Tuesday, November 04, 2014

Lately




We've been getting lots and lots of milk from Missy. We've had so much lately that we've run out of bottles, so the outside fridge has also been filled with pots and bowls of milk. We've made cottage cheese, are experimenting with yoghurt and I've just now made my first 'butter ball'. It feels good to take a bit of cream, that I milked with my own hands from a cow I raised, and so easily turn it into butter. I liked patting the butter with my 'butter bats' (read two spatulas) and rinsing it until it was free of all the butter milk. We've got to order some cultures to make some other cheeses too. Then we'll be faced with what to do with all of the whey! Although we have been told that it is very nutritional for gardens and fruit trees, as well as chickens! Who knew?

I've been getting up earlier than usual and trying to get all of the animals fed and watered before the really hot part of the day arrives. Summer is coming. Sometimes I'm a little unrealistic and also imagine that I can cram a whole day of farm work into a only few hours. Needless to say this never happens.

I've been using Rilla to free-graze the sheep, something we both enjoy immensely. The sheep enjoy it too.

It's been dry, so very very dry. The little bit of green you see is the few acres we have under irrigation. But nothing makes grass grow like rain - hopefully we get some soon.

We've been planting cucumbers and tomatoes and beans and salads for summer. We've also put in two different sorts of raspberries - a tropical summer fruiting type and a heritage autumn fruiting one. I'm hoping they both do well. 

I've harvested the last of my carrots, aside from four or five that aren't ready yet. I didn't manage to grow nearly as many as last year, despite efforts to grow more. But the ones we did have were delicious.


What's been happening in your world lately? 
Do share in the comments below!


Sarah x



10 comments

  1. I have only recently found your blog and I'm enjoying it immensely. Your post of the Silke bantams took me right back to playing in my nanas garden with her bantams as she hung out the washing. And you are so right about homegrown carrots tasting better..so much better!

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    1. Thank-you! I'm glad to hear you are enjoying it x

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  2. Life sounds productive and busy at your place Sarah. Enjoy the milk! Wishing you some rain too...very dry here also x

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    1. We are enjoying the milk - and looking forward to trying some cheeses! Hope you get some rain soon too :-)

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  3. So glad the milk production is going so well! It sounds like you're really enjoying creating the butters and cheeses too. Will you soon be opening a stall at the end of the lane for your homemade cheese rounds? I left a comment on the chicken post, but I think my computer destroyed it (which is happening far too often). Your silkies are gorgeous, and I love that they look furry rather than feathery. Looking forward to seeing the silky chicks. I know you'll get some uber cute shots of them ;) Wendy x

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    1. Hi Wendy,
      I received your comment on the chicken post and have just published and replied to it - thanks so much! :-)
      As much as I love the idea of selling cheese I'm afraid we won't be. Aside from the legal complications of selling food or cheese - especially that made from 'raw' (unpasteurised) milk - cheese takes a lot of milk to make so I'd be surprised if we had an excess of cheese. Until perhaps we get more cows.... :-)

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  4. So wonderful that you are getting so much milk! That is just amazing! And you guys have come so far from where you started with all of your animals and crops! I am truly inspired by you Sarah! You are not afraid to try anything.....I can't wait to see more!!! Wishing you a wonderful week ahead! Nicole xo

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    1. It is indeed wonderful :-) Thanks so much for your lovely comment Nicole, I hope you and your family have a lovely week too x

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  5. You could make ricotta whilst you are waiting for your cultures to arrive :) It freezes quite well so you could stock up. A little whey is good for soaking beans and grains but not in the volumes you have. Did I mention I'm jealous of all your milk ;)

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    1. We've made ricotta and cottage cheese - I've never liked it before but absolutely love our homemade one! It tastes to different :-) I didn't know it froze, I'll have to give it a go.
      We've spent years being jealous of other people's milk, it seems a little surreal that we finally have our own :-)

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Maira Gall