A year’s worth of peelings and kitchen compost which has rotted down magnificently in the two bell shaped compost bins. The canes are up and the beans (runners and french) have been sown. Well done that man!
After I inspected the beans we both went across to the fence and admired the growing lambs
Swineshead Wood is full of bluebells, birdsong and dappled sunlight. Heavenly – and just the two of us!
As they play in the orchard
The polytunnel chooks are out in the orchard today. It’s their turn. Tomorrow it will be the turn of the Silkies and the Gang of Four on Friday. Each group of birds has its own run around their house but the larger space is much more interesting and exciting
The three of them still come over to the fence to be petted. Poddy is the most affectionate – maybe because she was rejected by her birth mother and we became her surrogate parents
There are some very good looking lambs this year
Today is freedom day for poultry, incarcerated since November (because of an international epidemic of avian flu) the birds are allowed out into the fresh air in this joyous month of May
We do have a problem with the mothers and chicks living in the old quail barn. We need to decide where they will live next. It’s likely they will move to the chicken run in the goat paddock. We are still thinking.
Yesterday afternoon I had kisses and cuddles with Poddy lamb and Spotty. I think they are missing dear, departed Dotty.
My sister in law made a surprise lunch today for my baby brother – he will be 65 tomorrow.
She seems to instinctively understand that she should approach them quietly and slowly, allowing the animals to get used to her and finally come towards her of their own accord.
Dear little Dotty just couldn’t make it and for the past few days had refused to drink any milk preferring to nibble at the odd blade of grass and sipping water from a bucket.
This morning she looked so fragile I really didn’t think she would last the day. By early afternoon she was sitting near the gate, panting and I carried her into the barn. I don’t think she even weighed as much as Nigel. The three other lambs, Surprise (the August baby), Poddy and Dotty’s twin, Spotty, all followed me to the barn. I sat on the straw with Dotty to my left and I stroked her, occasionally offering her a dish of water which she lapped at from time to time. Poddy, bless her, nuzzled next to me on my right and then sat down and put her face in my lap. I stroked them both and Spotty came over to Dotty and put his muzzle next to hers. Then he and Surprise sat down together just outside the barn. I sat stroking the two girls and looking out at the blue sky and the blossom on the apple tree occasionally kissing the top of Poddy’s head and then Dotty’s soft, white crown. She had such tiny little horn buds whereas Poddy has strong, pointed horns and a thick woolly coat. After an hour I got up, placing Dotty’s head on a pillow of straw. I went to tell Jeremy that she was dying. We sat together for a while and then he went to see her. I stayed in the front garden. He came back and said she was floppy and on her way. We walked back together and she was lying peacefully on the straw – no longer breathing. Bye bye dear Dotty. A short life but much loved.
