The New Yogurt Maker

Well, after I cracked my crock pot making yogurt, I decided I shouldn’t do that again, so I had to decide what to do.  I used to have a little yogurt maker, but it died after fifteen years or so.  I decided to step into the 21st century.  I got an Instant Pot with a yogurt setting.

I was really pleased to find out it also has a setting to pasteurize the milk, so I don’t have to do that on the stove top in a double boiler.

It made the process super easy and way less cleanup. It’s big enough to hold the entire gallon. I think this was a good option.  It can also be used as a slow cooker (to replace the one I broke). And I won’t break it by plunging the stainless steel pot into a sink of cold water!

Now I’m back to making yogurt to force on my family.

A Mad Dash

I am in a mad dash to get as much done as I can before returning to teaching for the fall.  That means garden stuff.

Potatoes right after digging them

So far, mom has helped me make French fries.

dehydrated tomatoes

Dairy stuff.

I’m playing with mozzarella slices!

I might not have planned this quite right, but it worked.

still restocking soaps

Goat stuff.

I just did another round of copper.

Wanda–I made her toe bleed when I was trimming hooves. 😦

And just everything else.  I might be ready to go back so I can sit down.  Not really, but I do start back to work tomorrow.

Weaning

Thursday morning, I moved my bucks back onto the front pasture.

Freddie and Xerxes

I decided Thursday afternoon to wean kids so I could start milking again after everyone got mixed back together.  I shut Perdita up north first.  When I went back out to catch Joy’s boys, she was already out.  I think she climbed the remains of the tarp hut and went over the fence.

Perdita and Astra in pasture

I put Joy’s boys up there but I never did get Perdita caught again because she was standing on top of the fallen walnut tree until dark.  I caught Swen and Olaf and shut them up there so I could at least milk Joy in the morning.

Swen and Olaf

The next morning, Joy’s boys were out.  Seriously?  I swear it has been harder to wean kids this year than ever before.

Greta and Gary, Joy with her boys Olaf and Swen, and Micah

Anyhow, I did actually get to Astra before Perdita had breakfast, so I got a pint out of her.

Astra

Then, after my coffee, I once again weaned the little stinker.  She’s lucky she’s so cute.

Then I decided to go with Ava’s kids.

Geo, Glory, and Gilbert

She’s had triplets on her and she could use the break.  It’s been a hard year on all of the moms with the poor pasture quality due to the drought.

Ava

I hauled all three of them up with Perdita and blocked the hole I think the other two boys escaped from.

Perdita looking for a new escape route

Tonight, I’ll try to get Joy’s boys again.

Joy

After my hands get used to all of them, I’ll think about adding Caroline to my milking.

Chunky and Caroline

Or maybe Cutie.

Cutie with Sylvia and Simone

Eventually I’ll be milking all of them (hopefully in just a few days.)  In another month or so, I can start milking Zinnia.

Zinnia

Maybe I’ll see about training Onyx.

Onyx–love that perfect udder

Bring on the milk!  Time to make cheese!