Spring at last!

Finally the sun has arrived, to be honest it just hasn't been worth getting out of bed for the past couple of weeks - except for mealtimes of course. But although it's still advisable to have a lie-in to avoid the early morning frosts, in the middle of the day it can be quite pleasant if you can find a sheltered spot away from the north wind.



And it's amazing what changes have been happening out on the farm while we've been hibernating. Turn your back for a second and the fields are full of cows again. On one side of the drive we have Ruby and her gang and on the other the Holstein Friesians from Oldbury. After a long staring match they have got back to some grazing and contemplation and all is very peaceful out there.













The Aylesbury ducks have also moved, one step nearer the moat. They are now next door neighbours with Sid Vicious and Lucy , I don't envy them one bit. I can't think of worse neighbours than a pair of geese in spring.







It's all action in the vegetable garden and field, I do hope that's fodder beet going in there......









In the fields the hedges are turning white and the dandelions have come out overnight with the cows.








Cowslips and cuckoo flowers can be seen in the meadows and hedges and even the first bluebells are appearing in the wood.

























And a very exciting event in my extended family, Valentine has produced 11 beautiful piglets - and yes of course they are plain pink, unblemished and spot-free like their father. All are doing well, out to play on their first day and they soon found the cosy heat lamp when it was time for their nap.
















Spot's litter look huge beside the new ones, and from the look of her I think she's about ready to wean them. They are getting a bit of a handful, only yesterday there was a phone call to come and get them as a neighbour had spotted them all heading off down the road towards Frampton.





However, the booming and blooming pig population has been totally overshadowed by the arrival on the farm of the first lambs, the orchard is full of the noisy things. The sheep don't seem to try to teach them manners and let them run around anywhere making as much noise as they like even in the middle of the day when some of us are trying to sleep. And now the bottle-fed ones are coming, and we all know what trouble they can be. And guess where they're being housed - yes right next door to me and Doris, we won't get a moment's peace. I don't know what's wrong with these sheep, can't feed 3 lambs, er hello, look at my Valentine, rearing 11 quite happily and no-one mentions the b word.









And just as we were trying to enjoy the last few hours without bleating neighbours, the blissful peace of the past week has been shattered as yet again the sky is full of planes, I have to say I'd never really noticed them before, but without them the place has been so quiet and still. However I believe a few staff members are relieved to see them back in action as they might signal the return of missing friends and family.




Meanwhile, me and Doris can probably manage a couple more hours before teatime....
Boris