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["Gloria Morris" <gloriamorris59 AT gmail.com>]

Hey, All!

The last couple weeks have been a whirlwind for me. My goat gave birth
prematurely right at the beginning of a blizzard. I lost the triplets. And
then I had to learn to milk FAST, because I had a high producing goat with
no kids to help me out!

The sheep fitting stand that I had tried to convert to a stanchion did not
meet my goat's satisfaction. If there were such a thing as goat rodeo, we
gave a fine demonstration of that sport in my garage the night that I tried
to get my goat on that metal stand! So, my neighbor loaned me her milk stand
until I could build my own. The minute my goat saw the proper wooden stand,
she hopped up on it and stuck her head through the head gate.

We got through the kicking and sending the pail flying stage by tying both
feet. I ordered hobbles through a catalog. The hobbles arrived in the mail
just as my goat stopped trying to kick.

Once the pail stopped flying and I was able to actually KEEP some of the
milk, the very first pleasure I had was that wonderful creamy milk in my
coffee. Oh my, was that good! And then it was a huge glass of milk. Really
good! I was hooked.

My goat had never been lead before on a regular basis. I am set up to milk
in my garage, which is across an as yet unfenced area from the pasture.
Since we had the fun of a goat search party after my goat's arrival, and I
am generally milking when it is dark (not easy to spot an absconding goat),
I have lead her from the pasture to the garage twice daily. At first, she
did an amazingly good impression of a donkey, digging in her heels and not
wanting to be lead. I tried a butt rope as I would on a colt. She was
outraged and lay down in the snow! My neighbor suggested that I the doe's
tail and both lead her by the collar and enforce with the tail. It took less
than a minute for the concept to sink in, that walking nicely while being
lead is preferable to being walked by the tail. Then she decided to charge
ahead. Standard dog training procedures stopped that quickly. Now, she
generally walks on a loose lead. And so, I have learned a thing or two about
training a new-to-me species -- goats are a little different!

We have gotten to know each other better, and in the process I've come to
really appreciate her personality and its various quirks. She is a bit
aloof, and regal in her bearing: a dairy queen. But she is affectionate in
her own way, more like a cat than a dog.

I built a new stand, just like my neighbor's stand, from a pattern at
http://fiascofarm.com/goats/milkstand.html One of these days, I will have
good tools. I made do with what I presently have. Among the many tools I
don't have is a power screwdriver. My wrists are sore! But it is done, and
passed the stringent goat approval test!

I have made my first yogurt. I did not add any powdered milk, wanting to see
what her milk is like as yogurt without added milk solids first. It was
thick, rich, creamy, and oh, so wonderful! Presently, I have the yogurt
draining, to make a soft spreadable cheese. I will make more yogurt today.

I've been reading about cheeses, and I think for my next dairy adventure I
will try a chevre. Ah, I think they are going to love me at the cheesemakers
supply place as I'm acquiring my new kitchen tools!

It has been stressful, upsetting, heart-wrenching, happy, content, joyful,
and oh, so tasty, learning to be a milk maid. It is an adventure I have
dreamed about since a child. What a ride it has been! But one well worth
taking!

Oh, and my aim when milking is much improved!

Gloria