Mornin' Milkin'

It's been just short of 3 weeks since I started milking Belle.  Her baby still isn't able to get down far enough to reach her udder...unless, of course, she was to get on her knees.  Little Bit will have no part of that!  She's up to almost a gallon at each feeding, morning and night.  Belle has been just barely meeting her needs.  We looked up records and found that she was 10 years old!  There is no wonder she just isn't giving the gallons we used to get.  

This morning, the temperatures were just above freezing, so instead of getting the freezing rain that was in the forcast, we were getting just enough mist to keep things damp.   I went through with my normal routine, separate the goats, open the gate for Belle and Little Bit, flip switches for lights and the pump and get everything running.  Little Bit dances around my feet wanting a bottle while Belle just patiently waits for her feed to be poured so she can get in the stanchion.  Once Belle is in the stanchion eating away, Little Bit nibbles out of the bucket on the floor.  Belle needed a bit more cleaning this morning since things were damp outside. I got her cleaned, prepped and hooked up. Little Bit got her 2 bottles while I sat on a 5 gallon bucket watching the milker.  After a few minutes, I hear a deep breath and warm air on my neck.  I turn to see Belle's nose right even with mine.  She had ran out of feed and I had forgotten to lock her in the stanchion!  Thank goodness, being the good girl that she is, she just stood and waited while we finished things up. She gave a gallon and a half this morning, enough for bottles in the morning and one to add in to tonight's feeding.  Belle steps down and turns out of the stanchion.  She heads back through the gate and moos on her way through to get her baby to follow.  It's been a good morning!

I just don't do well leaving the house while it's still dark outside.  Troy's mra test was scheduled for this morning at 7:30 which meant I had to go to work early.  I will be glad when my truck is running so I can quit depending on someone else.  We no more got out of the drive way and a rabbit ran across the road.  Unfortunately, Troy wasn't able to stop and he hit the poor thing...making for a great start to the day.  I, of course, couldn't stop the tears.  I dodge caterpillars on the road in the summer so crying for a rabbit isn't out of the norm for me.  It's just one of those things that makes me who I am I guess.  

I'm trying to keep myself together as far as Troy's test goes.  I have mixed feelings.  I really don't want them to find anything wrong, but I would like them to find a reason for his headaches.  I know the results are out of our hands and we will just have to trust that we will be able to handle the results regardless of what they are.  

It was 17 degrees on the thermometer in Troy's car on the way to work.  Milking a cow in those temperatures is never fun.  The hoses get cold and won't bend to reach the udders and the pulsator sticks and takes a while to warm up enough to run.  There is just something about a little one jumping around trying to suck on your coat tail and fingers that just makes it all worth it.  Little Bit (she doesn't have a name yet) can hardly contain herself waiting for her bottle.  Once Belle is hooked up to the milker, I feed the baby a warmed bottle from yesterday's milking.  She shivers standing in the cold, but a warm bottle should warm her up some.  She will head to the barn once we are done and take a nap with a full belly under the heat lamp.  Belle is still holding out on the milk production but she is now giving about a gallon in the morning time.  A bottle is filled for tomorrow morning's feeding and I poured the rest into a pan for the collection of cats that congregate in the barn.  Within about 45 minutes, I'm finished.  I gathered all my supplies, the milker, extra bottles and the bag of horse treats the Belle loves.  I grabbed a handful of treats and coaxed Belle and her baby to their side of the property.  Only the top and edges of the water tubs were frozen so I was able to break through with my boot and amazingly didn't get my whole leg wet this time.  The sun was just peeking through the trees by this time.  I set down all my stuff and of course...took a picture.  

Milking has always been a kind of therapy for me.  This last week or so has given me back some alone thinking time and has allowed me to get back to the things that make me content.  It's been a while since we've had to milk...this opportunity to get back at it has been just what I needed.

Troy stopped back by work after his test.  They injected dye to be able to see all the arteries which unfortunately left him with a headache again.  I love him dearly and pray that some relief is in the near future. 

On a totally different subject...my niece made me a new bracelet..

and it fits in perfectly with my growing collection.

  

Just another Monday

This morning wasn't quite as wild as I was expecting.  Zack made it up and to work on time, Troy made it home from work and I still didn't have to drive to help Caitlyn out.  That didn't stop my brain from overreacting as usual.  I tend to start piling on every possible problem once I get stressed.  This morning was no different.  I still didn't have a vehicle to drive so I had to depend on Troy to take me to work.  Zack will be returning to school in about 5 weeks.  At some point during that time, we have to figure out how to get his transmission rebuilt.  And, on Wednesday, Troy goes in for an MRI on his brain.  He's been having headaches and the doctor wants to rule out an aneurysm.  This is not the first time he's had tests ran on his head.  Last time was a mass that mysteriously disappeared several years ago.  I'm worried...very worried.

Just how much can go wrong in one day???

Troy made it home this morning sometime after 6 AM.  I dragged myself out of bed and started to prepare all the milking supplies for this morning.  Zack told me last night to wake him up for him to go with me.  This morning's milking and baby feeding went on without an issue.  Zack took measurements of the old barn to try and figure out how to transform it into a cleaner, more practical milk barn.  I'm thinking seriously about getting a calf, bottle feeding her and making her into a milk cow.  It's a lot of work, but well worth it in the long run.  It's a bit exciting to think about bringing home fresh milk.  Belle is still only giving about 2 quarts with each milking which is enough to feed her baby, but unusual for a cow that used to give several gallons a day.  

It didn't take too long for a perfectly good day to fall completely apart.  Zack, Kyle and I went to lunch with mom and dad and made it home just in time to prepare for tonight's milking.  I got a call from Caitlyn.  She was crying and obviously very upset.  It turns out, she was driving home from work and lost the ability to steer her truck.  She was able to get pulled over and off the road but she was pretty shaken.  She said she had 1% battery left on her phone...then it died.  She's an hour away so it's no quick trip to rescue her.  I told her I had to milk and then would head her way.  I only made it about 2 miles from home and my truck decided we weren't going anywhere.  Thank goodness, Troy hadn't left the house yet for work.  He came, picked Zack up and took him back to get his truck so he could tow me back home.  When Zack pulled up in front of me he realized he had no brakes.  Troy had already left for work so we were stuck having to tow my truck with a truck with no brakes...fun fun!  Zack's instructions for me...when I see his brake lights, I had to stop me and him...great!  Thank goodness everything worked out fine.  Zack put brake fluid in to get him by and my truck was parked again in the driveway.  

I finally got another call from Caitlyn.  She had walked home...somewhere around 5 miles or so.  Her truck has the 2 back tires flat so us driving to rescue her would do no good.  The catch?  Her truck can't sit where it is because it will be towed.  My plan?  Call a tow truck to take it back to her house...unfortunately, she would have to walk back to the truck to leave her keys with the tow company.  New plan?  I will drive in the morning to pick her up and take her to her truck and to meet the tow truck.  Whewww...figured it out.  Not exactly.  I heard again from Caitlyn after I had went to bed.  She evidently has a connection through a neighbor to both a tire place and the people that owned where her truck was parked.  My new plan...do nothing.  She had everything figured out.  We will see how everything pans out tomorrow. 

Happy Birthday...to me...yesterday...

Today, well, technically yesterday (since its now after midnight) was my birthday.  My hubby woke me with a card.  He usually brings me 2...one serious and one funny.  This year there was only one, but he never fails to choose one that always makes me cry...his signature has never changed after all these years :).

After work, we went to my favorite place to eat...Del Rio.  Caitlyn had drove down to pick up a washer and dryer, so I had all my family with me today.  

We had only been home long enough to take our coats off when we got a call from Caitlyn.  She was unable to get help unloading the washer and dryer.  Her living situation isn't the best and of course, we would have chosen better for her, however, she's 19 and at this point she has to make her own way...good or bad.  We will still be there when she needs us regardless.  

We loaded up and headed her way to help.  We knew the situation wasn't going to be good but really didn't know what to expect.  Caitlyn had been working for several days to get the laundry room floor pulled up and new plywood down.  The room had leaked for who knows how long before she bought the house and had lots of water damage.  At this point she has had no way to do laundry and wanted to get the room to the point  washer and dryer would be usable.  Unfortunately, things hadn't worked too well for her.  Troy and Zack got everything carried in and tried to hook everything up.  First off, the gaskets leaked then a pipe leaked under the house.  The temperatures were miserable..somewhere around 7 degrees.  There was no way we were going to be able to make the repairs for her in those temperatures and in the dark.  They turned her water to the house off and then carried in the dryer...a gas one...she needed electric.  Things just weren't going well for her.   We made it home sometime after midnight.  We left her with no water and still no way to wash clothes...my heart hurts for what she continues to deal with.

As always, my birthday's are always interesting.  None of my kids told me happy birthday this year...strange, and my feelings were a bit hurt, but that's ok.  I still love 'em.