What a lovely surprise!

Still raining!  Gales as well so everywhere is even muddier and I am going through several sets of clothes a day.  Overall it has been a bit of a sad few days and I hadn't planned to blog yet but today I had a lovely surprise which has been just what was needed.  Went down to the library van and had to do a double take as on the counter I saw this!

Try to ignore the fact that I have not done any cleaning for days!  A beautiful stand for leaflets - copy of the logo!  Here is the other side -

So pleased with it - thank you to the Knight and the GHN - what a wonderful surprise!

Smiling over that is going to keep me going through mud, wet and rain this afternoon as I check sheep - sheep who are due to start lambing at the weekend!  I would rather sit by the fire and knit at the moment but little Grace the Southdown is looking very big udder wise and very gaping back end wise.  The flower Lady is producing far more than I am at the moment and brought round beautiful hats, scarves and arm warmers yesterday.  I am also hoping to get to the mill on Friday as I need more fleece spun - a thicker yarn this time so I can experiment with cables.  I have also had discussions with The Natural Fibre Company regarding mixing Southdown, Romney and alpaca.  I haven't quite decided yet but it might be rather interesting.

Can't put it off any longer - got to go and check sheep!

Will it dry up soon?

 

It is supposed to be getting colder and drier - so far we have a bit of cold but still getting rain.  Mud is the big problem as the alpacas - and the sheep - are churning the ground up and turning field shelters and poly tunnels into bogs.  All I can do is put down straw and hope for the best but I do worry someone is going to come a cropper as they charge down for feed.  Sapphire is limping but I can't see anything seriously wrong so I will give her a day and see if it improves.  This is the sight that greets me every morning and I have to push everyone out in order to stare in dismay at the state of the floor and attempt to make it look less like a toilet/mud bath!  Roll on spring!

This morning I managed to make it to computer club and have finally sorted my laptop a bit - I couldn't open word documents which meant the last invoice I sent ended up as a blank bit of paper - not ideal!  Computer club is only down the road in the village and I shall be going again as it is very helpful.

Carl was a bit over excited last night as I told him I needed him for 20 minutes in the bedroom when he got home from work - the excitement did not last when he realised it was to turn the mattress and hoover under the bed!

At the moment I am feeling my age as artists I grew up with seem to be dying - Lemmy first and now David Bowie.  I had posters of Bowie on my wall as a teenager and his records remind me of my youth - record players, LPs, Sunday evening chart countdown which I listened to on a radio with a green light that had to warm up before you got the station!

Sun, Rain, Mud!

The sun has shone!  It wasn't when I did the sheep but then it did and the girls all drifted out of the poly tunnel and paddled in the sun.  It is a bit colder which is nice and I managed to check all round the sheep without having to shed a layer of clothing.  Quick rush home to get the camera for some nice drying, sun glinting alpacas - and it rained!  Alpacas shot back in the poly tunnel and the weather has been grey and muddy ever since.  Not sure what Lina was whispering to The Slink but I think it could have been a complaint about the state of the poly tunnel!

Carolyn was the only one who ventured out this afternoon - and that was only to hide behind a tree.

The sheep do not have the luxury of a field shelter or a poly tunnel but are not worried about it.

Sunday was, almost, a complete break from animals.  We went over the other side of Winchester to do a husbandry visit but then returned for Sam's 21st birthday celebrations - a day  at Muddy Bottom Pay and Play.  Driving around in mud - a lot of mud - did not, at first, seem much of a day out but I have to say it was brilliant.  Sam had some good mates there with him  and they all knew their vehicles and were well equipped!

 

 

Sam was itching to go through to the other bit but can't until he has some other bit of equipment on his truck - I don't suppose it will be that long before that materialises!

21 - almost!

A very happy New Year to all!

As usual Christmas was upon us before we were ready for it.  I cooked the turkey and then trundled it down to Mother's to have dinner at her house (being a lot cleaner than ours and possessing a table and dish washer).  The turkey was the strangest beast I have ever had in my oven - it appeared to be breastless.  Initially, I thought I had cooked it upside down but closer inspection of leg joints confirmed it was the right way up, however, the breast appeared to have sunk and was situated underneath it.  The only explanation I can come up with which is reasonably feasible was that it was an old bird and rather saggy.  It tasted okay, just looked odd. 
Christmas Day night was very noisy as Sam, Kristy and both tractor lads appeared (one brought his Parp Parp Penguin cracker to add to the festivities - his Mother has told him to give it back and not to let it darken her doors again!).  Carl put on his new shearing trousers and vest and tried to remember how to shear a sheep whilst Kristy and Sam demonstrated the proper use of Star Wars light sabres.

Boxing Day we visited Carl's parents which was far more civilised and where we ate far too much beef.  Since then there has been a lot of rain and wind but, despite this, we have managed to get the sheep checked over and feet done where  necessary.  The home girls have taken up residence in the poly tunnel but are still filthy - quite happy though.

 

Despite the mud we now have to get on with halter training the three little boys as they need to go on the sales list before too long.  It is also, and I can't really believe this, Sam's 21st birthday on Monday - time has flown - seems only yesterday he was like this!