September 5th

It's raining today - my new plants therefore are happy. Once we have better weather I'll be planting these out. I visited a friend's garden a couple of months ago and was inspired by her use of grasses amongst the dwarf conifers - I have plans.

The patio - the mammoth task of de-weeding took over the entire weekend - got to the stage of actually lifting off the paving slabs to ensure all roots were removed. Again plans for re-sealing with a mixture of sand/cement together with a weed prevention membrane type of thing.

Serious weeding in the far corner of the garden. Amazing lengths of nettle roots pulled out on Sunday - using these in a green solution for plantfood - came across a very interesting article re stinging nettles here

Bev together with the other 2 gals continues to give us regular eggs - treat today of mealworms.

Jon did a wonderful job on cleaning the Rayburn. I think this will be lit today or tomorrow - coal ordered so I think Summer is leaving us, certainly looking at the falling leaves scattered everywhere.

Off to a presentation this afternoon - remember I asked for votes?
Watch this space!

December 1 - Update.

Bev continues to raise the chicks - well not really chicks any more. When the dust settled and we saw the bigger picture - the 6 chicks she hatched - 4 were cockerels and 2 were hens. We knew the consequences and set to looking for homes for the cockerels. The first rehoming happened a couple of weeks ago. I was in the farm shop and a lady on route to Sheffield had just rehomed some hens - so she would have a cockerel. Long story but there you go.

last weekend  two more cockerels were rehomed in a local allotment and are happily settling in.

From the word go I knew we were keeping the white cockerel - he seemed to form a bond with Bev.

I've named him Barry - ie Barry White...but as Jon pointed out Barry White was Black...all the more reason why the name Barry is a good choice.

Village activities continue to buzz along - watch this space!

Bev update.

Up to about a week ago Bev continued to sit on the eggs

Early morning would often see her have a quick walk round the paddock and have a dust bath.

She has her favourite spot in the sunshine.

She would come to the kitchen patio and enjoy a spot of weeding.

The mint had gone wild so she helped with a bit of pruning.

As the 21 days of incubation dawned she stayed in the henhouse, on her eggs.

On Thursday evening we noticed one chick - Friday morning a few more.

Bev is now mum to 6 chicks - all doing fine.

I am keeping an eye on matters - watch this space!