Dorset lifestyle
Enjoying the sunshine and the shade of the lemon tree, the clocks have gone back so the hours of warm sunshine may lessen. Torrential rain last night has made the paddock even wetter, let the donkeys out for a couple of hours for a run around, William stopped to eat the first clump of grass he saw and they had another hazel branch to eat when they came back up to the stable. A warm sunny day with light winds.
They don’t last long with the donkeys, a few scrunched mouthfuls and they’ve gone. Walked down the lane to cut hazel and beech branches, the paddock was too wet for the donkeys to go out today after last night’s torrential rain, so they needed something to keep them occupied. The courgette plants are finally wilting, the result of cooler nights and mildew, moved the bunches of garlic and onions from the greenhouse into the garage. A breezy, sunny day with the occasional downpour.
The sheep investigated the paving slabs and bits of wood that will be used to support the old shed / new sheep shelter, they’re always keen to investigate anything new. Mowed the Fallen Oak paddock before the promised rain, the donkeys will move from Laneside and graze there in a week or two. Opening and closing the gates to allow the mower through was a challenge at times, the sheep always want to run through an (almost) open gate. A cloudy day with strengthening winds.
William and Toby inspecting the third section of mud control mats, the ground does gets drier further down so hoping this can be the final section, will have to buy more mats if not. Toby tasted the sand and wasn’t that impressed. Moved a few paving slabs into the square paddock to make a flattish base for the old shed that’s being replaced, it’ll become a sheep shelter although it may be a bit small. A cool, sunny, drizzly day with strengthening winds.
Dismantled In Laneside paddock, the donkeys have access to the grass up to the line of hurdles that protect them from the oak leaves and acorns. The posts and tape are now in the workshop for the winter, Digby and Elton had a nibble of the posts and the donkeys enjoyed the fresh grass. Collected four straw bales. A cloudy warm day with light winds and the occasional shower.
Carrots and a courgette, the carrots had a couple of small holes in them and no carrot fly, which was good. The courgette is more like a marrow, still tasted ok with lamb mince, the donkeys ate the carrot tops. Filled some of the holes in the edges of the mudmats, they’re staying level even with the weight of the donkeys, William likes to stand on them for a few minutes when he comes back up to the stable. A sunny warm day with light winds and the occasional downpour.
Grazing in a row; Elton, Digby and Walter, there’s still lots of grass for them to eat, although the sugar content will have dropped. Their fleeces are growing and the wool is starting to hang down around their legs, ready for the winter. Made a few modifications to the sheep shelter in Laneside, the tarpaulin roof had collected rainwater so needed some support. A sunny, warm day with light winds.
Toby’s brown nose is a bit of a giveaway, he’s been licking the sheep lick; not harmful in small doses, it must taste nice – the result of being in the wrong paddock a couple of days ago. Collected more bricks for the driveway and edged the mud mats with some broken slabs, filled the gaps with small stones and topped with sand. The donkeys inspected the changes before crossing. A sunny, cool day with light winds.
The biggest and juiciest are in Laneside paddock, but there aren’t many left as the donkeys have eaten all of them from the lower branches. There are more growing by the paddock entrance so picked some of those as well, will put them in the freezer for a couple of days as there hasn’t been a frost to sweeten them and help break down their skins. Found enough Bramley fallers to make a crumble, the donkeys had the peelings for their bedtime treat. A cool, breezy, sunny, day.
Running back to their shelters in the Fallen Oak paddock at the end of the day, shadows long as sunset approaches. Torrential rain overnight filled the vale with water and made the Avenue a bit muddy. The donkeys found the gate to the Fallen Oak paddock open so took full advantage of a different outlook, fresh grass and a hedgerow full of berries. A bright sunny day with a chilly wind and bright orange sky at sunset.
The donkeys have stripped the lower leaves and managed to eat the twiggy bits with a lot of stretching, so need help reaching the higher branches for their dose of medicinal aspirin. Rain overnight has made the paddocks a bit soggy and the spring has re-emerged in the Avenue, the mudmats are doing a good job of making the entrance passable so hope they remain in place. A blustery rainy day with the occasional burst of sunshine.
William’s hoof looking better than a few months ago, his seedy toe has improved and there’s no sign of laminitis, Toby’s are equally as good so no need for the farrier to visit until January. The boys had been grazing in Laneside paddock and were happy to have their halters put on and walk up the Avenue for a groom. The sheep walked up with them the other side of the fence. Once back in the paddock the donkeys chased round trying to bite each other’s legs. A sunny cloudy day with strengthening winds.
Not like this tonight, the vale is shrouded in mist and there was a significant amount of rain overnight. The sheep spent most of the day in their shelter unlike the donkeys who didn’t mind getting wet. Cut another yard off the leylandii hedge to improve the view of the stable from the garden and took the debris to the tip. Shoveled another load of sand onto the mudmats, the donkeys inspected and sniffed at the change before walking across. Water butts all full, no need to water.
Growing up, he’s looking a bit tubby, as are all the sheep, and he’s growing whiskers on his neck, may have to confine them all to the Fallen Oak paddock where the grass is shorter. Toby in the paddock behind the fence had been over for a nose rub, William hadn’t quite got that close. Emptied a couple more barrowloads of sand on the mudmats, the gradient at the edges is significant so may fill it with rubble and then a concrete mix so the mats don’t slide sideways. Another sunny warm day.
William has two in his mouth at once, just in case Toby picked one up. Toby, of course, has two twigs of his own, they’re eating the Bramley Apple tops which are thicker and crunchier than the new growth from the top of the eating apples. Laneside paddock hedge is looking very neat after donkey foraging and the ground is still dry so not cutting up when they chase around. A foggy start to a warm day with no wind, watered part of the hedge.
Foggy start to chilly mornings this week, the wind has dropped completely for the last few days so it’s the sun that’s been lifting the mist from the vale. Cycle from Pamphill to Sturminster Marshall for coffee, tyre a bit soft at the front so must have a slow puncture. The donkeys chased each other around the paddock late afternoon and then had to come back to the stable for a drink, William stood on the mud mats for a couple of minutes, sizing them up. A sunny warm day, the hedging could do with some rain, may have to water tomorrow.
The first two rows at the top of the Avenue are being filled with quarried sand, more will be needed as they’re used and the sand settles. Coby the next door cat likes rolling on them, and after an initial inspection the donkeys are crossing them OK and Toby knows not to get too close to cat claws. Added a board to the other side of the sheep shelter in Laneside. A foggy start to a warm sunny day, cycled from Pamphill to Shapwick.
Sand for the mud mats, stirling board and gravel boards for the sheep shelters. Fixed a board to one side of the shelter in Laneside, the other side needs a section cutting out for the sheep to pass through, they prefer using a side entrance rather than the opening at the front. The donkeys weren’t bothered by a bit of noisy hammering and the sheep just wanted to see what was going on and be back in their shelter. A foggy start to a sunny, warm day.
Closer than usual, the pilot had to turn on the burners to float over the top of the stable, the noise startled me, and spooked the donkeys so they stopped eating their vitamin mix and ran round the corner to hide. The sheep didn’t like the noise either, they ran down the paddock and into their shelter. The people in the basket were happy, heard them say ‘look, donkeys and sheep!’ The balloon stayed low over the treetops and landed in a field somewhere near Hambledon Hill. A warm, sunny day with a cool breeze.
Not quite a headbutt, but Elton is trying to teach Jago what to do, not sure Jago will ever get the hang of the process – three paces back, on your hind legs and then CHARGE! Gentle rubbing of foreheads will have to do. Jago may be bottom of the pecking order but he’s first in line running for a willow branch. A misty start to a cooler day that ended with a lovely sunset, some of the leaves on the trees are starting to develop Autumn colours, they may stay green for a few weeks yet.
Resting in the raised bed with the remains of the pea plants, disturbed him when I was clearing the way for the newly rooted strawberry plants. There were a few slugs around so transferred him to the bed next door where the plants are more established and the shade complete. Planted garlic in the remaining bed, burying the cloves deeper than usual, a tip from my sister, so will see whether that makes a difference. A misty start to a sunny warm day.
The donkeys walk up from the paddock for a rollover most afternoons, today Toby went first while William waited his turn next to the dustpatch. They both had a groom in the morning and a walk on the paddock driveway before having their fly masks put on, Toby likes to pull at the braids of William’s mask until he runs off and then they chase each other round the paddock biting each other whenever they can. They’re obviously having a good time and the exercise helps keep their weight down. Another warm, sunny day.
Loves to be scratched under his chin and down his neck, he’ll stand still for ten minutes or more, the wool on his head feels like velvet. Jago’s horns are growing back and his legs are getting longer, he’s definitely part of the flock, now. Adjusted the gate to give a little more clearance over the mud mats and collected four straw bales from the farm down the road. A sunny warm day.
William inspecting the first two rows of mud mats, they both came up from the paddock when they saw the activity in the gateway and then went back down again. At the end of the day they walked across the mats having first grazed the avenue edges. A warm day with the occasional shower
The sun is rising later so the shadows are long well into the morning, it’s still warm but the wind is chilly. Lunch at The Baker Arms. Cut hawthorn for the donkeys and some soggy blackberries for the sheep and moved their arcs to a fresh patch of grass in Fallen Oak. A sunny day with strengthening winds.
In Laneside paddock enjoying the sunshine in between the showers, the ground is puddling up in some areas but they still like doing their rollovers in the same, now muddy, place. Moved the electric fence to give them more hedgerow to forage. A flock of Martins appeared and flew around all day before continuing their migration further south. Heavy rain overnight cleared to reveal a bright blue sky before the clouds rolled in again.
Stinsford Church has a magnificent array of flowers and vegetables on display, loved this tractor. The Church was on our seventeen mile cycle route from Moreton, through Puddletown Forest and past Hardy’s cottage. Coffee and sausage roll stop was at Kingston Maurward where the animal paddocks and gardens are free to walk round. A blustery day with a few heavy showers.
The donkeys and sheep have never shared the same paddock, until yesterday when I let William and Toby into Laneside. The sheep were all in the shelter so I didn’t see them until Pixie came out to touch noses with William, and then the rest of the flock followed. William wandered off and both donkeys did a few roll-overs and a bit of running around before settling down to graze. Managed to herd the sheep through the gate into Fallen Oak without the donkeys getting through so it all worked out ok. A cool, sunny, windy, cloudy day with a few sharp showers.
Ivy and Elton sheltering from the rain which was a constant downpour all day, the sheep eventually came out of their arcs to graze, although Elton can feed from Ivy anytime he likes. The entrance to the avenue is full of puddles so it’d be a good time to start laying the mud mats. The fish pond is full of clear water and the water butts are overflowing. The rain stopped at dusk and the sky cleared to reveal a pale pink sunset.
A wet start to the day, the rain gave way to cloud and a mackerel sky followed by a glorious fireball sunset. Rubble to help widen the driveway arrived on a trailer, a dumpy bagful doesn’t go far, but it helps. The donkeys were curious, running away and then coming back to see what was going on. Harvested the onions and put them in the greenhouse to dry off, left the two leeks growing in the raised bed. The last of the runner beans taste ok but don’t have the flavour of the earlier pickings, and they smell different when being cooked, must have less sugar. No need to light the woodburner.
William always sleeps in the same place at night, Toby will lie to the side on the straw, or in front, nearer the door. It’s rare to see them flat out at full stretch but it does happen occasionally. The rain arrived and continued on and off all day, strengthening winds made the donkeys skittish and they came up from the paddock early for their vitamin balancer. Topped up the pond, the fish are still hungry and the various weeds and lilies are starting to take up a lot of room. Heavy, continuous, rain to end the day, lit the woodburner.
