It’s wet again, wet dreary and grey but the grass is growing and the leaves and blossoms are breaking out into brilliant shades of green pink and white. I’m still not back down to the barn but, on pain of torture and worse the team have dutifully reported blog worthy moments and captured blog worthy photographs for me to use on my not quite almost daily diary.
Goliath, the little Guernsey steer with deep dark eyes and eye lashes to die for and Sampson and Delilah the two little Fresian calves have graduated. Yesterday the executive decision was made ( and not by me) that the three musketeers were all grown up and it was time to leave the safety of the nursery. It has to be said Sampson Delilah and Goliath were not entirely ecstatic about the change in their living arrangements but, with Greg out in the lead and Bran (much too willingly) niggling at their heels they dutifully if hesitantly followed. Once out of the nursery pasture and into the big wide world three little sets of bovine eyes widened and the three sets of little hooves screeched to a grinding halt. Which way ? easily answered, all points of the compass were covered… Goliath headed for the muck pile, Samson spotted some juicy grass just where he wasn’t supposed to be and little Miss Delilah headed back right where she had come from. Clearly, the gate would have been better firmly closed as the last little black and white butt exited, (easily said from my vantage point in the kitchen window) but, sadly, there it was, open and inviting and little Delilah’s not one to miss an opportunity. Bran the Border Collie was spoilt for choice but choose which one ? A speedy nip to remind Goliath who was in charge earned a well aimed cow kick…and Bran was reminded it wasn’t him, once again! Undaunted (?) Bran slinking behind Greg ( sensible dog !) as he attempted to head off the errant Sampson who was still munching where he really shouldn’t be. Quatre played “catch me if you can” with Delilah who still didn’t want to grow up and a “round and round the garden” followed by a round of three times round the beautifully smouldering manure pile ensued . Eventually all safely rounded up and persuaded to venture into Cow Lane with the gate closed firmly behind them the troublesome threesome had a new and even bigger concern, actually, 5 bigger concerns ! Like a Mexican standoff in a really bad B Western movie they were all waiting for the overly anxious calves at the other end of the lane. All in a line, Daisy-Mae, Hol-ley, Molly, Macho and Rodney the ram were waiting, heads down intently and none too welcoming eyeing the intruders in their pasture. By the gate and with nowhere to go, the calves froze, no one moved…then little Hol-ley could take it no more and, apparently suddenly recognising her old playmates, tail firmly in the air broke rank and joyfully galloped towards the gate. The calves dispersed in horror at the vision careering towards them and all three tumbled in panic towards the reception line. Trapped between a confused and wanting to play, Hol-ley the little Dexter calf and the apparent combatants at the end of the lane the new all grown up graduates screeched to a halt and there they stayed,….all day.
Alissia and Acorn ably assisted by Song and Cody the goat kids have been turned loose in New Field for the first time. Typically, despite having enough forage to render them feet in the air, Song found that the weeds on the other side of the fence were clearly more inviting than the dandelions that were in ample supply in her designated pasture. Fortunately for what is left of my garden after Lamb Chops recent “visit” which resulted in my pansies and roses looking like a swarm of locusts had stopped by for a quick lunch, Bran was waiting and very ready !! Sadly, the little doeling has little respect for authority and Bran’s attempt at restraint just met with disdain. Song reared up on her little back legs and boxed at the dog. Fortunately..for Bran, big brother John arrived on the scene before we had a knock out ! Song was returned to her brother and the hole in the fence was speedily repaired.
On the subject of big brother John, his latest project, tiling the barn kitchen has been a huge success and is drawing to a close. When the “boss” ( that’s me) is happy, the world is happy and a nice clean tiled barn kitchen makes me very happy. Thank you John. Now…..what’s next ????
Time for me to go, the sun is shining this morning and it’s going to be a lovely weekend. Take care, keep safe, M
Goliath, the little Guernsey steer with deep dark eyes and eye lashes to die for and Sampson and Delilah the two little Fresian calves have graduated. Yesterday the executive decision was made ( and not by me) that the three musketeers were all grown up and it was time to leave the safety of the nursery. It has to be said Sampson Delilah and Goliath were not entirely ecstatic about the change in their living arrangements but, with Greg out in the lead and Bran (much too willingly) niggling at their heels they dutifully if hesitantly followed. Once out of the nursery pasture and into the big wide world three little sets of bovine eyes widened and the three sets of little hooves screeched to a grinding halt. Which way ? easily answered, all points of the compass were covered… Goliath headed for the muck pile, Samson spotted some juicy grass just where he wasn’t supposed to be and little Miss Delilah headed back right where she had come from. Clearly, the gate would have been better firmly closed as the last little black and white butt exited, (easily said from my vantage point in the kitchen window) but, sadly, there it was, open and inviting and little Delilah’s not one to miss an opportunity. Bran the Border Collie was spoilt for choice but choose which one ? A speedy nip to remind Goliath who was in charge earned a well aimed cow kick…and Bran was reminded it wasn’t him, once again! Undaunted (?) Bran slinking behind Greg ( sensible dog !) as he attempted to head off the errant Sampson who was still munching where he really shouldn’t be. Quatre played “catch me if you can” with Delilah who still didn’t want to grow up and a “round and round the garden” followed by a round of three times round the beautifully smouldering manure pile ensued . Eventually all safely rounded up and persuaded to venture into Cow Lane with the gate closed firmly behind them the troublesome threesome had a new and even bigger concern, actually, 5 bigger concerns ! Like a Mexican standoff in a really bad B Western movie they were all waiting for the overly anxious calves at the other end of the lane. All in a line, Daisy-Mae, Hol-ley, Molly, Macho and Rodney the ram were waiting, heads down intently and none too welcoming eyeing the intruders in their pasture. By the gate and with nowhere to go, the calves froze, no one moved…then little Hol-ley could take it no more and, apparently suddenly recognising her old playmates, tail firmly in the air broke rank and joyfully galloped towards the gate. The calves dispersed in horror at the vision careering towards them and all three tumbled in panic towards the reception line. Trapped between a confused and wanting to play, Hol-ley the little Dexter calf and the apparent combatants at the end of the lane the new all grown up graduates screeched to a halt and there they stayed,….all day.
Alissia and Acorn ably assisted by Song and Cody the goat kids have been turned loose in New Field for the first time. Typically, despite having enough forage to render them feet in the air, Song found that the weeds on the other side of the fence were clearly more inviting than the dandelions that were in ample supply in her designated pasture. Fortunately for what is left of my garden after Lamb Chops recent “visit” which resulted in my pansies and roses looking like a swarm of locusts had stopped by for a quick lunch, Bran was waiting and very ready !! Sadly, the little doeling has little respect for authority and Bran’s attempt at restraint just met with disdain. Song reared up on her little back legs and boxed at the dog. Fortunately..for Bran, big brother John arrived on the scene before we had a knock out ! Song was returned to her brother and the hole in the fence was speedily repaired.
On the subject of big brother John, his latest project, tiling the barn kitchen has been a huge success and is drawing to a close. When the “boss” ( that’s me) is happy, the world is happy and a nice clean tiled barn kitchen makes me very happy. Thank you John. Now…..what’s next ????
Time for me to go, the sun is shining this morning and it’s going to be a lovely weekend. Take care, keep safe, M
RSS Feed
