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Thursday 6 July 2017

A Quick Catch Up

The Hubbards went off to Stephen Burrows on Tuesday so roast chicken last night, very tasty and lots left.
I harvested two grow bags of Pentland Javelin yesterday very disappointing yield so won't be bothering with them again, but they were very flavoursome.
Lots of yellow courgettes harvested from the poly tunnel, rhubarb, strawberries and gooseberries from the garden.
There are even watermelons forming on the plant in the polytunnel.

Sunday 28 May 2017

Chicken move its

The Hubbard chicks are now 6 weeks old so we have now split them into two clutches of 3 they seem happy enough. So all chickens cleaned oult and the youngsters moved to fresh grass.
The hens have started laying better, we lost one f the old rescue girls and now most of the egg eating has stopped.

We had the farrier out last week and all ponies had trims so happy ponies. This week will be busy, Scout will have his back manipulated and then Friday the vet is coming out to give the bi-annual tetnus injections and for a general health check.

The polytunnel is filling up nicely but is taking a lot of watering nightly. Courgettes are forming well. I have been harvesting spinach for two weeks there is much more than I can eat but I had a wonderful meal tonight with chicken, mushrooms, spinach, and some double cream with a twist of black pepper. Yum!

Take care all

Saturday 13 May 2017

Move Around

The "boys" ponies have moved to a fresh paddock so they are happy bunnies.

The chicks have moved from the utility to the Classic Omlet and 2metre run down on the plot in the chicken paddock.
Two of the chicken houses and runs have been moved so they have fresh grass. They have all been cleaned out but the bantams haven't been moved as they don't seem to trash their run as much as the bigger ladies do.

I've bought some more pea seeds, tried Suttons this time so they have been planted out here at home, will take some down to the polytunnel tonight.

No crafting at the moment hand is a bit sore so giving it a rest.

Take care all

Friday 12 May 2017

The Swallows have Returned

We have atleast two pairs of swallows flying round preparing to nest in the stables it is wonderful to have them back. We have three blue tit boxes up on the front of the stable block and for the first time in years they are all being used rather than just sat on. The sparrows nest in the corrugated roofing sheets where they meet the roof rafters. And for the first time ever at home, in 17 years we have lived here, we have had 3 goldfinches in the garden. I think the numbers of neighbours with cats have diminished.

The chicks were four weeks old yesterday they have been off heat from almost a week old as it has been warm enough in the house. So they will go to the field to live for the next 6 weeks ish. Their house has been disifected and cleaned ready. I can't say I will miss having them in the utility as even with cleani g them out daily now they are still smelly creatures.

On the plant front, peas are a no show, not a single seed has germinated at home or in the polytunnel I will buy so e more seeds next week and try again. Beans however are coming through nicely. I made a rhubarb cake on Tuesday and I can honestly say I think it is my absolute favourite, will certainly be making that again.
Strawberries are developing fruit as is the plum tree and James Grieves apple tree. The two Queen Coxes at the plot are laden with blossom so hopefully a good harvest there too. I will have to look into some storage racks.
We planted out cabbage plants into the polytunnel, 8 on Tuesday and B planted out a further 7 last night as well as some water melons fingers crossed for them.
From the trugs I am now harvesting radishes, spinach, cut and come again leaves and American Land Cress, Pete is really impressed he was showing off to his work colleagues and had them all convinced it was water cress so a definite success.

We have a bit of rain now, we really do need it so a night off watering except in the polytunnel.

Hope you are all having good weather.
Nearly forgot, last Saturday was Flora Day here and B was dancing in the children's dance we are really proud look it up on YouTube you will be humming the tune all day

Take Care

Thursday 20 April 2017

Chicks up date

Chicks are coming along fine we dropped the heat lamp setting down to low yesterday and today they have been outside in the sunshine.
All cleaned out now, back in the garage when the sun goes down.

Hope you are all enjoying the sun.
Take care

Tuesday 18 April 2017

The Circle of Life

We picked up 6 new day old Hubbard chicks on Good Friday to replace the ones that we had despatched the Thursday before, they were eleven weeks old and ranged in weight from 5lb 10oz to 8lb 4oz so all good weights two hens and two cockerels.
We roasted the smallest on Saturday 8th April and it was amazing, very tasty, not too strong or watery just right. We had roast then stir fry, chicken and leek pie and there are three boxes of stock in the freezer from the carcass. I was so relieved that we liked the flavour as we have previously raised cockerels and despatched them ourselves to be very disappointed in the meat finding it too strong in taste and not tender as we kept them long enough to make a decent weight. So now the way forward is to stick with Hubbards as table birds.

I'm sure not everyone will agree with what we do but that's a good thing too. We give our animals a good life, they are fed well and don't get any added antibiotics or fillers.

The eldest daughter made a fantastic argument for our way of life on a FB page over the weekend I was very proud of her standing up for her beliefs so hopefully we haven't done too bad a job raising the girls too!

Hope you are all enjoying the good weather we have here.
Take care!

Tuesday 11 April 2017

Catch Up

I'm not very good at this writing lark I keep up with reading other people's Blogs but I'm not good at keeping my own up to date I keep thinking but what have I done so here goes.

Girls are on holiday from school and the days are just running away. Pete has started back at work gradually, he teaches power boating at the beginning of the season so two days last week, two days this, four next then five days a week once the schools all start sailing again. So I have had a few days of sorting the animals out at the plot alone and with the good weather I enjoy the peace.

On Wednesday as a family we worked together and got the polythene put on the polytunnel it took some fine tuning on Friday but it's brilliant. I am currently weeding gradually I am thinking of putting weed suppressant down and planting up cucumber, tomatoes and peppers in pots. So far I have planted up the metre square bed with yellow courgette plants, some pea seeds and sweet corn seeds. I've got some cabbage seedlings growing in my trugs so some from there can go in the polytunnel too.

Last weekend we went up country to the newest great nephews christening it was good to see the family. It seems strange being able to go away weekends now, it's normally me that has to stay home to look after the plot but now that the eldest can drive we have some freedom, can't get too used to it though because it won't be long before she goes away to university.

Take care all

Sunday 26 March 2017

Happy Mother's Day

Well the sun is shining but the wind is blowing a hooley so quite cold and certainly not putting polythene on the polytunnel weather and looking at the forecast not for anytime soon, sorry if I'm sounding like a broken record.

Wholemeal seeded loaves made and one in the freezer as only me that eats it. Last night I made cottage pie and chilli so that was last night's teas and left overs for tomorrow. Beef stew is simmering for tonight with breaded chicken for Eldest. I made oatmeal biscuits last night for Eldest to take with her today to the sailing club, fingers crossed it has gone well for her today.
So that's the cooking covered over the weekend, I have started planning our meals for the week on Sundays it makes shopping a lot easier and decision making easier.

We got all five chicken houses cleaned out, disinfected and moved onto fresh grass yesterday so happy chickens. The ponies only had to cone in this morning to eat their breakfasts and give us time to poo pick the paddocks. The boys will move to their new paddock next weekend it has some growth on it so they will be happier with Eldest looking after them as we go up country to the Great Nephew's christening.
Well that will have to be all got to go and see to the animals again.

Take care all!

Thursday 23 March 2017

Reflection

My thoughts today are with the families and friends of those caught up in yesterday's events in London. We can't let them win fame for their actions and not let us put us off going about our day today lives, we were in the process of hunting for hotels for our girls to stay in London in the summer they obviously will be going,

Tonight I am going out for a meal with friends from Riding for the Disabled Association where I volunteer every Monday so my eldest is going to cook a curry from scratch for the rest of the family. I have just returned from shopping for the ingredients no wonder most people opt for a jar, but now we have it in stock I'm sure it will be a regular occurrence, wonder if I could grow ginger?

On a final note, I said last time that some of my old ladies have come back into lay well from one eggstreme to another I have a bantam egg of 41g and the other rescue hens egg is an eye watering 89g.

Take care all

Tuesday 21 March 2017

The Egg Glut

Averaging 4 eggs a day now so not yet in full production but some of the girls are well into their twilight years. So for lunch today we had a 12 bantam egg omlete with bacon, chives (from the garden) and cheese. It was yummy but so filling couldn't manage tea tonight. But I still had to cook for the girls only a pasta dish but homegrown basil and parsley included, it really makes me feel chuffed with myself.

The cabbage seeds I planted last week are showing through and the carrots and beetroot.

Weather has been unbelievable sun shinning one minute, blabk sky and throwing it down the next and even hail stones the size of gobstoppers. Tomorrow is supposed to be dry......won't hold my breath.

Take care all.

Saturday 18 March 2017

An Early Start

Morning,
My eldest daughter starts work at 6am Saturday and Sunday and this weekend and next after working for several hours she will be training to become a dinghy instructor. She has been sailing with the Helford River Children's Sailing Trust since she was seven and going to work there with her Dad nearly ever since, she is a volunteer assistant instructor there and at the sailing club. So as she is going to be out on the water most of the day we had to get up with her to make her packed lunch and a flask of coffee. 

No point wasting the morning so the dogs were walked early and then on to the field. The ponies seemed a bit surprised to see us but quite happy to have an early breakfast. The droppings are much easier to find and pick up now the paddock has been rolled but I don't know how long that will last, the ponies big hooves will soon churn it up.
The weather is due to change so just a few extra forkfuls of weeds dug up this morning from inside the polytunnel area, really can't see the polythene going on any time this week.

A quick sit down and then off out to walk some friends' children take part in a cross country race.....rather them than me!

And finally a big thankyou to Chickpea for my first ever comment.

Friday 17 March 2017

A busy Friday

Had to make the most of the dry weather. New bale of haylage was delivered so 12 large haynets and 6 small filled.
The boys paddock has been rolled, looks much better and the boys are very happy with it.
The Hubbards are now 8 weeks old and are huge as soon as the current sack of growers feed is emptied they will be on to finishers.
The bantams are laying regularly now but the older girls are still hit and miss. I keep giving them oyster shell but they are still mainly laying soft shelled eggs. Gloria, the Buff Orpington must be  8 years old now atleast and the Light  Sussex is not far behind her.

I managed some digging and got the metre square bed inside the polytunnel frame dug over and weeded.
However, the best news of all, drum roll please, Pete has dug the trenches for the sides of the polytunnel and started the one end. Absolutely chuffed to bits not holding my breath but hopefully the plastic will be on the polytunnel sometime this year.

No photos this time as it just winds me up . It was bad enough typing up an entry yesterday for that not to be published one day i will get this Blogger lark sussed.

Wednesday 25 January 2017

One week on

The chicks are growing really fast.




Can't believe it's only been week, they are now eating loads of chick crumb. Three more weeks under the heat lamp then they can go up to the plot and move on to Growers pellets.

This year I am going to grow three varieties of potato Charlotte, Arran Pilot and Pentland Javelin, two first earlies and on salad variety. They will go into grow sacks and stay here at home. They are currently in the spare bedroom in egg boxes chitting. I will let you know when I plant them up.

All my plant pots have been washed now just the seed trays to go, thought I had better seeing as they are going to live in the new shed.
We bought seed compost and John Innes No.3 ready for the veg trough arriving on Friday. Also bought some Primula to plant up hanging baskets and planters at the field gate.

I have managed to pull up a barrow full of weeds mosts days this week in an attempt to clear the polytunnel area but I think the field is currently winning it back but it makes me feel better to feel I am making a start.

Really getting frustrated with Blogger because I can definitely see me photos whilst writing this but they disappear into the ether as soon as I post them :(

Thursday 19 January 2017

New Year, New Start

                                         Hello 2017                 

Hello 2017


Today's new additions.
 It has been some time since I have tried to post on here but as I have got back into things I thought it is a good time to return, and I realised how difficult I found all this before but here goes.
I have picked up 6 day old Hubbard chicks that are now in the garage under a heat lamp where they will stay for the next 4 weeks until they can hopefully go up to the plot. These are being reared as meat so no getting too attached!

I have also managed to make a start on some of the veg beds one is weeded, manured and covered with weed supressant ready for planting and a start has been made on a second. The cold frame has been weeded and weed supressant put down in there too.
For Christmas I was bought lots of seeds and I have also added to them so here goes.