From the Farm

Our chickens have been on strike -- well actually they're moulting and not laying. This happens at least once a year and I don't begrudge then their rest. But it means we're only getting one or two eggs a day and have had to supplement with store-bought. 

I buy only eggs from  'cage-free, humanely raised' chickens but even so, look at the difference in these yolks! The store-bought version is a pale shadow of the Real Thing from our chickens.
 

But though we're almost out of eggs, the milk is flowing!

Behold! Homemade butter, courtesy of Justin and Claui (and, of course, Marigold.) And lovely milk with a bit of top cream. (Some has already been skimmed to make butter.)

I'm so proud of those young uns!

But It's Really All About Ali Ali...

This was Marigold when we brought her home almost two years ago.

And here she is today, a mother and a milk cow.

 Ali Ali has watched the goings on of the past few days with unabashed disapproval. Why, he asks, is this silly cow getting all the attention? Why are my people spending all their time with her? After all, it's all about ME, isn't it?

Once they got a whiff of the fresh warm milk, Ali Ali and Otis both decided that perhaps there was something to all of this cow foolishness. Now if Claui would just set that pail down so a dog could get his face in it . . .

Now She Is a Cow

On Tuesday, Marigold the heifer gave birth, thereby becoming a cow! Bubba's a healthy little bull --who looks like his Devon sire.

These two pictures are from Wednesday -- and the first milking.

Below is a slide show of the birth with captions, for those who might be interested. A little earthy, perhaps, but that's how birth is...

The Cow

Well, technically, Marigold is still a heifer -- she won't be a cow till she gives birth. But she's showing signs that she's been bred : her belly's bigger and her udder's beginning to develop --'making a bag' as they say around here.  As the birth date approaches and the udder gets bigger, she'll be 'baggin' up.'

If all goes well -- or, again, as they say around here 'if nothing don't happen,' we hope to enjoy rich Jersey milk, cream, butter and cheese beginning this fall! 

Here's a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson from one of my childhood books. It seems appropriate.

The Cow

The friendly cow all red and white,

I love her with all my heart:

She gives me cream with all her might,

To eat with apple tart.

She wanders lowing here and there,

And yet she cannot stray,

All in the pleasant open air,

The  pleasant light of day;

And blown by winds that pass

And wet with all the showers,

She walks among the meadow grass

And eats the meadow flowers.