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.