SHADOW!!!!

You don't need any story with this photo...this is one pretty girl!!!!

FIELDS TOPPED

I topped the fields today while the weather was good, it was so long the mower struggled to do it, I think I may have broke the tractor as I got it caught in a ditch...then after making a makeshift ramp I then bumped it around to get it going, shortly after that there was a bang and some black smoke?!??!!?... I may be in BIG trouble!!! but the fields look good!

WE HAVE CHICKS

Not that successful really, the mum is very clumsy..but she has reared 3 out of the 6, hopefully the other mum will rear three too. cute though...only one lot of them this year though.

MORE RENOVATION

It rained didnt it....and Pete and I had a 30minute coffee to discuss our plans for next year, then the screw driver came out just to have a look at the floor boards, and with that the next renovation project began, wall knocked down, staircase designed and ordered, balustrade individually designed by yours truly and getting made by Brad in the forge...cupboard out, floorboards gone and bobs your uncle we are in a real mess...oh and we moved Stevens door.. As if it wasnt bad enough, then we had a mad five minutes and ripped the downstairs loo out, so we are in a HUGE pickle to say the least... be glad when its done...hopefully tidier when Mum and Dad come to stay end OCT!!!

SMARTIE UP TO NO GOOD

Smartie is a right one!.. She was trying to attack the dangly bit on my phone charge and knocking the phone off the desk while I worked, and then when I looked at her she ran and then came back when she thought I wasn't looking...like a naughty child!

PIGS RELOCATED

After cleaning...so we were already whacked.. we or rather I decided to move the pink pigs to the lunge ring so they could clear it a bit. I thought yeah...easy... rang Laura to help me and Pete, just in case. They stood either side while I ran up through the fields with a bucket of feed. I was really tired by the time I got to the other end and tried to get them over the wooden ledge into the lunge ring they just bolted. I knew then..this was a bad idea. Mum shouted "do you need a hand" so yes was the answer...she brought dad with her, and we were there for an age, Dad trying to run and us telling him not to on his new knees, mum trying to barricade the entrance to form a shute but unless she was 10ft x 10ft she didn't really stand a chance , but we kept her moving all over the shop, Laura and Pete chase and I tried to catch them too. Pete finally got the smaller one and we lifted her squealing her head off into the lunge ring...and then the second one...but toolula was too big to do that, so after it seemed hours and guests now arriving and watching....Pete and I lassoed her and dragged/carried her into the ring. She was starting to panic and we had to act fast ...But all in now ....wont ever repeat that episode...The wont be coming out of there until they go in the horse box to be moved!!! Think Mum and Dad had had it too....then I had a BBQ to prepare for Pete's birthday!!!!all in a days work eh!

WE ACHED AND ACHED!!!!

Auntie Lou very sillily offered to help me on Sunday when Pete was away at golf with Steven, we had to take a tree down...easy we thought!!!!So got all our tools out and chainsaw in hand to attack the tree....after swinging by my foot and Louise by her arms we managed to get it down. After dragging it down filling almost the whole garden, I joked and said...after all that hard work wouldn't it be funny if it was the wrong tree.... We stood back and admired our handy work....and guess what it was the wrong tree....OMG.....we had to go through all that again and neither of us were filled with energy and we already ached all over!!...SO another gruelling few hours was had by us. Mind you we did treat ourselves with a sneaky Chinese at 7.30pm!!! Bet she wont offer to come and help again!!!When Pete got back I think he felt sorry for us and gave us a half day on clearing the rest of the top hedge....What would have taken us two 2 days he hacked down in about 7hours....funny isnt it..I call half day about 7 or 8 hours!!!!...but it is to us. Tim helped with some strimming too. Me and auntie lou cleared and burned all day... I dont think there is any part of my body that does ache! Oh and I did the garden grass....well sort off!

PONIES SEEM BETTER

The ponies seem to be better at the moment, their feet seem not so sore, and Storm and Spring are running about like looneys. Duke is still plodding on 24 years old now...Tilley isn't right yet, but she definitely seems better out with the others, we will just have to see what the farrier says when he come or she if its Megan...Still miss our little Tom though...lots of people ask after him. If I ever released another book, our trauma of loosing him would be in it, so probably wont do that!..I have printed off the second year blog though as a copy of our second year for the kids to read when they are older.

Smartie is only about 12 weeks but is already after my home brew, maybe she should be the connoisseur on my wine....."Highly recommended by Smartie"...This one is elderflower...Ii think she just tries to catch the bubbles in the airlock really!

JUST LIKE THIS PICTURE

Thought I would share this picture with you....Cos I like it!

WORN OUT

Found these pair flat out on the outside table!...Not sure if they thought they were being funny...But on the table...whatever next!

WILLOW RETURNS

Willow one of Luckys pups came to see us courtesy of Geoff, she is nearly identical to Lucky and has her temperament too. Lucky seems to want a cuddle when her babies return, Shadow just goes nuts and wants to jump and play. I think she definitely remembers them. Its good to see them all grow up.

EASY DAY!

After an early start and vets for an injection for Smartie the day just got from bad to worse, Steven first day back at school, Laura college,... bank had problem enabling credit card due to Pete not knowing the right answers, so had to go in with him to sort...got back only to find dogs had gone on an adventure yet again, and posty at door for signature...cottage 2 had blocked shower, cottage 1 needed a cork screw that someone must have lifted!!!...Cottage 3 wanted to know if any availability next week, cottage 4 leaving and saying goodbye, Cottage 5 needed bike directions oh and cottage 6 kindly gave me a lovely pork pie.....Meanwhile cat in box from vets going nuts..let her out. Steven playing golf after school with friends so there clubs turned up via their mum, put them n porch. Meanwhile Andy needed stuff from shop and garage, Plumber didnt turn up. hit my thumb with hammer (not on purpose I hasten to add!)...Dogs back lagged, not even school run time yet!!!!!

SUNFLOWER!

Just to prove we actually did get a few sun flowers here's the picture!... I was hoping to have fields of waving sunflowers like in France...similar to my rose buds around the door notion I guess!!!....but a piddly 4 flowers doesn't really constitute a wave or a show does it...oh well dream for next year... You'll all be surprised when you see that I have managed it next year!...(actually so will I!)

BUTTERCUP COTTAGE

The garden is looking pretty good by Buttercup Cottage at the moment considering we have had so much rain. The ducks are nearly without land in the duck pond! so I am surprised the plants have fared as well as they have really. I have lost a few trees and shrubs due to frost wind and rain over the last 12 months but we will just have to replant and wait until they grow again. I planted or rather Jeff and mum planted 50 odd sunflowers but only 4 made it past the slugs!

FOUND SOMETHING IN THE SHED!

Was just passing the feed store when I heard a noise coming from the feed store and I looked inside to find a hairy beee-ing in there...Oh no its just Laura... The feed store had kind of got out of hand and it had to be taken out and put back together so we had a chance of finding something in it... So Laura was off college so little cushy job for her ha ha!!!

NOT SURE WHAT GEM HAS FOUND?

Its probably not a good look Gem!!!!! But I guess she may have got that one from me!... She was digging for Australia under Buzzes old house, haven't a clue whats under there, probably rabbit scent...actually could be badger as we had 6 of them cross the field the other night, so long as they don't eat my ducks or chickens we will remain friends!!!! I must remember to take a picture of her today, I have just given her a hair cut...or could that be hair hack!...

POSER!

Smartie is settling in really she is a real handful, Smudge has made friends with her and they play all the time....well I think its playing!!! Sassy is still house bound after her op and doesn't look like getting out any time soon, her foot has had a really bad allergic reaction to an infection and the pathologist cant figure it out as yet. But we will go back for a check up today to see if they can shed any light on it, she hates being indoors poor Sassy. Sassy has met Smartie but isn't that happy with her, as Smartie is all happy and Sas is so miserable having to be kept in, she just likes her cuddles. Oh and Sky well she hisses for a pass time, you only have to look at that one and shes unhappy, so not really holding out hopes of great friendships really!