We really need to get a hay manger.....

We really need to sort out a better place to put the hay than on the floor in the cow pens. And Bonny here showing what happens when Lester puts fresh hay in......which is why the hay gets all over the floor and ends up as her bedding.

We have tried putting the hay in a container but the cows still lift it out with either their mouth or horns, and I did try making a hay net but realised that it was going to take far to long to fill the net with hay. I couldn't see either Lester or me having the patience to do that, so on the floor the hay goes. We need either a metal or wooden manger put up on the wall. We know what we need. We just have not got round to making them.

Meanwhile, Flora is still taking life easy. Not much happening with her at the moment, just staying close to mum's udder. By the way, not sure why only one teat is visible in this photo....there should be three others! Lester says he is going to start milking tonight, 'Just a drop or two' he said, '...so we can stop having to buy milk for our tea'. Not sure if Lissie is going to oblige about sharing her milk though and I anticipate a bit of an argument between her and Lester.

The cows and sheep have to be in for three days and then out in the fields for two. This is to give the grass on the fields time to grow, which it is now starting to do. This has been the pattern for all of the summer because of the heat and lack of rainfall, but now we have fallen into a pattern of four/ five days dry and then two or three days of storms and rain, which is much needed. Thank goodness that the grass is growing again........

And here is Bonny again, licking her lips in anticipation of the treat she thinks I have for her, like leaves of chard, bay, or beetroot, or a few bush beans...... Sorry Bonsy, it's only the camera and you can't eat that! She is due to calf soon. It will be her first. 

On the home front, all is well. We had a restful weekend, which was much needed. Off to make some courgette patties for breakfast...no toast this morning because I didn't get round to making bread, and we are out of porridge, so patties it will have to be. 

Bye for now.....

Vx

 

Mid morning.....last seen.....two cows plus one calf herding the sheep round and round the main field, the cows merrily kicking up their heals as they went, the calf keeping up with them very well, but the sheep, no, they were not fussed.

 

And I have had a good airing as well out in the veg garden. One bucket of weeds each for the pigs, cleared out one row of leeks and got them earthed up, started prepping some ground for winter seeds, never had a go at growing veg over winter so thought I would have a go....but by crikey it was blowing a gale, and, as I have said already, I really did get a good airing. After a while, though, my legs said they wanted a cup of coffee and a piece of cake. Not sure why my legs said that, possibly because they wanted to stop carrying the rest of me around and needed a sit down. Anyway, here I am, writing to you again......Vx