Well Babe my Pietrain sow is bagging up and very vocal at the mo, so we decided to get her maternity quaters ready, We have flattened out an area on some stone and parked a horse trailer stuffed with straw there for her, last time she pigged she went out in the middle of a storm from her beautiful sty packed with straw and dug a huge nest outside, sadly it rained all night and in her struggles to give birth in the mud she drowned most of her litter, so this tim she will be unable to get near mud and the only option will be the nice bed...
we had visitors before we finished so I hope she will hold on till at least tomorrow.... All thats left to do is fence it off...
Ducks and Geese..
Diane and Paul popped up....
Yesterday we went to Aberaron to pick up some beautiful ducks, 3 Muscovey females, 1 gorgeous Drake and 2 youngsters... Also a trio of Kakhi Cambells, stunning birds... for a total of £18, which was very affordable and great as we were in a poor week... then we drove to Pwllheli and picked up 2 wonderful geese, they are supposed to be both male, but me thinks an error may have been made, I feel they could be a pair, we shall see... Geese can be difficult to sex, as they age they become easier, the faces show one sign, I can see definate masculin jowels and more refinment in a females face, then when older the females under carriage almost draggs the ground, I believe this is because they have a egg pouch, its a place were the eggs sits closer to her skin, well, we shall see with these 2 they are about 10 mnths I think the lovely lady said, They were such a lovely couple, showing me there lovely little herd of cattle and there goats, I hope to do a deal with her and swap piggy for a young cow, we shall see if she gets back in touch....
We left there quite lte and drove to Cricieth, there we were the only ones on the beach, we played and ran and even Dotty the dalmation enjoyed splashing about, it was about 10.30 and the tide had just turnered to go out, it is a memory that shall never leave me, how lovely it was on the beach with the kids and Joe...
Wing clipping...
To ensure our wonderful ducks and geese didnt try to fly back to the sea, we had to clip there wings, you do this on one side to unbalance them so flight is impossible, you cut off the primary flight feathers so no wind can be held in there wings, they look really awkward after being done and I hate doing it but, hopefuly they wont need doing again... they are in our poultry paddock and have a huge pond to play in ... what a lovely feeling it was seeing them in our pool, and collecting our first 2 duck eggs..... great day..
I decided to kill one of the spare cockerals that had been dumped on us at christmas time, some body drove up and chucked about 7 out on the bottom of our land, we have no idea who it is but, it happens every year...So as they were wild I shot one on the head with our airgun and then bled it, I had lots to do so asked Andre to pluck it, this was the first time he'd plucked a bird, he did a very good job, then he left him hanging for us, in the mean time Paul and Diane came up, so we finished off outside and I took in the bird to dress.
I asked if they were screamish and wouldnt be offended by me dressing it in front of them.... they were fine, I think they expect wierd stuff from us..
So I put some newspaper down and set to work in front of my Rayburn.... All went fine, they were actually quite interested in the goings on, I showed them the inside of his heart, his liver, lungs, and Gizzard, as I prepared the bird I kept laughing to myself... how many people would entertain and do this, with my 3 children helping and Lily age nearly 5 interested and asking questions.... what an unusual sight...
He was put in a pot with all the bits and bobs, liver etc.. and I added my organic veg that I had bought at Portmadoc Farmers market and sat him in the pot, adding only salt, peper and a bay leaf.... 2 hours later he was done, absolutley wonderful taste, the kids adored the organic veg and everyone could taste and see the difference, we now believe in the difference of organic and eagerly await the growing of veg in our huge garden.... I am so tired Joe has just cooked pancakes and I'm off to bed as we need to do a lot of building tomorrow.... night night...xx
Sunday 20 February 2011
Friday 18 February 2011
Outside at last!!
Well at long last I plucked up courage to go outside, have been realy down and sad... went in the forest and I was very shocked, Devastation everywhere... there must have been 100 trees fallen by the wind, I thought it was bad, it looks like the worst wind we have ever had up here. I'm glad we hadnt put the new poly tnnel up yet as it would have surly been ripped!!
Today, we took all our very well rotted manure from the heap onto the garden, spread it around, a liitle and left it for the pis to fo there best, we also gave them a fresh straw bed, they were so funny dashing between there new bedding and galavanting in the muck, they were so excited, it was soo good to watch, what happy piggies we own, I also moved and cleared the electric fence as it was shorting out in a few places, they are dooing such a good job leveling the lad and adding to it, it has grown in depth by a good 8 inches easily, the power of the pigs nose is amaizing.... I have at last settled n a plan for the veg patch!!
The veg plan..
There is still a poorer side of the garden and a better richer side, even thought the pigs have been on there now for approx 6 months... So on the poorer harder side I have decided on the one poor half side we shall put the compost heap, and on the other poor half we shall build the raised bed, then next to these, still on the poorer side I shall dig the potoato trenches, the thinking behind all of this is, that.. why fight and try and plant into such poor soil.. last year we failed this year we wont..
Raised beds...Hot beds for Pinapples and strawberries...
I'm so far unsure of how we will construct them, I do know they shall be insulated and with double glazing, We will use the one raised bed for salads and fancies.. the other shall be a modern idea of the Victorian hot bed, insulated sides, and double glazed tops, we shall fill the bottom with good hot farm yard manure, then some leaf mould on top and some loam to top it off, then the pineapples are grown in pots that shall in winter be lifted out and put into the polytunnel, everything in the garden will be temporary, as at the end of the year everthing will be cleared on site and then the pigs shall return to dig in all the goodness....
Paths..
Well I always wanted lovely grass paths, but what a waste at the end of the year to let the pigs dig it all up, so all around us on roadside there are tree men, cutting and trimming down all the trees and leaving behind lovely piles of shredded wood, So this shall be my temp paths then all the goodness from the trees shall be returned to the land, giving it an extra boost and add heart to the soil...
Compost...
Well this is a hard one, normally all compostable materials are given to the pigs snout to process and send to the land, so I really struggle with not giving it to them, but I'm going to be hard on myself and the pigs and try to develop a compost heap on the poor side of the garden.. I might even go as far as telling the lads to pee on it to activate it..lol...it seems such a waste letting such a valuble liqued go into the chemical loo....
Compost loo...
Why not give it a go.. I've been looking them up and with land as poor as ours every valuable thing we can add to the soil shall be added... Im also thinking of getting a garden shredder to add heart..
Newspaper mulch..
Oh I have definantely been thinking too much... and sat inside too much too... It got to be worth trying, i am collecting news papers to put under the paths of shredded wood, this should help prevent weeds and at the end of the year be worth digging in..
Pig power..Digger power..
Im feeling lazy and have decided to after watching my igs compost, weed and level my garden, the next step is use the back actor of the digger to dig the potato trenches and carry in the muck to lay on the bottom. Im also thining of adding some small branches to the bottom of the trench to airate my clay soil and help with drainage, well thats what the Romans did in there drains.... We shall also be using the digger with Joes huge rake on the back end to level off a fine tilth......
Mmm.. what else, I think thats all my thoughts on the garden, We will be turfing the pigs off soon, We have a litter of pigs due soon, I'm going to move a couple of the young pigs onto my flower bed to weed it.. I have nearly finished diggin out all my plants and then will fence it and let them loose.... I know lazy but I hate weeding and they will give poo power too..
Sarahs soot..... Im unsure where to best use my prize soot its all saved up ready to use, also Rays ashes evry day go on the garden...
Dogs....
Am busy trying to sort out doggy quarters too... we are using builders tall 8 by 6foot parimeter fencing to create temporary runs for each dog that lives outside, with there kennel, then we shall be getting some concrete and building there proper quarters.... thats it i'm off Ray is heating my rain water for a lovely well deserved bubble bath...
Today, we took all our very well rotted manure from the heap onto the garden, spread it around, a liitle and left it for the pis to fo there best, we also gave them a fresh straw bed, they were so funny dashing between there new bedding and galavanting in the muck, they were so excited, it was soo good to watch, what happy piggies we own, I also moved and cleared the electric fence as it was shorting out in a few places, they are dooing such a good job leveling the lad and adding to it, it has grown in depth by a good 8 inches easily, the power of the pigs nose is amaizing.... I have at last settled n a plan for the veg patch!!
The veg plan..
There is still a poorer side of the garden and a better richer side, even thought the pigs have been on there now for approx 6 months... So on the poorer harder side I have decided on the one poor half side we shall put the compost heap, and on the other poor half we shall build the raised bed, then next to these, still on the poorer side I shall dig the potoato trenches, the thinking behind all of this is, that.. why fight and try and plant into such poor soil.. last year we failed this year we wont..
Raised beds...Hot beds for Pinapples and strawberries...
I'm so far unsure of how we will construct them, I do know they shall be insulated and with double glazing, We will use the one raised bed for salads and fancies.. the other shall be a modern idea of the Victorian hot bed, insulated sides, and double glazed tops, we shall fill the bottom with good hot farm yard manure, then some leaf mould on top and some loam to top it off, then the pineapples are grown in pots that shall in winter be lifted out and put into the polytunnel, everything in the garden will be temporary, as at the end of the year everthing will be cleared on site and then the pigs shall return to dig in all the goodness....
Paths..
Well I always wanted lovely grass paths, but what a waste at the end of the year to let the pigs dig it all up, so all around us on roadside there are tree men, cutting and trimming down all the trees and leaving behind lovely piles of shredded wood, So this shall be my temp paths then all the goodness from the trees shall be returned to the land, giving it an extra boost and add heart to the soil...
Compost...
Well this is a hard one, normally all compostable materials are given to the pigs snout to process and send to the land, so I really struggle with not giving it to them, but I'm going to be hard on myself and the pigs and try to develop a compost heap on the poor side of the garden.. I might even go as far as telling the lads to pee on it to activate it..lol...it seems such a waste letting such a valuble liqued go into the chemical loo....
Compost loo...
Why not give it a go.. I've been looking them up and with land as poor as ours every valuable thing we can add to the soil shall be added... Im also thinking of getting a garden shredder to add heart..
Newspaper mulch..
Oh I have definantely been thinking too much... and sat inside too much too... It got to be worth trying, i am collecting news papers to put under the paths of shredded wood, this should help prevent weeds and at the end of the year be worth digging in..
Pig power..Digger power..
Im feeling lazy and have decided to after watching my igs compost, weed and level my garden, the next step is use the back actor of the digger to dig the potato trenches and carry in the muck to lay on the bottom. Im also thining of adding some small branches to the bottom of the trench to airate my clay soil and help with drainage, well thats what the Romans did in there drains.... We shall also be using the digger with Joes huge rake on the back end to level off a fine tilth......
Mmm.. what else, I think thats all my thoughts on the garden, We will be turfing the pigs off soon, We have a litter of pigs due soon, I'm going to move a couple of the young pigs onto my flower bed to weed it.. I have nearly finished diggin out all my plants and then will fence it and let them loose.... I know lazy but I hate weeding and they will give poo power too..
Sarahs soot..... Im unsure where to best use my prize soot its all saved up ready to use, also Rays ashes evry day go on the garden...
Dogs....
Am busy trying to sort out doggy quarters too... we are using builders tall 8 by 6foot parimeter fencing to create temporary runs for each dog that lives outside, with there kennel, then we shall be getting some concrete and building there proper quarters.... thats it i'm off Ray is heating my rain water for a lovely well deserved bubble bath...
Tuesday 8 February 2011
After the storm!!
Fallen trees!!
Today we decided to harvest the silver birches that had come to an end in the storm,
We used our digger to hold the trees up off the fencing whilst cutting them into logs, then we loaded the diggers front bucket three times....
I also played on the quad, and walked all of the dogs whilst Joe and the boys loaded our stock trailer that we now use as our log store, its 3/4 full so not a bad day...lol... Joe also split most of the trunk logs too..... Bit worried about Joe hes not feeling his best he always tired and sometimes looks real grey... I rang the doctor today to discuss it, Joe keeps feeling this weird neurological thing, its like a tap driping on the side of his head, the first time it happened he came to me and asked if he was bleeding, but there was nothing, Doc says he needs to have an appointment, will drag him in in the next week or so the doc did ask how his memory was, which basically is awfull... I wil say smething to him and with in half an hour he swearrs I have said nothing, so mmm, I dont know, the doctor says he must go in so he will...
I just dont feel to happy with the worry of Joe, I know we both need to loose a load of weight, eat more sensibly, and give up on human friends there no one hardly out there these days I classify as a friend, less than 5 people.... but loads animals qualify.... wierd hey!! see ya
Today we decided to harvest the silver birches that had come to an end in the storm,
We used our digger to hold the trees up off the fencing whilst cutting them into logs, then we loaded the diggers front bucket three times....
I also played on the quad, and walked all of the dogs whilst Joe and the boys loaded our stock trailer that we now use as our log store, its 3/4 full so not a bad day...lol... Joe also split most of the trunk logs too..... Bit worried about Joe hes not feeling his best he always tired and sometimes looks real grey... I rang the doctor today to discuss it, Joe keeps feeling this weird neurological thing, its like a tap driping on the side of his head, the first time it happened he came to me and asked if he was bleeding, but there was nothing, Doc says he needs to have an appointment, will drag him in in the next week or so the doc did ask how his memory was, which basically is awfull... I wil say smething to him and with in half an hour he swearrs I have said nothing, so mmm, I dont know, the doctor says he must go in so he will...
I just dont feel to happy with the worry of Joe, I know we both need to loose a load of weight, eat more sensibly, and give up on human friends there no one hardly out there these days I classify as a friend, less than 5 people.... but loads animals qualify.... wierd hey!! see ya
Monday 7 February 2011
What a paoinful day....
I had a call from my doctor this morning.....
It was bad news.... its going to change my life....
I've been having problems with my back and neck for a while, as bad as Joe having to lift me out of bed and turn me every 10 mins throughout the night... Its been hell, I've been in so much pain, sometimes I'm ok, but others I'm in accute uselessness!! its been coming on every 3 to 6 months..
Any how Doc said I have athritus is my neck, with degenerating discs, lumpy growths in a couple of places, I've been told i'll never ride a horse again, I'm to have a gentle life, I'm not to lift heavy objects etc etc.... love me and give up my unusual life ....
I spent the morning sobbing, she told me I would end up in a wheel chair, and that I need to go in in the next 48 hours to discuss everything and get xrays on my painful hands and my poorly hips, .... lots of things are going through my head is this genetics??? is this my fault??? anyhow I made an appointment at the chiropractor and she worked wonders she also gave me acupuncture and told me she felt I should enjoy my life and carry on, keep active and fit, dont worry about wheel chairs and even horse ride if I want.....
Well the acupuncture was fantastic, I cheared up immensly and I have decided to be careful, but will carry on enjoying my life and being self sufficient.....
Got a new car today so that will be my distraction and I will try not to take any more Diazapan, they work wonders for releasing the muscles, but there just arent any good for you... I'm off now bye! xx
It was bad news.... its going to change my life....
I've been having problems with my back and neck for a while, as bad as Joe having to lift me out of bed and turn me every 10 mins throughout the night... Its been hell, I've been in so much pain, sometimes I'm ok, but others I'm in accute uselessness!! its been coming on every 3 to 6 months..
Any how Doc said I have athritus is my neck, with degenerating discs, lumpy growths in a couple of places, I've been told i'll never ride a horse again, I'm to have a gentle life, I'm not to lift heavy objects etc etc.... love me and give up my unusual life ....
I spent the morning sobbing, she told me I would end up in a wheel chair, and that I need to go in in the next 48 hours to discuss everything and get xrays on my painful hands and my poorly hips, .... lots of things are going through my head is this genetics??? is this my fault??? anyhow I made an appointment at the chiropractor and she worked wonders she also gave me acupuncture and told me she felt I should enjoy my life and carry on, keep active and fit, dont worry about wheel chairs and even horse ride if I want.....
Well the acupuncture was fantastic, I cheared up immensly and I have decided to be careful, but will carry on enjoying my life and being self sufficient.....
Got a new car today so that will be my distraction and I will try not to take any more Diazapan, they work wonders for releasing the muscles, but there just arent any good for you... I'm off now bye! xx
Sunday 6 February 2011
Rain Rain.... and Gale force!
I am so tired....
It feels like days we have been stuck here in the caravan unable to go out, the winds are so severe, we dare not go out, in case something blows into us, Joe dashes out if theres a break in the weather to feed animals and bring in tons of wood for Ray, my rayburn...
hes proving to be a typical man, loves his belly and never knows when enough is enough!!! But hes worth his weight in gold, last night after a good 5 hour stint doing my washing, with harvested rain water, carried in by the bucket!!! Ray was good enough to dry all three loads...
Its so tiring, rinsing in the bath, then reloading to spin, then loading more water in to wash and heat the water, but I have it down to a tea now, I still have no probem doing this huge chore, as I'm grateful for the rain and being abe to wash our clothes, I used the last nights bath water to wash the dirty load first true recycling...lol...
There are friends of mine being scathing as per usual, saying I sed a lot of time doing nothing, 4 hours to heat a bath up 5 hours to do the washing!! but what else is there to do in this rain storm...lol... I wil not be put down I chose this life..
New front door!!
Today Joe spent the day modifying our front door and put back the old caravan door, the gale and torrent of water that had been coming through was defeating all Rays best efforts... Now with a lot of muttering, banging, some old fidge panels, to fill in the gap as the new door is smaller, a lot of expanding polystieine all is well and job done...
But I'm so tired, I'm desperate to go out and work, It so frightening sitting here feeling the caravan lifting and banging the sides and roof are visibly moving by bout 4 inches in and out, or up and down... the new building behind us today actually lost one of the main roof joists, a huge piece of timber 10 x 4 inch, by 10 foot long fell from the roof top, 6 meters up the wind had loosened the bolts holding it up there, thanks goodness no one was under it when it landed.... I did hear a huge bang 2 nights ago... now I know what it was....
Trees have been falling all in the lanes, we are too scared to go out in the car incase one lands on us!! When the wind has given up we shall have to go out with the trailer and chain saw and collect some offerings for Ray!!
Right I'm off, Ray as cooked a lovely chicken soup, which has been bublling all day, i through a whole chicken in my jam kettle and a few veg and left it till its falling apart, wow its good so bye ... I'm off.... Pudding is pear tart....yum yum
It feels like days we have been stuck here in the caravan unable to go out, the winds are so severe, we dare not go out, in case something blows into us, Joe dashes out if theres a break in the weather to feed animals and bring in tons of wood for Ray, my rayburn...
hes proving to be a typical man, loves his belly and never knows when enough is enough!!! But hes worth his weight in gold, last night after a good 5 hour stint doing my washing, with harvested rain water, carried in by the bucket!!! Ray was good enough to dry all three loads...
Its so tiring, rinsing in the bath, then reloading to spin, then loading more water in to wash and heat the water, but I have it down to a tea now, I still have no probem doing this huge chore, as I'm grateful for the rain and being abe to wash our clothes, I used the last nights bath water to wash the dirty load first true recycling...lol...
There are friends of mine being scathing as per usual, saying I sed a lot of time doing nothing, 4 hours to heat a bath up 5 hours to do the washing!! but what else is there to do in this rain storm...lol... I wil not be put down I chose this life..
New front door!!
Today Joe spent the day modifying our front door and put back the old caravan door, the gale and torrent of water that had been coming through was defeating all Rays best efforts... Now with a lot of muttering, banging, some old fidge panels, to fill in the gap as the new door is smaller, a lot of expanding polystieine all is well and job done...
But I'm so tired, I'm desperate to go out and work, It so frightening sitting here feeling the caravan lifting and banging the sides and roof are visibly moving by bout 4 inches in and out, or up and down... the new building behind us today actually lost one of the main roof joists, a huge piece of timber 10 x 4 inch, by 10 foot long fell from the roof top, 6 meters up the wind had loosened the bolts holding it up there, thanks goodness no one was under it when it landed.... I did hear a huge bang 2 nights ago... now I know what it was....
Trees have been falling all in the lanes, we are too scared to go out in the car incase one lands on us!! When the wind has given up we shall have to go out with the trailer and chain saw and collect some offerings for Ray!!
Right I'm off, Ray as cooked a lovely chicken soup, which has been bublling all day, i through a whole chicken in my jam kettle and a few veg and left it till its falling apart, wow its good so bye ... I'm off.... Pudding is pear tart....yum yum
Thursday 3 February 2011
Storm warning!
This morning I woke, sure that there was trouble in store with the weather.
So Joe and I have batterened down the hatches, We have a sheep trailer full of cut logs for the fire, we have put all our water containers to collect the rain water for a nice bath, picked up everything that could go flying in the wind, Strapped down the chicken shed, so it cant blow over this time...lol.... and I asked Joe to park the digger and Landrover with horse trailer attatched infront and around the caravan to prevent us from tipping over... so I can sleep easy knowing we are safe....The wind is buffeting us hard, the rain is pounding down on the roof of our caravan, the rayburn is lovley and hot, has cooked us a lovely meal, Beef soup, Beef Cobler, Scones and a stuffed cake, wonderful dinner devoured and now starting to boil up the rain water for a jacuzzi bath later.... then early to bed.. night night!!
So Joe and I have batterened down the hatches, We have a sheep trailer full of cut logs for the fire, we have put all our water containers to collect the rain water for a nice bath, picked up everything that could go flying in the wind, Strapped down the chicken shed, so it cant blow over this time...lol.... and I asked Joe to park the digger and Landrover with horse trailer attatched infront and around the caravan to prevent us from tipping over... so I can sleep easy knowing we are safe....The wind is buffeting us hard, the rain is pounding down on the roof of our caravan, the rayburn is lovley and hot, has cooked us a lovely meal, Beef soup, Beef Cobler, Scones and a stuffed cake, wonderful dinner devoured and now starting to boil up the rain water for a jacuzzi bath later.... then early to bed.. night night!!
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