Walking with cows (again)

With the kids home for a long weekend they were taken advantage of in helping us move the cattle, at La Singlarie and our rented fields at La Contie. home was a lot quicker and easier, although more bodies, some of which are a bit bonkers had to be led up the road to pasture green, this took a short period of time as they didn't have to travel far but were very happy to see long grass to munch on.

The cattle at La Contie took a bit longer, with fields scattered around a bit of planning was needed as well as putting up electric fencing in the fields that were going to move to. Farmer J and master C made a few trips to put up the fencing while me and Miss F run bailing twine along the sides of the paths they were to follow to stop escapes exiting into the woods. This took a little bit of time as we had Sorrel on a long line lead with us (lots of tangling with blue twine and trees). In all it took two hours of walking up and down winding twine around trees and then carrying metal poles for the fencing.

Thankfully the cattle were well behaved following Farmer J so it didn't take too long leading and following them along the paths before they were happy again to find new grass. What we were not banking on was Sorrel deciding she wasn't going to get in the car, instead breaking free from her lead and collar. Not good for a dog that follows her nose in an area she doesn't know with no collar that had our contact details on. The golden rule of not running after your dog as it runs into the sunset were broken as I'm pretty sure I wouldn't of got her back. We covered a fair distance, thankfully I was able to keep up as she was in sniffing mode rather than full out hunt mode and a undignified end to her running free ended with me getting hold of her tail (it was the only part I could grab). Back home she slept pretty well that evening along with us all.

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Demounting a hanger

Farmer J has brought a second hand hanger. It's an extension to be added on to the farms hanger which up to last year housed the cows in 2/3rds and hay in the other 1/3. As we now have more cattle and calves the hay space is being converted to house the cattle giving them full access to it. Only thing is the extension has to be dismantled (and erected when planning permission is granted). He managed to take down the road crash barriers on the side of it but need my gophering skills today to start taking off the roof. Cold, foggy and damp it was a bit chilly standing around however we did have a visitor, a old lady hunt dog. Once fed and watered (doesn't everyone carry dog food in their car or is it just me?) she found a draught free spot between the hay bales to have a sleep before being called back to her hunter once hunting had finished. So a 1/3 of the roof is down with the rest to be completed on Monday ready for the metal structure to follow.

Parisot lake

As it is a holiday today here in France (Bastille Day) we took the afternoon off an popped over to Parisot lake for a walk with Sorrel. It has all changed, since the lake was emptied and cleaned up this year you can now swim in it, as well as inflatable toys to play on, a life guard, bikes to hire, a new fenced in play area for small people and a total spruce up. But there is a price we were charged! 3 euros an adult, which I guess is OK if you are using the facilities but Sorrel didn't fancy a dip. The cafe is still open but that would of been too much for Sorrel to cope with being so close to people and music so we opted for a bench to sit on in the shade before walking around the lake. Sorrel opted for being Billy no mates and laying by herself, if be it for a short period of time before bikes and people went by. We are now waiting for the free firework celebrations over the chateau tonight - if we can stay up that late.😃

2ENJ093 - FRANKLIN

Eight years ago today Franklin came into our family, a rescue dog from the SPA in Rodez we drove to see if they had a dog to re home. He had been there a month after being left tied to a bin in the town centre, chosen because he didn't bark, he came to us to say hello and was completely different from the dog we had lost days before Christmas. 120 Euros he cost, a young boy still a pup, very thin but with a look of take me home please. A collar put round his neck, forms completed, cheque handed over and a kiss from the manager and he was ours. Five minutes down the road in the car he threw up. Five minutes in the house and he had weed up the settee and collected an assortment of treasures including socks, toilet roll inner tubes, tissues and soft toys all placed in a pile under the table and garded. He ate at an amazing speed, fearing he would loose it to our other dogs. Then he started to bark, he has a fine bark on him. He barks for his tea, when a visitor arrives, the ...

The English Paysanne

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