Rain is liquid water in the form of droplets

Rain is liquid water in the form of droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor and then precipitated (according to Wikipedia).

What a glorious summer we are having!  I now have a wide vocabulary to describe rain - much of it rude.

No alpacas in sight as they are all squashed in or around field shelters - except Trevor who delights in racing round and then charging back to disturb everyone.  He suddenly flops down and goes to sleep and then off he goes again!  Even Dude has started to retreat into his shelter at times.

Still no more cria and I have Prue (355 days) and Cassie (343 days) both due with Lily as one to watch despite not being due until 23rd July as last year she produced Yossarian at 10 months and 1 week.

I had a bit of a drive round yesterday with The Comet in a very posh cream leather upholstery Land Rover which might make the coming winter a trifle easier, although, at the moment, it feels as if winter is already upon us.  We have still got a couple of shearings to fit in but the rain appears relentless.

The sheep are all doing well, six lambs are off at the weekend to a new home on a nature reserve.  I think Shovel may be one of them but I am not quite decided.  Tomorrow the ones to go have to be ear tagged so have to decide tonight!

Rats!

Today it rained - it really, really rained.  Carl and Sam had to cancel their shearing job and we had to light the wood burner in the end, it was that cold.  The alpacas were shivering but the wouldn't go into their shelters until this afternoon, they just lay around looking miserable.  I sat in the caravan keeping a close watch on Cassie and Crispie.  I had a good book and a thick jumper so all was going well until I heard a scratching from the cupboard.  I tried to ignore it but when it became accompanied by scurrying I left very quickly and fetched Carl from where he was dealing with the wasp nest.  A family of rodents had moved into the caravan via the battery compartment.  They had tunnelled their way up beneath the very seat I was sitting on, eating the carpet on the way.  All rest was therefore over as everything had to be removed, everything had to be hoovered, everything had to be washed, investigations had to be made of the surrounding area - including moving and looking behind everything.  I am now scared to go in there so got repeatedly soaked today.

The mower is almost fixed ready for haymaking when it eventually gets sunny again and Carl keeps muttering about Red Van Man already having cut, dried and baled his!

Sam and Carl have just returned from a second tour of the route to Sam's tractor test.  They met the Shepherd who is lending his tractor for the venture and now Sam is doubly nervous as he told him if he passes he can do the woofling for him this year - something that is a dream come true for Sam!  How he will get through tomorrow morning I don't know - I am planning a list of jobs to keep him occupied!

Rain, at last!

Too wet for photos today - but I am not complaining, we certainly needed it.  The water butts are all full and the alpacas look far more comfortable.  Well, apart from Carolyn who took at least 10 minutes trying to kush tonight, the baby was kicking like a little demon.  She's not due until July so there is a bit of time to go yet.  I was a bit chilly over in the fields but steam was coming from the noses of the alpacas who haven't been sheared yet so despite the rain I think they were still hot.  Dude does look more comfortable now though, Judi - hope your rain is as refreshing as ours is!

Wet Day

Today has been wet - very wet!  I had to go to Stalbridge this morning and by the time I came back the water was laying on the road in pretty big puddles - no where as bad as they are having in Cornwall, of course.  It was a miserable time feeding and cleaning up field shelters today but at least I was not followed by a line of chickens as usually happens.  Greeves little problem has cleared up and he looks much more perky - I didn't give him a bottle in the end as I thought that might upset him again.

This evening is definitely inside jobs - Sam has been sent to tidy what is left of his room (he now has no curtains, no secondary glazing, no furniture and a mighty big hole in the wall - Carl is moaning about the mess under Sam's bed and blocking up a door whilst I am about to return to my knitting while watching The Edwardian Farm which I am really enjoying.

Rain again

I went to the dentist again today but I am not going to dwell on that.

Not much to say today as it has rained dreadfully throughout.  I have been leaping in and out the Mule at breakneck speed trying to keep a bit dry.  Greeves has fed less and barely moved from the field shelter which seems eminently sensible.  In fact he has remained fairly dry all day despite not having his coat on.  He sits there in state, chewing on bits of hay and gazing out at the rain.  The chickens have made quick sorties out of their house and then dashed back in, clucking away in a very bad tempered manner.  Sam finally made it to Milborne Port but goodness only knows what he has been doing as the weather has been dire.

Now we have to go back over the fields and set up a couple of pens ready for tomorrow as we have an exciting visit planned - hopefully the weather will not stop play!  Then Carl has to pop down to Mum's as the back has dropped off the plug for her bread maker and she seems to be in a bit of a cookery mood!