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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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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