Thinking About Winter

Today the farmer we buy hay from called and said he would be in the field today baling square bales. It has been so wet here this summer that many hay farmers have not been able to cut their hay yet. Anyway, we get a small discount if we take it right from the field instead of the farmer having to put it up in their barn. My hubby, Steve, met the farmer at his place and brought home 3 loads of hay using our flat bed trailer. He got 230 bales and wants to get 1 more load. It was hot here, 86 degrees and he was covered in sweat and hay pieces, ITCHY! Our Highland cattle eat hay exclusively during the winter. Another beef farmer has suggested we also feed silage or haylage (sp?) for extra energy during the cold months and makes the meat tender when you butcher. I am not sure if we will do that. Also, the goats eat hay daily all year long, and the pigs get some in their houses as do the chickens in the nest boxes. So we use a lot of hay. Making your own hay would be time consuming to say the least, but it may be cheaper. With the cost of haying equipment it may not be. We will think more about that in another year or two.

This is a oldest Highland cow, Amanda, after just giving birth this spring.

My daughter has been visiting her friends and family from the old neighborhood and has even gotten to go to the Delaware shore for a week. I am so glad for her because we will not be going there this year with all work here and their is no one we know well enough to do the milking chores while we are gone. If anyone is in the 'farm sitting' business, please let us know. But now I am feeling resistance to her coming home. She says her friend's family is going back to the shore and want her to go with them. I am torn between having her come back home well before school starts to be all ready and feeling her frustration with moving and leaving all her friends. I know it was hard on her starting at a new high school. She would not believe me if I told her this, but I am very proud of her for having the courage to start over at 15. I know how nervous she was about starting school last August. She did a great job, made some friends and still kept up her grades. I know her coming home this week will be a battle of wills, lol.

I have been asked to post my recipes here for the foods I make with milk from our Holstein and goats. I promise to post them next time :)

Take Care,

Make it yourself mom