Christmas is almost here and we are rushing around trying to get organised.There is so much to do.Not present shopping, I mean organising the animals. The first sheep flock who are due to begin lambing before new year are now housed. The individual pens for mothers and lambs are ready. We have bottles, teats and milk powder waiting. The pregnant cows are also in the sheds, every day their bellies seem bigger. New year should see the first calf born. We have had an electrician putting up some new lights. The cows always seem to wait for tyhe middle of the night.
This morning we prepared the geese for our Christmas dinner. I usually feel quite sad but last week one gander decided he would try to peck me. I just managed to jump out of the way.
Lorna has been getting in some practice as chief midwife to the ewes. Our neighbour`s ewes have started lambing already. Yesterday Lorna delivered a lovely double, the first lamb was coming tail first, this can be quite a difficult delivery. Luckily in this case it proved to be quite straightforward and the second lamb popped out on it`s own. Mother and babies are all doing fine.
Simon catches a pig
The new piglets have arrived, but four are going to a different farm - Simon manages to catch one of them!
The pond
We have four wildlife ponds.It was time to scrape some earth from the edges so Simon got to work with the digger.
Calling the party goers
Matthew found his new birthday present very useful to call his friends to his 40th birthday party.
Soooo many candles
Reaching the grand old age of 40 he needed his big brother Simon`s help to blow out all the candles on his birthday cake.`
Birthday supper
Lorna and cousin Lucy worked hard all day to prepare the birthday feast. The barbique was outside the old grain store.
Cornish Songs
Pete played and everyone sang all the old favourite Cornish songs. Cambourne hill, The white rose, and of course Trelawney are always popular.
Grandad Tom celebrates
Grandad Tom the oldest guest loves a singsong his best friend Edgar sings along too.
Foot and mouth .
We try to take a close look at each animal each day. We are supposed to look for sore mouths and sore feet. This Belgian blue cross looks healthy to me.
More training for Henry.
Henry is getting really good at herding sheep from field to field. He has learnt to sit and wait while the flock filters through the narrow gateway.
Grain dryer.
We bought a new dryer last year, the cost was frightening andwe hardly used it. I was worried that we had wasted our money. This year it has really proved it's worth. Every grain so far has been dried.
Grain store.
The barley is safely gathered in.All ready to feed the animals in the Winter.
Cantankerous machine
A combine harvester will always break down when the farmer is under pressure due to a bad weather forcast.
Sunbathing Slowworm
We love our wildlife. We placed a big bluestone slate against a sunny hedge and it didn't take long for a family of slowwoms to move in. There are now a family of eight. Some are like little pieces of string.Some are long and fat.
Above Lantivet Bay
One of the stunning views we are forced to look at every day as we check the animals.In the Winter of course when a stiff South Easterly wind is blowing and the rain is in your face it isn't so pleasant.
Teenage Lambs
Although we are nearly grown up we still like to play. Give us a chance to escape we will.
Time for work
Henry our young sheepdog is 22 months old. He is now being seriously trained. The hardest thing to learn is to work away from your side and stop when commanded.
Greedy Pigs
Percy and Dudley the twins arrived on the farm on May 10th. They have gone from the sweetest little things to muscle on legs.
Christmas dinner
Every year we buy a few goslings to rear for the family Christmas dinner. They arrive looking llike golden balls of fluff. Every year we say they are too cute to eat. Then they grow. When they get to the stage that they are brave enough to hiss at you or even try to chase you they are threatened with the oven. Home grown always tastes much better.
King of the castle
Henry the collie although being trained to work the sheep and the cattle still loves to play. He said a squirrel had run up on the heap of crushed barley. He lied. He just wanted to play king of the castle.
Waiting for breakfast
The bigger steers are now being fattened. They seem to know what time breakfast arrives and wait at the gate.
Sea view from my home
This is the view I look at when I hang out my washing. On a good day the sea breezes quickly dry it. On a windy day day it could blow away.
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