What could it be – I wasn’t allowed to peek

Makluba (maqluba) a traditional Middle Eastern dish usually cooked with meat. J found a vegetarian recipe devised by Chef Ottolenghi. It was delicious – and there is enough for supper tomorrow.

To treat a lame sheep. I get the easy part, holding the sheep and cuddling her

While Jeremy pares back the horned hoof and sprays it with antiseptic

All done and off she goes to join the flock as the sun sinks below the horizon

Click below

Heather last saw the quails when they were the size of large bumble bees!

How depressing!

Willow and Wisp make me smile, the politicians make me sick.

We put a photograph of the Araucana cockerel on the Preloved website – “free to a good home”. He is such a beautiful bird (with so much character) that I couldn’t bear the thought of him being killed and eaten.

We heard nothing and Mr cockerel was becoming argumentative with the other cockerels. Then, yesterday, J received an email from a social worker in Luton who had just bought 22 hens and two other cockerels. He will make three flocks from the males and hens. He also has some quails.

He came to collect “cockie” this afternoon and we also gave him one of the adolescent hens to add to his birds. What a lucky escape for a special cockerel.

Cleaning out straw and manure from the chicken and duck houses

It was a joy to return to a pink tinged sunset

And to watch the goats playing in the paddock.

Nigel and the goats are still getting the measure of each other. Click below

That over 38000 (thirty eight thousand!) spectators watched Arsenal women play (and beat) Spurs women at their new ground. My grandchildren were there with their dad and some friends.

Click below to see the stadium and the huge numbers inside. Women’s football is taking off.