Pink Moon, Crisp Morning, Heart Full

Good morning...

It's been a while since I wrote on here. Looking back at my recent posts it seems I've started a few like this!  Well, I hope to write more about what is going on in my life as I've realised that nowhere but here on my blog, can I explore fully some of the experiences I'm having and some of the eye opening things I've been learning. For now though, here's a blether about my morning...

My wee hoose

The weather this year has been astonishingly wet and cloudy. That means not much Sun. That means lots of work trying to keep the animals healthy, as well as ourselves. Living under canvas in this weather is fine but it's a very careful juggling act to stay healthy (physically and mentally), especially when the weather is wet but not cold as it's unpleasant to keep the wood burner going but of course to keep dry & prevent moulds, you have to! No such problems at the moment though, it's blooming freezing so we're back to happily running the woodburner all the time, making toast and stews all day!

Today it's a beautiful, crisp, clear day and all of a sudden I've forgotten the wettest year for 100yrs and I'm filled with the joy of it all! Sunrise this morning was utterly magic, as last nights Full Moon set in the purple sky.

Some of our ex-battery hens free ranging (pic from a couple of months ago!)

In the morning I get up at sunrise to do my animal rounds. Letting out the poultry first and making sure they've got a ton of food and fresh water.  I don't let them out to free range fully until lunch time because I like to see they've got a full crop before sending them on their adventures.

Goatforms (this was them last month!)

Then it's off to give the goats their breakfast and let them out to go exploring. None of the girls are in milk at the moment, which is a real shame, I miss my goats milk!

I take a few moments to enjoy the gorgeous morning, let the beauty of it seep into my soul and give thanks to the Holy Moles for this rare dry, still day to collect my thoughts in.

My boy, Jingo the Shetland ram

I love my Shetland sheep and I particularly love Jingo, my main ram. He's a beaut, with a loving soul, a penchant for the fleecy ladies, fresh hay and head scratches.  The Shetland and Castlemilk moorit girls are looking strong and healthy, so I'll be getting them a ram in within a couple of weeks. Jingo doesn't get a go this year poor lad!

Cheeky stinkdog pinching the warm spot!

Finally, I get to come back into the yurt for my coffee and breakfast in the warm chair by the woodburner... or not...


hen xx

It's spring! Ladybirds are so rubbish at hiding.

Grace.

 I've been weaving baskets all week which is why I've been quite quiet on the blog front, sorry I've not been commenting much.  I have been trying to keep up with everybody though :)  I have also managed to get a suntan!  It's March, is that normal!!!???  :)

Hawthorn

Yesterday I went exploring and found a secret place that was just, utterly, amazing.  Today I went back with my camera!   The Hawthorn leaf buds have well and truly burst all along this hedgerow.  I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see a Hawthorn waking up.  I have a real affinity with little Hawthorns.  :)

Above is the entrance to a magical wood full of life and abundance, wild flowers , badgers and hares, mossy glades, gnarly beech and oak trees, beetles and bumbles bee's looking for houses.

Surrounding the wood is bare earth.  Bare earth is not natural in such large areas.  Hectares and hectares of soil being damaged by the elements.  Billions of organisms being killed by the blazing sun and the freezing wind blowing away the resultant dust.  Organisms that should be thriving, making the earth the perfect environment for plant growth.  Plants to feed our bellies and make us strong.  

Soil should always be kept covered and the life within nurtured, protected.  Always.

Ground Ivy in flower

When you enter the magical wood you understand the difference between earth that's bare and earth that's carpeted.  You step from a lifeless, energy sapping piece of ground to vibrancy and life!  The only bare earth in here are the tracks made by animals and the holes snurfled by badgers and foxes.  Just as it should be.

Violets 

Yesterday when I entered these woods I was like a child!  Joy, pure joy!  I just couldn't believe how much green there was.  The woodland floor was carpeted with the promise of bluebells, dotted with huge patches of purple violets, dogs mercury, campion, ramsons and then I stumbled upon Town Hall Clock!  (Also called Moschatel).  

Moschatel growing on a mossy tree stump.

It's a tiny little flower and is called Town Hall Clock because, if you look closely - and you have to get down on your knees, bum in the air to see them - you'll notice that it has a flower on the top and four flowers around the stem just underneath the top flower, making a sort of cube.  But actually resembling the old clock towers, with their four clock faces.  ahem... sort of... reminiscent anyway!

Moschatel - Town Hall Clock

So when your walking about in the woods in springtime and you come across a bit that's on the damp side, look down and if you see this...

A Hens eye view of a patch of Moschatel

...get down on your knees, bum in the air and see if it's Moschatel.  It has a subtle scent too if you're lucky!

Obligatory collie shot of Willow in the woods

The woods extended into an ash coppice, which again, was just a sea of green.   With every fraction of space exploding with plants vying to make the most of the sunshine before the trees get their leaves and cast them all in shade.

A Ladybird not being inconspicuous.

She clearly thought that if she couldn't see me I couldn't see her.  

This is a bracket funghi that was growing in abundance on a fallen sycamore tree.  Can anyone identify it?

The perfect end to a perfect adventure.  

I pray for everyone to have a wonderful spring.  Get out there, stick your nose in it and have a rummage, it'll be gone before you know it.

hen

xx

p.s.  I've counted that I've had 29 springs that I've been aware of and if I'm lucky I'll have 29 more, at least.  That means I only have about 29 more times to see all of this!  That's not many.  Best make the most of them then.    :)

Visit the World - That's my World!

Foot Blankets and Lambing Courses

At the moment I am making baskets and attempting to knit my first ever sock...

The heel has worked but I've added rows I shouldn't have in order to correct mistakes and I forgot to turn the sock back inside out after I'd had a look at it so the knits all weirdy in places.  It's certainly not perfect, but it's definitely some kind of foot blanket!  I'm about to do the toe bit so I should be finished within this lifetime!!!

I attended a lambing course last Saturday at Beech hayes Farm in Somerset.  It was organised by Val Grainger - The Woolly Shepherd.  I didn't get any pictures as it was too dark in the barn so I've used a lovely picture off the net.  

copyright-free-pictures

Unfortunately we didn't get to see a lamb being born but I did get a good look at a sheep in labour.  So I feel confident that I'd recognise that in the future.  It was also useful to see how to dock the tails and castrate the lambs.  Probably the most important thing I learned was how to check a sheep for condition - whether good or poor.  Not just by using my eyes to check changes in behaviour or lack of interest in food but using my hands to feel the body of the sheep, on the back, on the side and on the base of it's spine.  

I really appreciated the level of husbandry at the farm.    All the animals, without exception, looked healthy and well cared for and even at this time of the year the pasture looked in good nick.   That matters to me, a lot.

I learned many, many things and it's really helped me to make stronger decisions about my future as a sheep farmer.  We were considering a flock this year, but because of many, very good reasons (some cemented after attending the course) we are probably going to have to put it off for yet another year.  Which is a shame, but there are many things in the pipeline that will benefit from my full attention this year.

Maybe I should make a list...

The Shepton Witch: Erk! Terminator Rises Again...

Please take some time out to read this post about Terminator Seeds, by The Shepton Witch...

The Shepton Witch: Erk! Terminator Rises Again...

Here is a quote from her post... "It seems that the 2005 moratorium on producing and selling crops, that will have sterile seeds when harvested, is likely to be overturned..."

Why is this a worry? If these seeds are sown it will have a huge negative impact on small scale farming across the world ('Third' world countries to Berkshire smallholdings). It will have a devasting effect on our Earths already struggling ecosystem/s. I state this as fact as that is how I view it. But please, don't take my word for it, visit the links given by the Shepton Witch and read the comments on her posting.

She is instigating a 10 Downing Street petition and needs help in getting the point accross in 1000 LETTERS only!!

Please, if you know more or have any links or suggestions please let us know!!

with much love and prayers for the happiness of all beings and non-beings,
hen
x