It's a girl

21.5.2011

BUILDING NEWS

We have muddled through until the weekend and with any luck we pour the roof first light on Monday. We are still waiting the all clear from engineer Doug but as far as the rest of us can see if we add any more reinforcing iron to the roof there will be no space left for any concrete!

Yesterday the winter sun came out and it was really interesting to see how it entered the building now that the bond deck is in place. Light came in at a low angle and touched the base of the back wall and light bounced off the water in the solar buffer zone and reached up to the ceiling. Our original idea had been to have a lap pool in the solar buffer zone but this was going to be too expensive and complicated so we now have to think of another way of reflecting the light. The water there now is just what collected from rain fall in the area without the slab.

OTHER NEWS

Donna, our cow calved this afternoon. It was an easy birth and the calf was a good size and strength. I switched off the electric fence round her paddock in case it rolled through the wires and we should probably leave the fence off tonight. We will worry until the calf gets past this next stage especially as it is winter with cold nights.

We have now dried off all the pregnant goats and the milk from the rest has thickened and reduced so all milking is by hand. Donna usually over produces so we will milk her once her milk drops to stop her getting engorged. We have dug out the old rusty bale but now we need it set up in the milking shed so at least we can hold her still.

I just hope she has remembered that being milked is an acceptable procedure. I had to rope up her legs last time when she was milked for the first time. Getting a maiden goat to give milk is just so easy but cows are built like tanks and have a much greater power of resistance! They also kick backwards, like a horse, as well as forward and I have been sent flying against the wall many times in my youth.

Having said that, milking a cow is one of the most satisfying tasks on earth. On a cold morning a cow walks in like a warm radiator and extrudes an atmosphere of calm benevolence. You can lean on a cow. A cow gives you milk, cheese, butter, and yoghurt and produces calves one can eat. If you look into a cow's eyes you see a truly giving being. Cows are great. (P.S. You may hear a different story from me as we go through the week)!