We have been waiting for Spring. I have really been waiting for Spring. The light nights, the brighter days, drier weather. It just makes everything so much easier.
We really need the grass to grow so that we can stop buying sheep feed! We have two main fields which are sheep proof where we let one grow while they graze the other. Up until now they have been nibbling at a bit of everything so we have to supplement this with bought food. The grass is greener every weekend we go.
We really need the grass to grow so that we can stop buying sheep feed! We have two main fields which are sheep proof where we let one grow while they graze the other. Up until now they have been nibbling at a bit of everything so we have to supplement this with bought food. The grass is greener every weekend we go.
We are not lambing this year. The ram was sold and we have a flock of older ewes and last years ewe lambs. It was so stressful last year trying to do lambing when we were not living on the farm. We live eight miles away and with paid jobs, children and our normal lives;it was all a bit too much to try and lead two lives in two different locations. It seemed silly to think that we could, but my dad was so ill last Spring we did it for him really. I think he will be looking down and thinking that we have made the right choice. When we move there lambing will resume. Natural flora is abundant at the farm and it really makes me want to live there right now.
The Spring weather changes our outlook on building a house. It can be so depressing in the Winter on a wet, cold day when everything is muddy and dirty. The sunshine sends energy and feelings of positivity even during the dreariest of menial jobs.
Work continues clearing the yard, fields and sheds even though it was a little wetter this week. Four generations of my family's rubbish is getting smaller every weekend. Tasks inside the house have slowed down now that we have been working in the spring sunshine. But there will of course be wet days to go inside and build the kitchen piece by piece.
These succulents grow in the stone walls around the farmyard. I remember picking them as a child, poking a hole in the centre and threading a primrose head through the hole to float them in water. My nan used to let me put the bowl in the middle of the table while we ate Sunday dinner.
The girls wandered off for an hour or so this weekend and I found them pond dipping. They were so excited to see that the pool at the bottom of the field was full of tadpoles - a sure sign of Spring. Big Sis doesn't mind touching them but her sister is not so keen.
We found four colonies of ladybirds on a piece of board when we were removing the wood from a shed. One ladybird looks cute, but I must say, these looked slightly more creepy.
How are you 'Springing' into life?
Jo xxx
Errata: These photos were from this week. It was sunny this morning and now it is snowing!!
These succulents grow in the stone walls around the farmyard. I remember picking them as a child, poking a hole in the centre and threading a primrose head through the hole to float them in water. My nan used to let me put the bowl in the middle of the table while we ate Sunday dinner.
We found four colonies of ladybirds on a piece of board when we were removing the wood from a shed. One ladybird looks cute, but I must say, these looked slightly more creepy.
How are you 'Springing' into life?
Jo xxx
Errata: These photos were from this week. It was sunny this morning and now it is snowing!!
With difficulty :-) it is still very wintery here and it even snowed yesterday.... but nature keeps on waking up, which is really nice. I love spending an hour or two in the garden when it is dry and warm enough at this time of year. I am sure the ewes won't even notice that they have missed a year of lambing, that was a good decision to take a break. I noticed frog spawn but no tadpoles yet. Soon though, there is movement in the eggs. Have a lovely rest of the week. x
ReplyDeleteThe weather here is not conducive to getting out and about as yet or getting our outdoor jobs done. But we are ready and waiting patiently for the gaps when we can pop out. Exciting times for you and your family, you have so much to look forward to. Lambing will come in its own time once your beautiful new home is finished. Have you set a date for moving yet?
ReplyDeleteLooks great up on the field lush grass coming through. Hay fever has started so I guess we are getting into the Spring. The wild flowers look lovely and I love to see the tadpoles. Sounds as if you are having a great clearing up. Will be looking great soon.
ReplyDeleteThat looks such an idyllic setting. I feel your pain, as we renovated our house all by ourselves while still working but I’m sure you will be quicker than us - it took us 27 years!!
ReplyDeleteWhat spring? I can hear the wind howling as I type and yesterday was raining. Am in a country town but there was far more nature to see in the city I lived in, as no squirrels, foxes or many blossoming trees here. There are lambs aplenty but the poor things get cold and battered right from birth. A few weeks of sunshine and skipping about and then they end up on a plate, all rather sad. Many are neglected, so many lame sheep all over the county wandering about on three legs while tottering about in pain on the fourth that I have lost count. Yet people always tell you how they love and care for their sheep. I wish it were true.
ReplyDeleteThe daffodils are very spartan this year too, so no spring in my step just now.
Brrr,Spring, flippin cold here mate.We do have flowers in the garden tho.Hailstones showers at the mo.I don't know how I had time to go to work,I am busier than ever that's why not been blogging of late.Love your photos always so interesting.Love sheep would like a few meself lol.x
ReplyDeleteSorry about the snow, all that after such a springlike post. I wish you the very best as you keep sorting, keep building and keep mothering.
ReplyDeleteA bit of spring sunshine definitely puts everything in a better light!
ReplyDeleteOh, I know what you mean about lady birds. I used to think they were cute when you'd see the odd one. But when we moved into our house in October, it had been vacant for about 10 months and any curtains left behind at the windows were absolutely riddled in lady birds - with huge clusters of them in the corners of the windows. It was horrible!! It has rather put us off ladybirds! If we see just one in a room now, we're frantic to get rid of it!
Good luck with all your work getting the farm sorted.
All the best with getting the farm habitable for your family. It sounds like you will be very busy in the future too with lambing. Lovely to catch up with your news. Cx
ReplyDeleteHello mate nice bloog
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