Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Happiness is......

Having your own milking jersey cow. Her name is Julica but we call her Honey.
If you get a cow, make sure you order your milking equipment BEFORE the cow comes. Although the pleasure and peace of hand milking at 6am and 6:30pm is also fine for a while.

Also-- make sure you have a way for her to get in and out of the pasture on her own. (that part won't be done till end of June-- so I'm getting good at leading her around with her halter).

Cream separator and butter churn coming in a week as well. In the meantime--- I'm back to making cheese, kefir and right now cooking up some fromagina. Will need a cheese press by end of the summer and a big ice cream maker. Cereal with fresh milk and cream is really fabulous and my coffee was never better.

Cows are fun.....

6 comments:

LindaG said...

Thanks for all the tips!
You're lucky you have a milk cow, I think. :)
Even luckier to know how to make cheese.
Have a great day!

Anonymous said...

I'm jealous...

Anna

Annette said...

Come on over at 5:15 when she is bawling for us to wake up and milk her and you wont be jealous anymore...

(not Annette) - Mike

Anonymous said...

My cat starts up about the same time so it's not much of a change--other than the pitch...and maybe volume. :)

Anna

SteveandAlina said...

Wow, that is so exciting! Your own dairy cow!! May I ask why you decided to wait 2 years to obtain a dairy cow? Also, does she keep having babies... is that how she retains her milk supply?

Annette said...

Alina-- I love ya-- not different than a human mother. You need to have a baby every year to keep producing lots of milk.

Although who knows-- maybe there are mothers who have had a baby who nursed for 3-4 years? but if similar to a cow then I would bet they didn't produce as much milk after year 1.

Mike is right--- I didn't know she'd be trained to moo so loudly twice a day--- I'm reading up how to get her to once a day milking.... it can and will be done at our household. Once a day milking is just right-- 2 times is fine for a little bit-- but in 2 weeks I want her down to once a week milking. Our whole neighborhood is gonna have to hear here during her transition.