Welcome to Alison Murphy on Blog lovin. I seem to have lost someone from the follower bar.. is it something I said?!
I have been really busy this last week, hence my tardiness with posts.
I went shopping this morning, stocking up on baking stuff as I need to make a few cakes and cookies. We are expecting quite a few visitors this weekend and I like to offer a slice of cake with a cup of tea. On Tuesday afternoon we have a work party organised for "our stretch" of derelict canal and the volunteers will need some sustenance. Then on Wednesday evening we have a large meeting at our house so tea, coffee, home made wine and cake will be the order of the evening.
I went to Lidl and found that their sugar was 49 pence a bag and butter was 89 pence a half pound, really good value. I already have a plentiful stock of flour and the hens are laying well.
We went to see the pigs I mentioned last week and put our name on 3 boars. They are Large English White and Oxfordshire sandy and black cross (though there is little sign of the latter) By next weekend they will be ensconced. Pictures to follow soon. I promised our youngest granddaughter and my godson's daughter that they could name one each. So welcome Pickle and Gregory (I have no idea!) said Godson said that he wanted to name the last one as he hadn't named an animal in many years so Welcome Mr Grey !
I have finally found a farmer that may have cade lambs. There was a time when farmers almost paid you to take them away, but there seems to be a real shortage nowadays. I have told him that we will take 4 to 6 if he gets any. I already have a large sack of lamb milk replacer that was given to me by a friend to get us started.
The greenhouse seeding is not going too well. The tomato seedlings seem to have stopped growing. Those that are left that is.. A blackbird was shut in, I have no idea how, and knocked off a couple of trays of tomato seedlings, most of which have snapped off. she also knocked over the onion seedlings and dug up some broad bean seeds. Goodness knows how long she was in there or indeed how.
As you know we DO like a spot of barter -
Here is a picture of the load of branches from the back of our godson's pick up truck.. He bartered these for a nucleus of bees. Good swap methinks.
Today and yesterday David has been cutting the branches into lengths for the fire, and grading them for thickness. When cut we have put them into tonne backs to keep them together and get an idea of how much wood we have from this load. So far we have two tonne bags full of one foot lengths and still cutting, grading them for size. These logs will be for next winters burning.
Reading SimpleSuffolkSmallholders blog about downsizing or reducing jobs I realise that we are probably doing more (pigs!) and really should be thinking of doing a little less. We do have regular monthly break though. If you call travelling to Cornwall for a weekends fishing a break!
Talking of fishing , the first trip is set for the Easter weekend. Our youngest daughter will move in again while we are away. She hasn't actually said that she doesn't like pigs (or lambs or chickens or rabbits) but her eyes did go skyward when we said we were thinking of getting some.
All for now, hope not to leave it too long before I next post.
Gillx
wow you are going to have a full Ark soon. How exciting.
ReplyDeleteI know it is time I grew up (and grow old?) but I get very excited when we get animals as they bring the place alive and their needs knit in with the growing in the garden.
DeleteA weekend in Cornwall IS a break as it's longer away than we have had for 3 years! We never had more than 2 pigs at a time - hope you have room/buyers for all that 'licious pork. mmmmmmmmmmmmm proper sausages and nice meaty chops!
ReplyDeleteDavid reminded me that I would need to make quite a bit of space in the freezers later on.One of the pigs is for our godson who is in this venture with us.
DeleteIf you fancy taking my place n the odd weekend in Cornwall i won't complain as i like to stay at home!
We have cade lambs sometimes. We don't have our own sheep but the farmer whose sheep we take in sends the ewes and their lambs to us when they are around six weeks old. One year one was not doing well and I took it into the barn and fed it. It prospered but by golly could it drink!! Every time I opened the kitchen door it bellowed for me. But I really enjoyed it, so good luck.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the lambs too. They are so dear and very needy and mardy, as you say.
DeleteFingers crossed we get them soon and that they are stronger than last years.
that was an excellent barter, we have been stacking up logs for next winters burning, looking forward to seeing your pigs :-)
ReplyDeleteIt looks as though we have 3 full tonne bags of logs so I reckon we did quite well as a nucleus sells for between £80 and £100 pound I believe. I do so enjoy bartering. I sometimes barter a skill e.g mend some clothes or put new zips in jeans for wood, material or garden produce.
Deletewonderful post!
ReplyDeleteThanks
DeleteAs random as ever!
Happiness is a filled wood shed.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed followed by a pantry full of preserves.
DeleteHa ha, would that be Christian Grey? I love pigs so I look forward to hearing more about them.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is! as the pigs are all males I expect he wont get much sport from the others! I asked if he should be called Christian but apparently he gets his formal title at all times !
DeleteSounds like you have your hands full - um - fuller - and are loving it :)
ReplyDeleteYou know how it is Dani. xx
DeleteI will look forward to all your 'Porky ' posts later on in the year and lots of lip smacking recipes :-)
ReplyDeleteMy, you have been busy! But good busy. I don't necessarily think in terms of downsizing (or upsizing), I always ask if it's manageable! Don't need to jog off on any rabbit trails either, LOL
ReplyDeleteExciting times with pigs. Ev keeps on to me to get piggies and sheeps! I think we'll have to this year to keep her happy. I've a couple of pig sitters lined up already.
ReplyDelete