Peteyfoozer’s Journey (because journaling’s not enough)

[SageHill]

Anyway, prior to my being allowed to use the stall in the barn, and getting the belly milker I had to hand milk her. Finding a bucket or something to sit on was an issue because she didn’t hold still. She swayed back and forth, side to side, whatever it took to be out of reach and keep me off balance. Then one day I saw an ad for the perfect answer! A one legged milking stool. I should be able to sway with her, as the stool straps to your ass by way of a belt. Sounds great, right? I could just waltz out with mt bucket, wipe her down, plop myseld down and milk her.
I ordered it. It was heavier than I anticipated. Quality!
I had to park it on the kitchen table and back up to it to strap it on. Done. Out the back door with my bucket, my cloth, and nope. Can’t turn around to close the door because there is a wall there. Walk to end of porch, set down bucket, turn around, walk back and close door, pick up stuff and head to corral. Same routine at gate. Tie Dolly up and prepare to be amazed ! I was. It had rained a bit the week before and the ground was still a bit soft. I went to squat down and planted myself firmly in the soil about 3/4 the length of that chair leg. Which was strapped to my ass. Buried. Stuck. Like a sapling. Took forever to work myself out of there. Meanwhile Dolly danced while I cussed whoever invented that stupid milking stool.

I haven't laughed that hard in a long time! Tears running down my face.

 

[SageHill]

Going down memory lane. I remember when I got my first Jersey cow. (Not my first milkcow, just my first Jersey) she was the sweetest thing. She came from a dairy because she wasn’t a big producer. She was bred and not far out from calving so I was tickled to get her. It was right about the time my RA started really manifesting itself, so I had to get a belly milker. She had a twisted face and used to loll her tongue and when it was time to be milked, she would race down the dirt road to the big barn, her bag swinging back and forth, squirting and her crooked little legs paddling..the cowboys would just crack up. What a personality she had!
My sweet DollyMoo

View attachment 100031

Oh that face!

 

[peteyfoozer]

This is the story of Queenie the goat. Before we moved here, I had a few acres in Tehachapi, California. It was my dream home. My training facility was there with my arena (just barely large enough to train hunters) my barn and mare motel, hot walker, round pen and 1600’ shop with a 20x40 covered feed barn off the back. There were lots of oak trees and there was a perfect little spot on a hill to put a couple of goats. I love raw milk!

Anyway, I took a 5 mile run one day in the heat, so when I got back I was cooling down with a glass of iced tea and needed something to read. ( a wee bit adhd )
All I could find was a car sale booklet Randy picked up somewhere. I opened it up and right in front of me, in the motorcycle section was the ad “GOAT FOR SALE. RECENTLY FRESHENED”
Well, clearly that was a sign from God, so I got directions, hooked up the stock trailer and came home with a nice Toggenburg for only $75.

 

[peteyfoozer]

Queenie (she came with the name) was recently freshened, so of course that night I needed to milk her. I tied her up and she kicked the snot out of me. She could buck like a horse and when all her efforts failed to make me give up, she sat down.
Nothing I did could make her stand up.
TheMan was in the shop, welding some corral panels (we used to manufacture livestock housing). I dragged the goat in there and we wound up putting her front legs through the welding table and he had to stand behind her and hold her rear end up in the air so I could milk her. We were successful but TheMan was very uncomfortable and said “I sure hope none of the neighbors can see me because this does NOT look good!!”

 

[SageHill]

Queenie (she came with the name) was recently freshened, so of course that night I needed to milk her. I tied her up and she kicked the snot out of me. She could buck like a horse and when all her efforts failed to make me give up, she sat down.
Nothing I did could make her stand up.
TheMan was in the shop, welding some corral panels (we used to manufacture livestock housing). I dragged the goat in there and we wound up putting her front legs through the welding table and he had to stand behind her and hold her tesr end up in the air so I could milk her. We were successful but TheMan was very uncomfortable and said “I sure hope none of the neighbors can see me because this does NOT look good!!”

OMG THAT is too FUNNY !!!

 

[Baymule]

Did Queenie ever behave and become a good milk goat?

 

[peteyfoozer]

Did Queenie ever behave and become a good milk goat?

Well, that’s not the end of the story but actually, yes. Yes she did.

The problem was, the next morning TheMan was going to work at 4:30 and not being a morning person (Fen forces me up daily, under protest) So when I got up the next morning, I went in the tack room, grabbed a western cinch and a couple curb straps, hook the ends to a rope, and with the cinch around her belly I suspended her from the oak tree.
This was about the time the neighbors stopped talking to me, but that’s probably just coincidence.
Randy finally built me a milking stand. By that time we also had a La Mancha that my 3 yr old granddaughter liked to help milk and she got good at sending a stream into my ear.

 

[Baymule]

The hanging tree! For a milk goat! BWA-HA-HA-HA!!

 

[peteyfoozer]

Fenny and Mister and I went for a ride today. Fen was a perfect boy, once he got comfortable with the idea of my being horseback. It was good for my soul cuz I’ve really struggled with the isolation and loneliness lately.

 

[Baymule]

Wow! A ride! I know that means so much to you. I’m very happy for you.