we are in Maryland on vacation to see Steve's parents and sister and to pick up Kira who visited with them for a week. On the drive down we found out that Maryland is on the NY quarantine list and we will cut the trip short to have time to quarantine for Kira before college starts and Steve to teach and plan with the teachers. I will be working the fields, but not be with other people or in the main-house. Kira, Steve and I will make the best of our family time together before she heads out to college, not too bad.
The day before garlic fest there was mooing in the field and when I called the cows to see who was in heat, Goldie had the snout full of porcupine quills. We tied her up and after covering her eyes, face, horns with a hoodie tied around her neck we were able to pull the quills with pliers. She shrieked and moaned, but was really good. I had practice from helping to pull quills from Birdsfoot dogs a few years ago,. Dogs try to bite you, cows don't. An hour later the mooing started again and we got Goldie bred the next day (garlic fest). It looks like she might have a calf next April. She also had gotten out of the pasture into the garden, trampled some carrots, ate the chard and all the pole beans in the high tunnel. I was worried she would be gone the next day when I saw the damage but she managed to wiggle herself back into the pasture and was in the barn as if nothing happened other than that she was very full and did not wan to get up. So on Monday the day before vacation and harvest day we spent two hours to set a new section of fence and add three strands to the fence separating the gardens from the pasture so no dear would jump it anymore. I guess there is never a good time for extra work.