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.