I'm not sure if that is the saying but we certainly had a nice rain, and I am sure there are lots of us watching for lush green grass as well as the lovely spring flowers.  A huge blessing for sure. 

We have two wheels of cheese packaged and in our online store.  Pictured is our cloth bound Cowboy Cheddar, aged 90 days.  It is a nice firm slightly sharp cheese with buttery notes.  The second wheel is Cactus Jack aged 100 days, and we are just trying our hand at a smoky Cactus Jack.  Give it a try and let us know what you think. These are two favorites for us but if you ever get a cheese that  you feel might be too sharp, try making grated cheese into a cheese fritter.  Very delicious and can sweeten even the sharpest of cheeses.  Just grate and drop in little handfuls on a griddle, let melt and get crisp. It is wonderful on a rye crisp or cracker. 

The hand made cutting board says it all. "Good food is Love made edible."    We hope you will give the aged cheeses a try. Did you know dental studies have shown that a number of cheeses including both Jack and Cheddar will actually help prevent cavities.  Eating cheese after a meal or sugary snack can help protect against tooth decay and restore some of the minerals in our tooth enamel.  Good Ol' Gouda and Country Colby will be ready to package soon.  

The average milk cow in the U.S.A. now produces almost 11,000 liters per year. The highest amount of milk ever produced by a cow in a year was approximately 27,000 litres by a Holstein named Robthom Sue Paddy! WHAT A COW!!
A cow that is milking drinks about 30 to 50 gallons of water each day. That’s enough water to fill a bathtub. During periods of heat stress, water intake may double. Water weighs 8.35 pounds per gallon, so a milking dairy cow may consume as much as 420 (or more) pounds of water daily.
Cows like it cool. Due to their thick skin, hair and natural insulation, dairy cows prefer temperatures between 40˚ and 65˚F. 
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I hope you enjoyed this little bit of dairy cow trivia! Just need to throw the spotlight their way once in awhile, since they are the source of all the goodies that come out of the Diamond S Dairy! Speaking of goodies...don't forget about the Lemon Yogurt offered the 2nd week of the month and our aged cheeses. Also, a Spring Basket is being offered next week. Check it out on our "products" page!
April showers bring May flowers.  — Linda

         Hooray for the much-needed moisture that arrived this past week! (Gotta stay positive, right?) Chances are, this last snowstorm and its cold temps were the last breath of winter. Hopefully, any future moisture will be accompanied by more seasonable temperatures!
            Calving season is all but over, here on the Diamond S ranch. In a few short days, all of the snow will be melted away and the baby calves will be romping around in the greening pastures. With this sure sign of spring comes an unending "to-do" list of spring work to be done:  brandings, farming, fencing, dragging fields, and so on. The dairy is buzzing, also, with calves to tend and a healthy amount of milk being produced. Kris continues to put in long hours of hard work to keep up with the supply and demand of the milk and all the yummy dairy products she creates with it.
           As many of us become focused on our springtime to-do lists, let's remember to focus on the blessings that come with the season. The return of colors to the landscape and the warmth of the sun, new life, and a chance to "get outside and blow the stink off" (as my mother used to say), all help to make doing the to-do list a not-so-bad-thing to do. Have a nice spring everyone!       — Linda
P.S. Monthly orders for May need to be in, as do orders for this week. If you plan on ordering, get 'er done! Keep in mind that 8 oz. and 12 oz. sizes of both Smoky Cactus Jack and Original Cactus Jack are now available! Let us know which flavor you want (Smoky or Original) in the "notes" section. Thank you!

Preschool anyone?  Our little grandson gets to come help Nana for a couple days.  We're waiting till the deliveries are complete then meeting he and his daddy, so Jack and I will put the little ones in the corral in preschool...putting the halters on them and teaching them to follow us.  

 Yup we didn't get the word out quick enough to make your favorite yogurt for this week, but if you want some for Easter please order this week.  We also have a nice batch of our Grilling Cheese, "Halloumi" available.  Yes it doesn't melt on the grill outside or in your frying pan with onions and taters.  An amazing cheese, for those that like the milder cheeses.  We also are continually cutting the aged cheeses.  Cowboy Cheddar, Cactus Jack and soon ColdSprings Colby check out our new button on the website that takes you to the online store.  If you've had Diamond S Products in the past and don't see them in the store shoot me a message.  I really need a three gallon minimum to make special orders, (that's approximately 3 pounds of cheese)but if you visit with your friends and all get together I'll make anything you've had here before. 

Wow did anyone notice the wind today?  Just a quick update for this weeks delivery Thursday and pickup at the ranch on Friday.  Plenty of Milk, Kefir, Butter, Yogurt and Cheese.  Weekly orders due Sunday. 

Some of you have tasted our Creme Fraiche, but if you haven't you are missing a treat.  It's wonderful with fruit, or granola, added in great dollops to soup or on veggies.  It's sour cream taken to the next level.  Made five little jars have two left.  Message me if you want one delivered Thursday!  $5 each.  Lemon Yogurt April 7th & 8th, next week and monthly for the spring/summer.  Aging cheeses are being cut weekly and stocked on-line Wednesday's. Please let us know if you don't see what you want.  Cowboy Cheddar, Cactus Jack are ready now.  Three wheels of ColdSprings 
​Colby ready in late May.  

For you, our customers, who support and understand us through the ebbs and flows of our big ranch and tiny dairy operations.  We want you to feel like you are getting the best.  It's hard to judge how things are done or when they are done until you walk a mile in another's shoes.  We do encourage each of you to meet your farmer or rancher come and volunteer at the 1st level of management on a ranch might be mucking the corrals, or moping the cheese make room, or washing milk bottles.    Next look at where you are purchasing your food for your family, do we care for your food the way you would? How is the operation working, know in your heart they are doing the best for their health and your families too. We always invite you to come tour or spend the morning with us.

​Throughout the past couple months, we have had extra milk cows from Stanley, help from family in many areas, and help from a young cheese maker in the dairy.   So thankful for everyone in all aspects of our life for helping!  And here on the Diamond S Ranch we try hard not to waste a drop of our product.  If we have extra milk we create products for you until it is all used and in the hands of our customers fresh.  Some weeks all we have is milk other times we are blessed to make extra products.  Watch our store and let us know what your families needs are.  

God bless you all!

~Diamond S Dairy

 P.S.   
Claire has been doing the majority of weekly deliveries for a couple years now.  If you are willing to pick up your dairy products some week and also take a few coolers back to Worland or Ten Sleep to give her a break from delivering, please let us know!  Sometimes we even have other openings to those that reach out to us.

We also have saved all our first colostrum from our dairy cows.  If you know other ranch families that need this rocket fuel for new born calves please tell them about our bags at $3 each.