and then there were four :0(

You ever feel that life is just there to kick you in the goolies sometimes?? Trouble at work and various other things are getting me down today. Will feel better tomorrow.
Shirley was no better so I spoke to the vet and made an appointment to see him. She was really sick and disinterested and the best thing was to have her put to sleep.

She hasn't really been herself since the last time she was ill a few weeks ago. At least we are able to do it for animals. She is no longer suffering.

Haven't given chicken heaven much thought to be honest. Thinking that they are lots of dust filled craters to dust bath in and meal worms aplenty!!

Bye bye Miss Shirley.

What's this green stuff?

The poultry netting that I ordered form Omlet arrived on Thursday, so Jase and I spent Friday, setting up the perimeter fence, to stop the girls destroying the new 'cottage garden'.

I spent far too long trying to create a small door for the girls to get into the garden. After lots of swearing, tools flung across the lawn and measuring up, a ramshackle door was fashioned from wood. It is embarrassing to look at, but does the job.
I cut a tentative hole in the willow fencing from the chicken area into the garden, the girls took their first few steps into the garden.





They loved it and were soon pottering around, not knowing where to go first.





"Nice legs, shame about the shoes"










There is something adorable about hen's fluffy knickers!















Did another Hen course today and met some lovely people - have to say that are they read my blog *wink*

Liz and Jo in particular stayed around like a bad smell (joke) at the end of the course, as they wanted a nosy around the house.

We all share the same country living mentality and love the idea of hedgerow harvesting, jams, chutneys and growing your own. Maybe we should start a commune??!! They left with a large bag of elder flowers, so they could make their own cordial. It really was a pleasure meeting you both today! I hope you enjoy your chickens!

Once I had tidied up, I strained and decanted the bowl of sick, sorry elder flower cordial, into bottles.





Ermmm, no, not 6 bottles of urine!









Have a bigger bottle for us in the fridge and gave a bottle to next door to try and gauge opinions........










I personally think it is wonderful stuff. The real taste of summer!. Dashed up the lane and picked another trug full of flowers to make a second batch! It is 'stewing' in the utility room as I type.
I have enough bottles to add to the Christmas Hampers, so I am getting there slowly.

On the down side, Shirley isn't very well this evening, again. She was sitting in the nest box for quite a while today and very withdrawn. She is now in her box in the lounge, with a warm homopathic wheat pillow, honey in her water and a bowl of sweetcorn to keep her company. I think she has an egg stuck. Not looking forward to the treatment tomorrow. Rubber glove and some vaseline is all I am prepared to say at this time *shudder* I do hope she is ok.

Was tempted to light the fire this evening. More for Shirley's benefit, but that is just silly. She doesn't need the fire on. Does she? Maybe I will light it. The glowing embers always make me feel better. NO, she is a chicken. She doesn't think like me. Does anyone think like me??

It is now 20 minutes to 1 in the morning. I should go to bed. Have Nigella's moon blush tomatoes in the oven, ready to take out tomorrow. So will say good night for now. Off to bed. Once I have lit the fire.

C x x

Stocking fillers?

Evening! Well it feels like it! I got up at 4.15 this morning to say goodbye to Jase. The sun was starting to come up, so i thought I would crack on with stuff.

Drove to Marlborough and was there by 9am. Visited the market and bought mixed corn for the Girls and bits for me. Resisted the plant stall and consoled myself with a cup of tea and croissant. Went into my favourite shop, The Cat's Whiskers, which is stacked to the roof with odds and sods. Lots of gorgeous things with heavy price tags. Ideal present hunting ground, but have to resist for a little while longer. Front door to buy *dull*

Came out with 2 vintage terracotta plant pots and ideas for Christmas presents. Is it wrong to use my camera phone to take pictures of things I could easily make?? I don't think so. Cheeky, but not wrong.

Came home via Pewsey and some stunning villages. Chocolate boxes cottages lined the narrow lanes. Missed a few pheasants and a tractor.

Decided to make elderflower cordial this afternoon.

Elderflower Cordial

1kg caster sugar
850ml boiling water
45g citric acid
15 large elderflower heads, flowers pulled from stems
2 lemons, sliced

Dissolve the sugar and citric acid in the water, add the lemons and elder flowers, stir and leave.

Cover bowl and stir every day for 5 days, drain through muslin and pour into sterile bottles.

Serve diluted with sparkling water.

According to my source *wink*, it keeps for a year in the fridge!

The entire utility room and lounge is heavy with the smell of elder flowers at the moment. Will pop out tomorrow and get sugar and lemons so I can make some more.



No, it isn't a bowl of vomit! It's the elderflower cordial! *rolls eyes*









Picked my first bunch of sweet peas today. Well, I say 'bunch', more like a 'sniff of sweet peas'. They do smell great though. Have 3 tepees worth planted in the garden. I might be cursing them later in the summer when I run out of vases. Who am I kidding??? I will never run out of vases.






The Girls are fine and Elsbeth, Winifred and Pru are laying well. Won't comment on Laverne and Shirley! They were all due for a course of wormer, so started that today. Mixed with their food for 7 days, it will make them feel better. Not pleasant seeing dead little worms in the droppings tray, but better out than in.

Must dash, River Cottage Spring is on in 10 minutes.

C x x x

Little Weed

Spent most of yesterday weeding the front garden and the small patch outside the kitchen window. Ever since I hurt my back at work, I am very conscious of treating it with care, but I over did it yesterday. The whole area is weeded and barked now, so that should stop the weeds. For a week. The pain in my back didn't really kick in until 8pm, but it was pretty bad. I am under strict instructions to do nothing today.......so far I have hung out the washing, stripped the bedding and been to the garden centre and butchers! Hee hee.

I am on day 2 of 13 days off and have lots to do. The garden needs serious attention, but it will get there. I pulled up the spinach and chard that had gone to seed and planted the courgettes.

Mrs Frisby and her extended family have decimated my carrots! The raspberry canes have also taken a hit. I say hit, there is not a single leaf left on any cane!! We are surrounded by corn fields so I really can't see why they are feasting here. Variety is the spice of life I suppose. Will get some mouse traps. Or a cat.

We had friends over to stay yesterday/today and cooked beef olives and roast potatoes for dinner. Jase did a prawn and salmon starter which was delish! We had roast parsnips, carrots, broccoli and red cabbage too, swimming in dark beef gravy! All too full for dessert. The fire was lit and appreciated by all. It was cold last night. That's my excuse anyway.

The verges down our lane are 5 foot high with grass and cow parsley and need attention too. Luckily the farmer does it all (though not often enough). The elder trees are bursting with flowers and I need to make some elderflower cordial at some point. Will leave lots for the berries. Mum likes elderberry jam, so will do some for extra Christmas pressies.

Shirley is fine and was like a new chicken the following day. I received regular text message updates from next door while I was away. She even laid a massive egg on Friday. Was supposed to take her to the vet for another check up, but she has been fine all week, so cancelled. I still have antibiotics for her if she needs them.

Winifred, Elsbeth and Prudence have been laying nearly every day and are keeping us (and Mum and Dad) in eggs. Still nothing from Laverne. Freeloader.

Off to wrap my Nephew's birthday pressie now, as I am seeing him tomorrow. He is 6 now and still a cutie. Think he will prefer the Power Rangers wrapping paper to his actual present!!

Load number 2 is ready to hang out, so better get to it. Will take pictures of the garden when I get a chance.

New bunting??

Greetings from Frankfurt! Only 3 more days until I am off for 2 weeks!

A glorious day yesterday. Really sunny and warm. Jase left at 8am and I got up and ready for the day. Thought I would weed the front garden and then mulch with bark chippings.

Went out to see the girls and was greeted by a hunched up, unhappy Shirley.

As she was still unwell and I made the decision to take her to see the vet yesterday. I called up and made an appointment and was surprised that they were open on a Sunday, When I got there, the doors were locked so I called. Was told that the appointment was at the Stonehenge branch. Had no idea where I was going, so headed off down a country lane to find it. At one point I thought I was in Kansas, a long country lane with fields either side. Could have been anywhere apart my own door step! It is amazing what is hidden down a country lane.

I finally found the vets and we think she has sour crop. Not a nice thing. The vet tried to flush her crop out but didn't work too well. He gave her some probiotic powder and a massive antibiotic and we have to hope for the best. I don't think she has been too well for a while, but I thought it was just a few soft eggs and nothing too serious.

Got back home and let her out of the cat basket, she went straight into the eglu and sat on the nest. Poor girl.

I had to leave for work and 4pm and really didn't want to leave her. She is in the blue eglu with her old pal Laverne, so hopefully she will be ok. I have some tablets to give her when I get back on Tuesday. It is times like this that I can't stand the job. I want to be at home to look after her. *sobs*

Next door said they would pop in and keep an eye on her.

I decided to water the garden at 2pm (not an ideal time) as it is going to be hot for a couple of days. The newly planted front garden got a thorough soaking, so that should be ok until I get home. Really do need to set up the watering system for the veggie garden. There is nothing worse than sowing seeds, tending to seedlings, only to have them turn into little crispy things after a couple of days away. Has happened a few times this year.

The spinach and chard plants are 3 ft tall and have gone to seed. I have several courgettes/pumpkins still to be planted out and feel that summer is running away with me. I have time next week to get things in the ground though.

The potatoes are very impressive. The king edwards in the raised bed are massive and the potato bags are also doing well.

I am in Aberdeen tonight and home late tomorrow night, Have two 'available' days on Wednesday and Thursday, so will see what wonders they are filled with. *rolls eyes*

I also missed the social highlight of the year yesterday. The local village Fete. A few stalls with bric a brac, one for plants, bottles, and the obligatory coconut shy and cake stall! Never mind. We did give them lots of bottles for the raffle and I grew some rather impressive beans for the plant stall. Hope they raised lots of money for the village.

I missed the head of the WI, frantically waving, shouting 'Yoo hoo, flying boys' (as we are known) across the field, as she did last year!

What are they raising money for? Who knows? The bus stop was re-thatched 2 years ago, big news for the village. Maybe a new urn for the village hall? It was for bunting last year. Bless.

C x x x

p.s Have received a text from next door to say Shirley is still with us and eating a little. Good sign.

2 still to lay!

Here we are again. June is here, so where is the sun?

I have had complaints that my blog hasn't been updated for a while, so here you go!

Busy week at work and the days off seem to fly by.

Shirley is better now, back to her old self. She still hasn't laid an egg though. Her breast feathers are coming through blonde which is a worry. I have told her that blondes don't always have more fun, but she is loving the look! Laverne is still on strike, but Winifred, Elsbeth and Pru are keeping us well supplied with eggs.

The recent rain has made the garden blossom. The beech hedge I planted earlier in the year is in full leaf, but needs tying in to hide a mould of rubble/weeds left behind by the builders. It is too much to move, so will disguise it.

Most of my veggies are now in. Must remember to keep planting bits and bobs to make sure we have salad all summer. Desperate for a poly tunnel after visiting Lesley's farm on Sunday. It was so warm in there and really would be a bonus in the winter. The pigs were tempting too, but I couldn't smuggle one out in the Mini! *wink*

I have been 'approached' by someone wanting to sell my jams, jellies and Christmas puddings! We will see if it comes to anything, but I do like the idea of it. Need to think of a brand! They will pick up my produce from the house and sell it at a local market. I could do biscuits and cakes as well.

Made chilli and cottage pie for the freezer today. I bought some mince from Lesley, who raises her own livestock. The meat is so tender and delicious. Will be placing further orders I think. Still have 4 sirloin steaks in the freezer too!

It's getting dark now so had better go and shut the girls in for the night. I started writing this hours ago. Dinner got in the way, as did a few phone calls.

One more day off then 5 days at work :0( Will update again soon.

Night night.

C x x x

Shirley is better :0)

Well, the logs are stacked! All 27 wheelbarrow loads! I was exhausted afterwards. The hardest thing was where to put them all. The log store was full after the 4th barrow! Anyway, they are stacked and look pretty good all over the place.







A severe frost warning was forecast again last night, so I dutifully went out and wrapped everything in fleece. I can't remember the last time we had frost at the end of May. I thought it was getting warmer? I lit a fire and sat in the lounge, laptop on my lap. The new logs went up really well. Will order another load before winter (if we can find somewhere to put them) and that should do us until spring next year!! I have said it before, but there is something comforting about having wood stacked up, like having a full fridge.







I have a hen Party tomorrow for a local charity. A group of five, for a special party! Been busy baking scones and oatie biscuits, ready for tomorrow. Kick off at 10.30, so have time to get organised in the morning.

I gave the eglus a thorough clean out for tomorrow and all was well until Elsbeth decided to sleep in the nest box (again) and poo'd up the side! Little madam!

Shirley spent a good few hours chatting to me in the kitchen yesterday. After a while she shuffled around and laid an enormous soft shelled egg. She immediately poked her head out of the box, as if to say 'ok, I'm done now'. I let her out into the front garden while I continued stacking the log mountain. She discovered the area under the conifers and happily scratched around for woodlice. I coaxed her back into the run with a trail of sweetcorn, a la Hansel and Gretal.

She seems back to her old self again today. Noticed she is quite thin though?? Will feed her some extra tuna tomorrow. Mixed corn will go down well too.

Woke up at 2.30 this morning on the sofa (again, must stop doing that), fire still glowing, but i felt sick. Really hot and sweaty and managed to crawl to the toilet. Not pleasant. Made my way upstairs and slept well. Was hoping to have lost at least half a stone, judging by the amount of time I spent vomiting, but no!
Felt fine this morning, don't know what that was about? Probably the excitement of going back to work on Monday. Not.

Only one egg today!! Free loading ladies! Will search the run tomorrow in case they have decided to make a nest elsewhere.


The front garden is taking shape. Have lots of room to plant more things. Can't seem to pass a garden centre without popping in to get some 'essentials'. Have a few things waiting in the porch to plant, but can't spell the names! Will take pictures when they are in flower.




Need to sleep now and Blogger is taking an age to upload pictures. Will add more tomorrow when I get a chance. Apologises now, for the shocking grammar and typos!

C x x

p.s logs......







p.p.s some more..........











oh, this is just silly!! I like the pink tint to these ones!! Must be the sun setting. Yes, I was stacking them all day *rolls eyes*

And relax......

Good morning everyone! What a busy week it has been!

On Friday, my Aunty, Uncle and Cousins visited from Germany. I haven't seen them in about 7 years. Nice to catch up.

On Saturday was my Brother's wedding. A lovely hotel near Basingstoke. Charlie the bride looked stunning and we had a nice day/evening. Jase and I were nearly the last to leave at midnight.

Ellis and Grace, my nephew and niece looked adorable in their wedding outfits - Ellis couldn't wait to get his tie off!!

On Sunday we drove my Gran back to Kent and popped in on Mum and Dad for an hour or so. They went out and left me with the children, as Andy and Charlie are away on their honeymoon, Mum and Dad are babysitting for the week. After an hour I was exhausted. Good luck to Mum and Dad, they have them all week!

Yesterday was my Birthday and we went out for lunch and visited a garden centre, then out for dinner to a local Indian......both felt full to bursting as we left so must have been good!

It looks like a Nigella Lawson shop in the lounge! Loads of lovely Bowls, serving platters and measuring cups! Can't wait to use them all!

Shirley looked a little hunched and unwell last night, so left her in the eglu overnight with Pru sat next to her keeping watch. No better this morning as she was still in the nest box where I left her last night. She is now sat in her cat box in the kitchen with me, checking my spelling. A bowl full of sweetcorn and water and a towel to keep her warm. Not sure what is wrong, she has a red comb, with a slight temperature but isn't right in herself. I'm hoping it is a soft shelled egg on the way. She will feel better once it is laid. She is drinking lots of water and honey and pecking at the odd bit of corn. She seems to prefer the scone that I am eating!

We had a log delivery late last night, so I have 2 cubic metres of logs to get off the drive at some point today.

The heating is back on as it has turned really chilly again. I was in shorts this time last week! Mad dash to wrap up the veggies in fleece the other night, as frost was forecast. It was 4 degrees at 5am this morning!

Hoping this week will be calmer........

Off to get dressed now and tackle that log pile!

The drippin' is driving me mad.

After a few good days at work and an early (5am) stand by yesterday - i got a Paris and back- my throat can't take anymore! I thought it was hay fever at first, but the puffy neck tells a different story. Tonsilitis (again)!!! I say again, but I haven't had it for a few years. I am lucky that I don't get the aches and pain, just the sore throat. Sniffly and horrible.

I was up at 5.30 this morning and felt rough, so Jase told me to go sick. Feel bad, as it was one flight out to Rome and all day there, but hey ho. Sick is sick.

Got lots done yesterday. Planted out my potted onions, sowed carrots in between the rows, tomato plants are in as are beetroot, radishes and peas!







I need to get a couple of chili plants from the garden centre at some point. Thought I would plant some with the tomatoes and a couple of basil plants to deter white fly.










My little greenhouse is working overtime, packed with sunflower seeds, borlotti and runner beans and a few marigolds. The sweetcorn is about an inch tall which isn't bad as I only planted it a week or so ago. Poor rickety old thing! Look at it! Hee hee. The bungee cord is to stop it blowing over!
I have dug over a small square bed and will grow a pumpkin underneath and some beans up the corn a la 'three sisters'!











The blackbird chicks hatched a few days ago and have vanished! They must have left the nest already as it was empty 3 days ago. Checked yesterday and look what I found.......




They might get 3 hatches at this rate! Good for them.



The giant, fancy schmancy garden umbrella with lights has seized up, so I found another one in the garage. Sat outside now, typing away, 27 degrees at 11.30am and snot running down my chin. Lovely! Nice to wear shorts for a change, my legs need the sun.

Mum and Dad are popping over later with some goodies from Germany. Have made some cheese scones and think we will sit outside for a while.

The 2 lawns need mowing again! However I am under strict instructions to do nothing today! So that is what I will do.

Who am I kidding?? I can never sit and do nothing. Might do a white wash and mop the kitchen floor. It really needs it. The bedding could do with a wash too. *taps fingers on table looking for things to do*

Going to take a sudafed to try and stop this runny nose. Either that or shove some tissues up my snoz.

C x x x

p.s 4 eggs today! Nothing from Laverne, as she is taking a well earned break. Or so she tells me!!

Water wings for chickens?

Good afternoon All!

Been a busy week yet again.  Work was hectic, as we moved into Terminal 5.  The new crew report centre (CRC) seems to be half the size of our old report centre, hot as a greenhouse and full of managers!  We were the first crew to arrive yesterday and were greeted by people in Polo shirts, clipboards and radios.  Really not in the mood at 7am, having been up at 3.30am!

Had a voucher for coffee and pastry thrust into my hand and was smiled at constantly.  "Welcome to your new home".  Made me want to vomit.  Everywhere you looked, managers were scuttling around beaming.  They have no idea it won't work as a building.  Far too small.    

By the time I reported for my second sector of the day, I had a collection of enough vouchers and 'sickly smiles'  to open an internet shop.  Roll on retirement.  

21 years.  

Should fly by.

The girls are fine apart from the quagmire of a run.  Little puddles are forming and I really don't know what to do.  The eglus really need moving out and the whole lot excavated with a mini digger.  Jase would love to drive one of those!

2 more days at work (from tonight) then off to Scotland on Sunday to visit Jason's Mum, Sister and BIL (well not yet but can't be far off *wink*).  

Will be home tomorrow morning, so time to clean out the chooks and get ready for the drive to Ayr. 

The oil tank is full - 56p a litre- outrageous. 28p last year.  Don't dare put the heating on.  

The lawn is growing like mad and will need cutting again!  2 smaller lawns as I am determined to get another bed put in the back garden sometime this year.  

Had a major planting frenzy earlier this week.  Most seeds are now sown for the summer.  The mini green house is groaning under the weight of seed trays.  Only parsnips and more carrots to sow, but waiting until I have planned the veggie garden layout of crops until I do 'long term' planting.  Will use the new bed in the 'front' garden for some crops like rainbow chard, and maybe some beans.   

I managed to 'borrow' some old bricks from the paddock which work well as edging.


I have planted a fair few cottage garden plants like lupins, daisies, nicotiniana (sp)? and grasses so far, but quite a lot still to plant. The pear tree is in and so far the slugs have avoided most things..........The jasmine at the back will hopefully cover the fence. Hoping it will stand up to the wind.






Looks very 'rustic' in my opinion, like it has been there a while. I was going to spread bark over the whole lot to keep the weeds down, but my Mum assures me that when the plants grow, I won't need it.

The sweetpea wigwam is in place and I have planted up the hanging baskets already. Tempting fate, but hopefully no more frost before late Autumn. The tomato plants are doing well in the coldframe (more bricks and a sheet of plastic) as are the marigold seedlings for the Village fete - i just hope they are a decent size by the end of May when the 'Plant Coordinator' stops by.

Off to get ready and tidy up. The rain has stopped and the sun is out :0)

C x x x