Seems that the rubber gasket in the milk cup has disappeared. I looked at it yesterday, thinking it was missing, but don't think I've found the rubber ring anywhere on the milk parlour floor. They were already closed yesterday, so DH has just gone out now to go get one as I forgot when we went to fetch his glasses, and after stopping in a TSC to get another cotter-pin for the trailer, I just beetled on home. Need to run the Gila-monster in the lower barn to heat things up as this sub-zero weather has all the flexible parts so hard that I can't get a vacuum on the pump. Warmed up rather nicely yesterday afternoon.
When I went to get Bambi for milking, Mabel came with her, so the 3 of us went down to milking. Mabel is very skittish, won't come near me, dances a little way aways, although she did come up to be close to her mum. Teats doing much better, and the lanolin is working very well on her teats, the back two are nearly back to normal. She just milks slower than any of the other cows I've milked. Need to take the milker off, do some by hand, then put it back on. We are getting used to each other, but she's still for sale. Even milking twice each day, it may be around 2 gallons which is just not enough for our little dairy operation. She will be very suitable for a family who wants her as a family milker. Have someone interested coming out on Saturday. They are interested in Mabel as well, so, holding thumbs.
We are in a snow storm here. Funny word for it as it's just quiet and white, not like a STORM at all. We have about 3 inches accumulation, and the weather has warned that areas closer to Lake Michigan are due for about a foot. Thank goodness we no longer live in Allendale. Had to engage the FWD on the truck to get up our driveway. Tomorrow I'll go and get another 2 bales of hay from Mike, and after they've been off-loaded DH will probably have to put the snow-thrower on the tractor. It's too big and heavy for me to attach it, although I can clear the driveway with it.
Anni is on heat. I just knew she'd oblige when the weather turned awful. Sent an e-mail to the house with the male we have arranged to breed her with, and will see if we can get her there.
Off to make lunch, lasagne