Yikes!! Has it been a week since I last talked to you? My goodness, you wouldn’t believe what we have been up to!! I have had no time to work on anything that I could call a stash bash (has that ever happened before here?) or than the fact that most of the things that we built this week were done with wood and fencing we already had around for the most part (has that ever happened before here?). Well, I am not sure if I have ever told you about my fiasco with milk cows. Lets just say that I have not had the best luck.
I have been ripped off, had cows sold out from under me right before I buy them and well, it has been a long journey to here. Last Saturday, I went to visit my friend Peggy at the farmers market. I had been telling everyone and anyone who would listen that it is time to buy another milk cow. With the price of raw milk we pay about $250 a month just for milk, that doesn’t include the hefty price we pay to buy real, good for you products like butter, cheese etc.
Well, I had found someone selling a milk cow online locally and contacted them. The next day at the farmers market, Peggy tells me that she knows someone with a Jersey, in milk!! Wouldn’t you know that it was the same person?? That seemed like fate to me.
I made a date to go and see the farm and meet the owner and of course the cow : ) It turned out that we had lots in common and ended up talking for quite a long time over a cup of tea. Lots of cow and milk talk to be had. Lots of learning too.
A few days later after the boys and I scrambled to build a big cow pen and turn a corner of the barn into a milking stanchion, our cow was being delivered. I didn’t sleep a wink that night, thinking that in the morning I would embark on a milking adventure.
When she got here I was super nervous. I have only had one cow, Miss Chloe, and she was a beautiful, terrible, aggressive cow who would try to kill me anytime she could. My beautiful Chloe ended up having to go to the butcher after 7 months of trying to tame her.
I reminded myself as I had to handle this new cow and get her off the trailer that she was not Chloe and she was a nice one. I had milked her at the farm and she had let me scratch and pet her out in the field. This was my cow now and I had to put aside my fear and take care of her. Erica and the boys stood there with me and we led our cow to her new pen. We gave her hay and water and spent the rest of the afternoon petting her and giving her treats.
The next morning we milked her (that is a story for another day) and had to give half the milk to our piggie because she stuck her foot in the pail. I felt victorious! I felt like a super hero!! I made milk shakes for the kids and we have been doing this all week : )
If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or follow me by email at the top right hand of the screen to have future posts sent to you. Tricia (Crunchy Catholic Momma)
What a beautiful cow . . . or is it a calf?
Seems very small in the pictures or else that fence and boy are massive.
Have you got the follow up blog post on milking the cow, would love to see how you go about it.
ersey cows are one of my favorite cow as I do won one in my home where my maid use to nurse it and it is pretty looking just like your cow and I think that to nurse them is not a tedious task.
Pretty cow!I think it would just be easier, and cheaper, (and better for you) to just not drink milk, LOL. Humans don't need cow's milk. But it does make great butter and cream. I couldn't do without butter! Since switching to a low carb, high fat diet, after finding out I'm insulin resistant (pre-diabetic), I've gone off milk (too high in sugar) but do use a lot of cream and butter!
Re-poting my comment, as Blogger seems to be eating comments again, and I for once had made a copy 😉 What a wonderful cow. Jersey cows are my favourite.Like you No stash bashing has been going on, and absolutely nothing has had it's picture taken, no posts (or almost) has been written. I've been weeding and digging my garden, dyeing wool with nettles and ground elders, making soap and un-petroleum jelly – this last might count as stash-bashing, as I used a Marigold infused oil started last autumn and bees' wax from four years ago. I have tried to dye the soap with wheat grass juice, and the pulp is waiting to be made into paper.I hope to return with a link next Stash-Bashing Thursday.Enjoy your cow and good luck.
Awe, such a pretty girl! I'm a sucker for cow eyelashes!