Devonviolet Acres

[Devonviolet]

I hope Edith has a nice hatch.

So do I, for her sake!

This is the 3rd summer we have had her. The last two, she got broody. But, didn't seem as determined to raise babies. She is bound & determined to raise some poults this year! So, we are doing our best to help her do that - well at least she can raise some ducklings. Somehow I don't think she will care once they start hatching.

 

[Devonviolet]

I get a daily newsletter, called Countryside Daily. One of the articles, thus morning, was about what LGD's different barks mean. I read the article - out loud - to DH. We were pleased to see that we have been handling/understanding our Maremma's barking correctly.

http://countrysidenetwork.com/topics/livestock-topics/sheep-livestock-topics/livestock-guardian-dogs-barking/?mqsc=E3899076&utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=CSN ListCountryside Daily&utm_campaignaily 7-19-17

Reading the article remunded me of something cool, that our Deo & Violet did this morning.

Now that we separate the kids, from the does, at night, and keep them in the goat yard, next to the hoop hut where I milk them, its just a matter of opening the gate & they run to the milk stand. I always milk Falina first, and she waits at the gate, when she sees me come out the back door.

Lately, Ruby has been running to the gate, at the last minute, to try to get out first. I can't quite reach her collar (reaching over the gate), so can't hold her back. This morning, when I told Ruby to move, both dogs came over and I said, "Dogs, make Ruby move!" I was just thrilled when they pushed her back and out of the way, so Falina could get out the gate. GOOD DOGS!!! I love my dogs!!!

 

[CntryBoy777]

I have always talked to my animals and many think that I am "Looney Tunes"....but, there have been many times that the intended animal has responded to my asking it to do this or that. This includes dogs, cats, ducks, goats, and parrots. I'm not sure, but I believe that Joe has been a witness to me talking to some during his visit here....

 

[Devonviolet]

I have always talked to my animals and many think that I am "Looney Tunes"....but, there have been many times that the intended animal has responded to my asking it to do this or that. This includes dogs, cats, ducks, goats, and parrots. I'm not sure, but I believe that Joe has been a witness to me talking to some during his visit here....

That is just too funny! And just so you know I don't think you are loony tunes . . . I talk to all of my animals too. At night, I tell the chickens & ducks it's time to go to bed and they all turn & go into the chicken run. I tell my cat I love him & invite him up on my lap and he comes running from the other room & up on my lap.

 

[Bruce]

Note that the author @BrendaMNgri is right here on BYH!

 

[babsbag]

That cream looks delicious. I wanted to make butter in the dairy but the cost of a stainless steel separator is thousands as all of the internal parts need to be stainless to, not just the bowl so that is a no go for quite a while.

Do you add cream to the mozzarella?

 

[Devonviolet]

Note that the author @BrendaMNgri is right here on BYH!

And here I thought the "MN" stood for Minnesota girl. Having lived in MN for eleven years, when I see MN, it automatically translates to Minnesota.

Well, @BrendaMNgri, I'm impressed! That was a great article!

 

[Bruce]

You can't make butter from cream UNLESS you have a stainless steel separator? There has to be a way, SS didn't even exist until 1913 and we know people made butter WAY before that.

 

[Devonviolet]

That cream looks delicious. I wanted to make butter in the dairy but the cost of a stainless steel separator is thousands as all of the internal parts need to be stainless to, not just the bowl so that is a no go for quite a while.

Do you add cream to the mozzarella?

No, I didn't add cream to the mozzarella. Didn't think of it. At what stage would I do that? I made another 4 gallon natch today. After heating it, adding the Rennet, and letting it sit for 5 minutes, it wouldn't do a "clean break" so I let it sit longer. Still no clean break. So, I just went ahead and heated it to 105F degrees, and let it sit for 3 minutes, instead of the recommended 5 minutes (like I did before). This batch turned out with a nice soft (yet lightly) firm texture. Absolutely delicious!

As far as making cream. My cream separator has a 100 Liter capacity. I would think you could make enough cream, with 100 Liters (which is 26.4 gallons), to make butter to sell. I don't know if you can use it commercially though. This is food grade. But, does everything HAVE to be stainless steel, for commercial certification? Or is food grade enough?

 

[babsbag]

I am not sure about the cream but I think I would try a batch with 1/4 cream in place of the milk. Would be an interesting experiment at least and it might be really good. As far as I know anything that comes in contact with the milk has to be stainless or glass, food grade isn't good enough. Part of the problem is that the code doesn't specifically mention cream separators so it is open to interpretation...not usually a good thing.