Since spring there's been a lot of bird activity going on here. We've brought chickens to grow for meat and the wild birds have been busy constructing nests, laying eggs, collecting food for their babies now there's a bit of flying lesson going on. I did try to take a photo but not yet quick enough to be a snappy photographer.
Bigger birds have been seen as well, buzzards and a sparrow hawk. One of these manged to kill one of the new chickens, who are now confined to the barn until there run is finished. We've had lots of buzzards in previous years then a murder of crows (yes I didn't know that's what a flock of crows are called, can see why as they are murderers to out chicks) came and drove them away.
The next day two of the first batch of chicks went missing. Bailing twine was threaded through to try and deter the killer. Tuesday evening he had managed to get between the twine to kill another chicken, a bigger one this time and to heavy to take leaving the body. More twine this time vertically woven seems to of worked.
So this has meant a bit more work on getting pens in place.
Until yesterday there's been no rain with lovely sunny days enabling work in the veggie patch the tomatoes are looking a bit happier, the potatoes are growing
and we had our first batch of broad beans.
The red currants are turning.
As are the blackcurrants.
Even the apple tree that was nibbled by the donkeys a few years ago has apples growing.
In one of our gite gardens the lemon balm I planted has taken over this spring, seems to of liked the wet. Transplanting some to our borders I may regret next year when its taken over.
Farmer J is getting ready for haymaking.
to get the first trailer back.
before the rain arrived Saturday afternoon. A change with winds picking up cooler weather and darker skies putting a stop to outside work, so I made a coffee and hazelnut cake
and bread
This morning I managed to finish planting the last of the tomatoes, given by a friend and peppers.
A fight with this huge burdock plant meant I could fit the courgettes in.
Just in time before the rain came. (again)
Bigger birds have been seen as well, buzzards and a sparrow hawk. One of these manged to kill one of the new chickens, who are now confined to the barn until there run is finished. We've had lots of buzzards in previous years then a murder of crows (yes I didn't know that's what a flock of crows are called, can see why as they are murderers to out chicks) came and drove them away.
The next day two of the first batch of chicks went missing. Bailing twine was threaded through to try and deter the killer. Tuesday evening he had managed to get between the twine to kill another chicken, a bigger one this time and to heavy to take leaving the body. More twine this time vertically woven seems to of worked.
So this has meant a bit more work on getting pens in place.
Until yesterday there's been no rain with lovely sunny days enabling work in the veggie patch the tomatoes are looking a bit happier, the potatoes are growing
The red currants are turning.
As are the blackcurrants.
Even the apple tree that was nibbled by the donkeys a few years ago has apples growing.
In one of our gite gardens the lemon balm I planted has taken over this spring, seems to of liked the wet. Transplanting some to our borders I may regret next year when its taken over.
to get the first trailer back.
before the rain arrived Saturday afternoon. A change with winds picking up cooler weather and darker skies putting a stop to outside work, so I made a coffee and hazelnut cake
and bread
This morning I managed to finish planting the last of the tomatoes, given by a friend and peppers.
A fight with this huge burdock plant meant I could fit the courgettes in.
Just in time before the rain came. (again)
My blackcurrants are still green! Our apples are looking good though for the first year ever!
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