The English Paysanne

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.

Vanille and Bambou were moved this morning back into Gorgons field,  a little excited with the prospect of a Summer full of gite guests bringing carrots and attention.

Now the weather is warming up the time has come for Miss Fatty to have her yearly shear. Each year we think this may be the last for she is certainly getting on in years with her joints giving her pain, a daily rose hip pill eased the aches up till now however she has also started a dose of hemp seed oil to see if that works too (at least she may be happy and laid back 😵). Farmer J is relieved he only has to trim one wool coat and four hooves now as it does strain the back. At least with the weight of her wool off it may put a spring in her steep although she was very laid back being trimmed.

A rare moment of seeing the donkeys laying down, moved into Gorgons field to eat down the grass they are doing a good job, although Vanille and Bambo are  OK with the sheep and pigs the ducks are being chased out of their cornered off field, thankfully the chickens are a bit faster otherwise it would be a noisy clucking time.

For five months the cattle have been eating hay twice a day but today was their time to go back to pasture, they were more than ready. With two loads in the trailer going to La Contie the rest, the naughty but nice ones stayed at La Singlarie. Calves are on green grass for the first time following the herds around. Now for Spring time jobs to get started - so much free time for farmer J. Fencing, tidying around the farm, getting machines ready for hay cutting, getting the gites gardens ready for Summer and a new bathroom to fit, his feet won't be touching the ground.

Living at the top of a hill does sometimes have its  positives. Today it was lovely and bright up at La Singlarie, down below us was a blanket of thick mist.

Since the cattle have been coming in the hanger for feeding morning and evening it has also needed to be cleaned out. They sleep here during the night so clean straw is laid out for them each time. With more heads comes more manure meaning cleaning is more frequent but it is nice to know once finished they can sleep in peace. Others of the four legged feline kind don't need to shovel poo or fluff up straw, they just take in the sun rays of today while we worked.

It's been a long time since a wrote a line. But life has carried on here, busy with winter stuff, feeding the cows morning and night, dog walking, cleaning out the animals and normal stuff plus I have been studying to be a canine behaviourist with just my thesis to write now I am nearly qualified, so if you have a dog in need i may be able to help. The white stuff arrived yesterday although a bit chilly it didn't stay long, although we are due to have more but this depends on which weather web site you look at, however none say warm and sunny at the moment 😎. So I will be back soon .....