Bee~ Journal of then...

[BeccaOH]

All the while, the woman is thinking, "I have to get to work, why in the h-e-double hockey sticks did God want me to have this blessed cow....I don't even drink milk!!!!!!!!!.....etc, etc." There were a lot of etc. in those thoughts, BTW!

I strained the milk into the pint jar that it didn't quite fill and sat down on the couch to cry.

The boys are sitting, frozen like rabbits, while the filth of frustration pours out of my gums......stress from work, my youngest getting ready to leave for basic training the next Monday, the garden not in the ground, getting company this weekend....all the feeling sorry for myself drivel that can spew from a hormonal woman's mouth.....you've heard it, girls...I don't need to explain further, as you have all been there!

Oh, Bee, what a story. I'm sure I would have been in the same boat as you. In fact, I also have company coming this weekend to stay all week. I've got so much to do to get ready and I'm so worried they are going to think my home STINKS with all the animals and their poo and the flies. *sigh*

Only God knows why he puts us on these paths, and we can only manage by trusting and relying on Him.

Have a great weekend!

 

[noobiechickenlady]

Bee, I really shouldn't have laughed at this, but I did. That is such great imagery - The boys are sitting, frozen like rabbits, while the filth of frustration pours out of my gums......

OH!!

I'll add my urgings to you writing a book, I'D buy it

 

[freemotion]

Well, I would've laughed along with everyone else if I were reading this last winter.....now it just gives me flashbacks! I cried many, many times over this silly goat.....and she just has a little swishy tail. But she has many ideas of her own as to how things should be done!

I assure you, it will get better! Boy, do they love routine, and you don't know what her routine was, and you haven't created your own yet.

I'd forgotten about the tail! My brother got Angie's tail wrapped around his face many, many times.....not just for flies, but any little "infraction....."

My heart is with ya, girl!

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Oh Bee, reading this, having read Free's goat milking experiences...hmmm maybe I don't wanna milk anything! :/

Still trying to imagine anything potty mouth out of you!

 

[freemotion]

Oh, Aly and Bee, let me add that it is now my favorite five minutes of the day! I really enjoy milking. It was just really tough without guidance, and working with a goat who'd had little handling and lots of neglect. It gets better, and if you can get some help, you can probably avoid all the trials I went through. Ideally, I would've started with an experienced goat and had someone to teach me, and watch and tell me what I was doing to annoy the goat when she did not cooperate. I had to figure it all out myself. And, remember, Liam had pnuemonia, which made being in that stall a very heart-wrenching situation for me. I'm tearing up just thinking about it.

Milking is lovely once it is going smoothly.

 

[Blackbird]

I know how you feel Bee, we've had some goats from hell that we've had to break into milking. It will get better with time. We've had demons from hell turn into ladies on the milk stand, it can be done, and you can do it.

A sturdy head lock would be a good idea too.. I thought the people before said she was a good milker? If she was really a good milker for them, then she probably just needs to get used to the new person feeling up her udder and stealig milk from her baby

All in time.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Oh, Aly and Bee, let me add that it is now my favorite five minutes of the day! I really enjoy milking. It was just really tough without guidance, and working with a goat who'd had little handling and lots of neglect. It gets better, and if you can get some help, you can probably avoid all the trials I went through. Ideally, I would've started with an experienced goat and had someone to teach me, and watch and tell me what I was doing to annoy the goat when she did not cooperate. I had to figure it all out myself. And, remember, Liam had pnuemonia, which made being in that stall a very heart-wrenching situation for me. I'm tearing up just thinking about it.

Milking is lovely once it is going smoothly.

I think I'll be doing some talking to some locals who milk their goats/cows as I don't see me milking anything until next year, as that's when Ginger (goat) will be old enough for her first breeding.

 

[Beekissed]

I'm stealing a few moments on the puter,as I am on call and tying up my phone line.......shhhhhhh!

I'm sooooooooooo glad you all liked the saga of the Mad-eyed Milking Woman!


I will tell you this, Quail....goats are an easier milking than cows, IMO. They have longer, handier teats that require little finger movements....and they don't loom over you like a mountain while you are crouched very near a large hoof!

Blossom's teats are small in comparison with other cows I have milked. Small even for my woman's hands, dang it! So I can't get a good hand position but I am working on it....technique is everything!

Thanks for all the words of wisdom! I think a routine is the best idea, so I'm trying to establish one as quickly as I can. Until the pen is modified, I won't be able to do it properly.

I hope this all is worth it and God's plan is revealed soon! I wouldn't mind having one of those electric bucket milkers long about right now.......

She threw a fit this evening when I put her new halter on her....she seriously did not like it!!! I think all this crankiness is due to her being in heat. She didn't act like this before when we lead her anywhere.

Amos, I think you are correct~the folks probably haven't milked her for a very long time or they were just lying outright about being able to milk her in the field! I am so trusting!!!!

She's still better than the cow we had when I was young....she was a nightmare!

Girls, wouldn't it be neat to write a book and never have to work again? I wouldn't know the first thing about writing a book or getting it published. It would be wonderful, though! My sixth grade teacher is still waiting for me to write the great American novel....he had such faith in me!

 

[TTs Chicks]

I haven't been able to be on here much lately - it is staying light later so by the time I get in the house it's past time to feed the kids, do the bedtime thing etc. . . But one of the first things I catch up on is your journal - I enjoy reading your stories.

 

[Blackbird]

You are right about not having a huge cow stand over you! And they are much easier to handle. But some goats, especially Nigerian's teats are so small! And when you milk you have to pinch the teat to colse the milk in it, then squeeze the milk out with the rest of your hand, with most cows you can easily just pull on it and the milk comes out.