Rain, wind and sun are good conditions for the garden and I persuaded the head gardener to pull some rhubarb sticks.

Inside the new polytunnel the first strawberry flowers are opening.

We decided to let Virginia and her lambs out of the barn enclosure as she is no longer limping. Her twins are exceptionally pretty and delicate.

I sat out of the wind, inside the barn, and watched the mother and lambs.

And everything stops for tea!

So time to get pickling this afternoon.

The fair weather, Wednesday walkers decided that Storm Gareth was too strong a force to oppose. One crazy walker set off across the country park – me.

The wind was at my back and blew me along the path. Any stronger and I would have landed in the deep ditch to my left. When I reached the pond I decided to be sensible and turn back. Click below

Walking home in the face of the storm felt like walking on deep sand. I made it without any mishap and any cobwebs had well and truly been blown away.

She went broody yesterday and is now sitting on……some duck eggs. Ducks are laying plenty but too busy having fun and refusing to “sit”. I caught sight of some of them, this morning, creeping under the gate into their old duck run and playing in the bath.

On a stormy day I am glad to be with mum in the warmth of her flat.

As a surprise I went with son to collect granddaughter from her school. It’s a Victorian, red brick building reminiscent of my own primary school. But this school has a bright, painted playground instead of our grey, gravel at my old establishment.

And as the children said goodbye to their teacher they received a carton of milk to take home. Nice idea but not sure about the plastic straw and the additional litter. I met another grandma in the playground and she saw me wearing my Jacob wool neck warmer. “You’re a spinner too”, she said, “And it’s Jacob wool”. We swopped notes on spinning and she told me that her friend has a prize winning flock of Jacob sheep. Ours may not win prizes but we think they are beautiful.

Then it was a quick playtime with the grandchildren

Now I am back with mum for supper and then off to listen and watch the other grandson perform at a charity concert before heading home later tonight.

The cows and sheep make short work of the discarded brassicas.

The willow tree beside the goldfish pond.

Lunchtime treats for sheep and cows and a dip in the duck pond. Click below

Cold but bright and colourful

The peach tree is in blossom

The pear tree is in bud.

The little lamb is drinking plenty of milk but still looks small compared with the other lambs. He is so sweet

Cluck below