Filled the sky from East to West.
Sunset
Sunset
Hi
Sunset
Stormy skies and a strong cold winter wind, the sheep sat behind their shelters out of the rain showers, they didn’t want to be inside, they just preferred sitting out of the wind. William is doing ok, although the impaction in his stomach is taking time to remove, it’s being prodded to make bits on the edge flake away. Visiting them tomorrow and taking straw, balancer, treats and a ball for Toby to play with. A very windy day, lunch at the pub.
Sunset
A glorious end to a sunny day, almost springtime. The fish are swimming closer to the top of the pond and the birds are singing. A rook spent a few minutes sitting on William’s back pulling hairs from his coat, he’ll soon be moulting so there’ll be lots of nest lining material available. The paddocks are still too wet for the donkeys, they watch the sheep move around and want to go through the gates themselves, they make a grunting noise before working up to a short bray. A warm, sunny day with light winds.
Sunset
A cold, frosty, start to a sunny day, the donkeys had to wait a while to go out into the paddock as frosted grass has high levels of fructans, a soluble carbohydrate that can trigger laminitis, a painful inflammation of the hoof. Had a couple of tyres replaced on the car so with the addition of paving slabs these will make a play area for the sheep in the small paddock. A bright cold end to the day with a lovely sunset.
Sunset
A day of cold winds and heavy showers, the sheep didn’t go in the re-purposed shed when it rained, preferring to stay at the top of the paddock. Walked the donkeys from their stable into Willow and through the slalom poles into Fallen Oak, Toby was excited to go further afield, he bucked and ran a few yards before stopping to eat the grass. Led them back up to their stable for carrot treats before letting them out into the paddock again. A quiet end to a blustery day with a very colourful sunset.
Sunset
Sheep in the Small Paddock for the night, they passed the donkeys on their way up and Walter touched noses with Toby before having a chew on the ‘not switched on’ electric fence. It’ll be a bit of a shock for them when the battery’s connected! Moved the fence a little to give the donkeys more room. A cold cloudy day with lots of colour in the sky at sunset.
Sunset
A lot of colour in the sky at the end of the day, the oak tree has long lost its leaves and now just looks hairy. Electrical work has been taking place in the shed behind the stable, so the donkeys had lots to look at and listen to; they started eating their breakfast late, tempted by carrot peelings and sliced parsnips. The rain that started the day had moved on by lunchtime and the sun eventually made it through the clouds to end the day.
Sunset
A foggy start to the day, groomed William and Toby, they’re keeping their thick winter coats and their feet were easy to pick out as the straw area is still very wet, the farrier is booked for the end of the month so we’ll find out whether William’s seedy toe has improved. A cloudy cool day with light winds and a lovely sunset.
Sunset
Removed the netting from around some of the trees and pulled out the grass and weeds, most of the trunks have doubled in size over the last year so the branches should expand this year. Turned over the second compost heap and added fresh donkey poo, emptied a couple of barrow loads from the older heap to mulch round the trees. A foggy, cloudy, sunny day with blue skies and light winds, sunset had all the variables at the same time!
Sheep
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.
Sunset
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.
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.
Sunset
A very misty start to a humid day, with no wind, the sun took a few hours to break through and then the temperature rose steadily until falling again at sunset. The donkeys came up from the paddock for salt lick and water several times and the sheep lay against the fence, panting in the sun, despite various areas of shade being available. Watered the vegetables and the hedge, picked mange-tout, runner beans, courgettes and most of the tomatoes.
Howitzer
Nestling near a pub car park, would make a good restoration project, next to lots of other rusting vehicles that have been left there over the years. Replaced a few slats on one of the garden benches, hope it will last a it longer as it’s very comfortable, next job will be to reinforce the legs. The donkeys are looking a lot smarter, their winter coat has almost gone to reveal a shiny, shorter version. Watered the hedge and the vegetables. A very hot day with increasing winds and a pale pink sunset.
Seeds
The tomato seeds are an inch or so high, using the mole hill soil mixed with vermiculite didn’t work out very well, the soil had too high a proportion of clay and stayed too wet so the plants have been repotted in compost. the sunflowers are just poking through the compost. Sowed Blue Lake climbing beans and green courgettes, the beans are in the greenhouse, everything else is cluttering up the utility room. The donkeys and sheep spent their day grazing the paddocks. A sunny day with a cold wind and a lovely sunset.
Sunshine
A lovely sunny start to the day with blue sky and light winds, the sheep are still enjoying the fringe of greener grass and escaped for a time into the garden. Soon coaxed back with hay they wanted to explore and run around somewhere new. The owl box has arrived, it’ll be positioned in the oak tree with its entrance away from the prevailing winds once the tree has been cut, the lower limbs are hollow so the higher branches must be removed. Light by six in the morning, the flower buds on the wisteria are starting to fatten. Another vivid orange sunset.
Home Time
Winnie looking through the paddock gate, wanting to lead the rest of the flock up to their shelter and the recently filled hayrack. The donkeys enjoyed the grass in the paddock and took little notice of the hedge cutting in the field the other side of the lane. The new trees have had their protection refitted, it had to be removed to clear the grass from around their trunks, a layer of mulch from the compost heap will help settle the soil. A chilly start to the day, warmer once the mist cleared and the sun came out. The sky glowed bright red at sunset.
Sunset
Dramatic skies over the hills have everything; low cloud, rain and blue skies, paddock rails bathed in winter sun. A pair of woodpeckers spent half an hour feeding on the frost free lawn and the pheasants passed through on their way to the discarded stable straw in search of grain. Emptied more rubble bags onto the driveway. The spring is running into the ditch, paddocks too wet for the donkeys and the sheep are starting to forge favourite pathways to and from the hay feeders and their arcs. A milder dry day with light winds and rain later.
Sunset
A bright orange sun set behind the oak tree at 4.30, the days are still shortening and the afternoons soon become chilly. The donkeys have decided not to eat their straw, it looks fluffier than the bales they’ve had previously, not sure why they don’t like it. They’re eating the grass in the paddock, beech and apple branches and any apples that are cut up for them so I think we’ll have to persevere, especially as there are another twenty bales left. A little hay on top of the straw in the feeder may help. Most of the hedges have been trimmed so it’s time for another bonfire. A cloudy sunny day with rain overnight.
Sunset
Every night this week there has been a lovely sunset, and tonight was no exception. Cycle ride from Pamphill to The Anchor for coffee in the sunshine returning along Sweet Briar. Nola had runny poos so was unceremoniously upended, her fleece trimmed and her bottom washed, good news – no sign of maggots! The rest of the flock watched or grazed and she was happy to eat the mix afterwards. Must buy dagging scissors as the ones from the kitchen drawer were not up to the job of cutting a lanolin enriched fleece. The donkeys enjoyed another strip of fresh grass and a handful of summer hay before eating their vitamin mix.
Seasoned Oak
The oak tree that fell into the paddock had seasoned while still standing so the logs can be burnt this year, moved them all to the side of the garage where they should stay reasonably dry before being stacked outside the boot room just before bringing inside. The larger pieces that won’t fit into the woodburner will be used as tables or supports for bird baths. The silver birch behind the rail is doing ok, it was planted to replace the horse chestnut which has sprouted again so will need to be pruned. Cycled 8 miles on quiet roads near Wimborne, a sunny warm day with a lovely red sunset.
Cycle Ride
20 miles along Dorset lanes in sunshine and light winds with a stop at Manswood for refreshments and at the waterfall at Witchampton to look at the waterfall – we disturbed a kingfisher further along the river; a lovely flash of blue. From a distance the hay bales in the fields resembled French knots. Didn’t see any swallows today, filled up the bird bath for the wren which was singing loudly in the wisteria. A glorious sunset lasted for over an hour, enough time to turn off the electric fence in the bottom paddock and water the greenhouse and the runner beans.
