A WET START

Firstly rushing around for my inspection then trying to get hold of a vet for a visit for Tilley, trying to put bedding down whilst trying not to get covered in saw dust and look like a right chump for the inspector!....I went to fill up the drinking water bath for Tilley and just as I turned the tap on fully.....the tap flew off leaving me covered in water, black stuff all over my face, slipping in the now soggy grass to retrieve the tap that Storm had run off with,......finally retrieved the tap covered in bits of grass and mud and drenched.... I couldn't remember where the stop cock was so in my haste....I attempted to squish the tap back on the top whilst the water was still flowing! I was getting even more soaked and it became like a comedy there. Finally managed to screw the tap on and gave the water to Tilley, then a brief clean up to meet and greet the inspector as if nothing had happened!...Oh I forgot to mention whilst running to see the vet I had to move the cutting deck and dropped in on my foot, so without yelling obscenities as there were people in I very quietly screamed whilst my foot bled like no tomorrow!...Oh yeah also went to tell Pete about my traumatic morning and stubbed my other toes on the other foot on the threshold.....gonna be a good day!....Happy Mondays!

TILLEY IS SICK

Poor Tilley she is really poorly, on ACP which is a sedative and a heavy pain killer and aspirin ever other day. I have put her on shavings and stabled her, just hope she will be ok its a year ago nearly exactly we lost Tom our little 14 month old foal...Tilleys brother.... Just hope nothing happens.

GEOFF WONT BE HAPPY!

Auntie Lou and me were weeding the last minute weeds before our inspection just to make sure all was perfecet.....Then Auntie lou had an idea, lets trim the bushes back.....GEOFF wont be happy with that, he had them all ion a particular shape and he will know if we have had a chomp!!!!But all in a good cause, hopefully we will get away with it!

And the inspection went well you'll be pleased to hear, So thanks to Auntie Lou,Laura,Pete,Mum, Dad, Steven,Geoff,Tim and the gang of happy helpers through the year we received a 4 star rating...thanks guys

BABIES EVERYWHERE!

The swallows have hatched and are always hungry, I was afraid in the heat we would have lost them but they survived, we lost one due to it falling out the nest, but the others are ok. We also had baby robins, blue tits and buzzards...I am on the look out for others!

DUCKS GIVING ME GRIEF

I only looked in the duck house, and they shouted at me as if to say go away,....they sounded right miseries, I wondered what was up with them, they are usually such happy ducks, but then I spotted the eggs....they are sitting on some eggs, so we may have duckings at some point?????lets hope

TIME FOR A DIP

We took the dogs up through Luxulyan Valley for them to have a dip in the stream, Shadow was afraid of what ever moved in the water initially but soon got the hang of it and we were soaked by the end of it! They all had a great time, I think Gem likes to swim the most shes a real water baby, but she did spend years sat on my canoe out to sea and on a belly board whilst we were snorkeling!!!!

CONFUSED???

See this picture......weird isn't it?... I took it in the valley....posted it just to confused you!!! nice of me eh as if you weren't confused enough today already.

SAD DAY FOR CHICKS

Our light Sussex had a nest on the edge of the garden and had been there safely for 20 days until last night just as the chicks were about to hatch a fox came along and killed her, by the time we got to the eggs they were cold and all had died, cant believe it, she had been there so long and was very camouflaged ...pesky foxes

ESCAPEEEEEES CAUGHT!

Tim, my brother was riding out of the drive on his motorbike when he spotted (which wasn't difficult as she was right in front of him) Storm the wrong side of the gate, she escaped somehow, he shouted to me and I said try and get her in without the others coming out. Well he opened the gate expecting the others not to bother too much (He really doesn't know this lot does he?), they all bolted out the gate and instead of one pony to catch we had 4. I gradually head collared them one by one and dragged them back where they should be. Spring was the worse she was a right stubborn moo. But here they look all sweetness and light!

BUZZ IS GROWING

Buzz is growing really quickly now....well actually hes not but thats what you say isnt it, he is still our mini porker and we are hoping he will be man size by the autumn to provide us with some babies. I think Pixie and Dixie would make great mums and Woody a great uncle...watch this space, if I see any action I'll let you know! Mind you he is so soppy I am not sure he will realise what he was made for.

PLAYING

Now I am not sure if Pete is playing with Dixie or Dixie playing with him, either way they are both as happy as pigs in muck!!! Dixie loved the water and kept trying to catch it, I was waiting for the tables to turn and Dixie get the hose and chase Pete....still theres time....Anyway thought Pete was supposed to be really really busy with drawing????

DRAGONFLY

You always know when summer is here, the dragonfly's are out in force, I wish I had my camera on me all the time, I have seen some really stunning dragonflies, this one I caught in Luxulyan Valley having a rest on a rock, what a lovely life eh!...

DAD BACK FROM HIS TRAVELS

Dads been sailing a lugger for the last week around the English Channel and returned home to be greeted by the soppy dog brigade, wherever Lucky goes Shadow is never far behind. I think Gem was at his feet!

NOW THATS WHAT I CALL A BBQ!

We saw these in Finland, they are wonderful all year round BBQ huts well a bit more than your average garden shed! I WANT ONE!!!....But Pete says my wants and my money are WAY out of sync!...Not sure what that means really, I am still doing the pools and lottery and have a list as long as my arm as to what I will be spending it on!!!You got to be prepared you know!

RECIPES FOR THOSE GOOD 'OL COURGETTES!

Slice freshly picked courgettes, gently fry in a little oil olive until both sides are lightly golden and crisp. Add torn pieces of fresh mint to top surfaces and, when ready to serve, sprinkle with lemon juice. Simple but delicious. Recipe supplied by Margaret Robson...thanks will try... see the first recipe for my book perhaps!!! Keep 'em coming!....we seem to produce far more courgettes than we can handle, but this may well help!

FANTASTIC NEWS

Steven came back from the European Championships happy that he played well but couldn't believe he just missed out on the chance to compete in the world championships in USA. That was until we received a letter to say his score did in fact mean he qualified.....I couldn't believe it,....so after a WOW fantastic ...and a well done Steven....very closely by oh my god how on earth are we going to fund that ....its in North Carolina USA!!!!! and this JULY!!!! well the above picture was one of my option to get him there!...Ok so not a good plan....we really need to start putting feelers out for sponsorship for future events, I think this sort of level of funding isn't going to get any easier...So if you know anyone that would be willing to back a Cornish lad who trains hard and is completely focused on his dreams and ambitions...please get in touch.

KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WALLABIES???

Someone suggested we get some wallabies instead of goats??? Anyone know anything about these creatures?...I will have to do some substantial research I think!!!!!.....

3 DOGS IN A 107!

Whilst we were away Laura was in charge of the house/business...she isn't insured until she is 25 (some years off yet) to drive the truck, so she took the 3 dogs to the beach in her little 107!, I wish she got a picture, and this is how they look after a swim (lucky is still out at sea here!), so her car must be very smelly now and probably could do with a good clean!! No wonder the guy who takes the money just let her in free and didn't stop her, he probably couldn't believe his eyes!

TOOOLULA IS GROWING

Tooolula will be rehomed with the Kune Kunes after Monday as Bubs is off on Monday, she should have gone a while ago but gave birth the day before her departure!...She is growing fast now.

KUNES KUNES ON THE RUN

Pixie,Dixie, Woody and Buzz are a real team, where one goes the others follow, Pete was running up and down the woods with them and they were following wherever he went...I think it must be a man thing, as when we were away and Laura and Adam looked after the house, Adam did the same!!!...

A GUEST?

This cat was quite vocal in the buttercups telling us a right ol' story she was, makes a good picture though the black and white against the grass, no idea what she was rabbiting about though! I think she might have been having a laugh at the story we were telling Laura...about Pete when we were away with the golf. .....Pete offered to make tea, so he set about doing cheese on toast...I know that's not what we would normally call tea,,.....but it is Pete!...well he couldn't light the gas grill so stuck his head in the grill to see what was going on and it LIT and I mean LIT, the orange and blue flames shot out of the grill took his eyebrows off and half the hair on one arm....we were ins titches...I know its not really funny, but you had to be there really!!There were loads of other stuff but cant remember right now...when I do I'll update you ...hey another book, 'The life and times of Peter Hume....The side you don't see as as client!!"

SHADOW CHILLIN'

A little chillin' goes along way, Shadow just loves life, shes a fantastic dog to have, fully of love and fun with the odd (well alot really) bit of trouble thrown in!... She rolled around in the Buttercups while I did the feed run!!!

OUR GRASS ROOF IS GROWING

Remember we laid a grass roof on the feed store, well its growing nicely now with wild flowers too, daisies and all sorts of wild coloured grasses, I think it will look really good there. Dad wanted to mow it!!!!So we hid his mower!!!!! Not sure he really appreciates the wild flowers (weeds to dad)...if its not veg hes not interested!!...

ACER DOING WELL

After a little prune and thought we might have killed it!!! Luckily for us the acer looks stunning as per last year, it really sets the colours off. The gooseberries are coming through now and we are hoping for a bumper crop of soft fruits this year, we have loads of giant strawberries and I think the bayberries might be ok this year, red currants just turning ripe and black currants just appearing. We even have blueberries this year and hoping for grapes as the crop failed in all the rain last year. Tomatoes are in thanks to dad as are the onions and potatoes/beetroots etc. Dad and Jeff the garden gurus....dad not a clue with flowers he strims them often!..but hes the best with the veg and allotment...we wouldn't eat much if it wasn't for him...Jeff is the flower and shrub man that keeps us in order of what to do nest with the fruit!We also have the dreaded courgette!....We love them but when you get to the end of the season with them and have done almost everything possibly with them you kind of get a bit sick of them... I might start a recipe book for courgettes......NOW theres a thought!!!!!

LITTLE TOMS COTTAGE

I dont think I have any photos on here of Little Toms Cottage, all that hard work...blood sweat and tears...all quite literally!... I must take some of the inside its stunning even if I do say so my self....we would live there given half the chance...not sure where the kids would go though as its only one bed!!

COLOUR OF SUMMER

I love this picture, the Buttercups look stunning, although we may have to thin them out next year as they are overtaking all our grass, but for now....here's the true colour of summer. A sea of yellow enough to make anyones day a happier one!.It reminds me of what I thought our life would be like living here...you know like rosebuds around doors and darling buds of may and all that guff!!!...Well its not quite what I thought, its darn hard work, but worth every minute and we dont regret a thing!!!!

GOT A NEW GAME FOR YOU

You know when you were a kid or even in the newspapers sometimes there is a spot the difference quiz....well I have a really hard one for you, ....can you spot the differences in these two photos???

You remember we built this house for Buzz when he arrived, well Pete thought Shadow would look cute in it...so to sleep but just for a bit of fun to keep her cool while we worked down there, so Pete thought he would show her how to get in and how nice it was inside....Shadows not stupid, she took one look in and thought, well if its that nice Mr...you stay in there!!!...I wonder what people round here must think!!!Ah who cares!!!!

SUNBATHING

The ponies love the morning sun and they are always together, I thought this was quite sweet, they were all laid in the buttercups, with the odd grunt to each other to make sure they were all still there, they laid there for ages. If only I was a pony what a lovely relaxing life I would have...but there again boredom would set in for me after the first 3 mins!!!

VIEWS FROM FOWEY

Hasn't the weather been stunning this week, we popped over to Fowey to look at the house with a green roof and currently up for sale 3million I think, so thought about buying it, then was brought harshly back to reality when Pete said, if we have a cup of tea and scone each we wont be able to afford the foot ferry back!....so with that...cup of tea and scone between us and my dreaming was over!....But good whilst it lasted!

BRIBERY AND CORRUPTON!

A little bribery and corruption will get you everywhere!...only kidding!....When Auntie Lou came out to help on a Wednesday she asked what jobs we had in store today. So I led her to the garden and showed her this view and picked some strawberries, sat her down after with a cup of tea and strawberries, she thought...'oh this makes a change, what a lovely day"...then I hit her with the job I had in mind,......denettling....and they were huge and nasty and there were lots of them in the chicken area!....Her face fell somewhat...but always up for a challenge we set about clearing the nettles in the scorching heat!...Maybe we will see her next week???or maybe she will just have one of those shoelace moments!

TRACTOR ANNIE AND MY HANDY WORK!

The goats were re homed a while ago now, so we thought it was time to reshape the goat paddock before any more came to woodmill....We took some posts out and redid the wiring to make it easier to catch the goats in future, plus it looks better from the paddock! If was quite a job really, I thought it would take five minutes, Tractor Annie thought it would take 2 days!...So it was somewhere in between!

THE 3 MUSKETEERS

These 3 go everywhere together and if one of them is missing they don't know what to do with themselves. Lucky has been spayed this week, and she has to be kept separate for 10 days, its going to be the longest 10 days ever!!! Shadow keeps crying for her to come out and Lucky just hates being not allowed to roam free as usual, I will be glad to get to next Friday when she can rejoin the pack!

NAUGHTY SHADOW!

Shadow is so sweet...almost as sweet as sugar......which brings me nicely on to what I arrived home to the other day. I bought some sugar for the homemade wine that we make here, elderflower at present....And saw this mess in the kitchen and as I followed the trail of sugar out through the conservatory and up the steps across the lawn!...I found the guilty party...and how did I know it was her!!....well she had sugar crystals all around her chops!!!!

BACK FROM THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS!

Sorry it has taken me so long but we only arrived back on Friday and my feet haven't touched the floor...no change there then! Steven competed in the golf European Championships in Gullane last week and came 8th in the UK and 16th in the world, so he was mighty chuffed, he has only been playing for 2 years competitively now and some the the youngsters have been playing since they were 2 or so! But a great result Steven did himself and County proud. The competition was over 3 days, but we had to register on the Sunday and practice round ont he Monday then the three gruelling competition days, Steven practiced before and after and mentally it does take its toll.....and the links course was less than forgiving so a great result.Back to normality again now for a while, well our sort of normality anyhow!...Any ideas or offers of sponsorship most welcome!!!!