The Last 9 Days

A lot has been going on in the last 9 days in our world. It's probably not all that exciting to most of you, but nonetheless, it's what we've been up to.

1. The chickens finally started laying eggs! Right now we are getting 4 per day. With 19 hens, hopefully that number will increase by at least 6.


2. We got a milk cow. Her name is Cookie. I've been begging Weston for a milk cow since we've lived at the ranch. He never wanted to get one because of the twice daily commitment. The milking times are 6 and 6. But, with Alan being hired on as ranch hand a month-and-a-half ago, and the fact that he loves to milk cows and has 8 years experience with it, it's all working out. Fresh milk and cream! It's the best. I make butter (it takes like 5-10 minutes in the blender) and have yet to make whipped cream, and ice cream.


She's giving 2 gallons per milking. That's 4 gallons a day. But about 1/3 of it is cream! That'a lotta cream!

Alan gave us the hint of tying her tail up so that the milkers wouldn't get flicked in the face. Rather handy.

Cookie exiting the barn after the milking (I keep wanting to say nursing...gross). Isn't that a cool white heart spot on her head?

Filtering:

I'll ask Spencer if he wants some milk and he says, "I want the COW milk", as if the store-bought milk were from some other random animal like a hippo or penguin.

Kid tested - 100% approved.

3. Weston went camping with the Scout troop up in the mountain valley portion of the ranch on Friday night and they heard the wolves howling! That's not too far from our house, mind you. I didn't see him until Saturday afternoon and the first 3 words he said to me, and with very large eyes, were, "I heard wolves!"

4. Spencer mowed the flat part of the lawn all by himself. It's a pretty big portion, taking him probably 45 minutes or so. He was so focused the whole time, making his rows straight and getting all the grass. He did an amazing job! Next, he'll be driving the harrow bed. (Just kidding Grandpa!)


He was so proud of himself.

Telling Daddy all about it:

5. On the cattle drive on Monday, Weston and his friends pushed up about 40 head of cattle on horseback. The cattle drive takes about 3 hours and is around 7 miles one way. He told me later that that was the most enjoyable cattle drive he's ever been on. It was quiet, and relaxing.

They rode again on Tuesday and then yesterday moving cows around. Kate and Ezra both got to ride the last mile back to the barn - Kate on Star Dust and Ezra on Brownie.



6. Our dog Roxie got left behind on the cattle drive on Monday. To make a long story short, we had to pick her up at someone's house 45 minutes away yesterday, Wednesday. And this brings us to:

7. We got 3 rabbits. Sheesh. The people who had Roxie breed rabbits and sell them. They had 3 that were too old to sell so they said we could have them for free. They are very cute, I must say. And it just so happens that there is a rabbit cage here on the ranch. That's convenient. The gray one is hypoallergenic, so that is great for Spencer, and it seriously feels like velvet. There is a black Lop and a white Jersey Wooly.?

8. Weston rented a wood splitter for 24 hours and he and Alan, and Spencer, got the wood supply pretty much stocked for the winter for 2 houses: ours, which we run 2 wood stoves, and Alan's.

Spencer was, as he usually is, very serious about his work.


9. The leaves are changing and already falling off the trees. No, not yet! But, of course, I do think it's pretty. Not comparable in the least to the Motherland on the East Coast, yet still very enjoyable.

So, that's what we've been up to the last 9 days - in addition to the daily grind and usual stuff, of course (including some prego sickness - what's up with that?..and no, it's not the milk; I felt like that before we had the cow, too). And you?