That time of year again

June, it's a busy time of year with lots of different things needing attention on the farm. The gites are occupied so deep cleaning has been needed with the gardens also needing attention, grass is growing at an incredible rate, good for the pigs as they eat the clippings not good for me as I end up hot, sweaty and with green feet due to getting too hot and having to wear the faithful summer Birkenstock's I love so well.

The hay is ready to be cut, farmer J has to grease up the machines while keeping an eye on the weather forecast for five days of unbroken sun/ dry weather in order to cut, turn, return, line up and bail.

Also ready to cut are the sheep's fleeces, when we had a small herd a sheerer done the job for 2 Euros a piece, a bargain for the amount of time and back ache farmer J suffered from but now with only two old girls, one who's fleece probably counts as half a fleece now as bits are falling off her as I write we would be hard pushed for a shearer to come out just for ten minutes work using electric shears not like the hand shears farmer J uses (which takes a bit longer). So this evening after feeding time Miss fatty had her locks cut, living up to her name she is a big girl, with a few rolls of fat (like us all) so weighs quiet a weight, which as she relaxes turns into a dead weight leaning on farmer J as he shears. She will be a lot happier come tomorrow when it is suppose to be hot and continuing for the week. Robs ewe will be trimmed tomorrow morning after feeding time and before breakfast for us apparently.

I haven't seen the veggie garden this week so will be needing to do a complete weed over, hoping those pesky rabbits have kept away or failing that eaten the weeds and not the tender veg I am trying to grow.

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Snap shot

A moment from the week at La Singlarie Another steer went off on Wednesday. After spending 3 years with them it doesn't get any easier when they leave.

Weeding

Potatoes A sad looking patch Hunting for carrots The weather has now gone from one extreme to the other from rain, rain and a bit more rain to hot, sunny and hotter. Time to access the veggie patch after I planted everything in one hit and then it got very damp and soggy. Well the potatoes are growing well, although they are going to be a lot later this year, kind of Earlie's for late ones and late ones maybe ready for Christmas dinner ( if they survive the bugs, rabbits and moles). The weeds have and still are growing really well, this morning was spent finding the carrots and parsnips, which I have with no help from Sorrel, who after a quick sniff lazed under the shade of the apple tree (which by the looks of it hasn't got hardly any apples on it?) The poor herb seeds sowed don't look to good or the french and runner beans, think a hungry mouse have nibbled on them so I will have to resow (once I have weeded -again)

A problematic Ewe

While Master C and Miss F were here over the weekend we took the opportunity for their help in moving the two ewes, Gorgon and Thumberlina to the field where the donkeys had been. What with all the rain we have had lately the grass grow super quick. The only problem was Miss Fatty did not want to move from her safe field (if only she knew she was moving to new lush grass). It took farmer J and Master C to try moving her after pushing from me and Master C had failed and she fell to the floor not moving an inch. There try also failed so they were both lead through the field in another direction. Of course once in the new field there was no looking back. Gorgon on the other hand was a breeze to move, as long as you have food he will follow, you just need to make sure you have enough food!

The English Paysanne

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