Dolly back up from the lower barn, took her out so Gracie could see her, but she and Herbie were out of site.  Dolly headed back down to the lower barn, so I went to fetch the grain bucket, then went to re-get Dolly while trying to keep the lambs in, but by that time Herbie was very frustrated, opened the pasture gate and Gracie ran to join the others.  I let Dolly back in as well, went and opened the small irregular shaped pasture with all the cows following me.  Then steered Dolly and Gracie back out, got to the pond before Gracie veered off to join the others again.  Headed her off, tried again, but Dolly stopped moving to watch the antics, so Gracie stopped moving, then shot back to the others.  I accepted defeat and took Dolly for milking.

By the time I got back the 3 lambs were outside the lower barn enclosure, of course, Ruth and the boy went straight back in, Wanda wanted to play, so I ended up chasing her around the sheep enclosure, watching her carefully so that she didn't eat any of the roses en-route, caught her, carried her back and dumped her over the fence.  Put Rosco in as well.  Was thinking of maybe leaving him out until we had sorted the fox problem, but he is too strong for me to control and he doesn't listen.  Loves to chase cars down the driveway, probably learnt from Anni, but he is aggressive about it, it's not just the chase like it is for Anni.

Have the one remaining guinea calling that sorrowful little chip chip sound, looking for the others.  Going to have to wait until next year to get more as the hatchery in Borculo where I bought them from isn't hatching anymore this year, I asked.  Of all the guineas that have been eaten on the farm, and none by us.

Herbie has been working on the Swisher push weedy wacker, but it is not being co-operative. 

Looking at the weather it is forecast rain most days for the next 10 days, so hopefully the pastures will grow, grow, grow, and then we'd like some dry weather to cut and bale the hayfield please.

Put the lambs and some of the sheep up on CL again last night.  Need to move some of them out, well, maybe more than some :).

I've been doing weeding out in the rain.  It's not unpleasant as it isn't cold, and the weeds come up so much easier out of the wet mud.  Started with my fake crocs, but they kept getting sucked down, so removed them and did it barefoot.  Took the ring off my toe as I didn't want to lose it, then squelched mud between my toes - been ages since I've done that.  Found one of those huge tomato worms on the Kentucky tomato plant, plucked it off, placed it in a rock and smashed it to green goo with another rock.
Checked all the other tomato plants, none seem to be being eaten, fingers crossed.

Just finished some prawn and vege pasta, so now back out there to do some more weedin

Gracie in the milking stall this morning.  Later, she ripped the ring out of the wall, but I did milk her, put mastitis meds up each teat (3 days without milking and I don't want to take any chances of losing a quarter).

Wow.  I'm tired, am splattered with cow poop, but victorious !  Milked that beastie.  Only about 3/4 of a gallon which went straight into the cats bowl, but she is milked.  Silly girl, she actually tried to drink her own milk from the cats bowl while I was cleaning the milking parlour.  Put it on the top step up into the upper barn so she couldn't reach it, but the cats could.  The gate between the lower barn and the milk parlour is closed, and the roller door from the lower barn to the enclosed yard is also closed, so if she escapes the milking parlour, she'll still be in the lower barn.  She ain't going anywhere for 3 days.  I'll be bringing Dolly down for her daily milking, but Gracie is staying put until she knows the ropes, is friendly and not so skittish.  All this means that I'm going to be doing a lot of poop shovelling, she let go of three lots already this morning, 2 lots of pee, but it will be worth it.

Have to go to Menards or TSC to get another anchor for the wall, as can't milk her in that stall again without it.  Don't want her to get used to the middle stall as that's where Dolly is milked.  Cows are real creatures of habit - always choose the same stall, and can't have Gracie and Dolly in the same space.

Well, that didn't last long.  2 hours tops and she's pushed her way out of the milk parlour, so I opened the lower barn door and allowed her out into the yard.  She's looking for the other cows.  Herbie is going to fetch Dolly and bring her to the yard, and we'll see how they do.  Really don't want to allow Gracie back into the pasture if we are going to have to fight with her again tomorrow, but that's what she wants.  Looked out the kitchen window, is that Gracie in the pasture ?  Yep.  Herbie went to fetch Dolly, and Gracie climbed over the fence.  He opened the gate to the pasture, she moo-ed, then ran to join the other cows.  Wonder how difficult it's going to be tomorrow to get her into the milking parlour.

Her milk was undrinkable.  Made Marmalade throw up, and Anni refused to touch it.  Just as well I put the medication up her teats then :)  Chucked it out, washed out the bowl.

Went to TSC to buy the replacement toggle switch, they didn't have any large enough.  Menards did, so bought a pack, came home and put it in the wall.  Will have to screw in the screws to keep the plate in place tomorrow morning and hope that it holds.  Got additional ones, so could put an anchor into the middle stall as well but need to get the middle part with the loop at the top, another plate (maybe 2 as Gracie really bent the other one today) plus those large washes.  That way we will have 3 usable stalls, but not sure how it'd work with the vacuum lines, will have to go over and around the middle cow to reach those on either side.  Wonder which cow will be best in the middle, probably Dolly ?  Will also need another feed trough.

Later, had a cheesecake on a stick with half with strawberry coating, half with chocolate.  Herbie also had one, but only with strawberry coating.  He thought it rather good.  See, I can still "wow" my husband :)

Lost another milk share customer, I understand due to family issues, but am talking to 2 other possibilities.  Here's holding thumbs. 

Lost another guinea today.  Herbie saw the geese come shoosting up the side of the house, followed by some chickens while the guineas were shouting.  Then the was only 1 walking around calling softly.  Don't know whether it's a girl or boy, but guess it's a boy as the fox usually takes the girls off their eggs.  Manual came to collect the guinea eggs I collected for him, but I may not get any more if we only have a boy guinea left.  We won't have any funds to get more, and the eggs seem to be unfertile.  None of the ones the chickens have sat on have hatched.  Was thinking that maybe I'd put some of the Pekin duck eggs under a chicken to see if we can hatch more ducks.  Unfortunately we don't have any eggs from the Swedish Black or Grey ducks, nor the Khaki Campbells, and the Call duck eggs Salle gave me didn't hatch under the chickens, don't have any geese eggs.  Think maybe we do good with geese, not so well with ducks and guineas, and the chickens go missing, counted only 78 in the chicken house the other night, but only getting just over 2 dozen eggs each day now.  Sometimes I think this farming thing is too hard, OK, not sometimes, at least once each day.  Does it get any easier ?

Saw Vicki today when she came to collect her milk.  She is taking strain with getting their house ready for sale.  Her husband has taken a few days off work to finish it, but there are so many little things still outstanding.  That's how it goes, isn't it ?  Once you get your house just as you like it, you move. 

We have the old duvet back on the bed it's been so chilly these past few nights. 

Still haven't managed to get Gracie to the barn for milking.  Got her about halfway down the pasture with Dolly, before she ran around me and back to the other cows this morning.  So milked Dolly as Jim and Teri needed milk today.  Started a batch of feta with the remainder of the milk.  Tina sent me a text offering to come and help, but I only received it later this morning so that never worked out.  Worried about her getting mastitis (Gracie, not Tina).  Herbie suggested we take the buggy out and get her tied to it so we can take her down to the lower barn.  It will be great, but how to get close enough to get a rope on her ?

Peeled 1/2 bushel of baked beetroot this morning, did another double recipe of the pickle juice, and canned 3 quarts and 1 pint of pickled beetroot.  I added onion layers into these 4, so am looking forward to seeing how it turns out.  Didn't add any more cloves this time, as it was too strong last time, although the recipe did call for 1/4 cup of cloves, I re-checked.  Must still pay Jackie for them.  Spoke to her yesterday and told her I baked them all in the oven overnight, much easier than boiling them.  Yippee for oven timers

Teri came over and stayed a little while, chatting with Herbie and I, always enjoy seeing her, and she felt much better than she did yesterday.  Forgot to give her some of my chicken liver pate.  Next time.  Remind me Teri, please. 

Found a pressure canner on CL this morning for $ 35 !  It is a 21 quart one (methinks) and also got jars including some blue and green ones, a hand crank food mill and 2 steamer pots, with the blue canning book thrown in for free, thanks Kim (and Dan).  Had to drive down to Kalamazoo to get it, but an now set to can, dehydrate, or freeze everything we produce on the farm. Being my bulk-purchase loving self, I think I still lust after that huge 41 qt canner - maybe one day, and of course after I've made sure that I'll actually do the canning thing successfully.

This morning Herbie actually asked me how I know how to do all the things I do.  Like canning ?  Wow.  That's good, yes ?  I've never done lots of these things before.  Just look it up on the internet, or a book or magazine, or talk to someone who has done it, or ask my dad and then figure it out as I go.  My procrastination has something to do with it as well, methinks.  I mull things over in my sub-conscious for a while, pulling various experiences / knowledges and plain old common sense together and then it just sort of comes to me.  I thought everyone does this, right ?

Herbie had chocolate covered NY cheesecake this morning, I had some tonight.  Yep, it's really rich and yummy.  I actually stuck a stick in mine and ate it like cheesecake on a stick at the faire.  My chocolate is good and I know it has no chemicals or artificial gunk in it, which, in my book, is everything.

Herbs' eldest daughter, Nanette, is e-mailing with me about buying my car.  She needs one, I have one.  I'm a little concerned about his youngest daughter who turns 16 in December.  Herbie has already given Nanette 2 cars, but we probably can't afford to give even one to Elizabeth.  The best solution to me would be to sell this one, and then take 1/3 of the money for a car for Nanette, 1/3 for a car for Elizabeth, with the last 1/3 to cover our Summer taxes / insurance bill / hay.  From my thoughts to Gods' ear ??

Something got another guinea today.  There are only 2 in the chicken house tonight, and while I was weeding the garden late this afternoon, I heard them chattering out in the back woods.  Damn, that fox again.  Also found a dead chicken in the chicken house this morning.  Need to replace the bottom window pane, seeing as the geese have destroyed the screen Herbie made for it.

Dolly lying down, with Gracie behind her, both looking at the other cows in the next pasture.

Our first cucumbers for 2013 picked this evening.  Herbie is going to enjoy eating them !

I'm a prize idiot.  Would think that after all the animals we've dealt with I'd have put Gracie in the lower barn enclosure for a few days until she trusted us, taking Dolly down to be milked with her, before taking her out to pasture with the rest of the cows.  But no, it was late, I was tired and I drove her into the pasture with the other cows and let her out the trailer.  This morning she wouldn't come near me, even after Herbie let all the other cows into another pasture, just keeping her and Dolly out.  Tied a lead to Dolly, took a bucket of grain and tried to coax Gracie to follow us for milking, no way. We even drove the truck and trailer back into the pasture, put grain inside, got Dolly tied up inside trying to get Gracie to join her with the idea we'd then drive them to the lower barn enclosure, but it didn't work.  She will take grain from the bucket and let me scratch her head, but that's it.  She also has a very short attention span, keeps going back to the fence closest to the other cows.  I rang the bell and showed her the grain, but it only held her interest when I put my hand into the bucket and poured grain from my hand back into the bucket - difficult when there is a stiff breeze !  After Herbie and I had tried for about 3 hours, he needed to go to work.

Teri came to get eggs, bring me the pressure canner she found for $5 (thank you Teri) so we tried again the get Gracie to come up for milking.  She'd follow for a little bit, eating grain from the bucket, but then veer off back to the back pasture.  She needs to be milked, don't want to sit with mastitis, or worse, she dries up and I don't have the additional milk needed for when Dolly needs to be dried off end August 2013. 

Sent a text to Tina asking her to come help if she wasn't doing anything.  Here's holding thumbs.

Baked the beetroot last night after I'd gone to bed.  Will peel and can them tonight.  Don't need to use the pressure canner as a water bath works for the pickled beetroot, need to buy a small part for the canner first as well.

What a busy day I had, and yet achieved very little :)  Did the "Big Smoke" run, SAMS Club for dog food, allergy tablets and some groceries, Harbor Freight for electrodes for the plasma cutter and rivets, Aldi for chocolate, GFS for Hellmans mayonaise and a 10lb block of cheddar, a pressure cooker from CL, a 2nd Aldi for the coffee chocolate (the first only had 7 slabs), after going to the village to pick up money from the ATM, then to the bank to deposit money, found the transfer from dad had come through so withdrew the cow money, then home to unpack the truck, back out to the trailer, hitch it and off to Clarkesville to meet with Tina to check out her cows.  Chose Gracie, a 4 1/2 year old Jersey who had her 3rd calf in January and currently gives 2 gallons each day, who has been with the polled Jersey bull for 7 months and so should be preggers, but not sure when she is due.  Skipped Sally's Beauty, TJ Maxx, Target, WalMart, TSC, Family Home & Farm and Meijers - they will have to wait.

A new customer, Karen, called about eggs, she didn't know about the self-help fridge - need to put a new sign up, so I called her when I got home after checking that there were still 2 dozen eggs there.  She came over, but I'd already let Rosco out so I took the eggs to her as he was being protective.  She inched down the drive with Rosco running next to her barking his head off, then Anni joined in.  I screamed and screamed at them to no avail, bloody dogs.  Anni came back and I took her to the naughty tree and tied her up.  Not sure how to handle Rosco, he doesn't listen to me at the best of times.

Backed up the truck around a bend to get close to the barn door, Tina loaded Gracie, drove home with her.  Took her out to the pasture only to have all the cows run over to see, so couldn't open the gate.  Left the truck and trailer there, walked back to the house, loaded hay in the buggy, gave some to the 3 lambs in the lower barn enclosure as Wanda was baa-ing, the balance of the bale to the other sheep in their enclosure, they were all making a noise.  Took a bucket of grain as well, gave the cows the hay, but as they didn't find the grain I didn't give it to them, put some hay in the bunk feeder for the alpacas, although the cows rushed over to see if it was better than that in the bale feeder.  Drove the buggy back to the garage, walked back to the truck, some of the cows still followed but I shoo-ed them away from the gate, drove into the pasture, dropped the ramp and let Gracie out in her new home.  She ran a little with all the other cows running behind her - hope she knows about electric fencing, doesn't help that it's already dark and I forgot to ask, wouldn't do if she ran through the fence, making a hole so all the others could waltz through and go wandering !  Texted Tina to ask about the electric fencing, yep, Gracie knows about electric fencing, pheew, good on that.  Switched the water on, only to remember that I cut a gash in the feeding hosepipe yesterday, so it's taking extra long to fill the cow water, as more water is sprouting out in the middle of the back lawn than is trickling out the end into the trough.  Reminder to self - change hosepipes tomorrow.  Then fix the 3 broken ones.  Wondered if I should let Gracie in with the other cows or keep her in the lower barn enclosure for a few days, but thought she'd be better with other cows than the lambs on her first day away from her old home.  I'll figure out how to get her to the milking parlour tomorrow, she doesn't lead, maybe I can tie her to Dolly ??  If she'll let me get that close :)

Gone out a few times to see how the water is doing, Gracie is discombobulated.  Tried to show her where the water was, but sure she'll figure it out when she gets thirsty.  Into the chute, under the fly ribbons, through the mud, not at all difficult LOL.

Didn't have time to pick up the beetroot from Jackie, so she had her cousins deliver it, thank you Jackie.  Need to put them on to bake tonight so that I can can them tomorrow.  Rosco and Anni did the chase thing again, dammit dogs, what's with you ??

Have 10 dozen eggs in the garage fridge for Teri to take back to Chicago for her customers there, need to get with Jackie to go see what vegetables her neighbour has for sale so I can see what I need to can, have shopping on the kitchen floor, put all the refrigerated and frozen stuff away, not the rest, hunted for the cherries and ate them, tried a golden plum, yummy, think I'll keep the pip and try and grow it.

Once again I have very dirty feet, so think I'll just go wash and hop into bed.  I'm exhausted.

Wow, do we have great weather in Saranac, MI today !  Warm, not too hot, breezy, clear.  Just absolutely wonderful.

On his days off, Herbie fixed the zero-turn and the weedy wacker.  Yesterday I weedy wacked while he roto-tilled in the vegetable garden after I'd done lots of hand weeding directly around our plants like the potatoes, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, squash, popcorn cabbages etc etc.  There are little cucumbers, lots of flowers, lots of green tomatoes.

On Tuesday evening we went to the Ionia Free Fair.  Herbie was so funny.  All he could think about was the wonderful sirloin tip dinner I'd had there last year while he'd chosen a sausage dinner from a different kiosk.  So that's the first thing we did, get sirloin tips with smashed red potatoes, onions, green pepper and mushrooms.  Green peppers must be expensive as Herbie didn't get any, and I only got one piece, but it was still yummy.  Sat and listened to the live music, a Beatles knock-off while we ate and then we went and tried the chocolate dipped cheesecake on a stick.  Herbie liked it so much that he went and bought a 2nd piece as we were leaving, after finishing mine !  There were 2 African elephants, poor things, just standing there eating hay.  Went to see the draft horses, which were huge and beautiful.  Those are the horses we'll get if we ever get the horse itch.  Good working horses that can pull a plow and the wagon into town.  Herbie has always said he wants to go to WalMart with a horse drawn wagon !  Looked at some pigs, poor things, most had their curly tails cropped off.  Now why on earth would you crop a pigs' tail ?  Of the dairy cows there was only 1 Jersey, we popped into the milking parlour and decided we didn't like the system where you stand below the cows, sort of like one of those car pits, but the equipment was nice.  Wandered through the sheep, until Herbie decided he was done - he really hates sheep, although he suggested we drop off our 5 lambs in different sheep pens at random :)

When we got home he looked up the instant setting chocolate coating, and a little later I made up a batch, which I tried on some vanilla ice-cream.  Worked well, and I feel much better about eating this when I know exactly what's in it, no high fructose corn syrup or chemicals.  Herbie said that if I'd made it without him looking up the recipe, he'd thought I was magic and would have told everyone his wife is magic, but not since he now knows what the ingredients are.  Now I need to make a NY style cheesecake so that we can stick a stick in it and dip it in chocolate. 

Found a pressure canner on CL.  Just need to get the address in GR and go pick it up.  I'm rather excited about it, although have no clue on the size, as Francie can't find anywhere that says how big it is.  Should be buying some produce from Jackies' Mennonite friend tomorrow, so need that pot quickly.

My dad has bought his ticket to South Africa end November via London where he'll visit with family as well.  Going to miss the whole Tennessee Winter this year.  Herbie asked if I wanted to go with him, but no, I'd rather take Herbie to SA to show him where I'm from than go with my dad.

Well, our fox is back.  I saw it this morning while I was collecting eggs.  A chicken started clucking down the drive to the right, and as I'm getting less eggs in the chicken house I know they are laying in the woods so I wandered down to see if they were laying down there, following the clucking.  All the geese came shoosting up the drive, followed by various chickens but I still heard and saw some in the woods so I went to investigate, only to see the fox.  It must have thought I was a chicken, as I saw it a 2nd time before it realised I was a person.  About the size of Anni and a beautiful red colour, but damn, no wonder I'm missing so many ducks and chickens.  Chased all the chickens back up the hill closer to the house.  Took the gun and went back down there a little later, but no sign of the fox. 

Looked at the black raspberries and wild grapes yesterday.  There is something attacking the grapes as the leaves are really distorted and damaged, especially those close to the ends of the vines, looks like those insects that bore into citrus leaves making that round bubble.  The dry weather has affected the raspberries, burnt to a crisp on the vines.  Also found a huge fat green worm on one of the tomato plants - it'd eaten most of the leaves off, so I plucked him and fed him to the chickens.  While weeding I saw a cute little black frog, and a huge spider.  Need to investigate American spiders to see which are the dangerous ones.

Yippee, Teri and Andy are on their way to Saranac, always enjoy seeing them.

Dolly is much better, I still put her foot in epsom salt water during milking today, and Stars' face is much better as well, although he spots on her sides although scabbed over don't seem to be going away.  Maybe a little more time.  The lambs didn't bother me while I was milking, but I forgot to close the gate to the milking parlour behind the cows, so when I got back from taking them back to pasture, the 3 lambs were milling around there, eating the leftover grain, peeing, and with soft runny poops in 3 different places.  Yuck.  More to clean up, but I wonder what they ate to get that, it was a greenish colour, so I presume something fresh in the pasture.  Anni snuck over to the milk dish and helped herself with my approval, but she slunk away when I saw her, I didn't even have to say anything ! 

Taught Anni to eat popcorn, and last night Herbie was giving her pita crisps.  She wouldn't take the command to eat from him, looked to me, so he'd put it on my leg, I'd tell her to wait, then OK, and she'd take it off.  Caught her teeth in the material a few times, but didn't hurt me.

Great news, we are getting another Jersey in milk.  My dad is sending some money and we are buying one of Tinas' cows as a replacement for Buttercup.  I check the bank account twice each day to see if the funds have come through.  Can't wait.  My dad asked what we'll name her.  Tina probably has her named already, I just don't want another Buttercup.  Think Elenore ( a la Green Acres) would be good, or Bessie.  This means that we won't have a milkless spell after end August when we need to dry Dolly for her calf due end October which was a bit of a worry.  Don't know if Star is preggers, and if she is, how far along.  But thank goodness we don't have to get the vet back for Dollys' foot.

Herbie loved the frikkadels, although he found them "chewy" but then he also said there isn't a meatball he hasn't liked !  So he had meatball sandwiches for breakfast, but without the mozzerella as I only had frozen in the freezer, and for once he didn't want cheddar !

Saw the zero-turn has a front flat wheel this morning as well, although Herbies verdict was it's a little low on oil, and I had the choke on half so it may have been running a little hot, but seemingly nothing else is wrong with it.  I won't finish cutting with it today, it can wait until tomorrow when Herbie can give it a spin.

Milking was sort of a pleasure this morning.  The lambs didn't realise I was doing it, so they weren't there getting in the way, complaining, etc etc.  Star is quite the pro coming down to the milk parlour although she is dry and I'm not milking her, only putting muti on her sore spots so they can heal and the flies will stop feeding off her.  But there is grain, and she is a real cow LOL.  Dolly is walking much better, and is used to me putting her foot in the bucket.  Had to do it three times today, but it stayed in for a fair amount of total time.

After I've taken the cows back, and Anni has herded them, I pour from the fresh milk into the big black rubber bowl in the milk parlour.  First the cats drink, when they are finished, it's Annis' turn, I watch her and tell her "enough" before she laps it all, leaving the balance for Rosco.  He never comes for milkies when I call, but will usually sneak over to the bowl when I leave, funny boy.  Sargeant used to drink with the cats, although he needed lots of approval before he'd approach the bowl, the cats leave when Anni approaches, and Anni leaves when Rosco approaches - the natural order chain, probably based on size.  The lambs haven't figured out that there is milk in the bowl, but then Wanda only knows the bottle, Ruth the teat. 

Have a wonderful thunder storm last night, the tunnel has enough water again the get my feet dirty :) the joys of wearing Croc-like shoes, easy to hose off but also flood easy, mixed with the dirt on my feet makes them rather muddy.  Herbie said this morning he can't remember what my feet look like clean !  Hmmm, they are clean every night when I hop into bed, which is before he comes home, and still clean when I hop out of bed in the morning, he is usually still sleeping, but are dirty the rest of the day.

Made Frikkadels for the first time ever !  Herbie said he likes meatball subs (what ??) and meatballs and pasta (I prefer spaghetti bolognaise), so I decided to try my hand at them.  Fresh herbs from the garden, parsley, mint and thyme, chopped onion, our own Scottish Highland hamburger, breadcrumbs (used Panko although the recipe called for soft bread crumbs) paprika, salt and pepper, eggs and oil, heated up the huge cast iron pan and did 2 lots.  Made them little so that they'd cook quicker and fit on a sub.  I ate some on some left-over pasta with the spicy tomato sauce I made yesterday, but as I've never had them before, not sure if they are good.  Oh well, Herbie will know. 

Looks as if Dolly is walking a little easier.  Didn't milk her yesterday, and she only gave an additional 1/2 gallon today, but put her hoof in the epsom water again today.  Stars' sore spots are scabbed over, put cream on them again this morning  Oh boy, does she hate me putting stuff on her face !  The lambs were better behaved, didn't jump into the actual feed troughs today, nor did they bump my milking stool over are get caught in the milking machine tubes.  Took Pearl out of the pasture with Dolly and Star today, thinking that with her mum she'd be calmer about the milking parlour.  Nope, couldn't even get her into the lower barn enclosure.  Dolly and Star stop so I can open the gate, then I have to keep Wanda and Ruth in, watch for Anni who nips at the cows legs, and when I turned around, Pearl was halfway back to the pasture.  This is a job for more than one person.  After closing the other two up, I went back to fetch Pearl, walked her halfway up again before she broke off, so I let her go.  Won't work in any case if she can't see the other cows.  After milking Dolly when I walked them back, Pearl was by the chicken house, moo-ing, and walked back with us, but she was last and Anni nipped her inside thigh to make her move.  The look Pearl gave Anni made me laugh.

Had an unexpected thunder storm late tonight - damn, the zero-turn is not in the garage, and the little tractor is still out in the hay field (it has a cracked seat so we get wet bums after rain).

Tonight I made another batch of yoghurt, the usual Vanilla / Honey, yummy.  4 x 16 oz containers.  It's not as solid as I've made previously, I think it will be a bit better.  More juicy.  Currently oven canning some dry goods, oats, various beans, lentils.  Nearly done so I can go shower and off to bed.

The printer is on the blink.  Not even 2 years old, and only used occasionally to print recipes, labels for eggs and other products etc, and there is an error message.  Contact Kodak, run through all the trouble shooting steps again, for the 4th time, sorry, this printer is no longer made, will have to upgrade.  Yeah right, this is a farm so money grows on trees.  Not to mention the stock of ink cartridges that are now useless.  Can never seem to get ahead, no smooth sailing here at Baie Klippe.

It rained some, but not nearly enough yesterday.  Looks like the next rain is expected in 4 days, although it is expected to be much cooler than the past week, thank goodness.  After the 2nd short rain, the temperature had dropped 12 degrees down to 82.  Will go out and see what the hay field looks like today.

Not pouring, just raining - wonderful.  Thank you God.

I had a very late start today.  Woke at 6:46 am to open the garage door to let Anni out (and the cats in :)), closed the bedroom windows and climbed back into bed.  Stirred when Herbie got up, but not enough to look at the clock, and then woke to see sun shining in the bedroom.  Odd, then looked at the time.  12:32 pm !  Wow.  I must have needed it.

Herbie had fed all the beasties, I just had to do the milking and the clean-up after.  Well, Dolly decided she didn't want to come for milking either.  I just pulled the grain bucket with the bell out of the trailer and the cows came running - Pigtails in front.  Poured the grain on the floor and waited for Dolly to hobble up, she was stone last.  Seems to be walking a bit better, but she is still not putting her weight on that front leg.  Let Star out, Dolly afterwards.  Put grain out for Star, attached her to the wall, then tended to Dolly.  She's taken to standing in the yucky pond, so her udder now always has a dried layer of gunk.  Washed her down, iodined her teats, pulled them to clear any muck, then attached the milker.  Sprayed Stars' sore spots with some peroxide, then coated them all with a layer of aromatherapy cream.  She hates me putting stuff on her face.  All this with Wanda and Ruth running around my legs and the milking equipment, knocking over my stool, jumping up to sneak grain from the cows.  Put Dollys' hoof in the epsom salt bucket, and she kept it there the whole time without knocking it over, even when I untied her and she backed out of the stall.  She's such a good cow.  Walked them back, gave milk to the cats, cleaned the milk parlour and lower barn.  Little lamb poops from the 2 girls in the lower barn to clean.