HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019

OUR LIFE HERE WITH HENS IN THE ORCHARD IS STILL VERY HAPPY. WE NOW HAVE 12 GORGEOUS FLUFFY  EAST FRIESLAND SHEEP. THEY ARE A VERY GENTLE DOCILE BREED OF MILKING SHEEP.  THEY HAVE A VERY BONY ANGULAR SHAPE WITH A LONG FLESHY TAIL, SUPER SLIM LEGS AND  LARGE EARS THAT GIVE THEM A GOAT LIKE APPEARANCE - AS WITH ALL SHEEP IF YOU GET TO KNOW THEM WELL THEY WILL HAVE REAL PERSONALITY. VERY MUCH CREATURES OF HABIT AND MANY WOULD DISAGREE WITH ME BUT VERY INTELLIGENT TOO. LAST YEAR IN JUNE ALL FIVE EWES HAD GORGEOUS LAMBS. THEY HAVE BEEN WITH THREE YOUNG RAMS SINCE NOVEMBER SO WE
ARE HOPING FOR MORE LAMBS THIS YEAR.

WE  STILL HAVE  LOTS OF CHICKENS AND 3 EBDEN GEESE, A WEST OF ENGLAND GOOSE. SADLY MITTENS OUR LITTLE BLACK AND WHITE CAT JUST DISAPPEARED BUT WE STILL HAVE HER SISTER SHADOW.

Valentines Day

What a lovely day we had in the Orchard. Taking our frothy, hot cappuccinos along with us while we walked around the fresh green fields. It was a chilly day but being well wrapped up we stayed warm and cosy. The little lambs tail catkins swaying in the breeze on the branches and the bursting buds of daffodils emerging shows that spring is waking up, after its long winter sleep. It was good to just have a day together planning ahead for the garden planting while eating our yummy valentine chocolates.
I hope you had a good happy romantic day.

Happy Days in 2017

Hello

I hope you're all having a good year so far and wish you happiness and fun in 2017.

I have been away from my blogging for far too long and look forward to catching up with you in the Orchard and reading your lovely blogs.

Last year was another difficult year, losing my dear Dad suddenly in March. My comfort is knowing my mum and dad are together now. I miss them both immensely.

Life in the Orchard is very wet here today with so much rain. But the good of it is yesterday we planted 2 baby apple trees and a lovely dark flowering cherry tree (that Stuart was given to him for his birthday), in the new Orchard after waiting for the heavy frosts to lift and the ground to warm.



Friday was spent at the sewing machine making nets for a safe bird flu protective compound for the geese.

    
They now have plenty of space to bathe and splash, hay to nest and a grazing area. They seem to love it and we should start seeing some wonderful eggs soon.

The hens are in a safe compound at the edge of the Orchard with activity feeders and pots of yoghurt to occupy them. While they are confined to restrictions by the government due to bird flu precautions.

The sheep are doing well and the ewes are now hopefully expecting some gorgeous lambs.

Well it's been good to write to you all again. Take care.

Sarah x

Happy Bank Holiday and Blossom in the Orchard

Wishing you a lovely bank holiday weekend with lots of fun and memorable good times.

The Old Orchard blossom is absolutely amazing with many shades of pink. One of the trees is ancient with a hollow trunk, that has weathered over the years but has very bent branches and many holes in them. It is absolutely alive with many pairs of Blue-tits nesting, bugs, little self-seeding weeds and lichen.The flowers on the apples trees tend to start with tightly dark pink buds and as they shyly open their delicate petals appear paler. Most look as though somebody has gently stroked the edges of their petals with pink magical dust.
I woke up one morning early last week thinking it had been snowing as it was so cold. It was a white ornamental cherry tree outside our bedroom window with the most wonderful canopy of brilliant white blossom. The same tree has now lost all it petals and lays like confetti sprinkled on the ground. 

Here are just a few pictures captured the last few days.

Happy times!

Lambs

Hello
Here are just a few pictures for you to see of our little lambs taken on Saturday, enjoying the afternoon sunshine,  nibbling the rich lush grass along the hedge line. They are starting to get strong and chunky, I love their little knee length woolly socks.

Spring in the Orchard

Hello

It's been a long time since I last posted on my blog, so feel I should get back and start writing again, I do miss writing to you and there is so much to tell you.
I hope you are enjoying the great Spring sunshine with all the huge array of colours and all the so many pretty flowers nodding their heads to you in the warm breeze and the wonderful divine blossoms that are breathtaking. Everything here in the orchard is waking up with new vigour and strength. Mother nature is such a wonderful thing and we have plenty of babies arriving here. The daffodils are just finishing and the bluebells are now making their auditions among the rich grass.

Periwinkle (vinca) growing in the hedgerows

The delicate pink apple blossom

The cherry blossom that attracts the pollinating insects

Life here in the Orchard has been very busy. We have had the arrival of cuddly little lambs from our pet sheep, blossom, petal and flower. It was an exciting time and anxious time. The maternity poly- tunnel was on red alert, with fresh meadow hay and the lambing bucket at the ready. First to arrive on a cold frosty night were twin girls Apple and Apricot from Blossom and then almost a week later in the early hours of a frosty morning twin boys Pear and Plum from Flower. The next day  Petal had a little girl, Damson and sadly a little boy that got very stuck and twisted that didn't make it. All lambs and mums are doing well and after a call from the vet to check on Petal and a dose of antibiotics are all good.

A quick wash from mum

A morning nap

Welcome to the orchard

Smelling the flowers

The Old Orchard is greening up and the grass beyond is being left for the sheep to nibble with their little lambs.

The hens, ducks and quails are laying well. Rewarding us everyday with golden yolked eggs. The hens eggs make a breakfast fit for a king and the the moment we are also enjoying dipping fresh succulent asparagus from the kitchen garden in them.

My Little Call Duck

Plenty of Eggs

Asparagus that you can almost see growing so fast.

Well I must dash now as the much needed rain has stopped and its time to get planting in the kitchen garden - after a nice cup of tea.
Have a lovely weekend and have fun.
Sarah X

A Christmas Surprise

Hi
Firstly I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and New Year. It's been so long since I have written and life like everybody's is very hectic. We now have another gorgeous granddaughter who arrived very late and then very promptly last month. But I felt I must write and let you all know what has been happening in the orchard and to say that I haven't by any means forgotten you. I will have many new posts to share with you in the new year. I lost one of my little bantams and was sure she had come to a sad end. But surprise in one of the little hutches  that was being disused for winter. A wonderful sound of little cheeping could be heard and to our amazement their was my clever little bantam with 7 little chicks all fluff up, 2 little black ones and 5 little yellow ones. The weather has been very mild although we have had a couple of severe frosts she will have been very cosy though in her little rabbit hutch.

Life seems full of happy and sad days, l lost my very friendly Mr. Goose last week he seemed to be struggling when walking, seemed to be getting better and then went downhill very quickly. His ladies miss him and have been abit naughty particularly one, when going to bed at night. I think they just miss him. I felt quite a bond with him and he would follow me around the orchard always being friendly never aggressive. I will now have to find another handsome boy for them.