Went to the funeral of previous owner of our house today. Was at a church down in the village, with a female pastor. Don't think I much cared for her, and the accapella singing was weird, although she didn't have a bad voice. Sort of reminded me of a Jewish service. didn't go to the cemetery for the actual burial, or back to the church for the eats, as Daisy May needed to be milked.
Stan was very happy to see me, and chugged nearly a full bottle of milk. I put one of my chickens in the pressure cooker with onions, garlic, carrots and celery before going down to milk. Took Sheila on a leash down with me, she was a good girl and was rewarded with the first go at the warm fresh milk. She seems to be getting used to the noise of the milking machine. Brought her back through the tunnel with me, and dried her feet once in the house basement as there is about 3 inches of water in the tunnel after the 2 days of rain. Poured the milk, with the last bit straight into Stans' bottle, went to the garage to give it to him, and he wasn't there.
Herbie helped me give the last last bale of hay to the bulls because we needed to put it on the trailer as Gabriel pushes it out the pasture if we don't. Successfully backed the tractor up the trailer ramp and deposited the bale in the trailer. Then drove around, Herbie put the webbing around the bale then attached it to the tractor, and I pulled it over and further up the trailer. Back at the house, still no Stan. I called and called, no answering "maaaa".
After Herbie was asleep, I walked the woods, calling for him. No sight or sound. Did he follow Maddie of the dogs into the woods, did a hawk catch him, was he run over - I don't know where my little boy went :(.
Daisy May has become the perfect milk cow. I call, she comes :). And today she gave me 3 gallons of milk ! Eleanor still doesn't look pregnant anymore, although she did have a bit of belly today. Think Little Red will be next to birth. Really need to separate the heifers from the cows because Coco is still nursing on Immanuelle with the new calf, as yet unnamed. But if I wean JuneBug, then I need to milk Daisy May every day, and I do enjoy the 4 x a week milking schedule.
I fixed all the house downspouts, took a few hours. Put at least 3 self-tapping screws into each one, then wrapped it with foil tape, drilled a hole through the bottom of each pipe and attached them firmly to the sleepers around the house. Replaced 2 of the pieces on the ground as they were damaged, so hopefully they should last for at least a year. No more running around the house in the rain, reattaching all the downspouts that the chickens / dogs / lamb / deer knock off. And then I flooded the window well with the hosepipe !
Praying that Stan returns by the morning, hungry and shouting. Can hear the dogs barking in the woods :(.