Month: December 2018

Posted in Friesland Farm

Festive greetings to you all 🎄

Posted on by frieslandfarm

Monday 17th December: A cold but sunny morning, I was up early and made myself a cup of tea and went back to sit in bed with it which is a rare treat. John is now at home, I won’t say off work as there is plenty to do here 😜 we did the animals and then tidied up and swept the back area, I cleaned and tidied the boot room where the cat is still in residence much to the amusement of the dogs. Cruella de Vil is eating her food and using her toilet but keeps safely hidden away when we are around. John then went out to the side paddock to move the electric fencing round the hens out there. I made some more mince pies, cleaned out the fridge, cracked open a jar full of walnuts for using over the festive period (took an age). I dug out a few jars of tracklements from my store cupboard, some plum sauce, chutneys and jam, mostly to give to Macca who has asked if I have any 😀 I also took out the pear liqueur, I figured this is exactly the right time of year to sip that in the evening 😀

While I was cleaning the boot room a robin flew in, unluckily for him as Molly who I thought was getting old and fragile leapt up on the the side, quick as a wink and had it for breakfast 😢

I used some of the wool packaging that the pork arrived in to needle felt today, this was supposed to be a hare but looked more like a dog so I changed the tail, more practice needed I think 😂 but not a bad start.

Tuesday: I have Mia today so quickly get the outside jobs done, John is off but popping to visit his Mum this morning.

I bought a shampoo bar a while back and now I have finished the bottle I already had today was the first opportunity I had to try it out, it’s marshmallow/nettle root with all sorts of other things in it but no nasties, I wonder how long it will be before the big companies catch on to the popularity of these. I have to say it lathered up well and my hair felt very clean (squeaky) I did use a regular condition as I still have some left but the recommendation is to rinse with cider vinegar which I will do at a later date. My hair looks shiny and feels nice, different, more body I think so it’s interesting.

Wednesday: Had Mia again today so we went off the the garden centre to see the fish and have Rainbow cake.

Thursday: Up and got the outside jobs done then off to Witney to do the last bit of shopping, I did go into Waitrose to find some goodies but it was so packed I put the basket down and came back out lol. In the afternoon, Shelley, Josh and Florence came over, it’s great having John at home because he went and collected all the eggs and fed the birds and lit the fire, I could get used to this 😝.

I won a cashmere jumper on eBay so it cost me £3 plus postage, not to wear but to make into fingerless gloves. I saw an ad for fingerless gloves made from recycled cashmere jumpers but when I saw the price I nearly choked and thought I can do that myself 😀 Apparently if you keep the wrists warm the fingers stay warm too so I will give it a try and see what happens, I just need to work out what to do with the rest of the jumper as you only use the sleeves 😋I am sure I will find something.

Molly the cat has peed in the washing basket, luckily it was empty but her days are now numbered slumbering in the boot room! I shall have to kick her out a couple of times a day.

I had another session of Bowen therapy on Monday night and I must say I am feeling almost 100%, I’m not sure if I can put it all down to that or the short burst of the AIP diet or the meds but whatever it is a combination of it is doing wonders and I’m raring to go, bursting with ideas, I just need the growing season to begin again lol, meanwhile I will do some bits of crafting. I have decided life is too short to not do the things you want to so I will be going ahead with a new greenhouse I’m just not sure when but it will be before the Spring gets underway 😀 You don’t actually realise what a fog you have been in until you come out the other side of it 😜 So to anyone who knows what I’m talking about, I say, just keep going, try everything and anything even if it sounds a bit crackers, you never know, it might just be the answer you we’re looking for.

Friday: The Winter Solstice has arrived, with a whoosh here as it’s very windy this morning 🌬

Spent the morning wrapping presents, I am not a good wrapper upper, too impatient! But a good bit of backache, 3 coffees and a bacon sandwich later and it’s all done 😀 Sat here typing and realise I have a couple of presents missing 🥴 need to go on a hunt for them. Phew found 😀

Saturday: A sunny morning, very mild for the end of December! We were up and got the animals all sorted, we haven’t done anything really in the way of farm work this week just chilling and prepping for Christmas. Today is Joshs 3rd Birthday, Mia and Sam stayed last night as I babysat while the grownups went out so we FaceTimed Josh first thing to sing to him and we are all going bowling later so not much else bar the necessities will be done today.

It’s a very quiet time of year really, when we had sheep and pigs of course it was much busier but with just the birds, cats, dogs and horse it’s more laid back and not much in the way of gardening to be done this time of year, more planning and dreaming 😜

Cruella de Vil is still coming down for her food and toileting just in case you wondered how she was doing, I haven’t actually seen her though which is fine as that’s the kind of cat I wanted. The other two more than make up for her, Diesel has now discovered that Molly is getting preferential treatment and jumped on board the cosy train, so that’s two cats getting under my feet in the boot room now lol, roll on spring when they will prefer finding a sunny spot to laze in.

Lovely afternoon bowling and then some junk food, back home to light the fire and do the egg collecting and feeding then off round to take Josh his pressie and eat cake 😀

Sunday: A wet morning but very mild, it’s so mild at the minute that we really only light the Rayburn towards the end of the day to get some hot water and dry the washing. John did the main of the birds this morning while I did the the cats and the rabbits, on my way round I saw the woodpecker, he is he more often than not at the minute. I smiled as there was some very pretty birdsong going on and the bulbs are pushing their way up through the soil in the pots, I checked the back paddock no sign of the daffs yet. The buzzard was on the ground in the paddock that Jack is in, he had found a tasty morsel fo breakfast. I watered the broad beans and peas in the tunnel, they don’t need a lot just enough to keep the soil slightly damp.

And now first thing on a Sunday morning I’m going to brave the shops to get what bits of food we need, not much really just a few bits and some basics is all.

When I got back it was hoovering, polishing, floor washing and bed changing, light the fire have some lunch then sit and watch a Christmas Carol one of my favourites Christmas films.

Well that is going to be it from me until after the holidays so it just leaves me you wish you all the best over the season, whatever you are celebrating, do it in style 😀 Thank you so much for reading my ramblings and the goings on here at Friesland Farm 😜 and I wish you all a very Happy 2019 may it bring you love and happiness.

Blessed be 😘

Posted in Friesland Farm

Creations, Christmas decorating and Cruella de Vil

Posted on by frieslandfarm

Sunday evening: We moved 74 hens in the dark lol, each crate takes 12 hens and we have two crates, the last crate we squeezed the extra in as it’s not very easy pushing the loaded wheelbarrow through the wet mud 😜 They are now in the back pen which is fox proof, just as well as the little sod was out there at 3pm this afternoon, we also moved the garden ducks to the stable just until the weather changes again. Most birds are now on dry ground for the nighttime, after a couple of days they will be allowed out to roam, they will know where they belong by then hopefully.

Monday 10th December: Up early and got everything done ready for my trip out 😀 It was a beautiful sunny morning driving through Gloucestershire to Stroud for my morning of wreath making with The Cotswold Flower Company at Miserden Nursery, a gorgeous little nursery, we were welcomed with coffee and cake, I had a cappuccino with chocolate and cinnamon just to add to the festive feel, beautifully presented cakes, with gluten free and vegan options and two lovely ladies running the morning. One grows the flowers and the other is the florist, a perfect combination and add to that the provenance of being Prince Charles florist for ten years and you know it’s going to be good 😀 Learning something from an expert is always going to be fun, informative and educational, I was pretty pleased with the end result and it smells divine so I have hung it indoors where I can relish the fragrance. The girls were all here so put the tree and decorations up 🎄

Tuesday: Noticeably colder this morning, a low fog hanging about, the sun was very bright today mind you.

I had Mia as usual and Shelley came over with Josh and Flo but poor Josh was sick on the drive before he got in then sick again so they didn’t stay very long.

I had a tub of double cream in the fridge that I bought back from the family feast, as we won’t use it as cream I sat and shook it into buttermilk and butter which we will use. John is a bit disappointed as I just have not had time to make mince pies yet! Normally I start making them the first week of December.

Wednesday: Today we went to do a bit of Christmas shopping in Swindon, it was gloriously quiet lol and we had a nice few hours wandering around with ease.

Thursday: A colder morning today, John did the animals first thing then went to work, he is not supposed to, he finished Tuesday, then I get, I just have to do a few small jobs 😏 I need to clean out the quail and rabbits so that is on my agenda and lighting the fire a bit earlier today, yesterday because we were out it never seemed to get warm enough in here by lighting it later on.

Looking out of the stable door this morning I could see that the long tailed tits have made a re appearance which made me smile, of all the little birds we have, those and the wrens are my favourite although the long tailed usually only return when bad/cold weather is on the cards so we shall see. I had a phone call yesterday from the chap who is coming to do some rabbiting, weather permitting he will be here first thing Sunday morning to keep the rabbit numbers in check as they are a bit out of control at the moment.

I had to come back in and get a second pair of gloves on this morning the nip in the air was noticeable though the sun came out later. It’s a good feeling to get cages/runs completely cleaned out and all fresh new cosy bedding down, the rabbits/Guineas also had a good handful of chard and big pile of hay and some twigs to chew on, they should be happy bunnies today 😀

I think I need to start looking for a new farm cat, Mollys eyesight is not so good now and she is quite an old lady approx 15 this year, Diesel keeps going awol I think he has found someone to feed and fuss him lol. The problem is that a farm cat needs to have been raised semi feral by that I mean only had the minimum of interaction from a human, born to a farm mother would be ideal. I have had recuse cats in the past that are labeled as feral but they usually tend to be just very frightened, kittens that are born and raised in a household are not ideal either as they have usually had lots of cuddles etc and want to come inside. Don’t get me wrong the cats have somewhere warm to sleep, in fact I just found Diesel deep inside the hay pile, they get fed once a day, they are wormed and fleaed but they don’t come inside and they don’t have lots of lap time lol, they have to earn their keep, finding a cat like this is quite difficult.

The peas plants finally arrived so I planted them straight away in the small tunnel along with the broad beans, roll on next spring when I can harvest them. I could probably do with about 3 or 4 times as many really especially peas they must be the no 1 favourite vegetable and so good for you. I find growing them overwinter avoids the pea moth getting at them then I usually follow them with mange-tout which also avoid the moth as they are picked before they swell and attract any insects.

Friday: Very cold this morning brrr, John did the outside jobs while I did a few bits inside, then Shelley Josh and Florence came over and we had pancakes with berries, Florence had to go to hospital last night as she has been unwell since last Saturday but after checking her over and giving her some fluids they let her back home again.

I have been in contact with a group re homing cats and we are going to see a six month old with the right criteria (semi feral) tomorrow morning, then they will come and give us a home visit and hopefully we will have a new cat for the farm.

The frost has not lifted much today.

I finally made a batch of mince pies.

We went to Mia’s Christmas play and then to visit Johns Mum who has now moved to a nursing home.

I had a go at needle felting and made a hare, I did buy a kit because I have some wool that came as packaging and I wanted to see how easy or difficult it was to do. It is a very forgiving medium to work with and my hare is not bad, now I just need to use the other wool and see what I can make with it.

Saturday: Cold again this morning the hoses are frozen and there is a forecast of snow later 😜 I lit the fire early as we are going out to have a look at and potentially bring home a new farm cat, she is semi feral so I may be able to get a photo of her or maybe not 😝 I think the timing is good as Molly is behaving oddly especially the last few days and today she has come into the boot room and taken up residence on patch’s cushion which he is none to happy about. In my experience cats either run off to die or seek you out more which is what Molly is doing, she is very thin and as I said her eyesight seems to be going either that or she has just decided ‘sod the stable block, I’m off indoors’.

We went to see the new cat and bought her home with us, she is absolutely semi feral in that gloves are needed to handle her 😝 they called her Cruella and I am giving her the full title of Cruella de Vil as I feel she fully deserves a grand name. She is not a cat that can be rehomed to a family so a place like ours is ideal for her, she can have as much or as little contact with people as she chooses and hopefully will ‘work’ for us as well.

We built the fire up in the Rayburn and hunkered down for a couple of hours in the afternoon, it’s perishing out there, even the geese had their heads tucked away under their wings today.

Normally at this time of year I would be knee deep in cooking preparations for the big Winter feast but this year we are not hosting so it’s over to others lol, I already had some jars of mincemeat in the cupboard which I made last year, I have plenty of chutney and pickles etc and even got pudding that I made for the family feast. The only things I will buy extra is a ham, various cheeses, crackers a few other bits but not much at all, we have all we need 😀

It has been and continues to be a vile day, it’s cold and wet and disgusting lol, half the hens we moved the other day keep going back to the old hut so we decided we would move them and put them in a stable where they will stay shut in for at least a week this time so that was the plan for the evening. I took some hay up the back to Jack but I could see that as he came across the paddock he was lame so I needed to get him in, I grabbed his head collar and one of the hay nets and just as I was about to go in the field and get him I spotted the fox! Shouting fox as loud as I could I dropped everything and ran down the yard, the dogs were in the back but came out when they heard me, John was sat indoors, get your coat on the fox is out here 🦊. Eventually we got the horse in got the hens captured and in and we were done, cold and wet time to go back in to the warm for the evening 😀

Sunday: Up late and totally forgot the chap was coming to do some rabbiting today 😝 As I opened the blind he had just arrived with two colleagues plus a Harris Hawk called Ethel, a ferret and a dog. By this point we would normally have been up and let all the dogs and birds out but we hadn’t done any of that, so quickly let our dogs out for a wee and a stretch then got them back in. They flew the Hawk but she didn’t catch anything and then they used the dog and the ferret, they got six, quite fat rabbits so they were happy with that and will be back in the New Year. They were off home to make rabbit curry, excellent, that’s how it should be, hunt and eat what you hunt, and only as much as you need to keep you going. By sheer coincidence Missi the Hawk was being worked by her owners on the farm over the back, fantastic, I love it, I wish I had come to this life a lot earlier and maybe it would have been me with the Hawk and the ferrets but at least there are people around who still do it.

Posted in Friesland Farm

Rain, mud and rabbits and rats 🤪

Posted on by frieslandfarm

Monday December 3rd : Oh what a dismal morning, never mind, onwards and upwards. At some point last night the electric tripped on the sockets in the office, I can’t find the offending item as everything seems to be fine now?

After the epic family feast yesterday I don’t feel too bad considering, I thought I would hurt all over but only my left hand is a bit swollen and stiff so I will call that a win 😀

As John has a pile of leftovers for bubble and squeak tonight I don’t have to think about dinner so that will free up some of the day, I have yet to decide what I will do, there are plenty of jobs indoors and considering the weather I think that’s where I will stay until feeding time.

The sun came out a bit later, I’m not keen on sun this time of year though as it’s low and shows up all the dust 🤣 no matter how much dusting it always comes back with a vengeance!

In the end I did go outside for about an hour until it started raining again, I did a few jobs that needed doing, replenishing the straw in a duck hut and a chicken hut, filling up the rat traps with peanut butter. I moved one of the traps to the greenhouse as I can see that there is activity around there, also rabbits have dug in under it 😝 We have a chap coming with ferrets soon to reduce the rabbit numbers but the rats are a different problem. I went out to the back pen which we cleaned out in the summer and I have put traps in there as you can see where they have ‘front doors’ under the concrete and I am hoping to put the hens that are in the front paddock in there over Winter, it’s the one used for selling hens but we have not got any at the moment and although I did say we wouldn’t do them anymore we may decide differently come spring. I want to move the ducks out of the big pen as well, into a stable probably, they will all be let out during the day but the pens just get really messy at this time of year so the less of a mess we can make the better and it gives the paddocks and pens a rest. The light Sussex are living in mud also, this was never the plan and we have a spare kennel out the front that I have my eye on to move them to, not sure how well it will work but it’s got to be better than what they are in now. Roll on the frozen weather (hush my mouth, did I really say that 🥴) seriously though it’s a lot easier when the ground is frozen.

The ducks in the veg garden will stay there, they are doing a sterling job of eating insects and weeds whilst manuring it all for me 😀 I just need to move their hut around a bit I think to stop the ground getting poached in certain areas. I ordered a sack truck to move the hut with, we have a really old one, and I mean really old, with cast iron wheels and all but it’s also extremely heavy before you start even loading stuff onto it lol.

I went out again to make secure one of the stables and take a broken hinge off of the kennel door, Sam and Mia arrived while I was out there and literally just as we were coming in the heavens opened with a vengeance lol, three sopping wet people 😝

Sam did the feeding and got the eggs in when she went out to check on Jack, and I managed to singlehandedly herd the ducks from their pen into the stable before putting everything else to bed for the night. That is quite a task because once ducks know where they are supposed to be going they are easy to move but when you want them to go somewhere new it’s panic stations lol. They will go into the stable overnight and be let out during the day to wander, the idea is that they can play in the mud and the rain, which they love, but they can go to a dry stable at night which is easier for me. The wet mud is slippery and quite frankly it’s depressing sliding around in it day after day! I have another stable to clear out and get ready for one lot of hens and the back enclosure for the other lot, they will all be allowed to free range during the daytime but again will come in off the mud for bedtime, as these are all under cover it should make life easier all round plus if we need to keep them shut up for the odd day we can meaning that probably Christmas this year we won’t have to leave anywhere early to go home 😀 that’s the plan anyhow 🤪

Johns Mum is still in hospital and he has gone straight from work to visit her tonight.

I’m am LOVING the bone broth I made, not so much the chicken one but the beef one is fabulous, I will definitely be making this on a regular basis, I didn’t think I would like it so it a bonus that I love it as it’s nice and warming on a cold day, as well as doing my gut good. I didn’t waste what meat was on the bones either, that goes into casseroles or stews for John.

Tuesday: Had Mia today

Wednesday: Up early because there are a few things I want to get done and I have an appointment at hospital this afternoon. First on the agenda is to get the kennel ready for the light Sussex, put a new hinge on the door, put down bedding and put in a perch, get some food and water in there and move the birds over. It all went well, although I nearly lost the first two as they made a bid for freedom towards the door I had just come in lol good job my reactions were quick! I have given them a pumpkin as an extra treat and it’s 100% improvement on the run they were in 😀

We lost a cockerel to the fox the night before last, it had scaled the 6ft fence again and got into the orchard where this lone cockerel perched up in the tree, it’s a shame as he was a lovely little fella.

I planted 60 broad bean plants in the polytunnel, hoping I have got rid of all the mice now otherwise they will be munched! They could go outside but there are too many beaks around that will eat them not to mention the rabbit that has set up in the greenhouse and I have spotted roaming the garden lol, also the weather here is pretty harsh at times so I figured they would have the best chance in the tunnel really. I’m still waiting for pea plants to arrive.

Then I went to clear out one of the stables, this one was made secure from the fox last winter and hopefully we can put at least 30/40 hens in there as their overnight accommodation. You can see by the picture of the other pen just how muddy it gets over winter and if we can eliminate some of that it’s better for all of us 😀

Great news at the hospital, all my bloods are bang on and looking very boring as the consultant said, which is a good thing😀 excellent, I must admit this week I have felt ‘normal’ so I knew it was all going in the right direction at last, onwards and upwards 😀

Thursday: As I am feeling pretty good now it’s time to start helping John in the mornings again, so he does the two lots of laying hens and I do the ducks, quail, light Sussex etc, I will probably be back to do all of it soon but just at the moment the feed buckets are a bit heavy, I need to build up to it lol. I checked the rat traps, nothing but def signs of activity still, I haven’t caught a single one in these traps and may have to go back to poison which is not what I want but then nor do I want to be overrun with them. The light Sussex seem happy, a little bemused at their new lodgings, but it’s so much cleaner and therefore better for their health. I did discover yesterday, not sure if I mentioned it but the fox also had one lot of quail, it has broken through the wire in the cage and had the lot so I only have one lot left now ☹️ I burnt some cardboard/feedbag rubbish, checked that my broad beans hadn’t been munched overnight and checked the daffodil bulbs and trees I planted. The small leaved lime tree has been eaten down to the ground 😫 I think I will grow the others in pots until they are bigger then plant them out. The wind must have blown the tree guard off and it’s got eaten as the other three trees are fine so far, there is still root in the ground though so maybe if I cover it, it will still grow, I can but try. No sign of the bulbs pushing up yet but it is a tad early for that, the ground does not look like it has been disturbed at all so that’s good.

Friday: I went out with Shelley to do a bit of Christmas shopping 😀 we both got annoyed by 11.30 when it started to get busy so went for lunch lol.

Saturday: A dry start to the day which makes a bit of a change, honestly it doesn’t seem to have stopped raining over the last few days and water is sitting on the surface everywhere 😜 As it was dry the job of the day was the flue and fire, both needed a good clean, so John got the sweep brush out and did the main flue, I had intended to do the rest but was busy doing a few other things so John did it. Now I’m very grateful for the help, no really I am 🤪, BUT….. when I do it I have dust limitation damage in mind so I’m very careful with everything, the first thing I see when I come into the kitchen is a big black soot mark on the wall where he has got his sleeve dirty then lent on the wall while cleaning out the back flue FFS, I cleaned it off and bugger me if he didn’t go and do it again when replacing the cover!!!!! And breathe……😀 He wasn’t having a very good morning to be fair because the outside light wasn’t working, he changed the bulb, nope, changed fuse, nope, tested the power to the unit, nope no power the cable is knackered, still no light after all that and the back door has moved again meaning it’s not shutting properly so he had to fix that, he only did it last weekend but the winds were quite strong and they shift the whole building slightly at times, roll on the day when we maybe get solid concrete foundations and these jobs don’t have to be done anymore. He has gone off to visit his Mum in hospital now so I get a couple of quiet hours to myself 😀

Sunday: It’s definitely getting a bit colder day by day, still rain most days though. Did all the usual jobs this morning, John got a few barrows of wood in and stacked, I cleaned out the duck hut in the orchard. Then we decided to go out for breakfast 😀 which was a nice treat, we went and got the Christmas tree at the same time though it won’t go up until next weekend, I managed to get a few little Christmas presents too. When we got back we lit the fire and sat down for the afternoon, John watching the snooker final and I did some online Christmas shopping and a bit of scrabble 😜

We have decided to move the hens in the front paddock to the back pen and will have to do this later at dusk as that will be the easiest time to catch them all up and transport them over.

Tomorrow I am off out on a Christmas pressie day that the girls bought me so you will find out all about that next week.

I thought I would just add this photo it’s not great but if you look carefully enough you can make out the buzzard on the gate post, it didn’t let me get near enough to take a great shot but it is around most days so I will try again another time.

Posted in Friesland Farm

Sewing, cooking and a Fantastic family feast.

Posted on by frieslandfarm

Monday 26th November:

Wednesday 😜 I didn’t get round to writing anything Monday and Tuesday, that’s mainly because I didn’t do much, on Monday I had a rest day mostly, I still had to do things around the house and chop kindling for lighting the fire but on the whole I watched some cheesy films 😀 On Tuesday I had Mia so again not much other than the basics got done, Shelley, Josh and Flo came over to play and my Mum and Sister dropped in for coffee 😀 all in all the the weather was pretty filthy outside so we were better off in the warm watching the rain roll down the window 😁

I have been busy putting all my efforts into food for the AIP diet I am following, I’m not a follower normally but given the health issues I have and how bad they have been this year I thought it would do my body good to cut out a lot of harmful stuff ( even some veg can be harmful if you are that way inclined) and pump it full of good stuff. It’s just a different mind set that you have to get into really, the food is packed with nutrients and for me preparation is key otherwise I will go off the boil and reach for a sandwich or toast. I won’t bore you with the details but if you want to know more then please ask.

Back to Wednesday lol, it has been a filthy night and not much different this morning, the rain hammered down causing flooding in a lot of places due to the dry, hard ground and the water not getting away fast enough, we are due high winds later, oh joy, but at least they will dry up the surface.

This morning I completed a job I have been itching to get done, a bit of sewing 😀 I haven’t done any sewing for a few years really, I used to do quite a bit, I worked in a factory sewing coats before I was first pregnant over 30 years ago, I am not fabulous at it but I can get by 😀 I rather enjoyed it and the item was a cover bib for Mia for when she comes, I got some different materials from My Mums vast store of it and Mia chose the one she liked and voila, it’s a simple, light, easy to wash and quick to dry item, hopefully she will love it 😍

While I had the sewing machine out I might as well do another thing I have been wondering about, we bought sofas about 25 years ago with removable, washable covers, which have served us extremely well, one of the sofas has now gone and I could kick myself that I didn’t save the cover, but the other one is still fine apart from the seat covers which are threadbare. We have decided to get new ones at some point but as yet have not taken the plunge, I did have the foresight to keep the cushions though so I cut one up and patched the seat covers lol, not the greatest repair job ever but at least I’m not looking at the holes anymore 😝

Feeding the birds and collecting the eggs this afternoon you certainly know your alive, although storm Diana is hitting some of the country hard it’s not too bad here but it is very blowy! John was home early and staring cleaning out the drains that take the excess water away from the house, they soon fill up with debris after the rain especially a downpour like yesterday’s. I hate high winds more than anything the whole place feels like it’s going to blow away, although from the West, which is the direction these are coming from, is less destructive for us than other directions.

I found a chicken in the orchard with no head?? John says it wasn’t there this morning so it must have happened during the day sometime but there does not seem to be any other attack evidence, anyway he is going to use it to set the trap as we are losing birds during the day at rate faster than we can manage to be honest. Having said that, the egg sales are well down, they have been for a couple of weeks and over the last three days we have only had one customer a day! Not sure where they have all gone? During the Wet, windy, cold winter months is when you begin to wonder if it’s all worth it 😫 and I’m thinking that now in November we have a ways to go yet.

Thursday: High winds this morning, about 40mph which is not too bad, when you live on a site that is as exposed as ours though you do notice it and hear the roar through the trees. When we lived in the town I never took much notice of the weather extremes, I guess they didn’t really affect us as much apart from getting wet on the school runs or the brolley blowing inside out that was the only inconvenience I suffered back then 😂 I watched ‘A Yorkshire Farm’ the other night and how those two manage with nine children being that isolated without having breakdowns, I don’t know, made of tough Yorkshire grit I suppose, man up Dawn is what I thought to myself lol.

I had notifications that my broad bean plants have been dispatched so I should be able to plant those this week sometime, I caught another mouse in the poly tunnel trap yesterday, great for me, not so much for the mouse ☹️ I also have had notification that some trees I ordered will be arriving, these are goat willow or pussy willow, I really need to get a handle on planting them quickly as time is of the essence now, we could easily plunge into an artic episode at any minute.

I’m panicking about the whereabouts of our egg customers lol, seriously we have only had a handful over the last few days, I have no idea where they have all gone, at one time we couldn’t keep up and now??

I am trying to potter round inside this morning, I have been out to the egg shed a couple of times and the wind is quite fierce, trying to open the gate without the other one hitting me is a great game 😝, I have got bread and date and walnut loaf on the go and washing on, the winds are supposed to drop by 10am, here’s hoping. Some of these gusts are pretty hefty 😫 if you have ever watched titanic and the groaning noises that the ship makes well that’s what I am hearing only on a wooden structure instead, one day I’m sure we will end up with Dorothy in Oz 🤪

It’s very mild though, so mild that I have not been lighting the Rayburn until late afternoon and the only reason I do that is so that we can get the coats dry from the rain.

The wind had dropped and so I went out a bit earlier than normal to feed and collect the eggs, I wanted to get some of the trees planted that arrived today at the same time. I have planted a trio in the front paddock and put tree guards on them, I cut a slit and heeled them in so the chickens are not scratching at the bottom and so far the geese have stayed away but I know that won’t last forever. The trouble with the geese is that they will strip the bark which effectively will kill the tree, I say tree, they are just whips at the minute lol but still, I need to sort out some better protection for them. I in came and thought it must be nearly 4.30 as it was getting dark, nope, 3.30 just an enormous big black cloud coming over, good time for a cuppa I reckon 😀

The goat willow/pussy willow is an important tree for insect life, it flowers early providing a good nectar bar for insects emerging from winter, it is especially important for the purple emperor butterfly, the wood can be coppiced for firewood or bbq/open cooking and it it also used to make pegs😀 might have to have a go at that lol.

Friday: A bright sunny morning, no rain yet and quite mild. I helped John outside this morning 😀 that’s the first time in months hopefully at the end of the long road now.

I have to make Christmas puddings this weekend for 50 people lol, that’s why I chose the microwave recipe so I need to make a shopping list and get the goods ready to make them tomorrow. Didn’t have much else on the agenda today lol.

I got an early present from the girls, I am off on a day course with a lady who was Prince Charles official florist for a decade, I will definitely fill you in on that when it happens 😀 very excited and it will be lovely to go and do something different.

Saturday: December 1st 😀 Pouring with rain first thing. By 8.30 am I have the puddings mixed and the first one in the microwave, production is on target. This will be no mean feat from everyone providing a full Christmas dinner for 50 with all the trimmings and decoration in a hall, good job my family is fantastic at this kind of thing, everyone has different skills and we should pull it off with style. 🎄

One tree I realise I don’t have here is a Holly 😏 I really need to rectify that especially at this year of year!

Sunday: Well we did it, pulled of a Fantastic Family Meal, 3 courses of hot food, full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings for 50 people, plus cheese and crackers, mince pies, secret Santa’s the works, the hall looked absolutely amazing, we worked like troopers and everyone had a fabulous time, I’m now officially pooped and may not be able to move tomorrow lol