In a Routine

We certainly seem to have hit a routine for this late summer.

Pluto and Popcorn

After milking, I spend the rest of the day making cheese or canning.

time to grate cheese, make cheese, and put some fruit in the yogurt

onions to chop and freeze for winter’s use

salsa for my son

The goats go out to pasture pretty early and stay there until late in the evening.

Gill, Tilly, Sidney, Kate, and Edith

Dolly (and Sidney in front)

Of course, I do step out to give the chickens my left-over veggies.

My four milking does come up to get milked and go right back out.

Cutie and Ava coming up (might be Pistol behind)

I did just recently switch to only milking Cinnamon in the evening because she really doesn’t have enough to mess with, but she is my old lady.  She deserves to at least come in once a day for a while.

Cinnamon

Then it’s time to finish up chores and we all are ready to hit the roost.

peacock on the roost

After a good night’s sleep, it’s time to do it all again!

A Chevre Treat

Since I’m milking the girls and getting a lot and my freezer is already half full, that means it’s a good time for me to play and experiment.  I decided I need to find a way to replace the cream cheese spread that I like so much with my bagels.

my chevre on the left; purchased cream cheese on the right

I made some chevre and added strawberries and a bit of sugar and mixed it all together with my stick blender.

I have to say, it’s pretty amazing.  Luckily, chevre freezes well, so I can make a big batch and have it all year round.

I’m also going to play with other additives, so it will be more like dip, but that is later in the cheese-making season.

Chevre is easy and what people typically think of when you say goat cheese.  I love that it is so versatile–I use is as a substitute for cream cheese, ricotta, or sour cream.

I’m Milking

I finally got Freddie and Fannie weaned by putting them on the front pasture with my newest moms.

Fannie and Freddie (they are not going to starve)

That means I started milking Ava.

Ava

That girl really gives me a lot of milk.  It’s no wonder Freddie is so big.

I have decided that it’s easier to wean by selling the kids right away. Ava has been a bit melodramatic.

She was refusing to give me her milk at first.  She’s doing better now, but I still think she’s holding it some.

Ava

Since I’m milking again, I’ve also spent some time cleaning in there.  I hate how muddy the milk room gets.

I thought I’d better start with just one goat to get my hands back in shape.  Cinnamon is coming in.  I hadn’t weaned six yet, but Cinnamon was not supposed to have a kid, and she is struggling with getting enough copper.

Cinnamon and Six

Astra also decided she should have her kids weaned so she can come in.

Let’s face it.  I have a whole long line of goats who want to come in and get milked despite not having any milk: Caroline, Haley, Cookie, Dolly, and Pluto are pretty much begging to come in every day.

Three generations of milking does: Dolly, Astra, and Pistol

And I still have Zinnia and Cutie to milk.

Zinnia

Later in the summer, I want to see if I can train Joy and Antigone.  Cupid is another possibility for training–she does like her food.