Rain, Milking Goats & Cheese

Alarm rings at 5.30am and with a groan I force myself not to hit the snooze button. Stumbling to the kitchen I hit the switch for the coffee, turn the stove on for Chai and then rub my eyes and start making muffins. For you see, today we were going to visit a goat dairy and we need to be there at 7.45am. Kids are stirred at 6.30, warm with sleep, to dress warmly as the rain is bucketing down. Fetch a friend at 7.15 and her two children and battle the early morning traffic over Ou Kaapse Weg to Imhoff Farm.

The sign made for much amusement as they pronounced it [loud] CHEESE [soft] handmade.... The first group of nannies had already passed through the milking by the time we get there, but the next ladies are ready and waiting, all knowing their place in the stalls.

Denise started her herd with 17 and she is now up to 53 girls. Most of them are pregnant at the moment carrying up to 3 kids.

One of the Billy goats who cover the flock.

Inside the dairy away from the cold we are hit with the pungent smell of milk and maturing cheeses.

The cold room houses loads and loads of different flavoured ones.

We are taught how to make mozarella. Denise kindly held back some of her unpressed cheese from the previous days cheddar making so that we can watch.

Full of tasty morsels of cheese, we head home with our own stash...chilli cheddar, fynbos cheddar, goats milk gouda and mozzarella. I also have 5mls of rennet to make my own mozarella this week....can't wait.

Mmmh is that a mouse that has been nibbling at my cheese? No, I think it's a Superman.