J dug up some horseradish and beetroots this afternoon and then retreated to the barn kitchen to make chrain.

He returned, just now, with three jars of chrain and a pair of streaming eyes. The grated horseradish gives off isothyiocynate which is an antibacterial oil and makes the eyes water amongst other properties. I will taste it later.

This morning Chris replaced the stile, by the goose pond, with a gate so that the geese can walk through and graze the grass around the perimeter of the field.

We walked down to the gate this afternoon for the “grand opening” and

then we had to encourage the cautious geese to go through the opening.

Later we will need to herd them back and into the pond area.

I just went into the cat barn, so called because it’s where we feed the cats (and store other animal fodder) and where the cats sleep.

I thought Nigel and Mabel slept separately – they used to – but lo and behold they were snuggled up together in a box that I had lined with old towels. Keeping cosy together for the autumn.

And tell them it is time they started paying for their keep by laying eggs.

Friends who live about a mile away have seen a “bold as brass” fox near their hen coop in daytime. I tremble at the thought of said fox (or any fox) lurking around The Gables. Foxes don’t just kill to satisfy their hunger but will run amok and kill, seemingly, for pleasure.

The young hens have started laying in the poultry house near to the kitchen. Well done girls ….. but they lay their eggs in the corner farthest from the door. I have been using a stick to roll the eggs towards me and it’s a bit annoying and the eggs are liable to break. Chris has invented and made an “egg collecting stick” and we will try it out today.

Grandson has been staying with us for a few days and his favourite soup is Onion Soup served with grated cheese and croutons. We have a great many onions and garlics and this is an easy and tasty way of using some of them. We will share this pot with friends who are joining us for lunch later.

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