A Lazy Day.

I had a bit of a lazy day yesterday, Pete was working so I decided to have a day of doing not much at all. Cleaned the chickens out in the morning then just pottered around the garden for a bit. The weeds are growing at the same rate as the veg so its a constant battle to keep on top of them, but I won't let them beat me. The flower beds need tackling next but the ground is so hard with lack of rain I just can't be bothered to do it at the moment. The Roses are covered in buds this year so should give a good display once they are out fully. The wild part of the garden could probably do with a strim but I don't want to spoil it at the moment so that can wait as well until the flowers are finished and it's all died back.

In the afternoon when Pete had finished work we went for a short walk down by the river and into the wood. It is lovely and peaceful and we often walk there.

Then back home for roast pork and to spend the evening sat up by the log cabin to catch the last bit if sun and partake in a few bottles of bud.

This Year's Veg

The veg garden is doing well this year, probably because for the first time since we moved here we have had some sun at last. In fact it has been quite hot at times, lets hope it continues throughout the Summer. On the down side there's a lot of watering to be done (good job we are not on a meter).

We have only got a couple of bags of potatoes this year as they take up so much room. Last year we had 4 beds and quite a few bags but the crop was very poor averaging only 4 or 5 potatoes a plant. In the front beds we have Cabbage and sprouts, we're not big eaters of these but they are both useful veg for the chickens over winter. We also have a bed of leeks and a bed of Garlic.

In these four beds we have Onions, Shallots, Carrots, Chard, Dwarf Runner Beans, Asparagus, Beetroot, Courgettes and Squash. To the left hand side we have Raspberries and Strawberries. We also have three more large beds on the next terrace which contain Brocolli, Lettuce, Radish, Rocket and Spring Onions and two small beds near the house which are for the herbs.

In the greenhouse we have Tomatoes and Cucumber.

And more Tomatoes and Melons.

Still to come on a bit are Aubergines, Peppers and all the flowers for the hanging baskets and planters around the house.

There's nowhere I would rather be then pottering around the garden with my chooks, it's a lot of work but I find it relaxing. It's a shame that work always seem to get in the way of what we like best.

The New Chicks

I love my two Silver Dorking chickens (Dilys & Gwyneth), they are the friendliest and cheekiest of all my girls but they have one down side, they seem to be forever broody. So at the moment I've got two lots of chicks on the go with them. Some Cuckoo Scots Dumpy's and some Bantam laced Wyandottes.

These are the Wyandotte chicks at 2 days old.

And now at 3 weeks old they are still balls of fluff.

The Scots Dumpy's at 2 days old

At 4 days old they are already growing feathers.

And at 4 weeks old.

We got snowed in.............

................for 17 days.

This was the worst winter since we moved down here but also the best. I love the snow, everything seems peaceful and quiet. The -12° I could do without though, it was a constant battle trying to keep the chickens water and our own from freezing.

The Drive.

There's a car under here somewhere.

Across the Garden.

Across the Valley.

Up the Garden.

Up the house lane.

The Garden.

.............And 3 Months Later.

The Front

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bathroom

The Living Room

The Kitchen

The Garden

Buying Another Property

We decide to buy another small property with the initial intention of doing it up to sell. All that changed with the market crash and we have now rented it out. When we were doing it up the lady next door said her daughter really wanted to move back into the village and she now rents it from us and loves the place. A quick win for us and she is really looking after it which is always a bonus.

BEFORE

Bedroom 1 - Lovely Graffiti

The Garden

The Kitchen.......And what was behind the kitchen cupboards

Bedroom 2 - When paper was removed it was covered with crayon

The Lounge

I don't think I will put a picture of the bathroom on here as it was far too grim.