Cucumber Salad
I am happy to report that our Pepper gal pulled through her bout of milk fever and ketosis just fine. After seeing her so close to her end, I’m ever thankful to see her morning and evening, waiting at the gate to be milked.
When Pepper was close to being due to calve, I really felt I could finally get Georgi, the Brown Swiss, down to once-aday milking. I had wanted to attempt the switch a few months ago, but she was just producing way too much to make that work. So, in the midst of Pepper’s troubles, I was also moving Georgi’s evening milking earlier to get her used to a longer period of time between milkings. After milking her at 2:00 in the afternoon for a couple of days, and seeing her completely fine the next morning, I went for it.
She doesn’t really care about time, but she does understand that she comes in twice a day to be milked. So, that first day of oncea- day milking, she’d catch sight of me while grazing in the afternoon, lift her head, and moo while looking at me. I’d proceed to slink out of her line of sight like a guilty milkmaid. After a couple of days, she couldn’t care less about the change I’d made in her routine. Switching her to once-a-day milkings just makes life a little easier for us. We’re milking two cows in the morning and only one in the evening now, which is nice when evenings are quite toasty!
Milking a Jersey again, after milking the Brown Swiss for so long, was quite the comical change. Once we got Pepper standing in the milking chute, I had to chuckle at how low her teats were. There just wasn’t a ton of space between her teats and the floor of the chute. Pepper doesn’t have the greatest udder suspension, but Georgi’s height puts her udder right there for me, so I don’t have to stoop much at all while milking her. But now, with Pepper, I felt sitting on the ground to prep her udder would be better than using the stool.
She also looks so tiny and petite in the chute compared to Georgi and her massive body. Quite the pair we’re milking! But what I really care about is the difference in their milk. I can’t wait to start churning Pepper’s cream into some amazing butter, and with fall coming, I’ll be taking more time to turn Georgi’s delicious milk into some easy cheeses.
Just like that, summer break is over and we’re really not okay with it, but that’s nothing new. I’ve always dreaded the start of school. I’ve got two going to public school this year. My son is heading into junior high after his one year of homeschooling, and though he’s far from eager to start, he is curious. My eldest, gasp, is entering her first year of high school, and my mom heart is in full denial. She was greatly on the fence about going to public school or homeschooling. As much as I love having her home, there are new opportunities at school that are right up her alley, and some great elective teachers she’s already learned so much from. I encouraged her to try high school—home is always here if it’s not a great fit.
Then there’s my youngest, and I have the privilege of teaching her again this year. Junior high and high school, like I said, I love the elective teachers; they make public school worth it. But homeschooling last year really changed my perspective on elementary school. Not every mother stays home, but I do, and it gave me the perfect opportunity to teach my children and focus on real-life learning with them.
I’m fine with them having gone to public school for most of their elementary years. They made friends, respected teachers, learned how to follow rules and schedules, and figured out social situations. But after having that one year at home with them, it opened my eyes to how fast they’ve been made to grow up. So much of their life is spent at school, and if school isn’t the right environment for them as young children, then why not try homeschooling if we are able to?
My kids don’t have to love school or schoolwork, but I want it to be a positive learning environment. I want them to have time to study nature, catch a toad, do math outside, pause school to bake cookies, and read chapter book after chapter book—while they are still kids. My eldest missed that opportunity, but she liked school and truly enjoyed it. My youngest doesn’t thrive sitting in a desk all day, neither did my son, and that’s why he’s giving junior high a try, as it’s more flexible and has electives. It’s never a one-size-fits-all in life.
I’m also happy that my youngest’s biggest struggle will be picking which kitty to do school with—not common core math or wondering if kids will be friends with her that day. Less stress and drama in childhood is a win in my book.
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