Happy New Year

Hello. It's been so long since my last post.
I hope you had a very Happy Christmas with lots of good times with your family. My Christmas was strange without my lovely Mum who I miss so much.

We had power-cuts and were cut off from getting to arranged get togethers on certain days because of road closures caused by flooding. But it was nice to see most of the family and to be cosy warm and dry inside and listen to the rain thrashing uncontrollably outside and burning christmassy smelling candles. Hooray signs of spring are awakening with bulbs pushing their pretty little faces to say hello. The cockerels are frisky and my little hens I'm sure are thinking of making little nests in the sweet smelling hay cut from last years flower enriched meadows.
Well this last couple of weeks we've had a lovely surprise in the goose house a perfect oval white egg and more over the last few days, they might not be gold but they are so good to find. I have made goose custard and apple and cinnamon cake. Blowing the eggs beforehand to decorate for Easter. Traditionally a goose will not lay until Valentine's day, so clever girl or girls.So we have a new addition to the orchard a lovely handsome gander who will hopefully produce some lovely little goslings, they will keep the grass down in the old and new orchard and keep his ladies happy as he escorts them on their waddles around the meadow.
This weekend we have been outside cutting hedges and removing brambles around the garden, to keep it tidy. I have been pruning the gooseberries and currant bushes and planting the cuttings in the intensive care bed so we can try and make some fruit hedges.
We also have bought a Stella cherry tree, she will keep the other trees company in the old orchard with I am sure will be dressed in her lovely pink blossom and will be enchanting and will attract lots of lovely bees and wildlife. Well do visit me here in the orchard it's always good to hear what adventures you are having and I will let you know what is happening in our part of the world. 

Sheep Training

Well all week when I have been up to the meadow I have  rattled the bucket, at first Petal and Blossom, ( I have yet to name the third lamb/sheep) just ran away - but today they lingered and took a step towards me, then ran away. So perhaps this was a step in the right direction! I know its a long way until I have them halter trained but I have heard, do it slowly. They seem to be good at posing and look like they are smiling for the camera though.xx

Sheep, Foxes and Geese

Yes you've probably guessed from the title Mr Fox got into the girls enclosure and stole Mrs Goose and two of my little call ducks. My other Mrs Goose was heartbroken crying and calling for her so we quickly had to find her a friend. Well it so happened our long awaited sheep were due to be delivered so luckily the kind man had two that were going to be ready for the table at Christmas. So we now have three, they get on so well, I half wonder whether they might have known what could have been their fate being on someone's plate at Christmas. I feel glad that Mrs Goose is happy and that the other two will live a long good life with plenty of good grass and an orchard to play in.
Well I am excited to say we now have three Southdown sheep, this year's lambs they are lovely and they look a bit like teddy bears with really cute faces. They are quiet nervous but in a week or two hopefully I'll have them feeding from the bucket and very tame. Have a brilliant week.
Sarah x

Power cuts

Having thought we had escaped a power cut during the bad windy weather last Sunday night, we ended up losing all power from Monday morning until Wednesday morning. Having a house that is solely electric, life feels very cozy to begin with, but the novelty soon wears off when you can't cook, there's no hot water, no heating and it's very dark. But the worse thing was the worry that the freezer was defrosting, all that hard work in the kitchen garden, saving my plants from the rain, sun, snow, deer, rabbits and pigeons. Blanching and stewing all that hard work from hours of nurturing the seeds, tenderly caring for the delicate young plants and the back-breaking watering. Now to have that all destroyed would have been a crying shame, but luckily I only had a few things that had to be disposed off, which the chickens enjoyed.
My lovely husband took me out for a good lunch and a cappuccino and in the evening we all sat down and did a crossword together and played games by candlelight which was a good laugh, we  also discussed lots of plans for the future. So it wasn't too bad! But I do hope we don't have another for awhile.
Sarah x

Windy, Wet and Wild

This weekend we've had our son and lovely little grandson around to visit us, he is coming up for two and is a very happy little boy, interested in everything , full of laughter and smiles. We actually gave him his birthday present as his birthday is on Christmas day, but we thought he could play with it here as he will have so many to open on Christmas day.
We then had our other son and his wife come over with the twinkles they are 12 weeks old now and both are adorable, they are both very alike in profile, the little girl being very fair and the little boy being very dark. Their mum and dad went for a walk around the fields and meadows while we enjoyed playing with them.
Sunday we woke up early and got up as we gained an extra hour due to the clocks changing and after bacon sandwiches it was a tidy up day or should I say tie down day. I took down my sweetpeas and runner beans also removed the courgette and white flowering cosmos. I had one of my little hens helping dig over the kitchen garden picking up little worms as we went along. My husband helped me take out the sweetcorn as it was very deeply rooted. We enjoyed these as a started for our Sunday roast dinner. We then had a cosy evening watching a film and my favourite Downton Abbey whilst outside the wind and rain played chase around the house.
It is now Monday morning and the sun is now shining with just the occasional gust. Well we still have our power so I fancy doing some cooking today.
Well I would love to hear about your weekend do let us know.
Have a good week, take care
Sarah x

A Mixed Week

Well this last week has been very mixed. We have had lovely Autumnal sunshine making the leaves on the trees sparkle with hues of rich beautiful colours. Then some days there has been a thick mist which has stayed with us until mid-day showing up many spiders that have tight walked webs of fine intricate artwork. Heavy and almost torrential downpours of rain with dark skies that look almost like its night-time only to suddenly have the sun appear with fantastic colourful rainbows and massive puddles that tempt you to put your wellies on and splish splosh in the shiny mirrors.(Is splish a word)?

Sadly I lost two of my sweet little baby bantams that had hatched earlier in the year, one was found dead in the hen house and the other nowhere to be found. We suspect a hungry buzzard had been and taken it as they have been flying and screeching overhead this week. The rest of the chickens have been very much on their guard with distress calls, when the fruit and acorns drop with heavy thuds from the gusts of wind. They also hate the heavy rain.

More chutney and stewed apples and pears to be put in the freezer have been made with the windfalls. Friends that have come to the door have gone home with carrier bags full. We have been having apples sometimes for breakfast, dinner and tea in different forms one way or another. The house smells pleasantly of apples and pears (and smells better than any scented candle), that are being stored and will hopefully last until next April.

The Weekend

Saturday, a spur of the moment decision  to go to London was made, looking around Covent Garden which was buzzing with street acts, lots of tourist and plenty to see in the city despite the rain.

Then having a tasty Chinese meal in China town with brightly coloured lanterns, good luck symbols, fortune and charms. But its always good to return here to the orchard to be greeted by Shadow, Mittens, Sooty and Daisy and just relax in our little part of the world.
Sunday morning the rain held off just enough time to dig up my exhausted tomato plants and clean up the greenhouse - a job that always marks the end of summer. All that is left in there now are my little sweet pea seedlings and a few lavender plants and a few plants that have already gone to sleep.

A tasty pork roast dinner marinated in cider and apples was cooked by our son, it was very yummy with all the trimmings and a good bottle of wine to go with it. Then to relax watching a film and then later the wonderful  Downton Abbey.

Well I hope you have a good week.

Sarah  xx

Orange October

Well hello there!



Just thought I would ask you all this question. What colour is your garden predominantly at present? Mine is Orange - it seems that these strong vibrant autumnal colours are exposing a Grande finale and an encore before the first frosts arrive. The garden is calming down for a well earned rest after an energetic growing time after bearing tasty fruit, vegetables, foliage and pretty flowers during the summer season. The weather the last couple of days has been glorious. Hope to hear from you soon.
Sarah x