The end of summer

This year the cows have been going out during the day, much later in the year than in the past few years. The milk yields have been holding (even rising), but yesterday the time came for them to stay inside. It's not just the grass, or even the weather, but the mess that nearly 100 cows can make walking through gates. I had hoped we could say "the cows were still out in November", but looking at the rain today, it's perhaps as well they're warm and dry.

End of season picture

This is a photo of Strickley Athena 3 (taken by a professional photographer at the Dairy Event in September). After a successful show season she deserves the recognition.

Old Lane to New Lane

Early in 2003 we started work on widening the "Old Lane" - the track from the yard down to the fields that runs behind the old barn. Over 6 years later we're still improving it. It's now technically a new lane (though still known as the Old Lane) and runs behind Wellbank. These photos show the progress from 2003 (the first 10 photos) and the rather magnificent wall and steps built this past week. A very green construction - no cement and all the stones came out of ploughing (see the post of 19th April).

Congratulations!

Well done to Elliot for success in his badminton tournament yesterday

This may or may not work . .

If I have done this correctly, I have embedded the code for Chris Rea's new single from the BBC website (all perfectly legal!).

The summer wasn't so bad after all

On Friday we got the last of this year's silage - 42 big bales. As far as I know the mower will now be washed off and put away (unless someone here at Strickley knows differently. . . )

It hasn't been exactly the summer we were expecting, after the early forecasts, but for us it's worked out OK. All our silage cuts have been got in with no rain on them. Of course that's down to careful planning (and anxious investigation of seaweed).

Update

Where are we up to?

Just over a week ago I set out what we hoped to do over the next week. Has it happened?

Thursday - Westmorland Show - a resounding success
Thursday evening - oats in the pit
Friday morning - silage grass mown
Friday afternoon - herd judged for regional competition
Saturday - James judged at North Midlands Calf Show
Saturday - Henry rowed up all day
Sunday - silage grass all in the 2nd pit
Monday - bed finally arrives!
Monday - James leaves for Dairy event with Pansy, Athena and a calf we're giving as a raffle prize.
Tuesday - straw arrives and is unloaded onto top of silage
Wednesday - judging day at The Dairy Event. We were very pleased to come second in the heifer class (Athena 3), in strong class behind the heifer that won at the Royal Show.
Thursday - I'm back at work, and it's as if I've never been away (no magic elf to do my work while I'm off)
Thursday night - James due back.

Hopefully there's now time to draw breath!