The dots are now tiny quails and very vocal. The two males have a full throated call and the two girls have a much quieter chirrup. The new nursery crate has been used variously to house puppies ( not ours) and Mabel the cat and her late companion Mack when we first rehomed them. Later we used it when we bottle fed the lambs, Iggle and Piggle and the YouTube star Wiggle.

Now Jeremy has covered all the sides with netting and I have lined the crate with newspapers and chick bedding. They have some twigs to climb on a ball to play with, food and water and their brooder plate.

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Lucy not only eats her own concentrates

but also steals those of her daughter Lily

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and then steals the lamb food. Click below

The little dots jump and flex their tiny wings.

Feeling guilty because the walnut trees are heavy with green fruits (the brown walnut case is inside the green outer shell and the edible nut is inside the brown shell……it’s all like a a game of pass the parcel but more work than play). We harvested them last year but still haven’t eaten them all. Anyone want to go gathering nuts in September? You are welcome.

A raffle prize for “Race Night” in Colmworth. There are no real horses but there are videos of horse races and we can bet on the outcome. All proceeds go towards the maintenance of the historic St Denys Church. As with so many old village churches, it is a never ending battle to keep the buildings free from the ravages of (among other issues ) leaking roofs and death watch beetle. I am particularly fond of the Lady Katherine Dyer Tomb and poem dating back to the time of the Civil War in 1641. Are we once again on the brink of a Civil war or at least civil unrest?

Looking at one of the baby quails

Playing in the kitchen

Playing in the barn (which has been cleared for a yoga retreat).

Self seeded hollyhocks outside the five barred gate

Sun seen through the trees

Sisters sharing a fallen pear

Sheep in the paddock – two ewe lambs separated from the flock to keep them from mating with their father

Sunbathing on the boiler among the squashes

Cleaned their home and their food and water dishes. The weakest one is still alive but not great on her feet. We shall see what happens.

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The “dots” have had three separate visitors today and been admired and petted.