Instead of Dolly leading the way, Daisy May took off down the side of the pasture. Then they found the longer grass and I couldn't budge them. Got them within a foot of the pasture, but then they stood on the opened electic fence, did some dancing - away from the pasture. Plan B. Go get a grain bucket and the buggy. And another rope.
Back with the cows, they were nearly to the hayfield with all the other cows, horses and alpacas watching them from the other side of the fence. Rattled the bucket, they just looked at me and went back to grazing. The reaction of the pastured cows and horses was more what I was wanting from the milk girls - they all came running towards me.
Tied the extra rope to the buggy and clipped the other end to Dollys' collar. Drove a little while looking back and saw that Daisy May was dragging Dolly back. Stopped and reattached the rope to the rope between the 2 girls so that when I pulled them with the buggy they were both pulled forward equally. Take that, Daisy May. I'm stronger than you ! They fought me every step and I had to put the buggy into 4WD to pull them. Stopped to open the gate, all the inside beasties staring at the spectacle of us, drove in pulling them in with me. Hopped out and closed the gate. Unclipped Daisy May and then spent some time undoing the tightly pulled knot on Dollys' collar. Chucked the grain out for the pasture beasties so that I could open the gate to get out.
The boys loved having Daisy May in the pasture. She was followed all day, or rather the 4 or so hours that she spent there. Was much easier to get her back to the lower barn. She ran all the way, Dolly lumbering far behind her and me bringing up the rear. Once inside, Eleanor started nursing immediately. Hope tomorrow is easier. Should take a minimum of 3 days to get her into the new routine, and then I'll take Eleanor out to the pasture to be with the others, letting her be with her mum during the day but separating them at night so I can get more milk from her every morning.
Spent some time showing our newest herd-share owners the farm yesterday. Angie is a hunter and I asked her to teach me. She has a black powder gun and a bow, and we'll share the meat. I'll process my own. Want to be able to experiment with getting whole muscles to make biltong, with the rest being hamburger, some steaks and making deer stock with the bones. Maybe even keep some of the intestines to make sausauge. Just hesitant about not getting a clean kill. Maybe I should just watch and try and learn first. They paid for 5 months worth of milk plus the buy-in. $277 just when I had no money in our bank account. God moves in wonderful ways, doesn't he ?
Got a new heating mattress pad at SAMS Club yesterday on my way back from collecting the ½ processed pig from Darron. Herbie was already sleeping when I got home, so I only put it on the bed today when I changed the sheets. Switched it on so that it'd be hot when he climbed into bed tonight and only told him I had a surprise for him. His happy sighs were good to hear.
Well it's the start to our weekend. Oh, I nearly forgot. I have a telephonic interview for the job in Iowa on Thursday, and after seeing my resume, they want to talk to me about a bigger job ! The original job I can do from home, the new job means a move, to Iowa :/.