Cattle Dog Surprise

Just back in after a check on all the stock.  Kass as usual loses interest in just pottering about... spots a couple of large black 'sheep'.... and zooms off down the field.

 I watched with interest as she used various tactics to get these reluctant animals to move ... stopping to think between each attempt.  Eventually speedy darts towards the girls encouraged them to move... spurred on now Kass got more determined and I watched in amazement and amusement as my Dexters were moved up the field towards me at the barn.  I called the girls when they got closer and they walked through the gateway into the barn area .......... Kass thinking .... speeds round back of barn to head them off.... I expect her to come racing in and cattle to race out... but shouting 'no' loudly I was amazed to find her stop and return to stand by the gate whilst I give the girls a little treat for their troubles!     Wow!  The cattle dog has arrived!   

Bit quiet here today .... or it would be if the ducks weren't loving the rain! 

  HelpXers  left on Wednesday leaving a huge difference here.  Several trees have been trimmed or pollarded  opening up the veg garden to the sun.  The green house is emptied ready for housing some of the fushia plants for the winter.    The area by the pond is cleared and ready for a seat to enjoy its sheltered sun trap location (that is ofcourse if it isn't teeming down as it is at the moment!).

 The Dexter twins are easier to catch and handle .......... remains to be seen if this lasts.  Their latest trick is to wander in through the gate into the hen run .... they seem to stand there in the run wondering what they are doing there. Maybe they too would like a lovely house... but there would have to be a huge door flap!!


  The ewes are prepared and ready for tupping.   That reminds me I'm supposed to be out shopping for a raddle harness ..... bye for now!

It must be autumn!

The grass is still growing, the flowers continue to flower but the days are getting conciderably shorter.... so I guess it must be autumn.  Time of preparation for the winter.

We have acquired a new livestock trailer. ........









Lots going on here ..... apples being pealed and cored by the hundred. Blackberries being picked (and horsefly bites being accumulated in the process!).  Pies made and frozen.  Runner beans also being frozen daily.    Firewood being sawn. 

Yesterday I had my first attempt at plum chutney........... wow  what a success, it tastes delicious. (might be tempted to thaw out the stewed plums I put in the freezer to make some more. ) Recipe was  3lb  plums, 1lb apples 1lb soft brown sugar, pint vinegar, 1lb raisins  and some chillies, mixed spice, garlic  and salt.  boil for about an hour. 

Cattle fluke drenced ................

 

 

 

We have a couple helping us at the moment via an organisation called Help x.  It is great to be able to finish some of those jobs that we have started and make real progress.  They have been particular help clearing the pond area so we can access the pond which was rapidly being taken over by willow and aspen.  

The other job we are tacking together is reminding the Dexters they are halter trained.... half an hour each day will hopefully make things much easier.  I couldn't do this by myself so is great to have some keen and really useful help.

The Summer, Sheep and Other Animals... cont....

Those ducks, now almost full sized, are convinced I'm their greatest predator! ... all because I tried yesterday to direct them on an outing to a stream amd pool......  several circuits of their pen, a dash into the field... run down stream them up into bushes!   Ian and I perform a pincer movement within hedge (branches attacking me from all direction) .. we get them back to pool only to watch them circuit the pool and dash for home!    Today one sighting of me and they screamed (in duck speak) and scattered in all directions. Hmmm  will have to rethink this mummy duck lark!

Other additions include Sam the Ram  and 8 more Llanwenog ewes.  Sam is a friendly chap who we hope will father our next generation of Llanwenogs.

The new girls are a mix of ages .... the older ones have settled the rest down so we now have an almost manageable mini flock.

Oh my goodness just noticed how many spelling errors I'd done in this ...... am I getting rusty from not teaching already? Now with corrections done maybe I can continue!! 

Kass continues to hone her herding skills at any opportunity (ie when she escapes my watchfull eye and dashes for sheep field!!).  Yesterday I was quite impressed by her attempts ....... all but one sheep taken to barn ,,, that one proved a bit of a problem!  I decided to try to encourage her a bit instead of my usual... grab her at first opportunity,  so tried to help with last sheep ... Kass decided to leave that one up to me and took off back to where rest were by barn ..... a quick think and she legged it right round the barn, under the gates and sent them all haring off back across the field.  Now tiring she sank into the brook where was able to  attach her back to her lead.    I was quite impressed at her approach and quick thinking .......... I just need to find the stop and go button and we will be a great team!

Ian has been busy trying out his new invention ..... a harrow for the quad...