The English Paysanne

Sunday brought a bit of wind our way, continuing on through to last night. Monday was spent clearing a rather large tree which had come down from the corner of our field blocking the road another one came down next to it but thankfully landed the other way in our bottom field. In between moving tree branches and limbs farmer J was up the ladder re clipping the poly-tunnel plastic trying to keep it with us and not flying away. It was only later in the day we noticed the top of the trailer had some what slipped from the beams it sits on. This morning tiles had fallen during the night from the barn where some of our hay is stored. We have to wait to see what the wind speed was as the insurance is only covered if it was over 100 kms. Farmer J has managed to place the tiles back to keep out the rain. He now just has a bit of wood to pick up from down the road along with his right-hand woman.

A moment from the week at La Singlarie It's been mainly wet here this week, were starting to get webbed feet.

A moment from the week at La Singlarie We've had a bit of dodgy weather yesterday evening, have yet to check out the veggie garden for casualties, boy did it tip it down.

We have had so much rain over the past week that the fields are sodden, the Aveyron river has burst its banks and when walking in the woods the amount of small streams that have popped up all over the place means wellies are in order (as well as towels at the end of our walks for a rather wet dog) Unfortunately in the barn where Gorgon and his mates sleep a flood has arrived due to  pipe that comes into the barn, where from who knows but it has resulted in a wet bed for the piggies and a lot of wet hay moving for me. Only the ducks have found it quiet amusing having a mini fountain running and puddle to splash their feet in. The pigs have had to put up with a new bed being put in the corner by the door, not as cosy but at least they are dry.

A moment from the week at La Singlarie When the wind blows the small poly tunnel gets wrecked.

It really felt like a Monday today, with more heavy rain over the weekend it has been pretty wet and today the rain continued. First thing a chicken was found unable to walk, she is in the puppy crate at the moment resting, not sure she is going to improve it seems her legs have given up. With all the rain the barn which houses the chickens and ducks flooded one end. This means a very clean barn floor that Gorgon could eat his tea on and happy ducks. Those ducks are so happy with the amount of puddles and flowing water in the field there's no chance of them getting in that pond at the moment. Streams have also have been flowing from the top of the pig hill down to the road. Lots of mud and soggy pigs with only one sows cabin leaking, which was rectified they were all given straw to line their cabins. Having floors has helped keep dry unless they are like the two pigs at the bottom of the hill who are having great fun lifting up their floor (it is in two se...

I was going to write about the veggie patch today and what was going on in it, suffice to say it is a bit soggy tonight.We had been in to town to have a pizza, do the weekly shop and must do things when the sky changed looking like it may rain as we came outside the supermarket it did so rain for a very short period. A discussion then followed as ifcyou it was raining at home as I needed to water in the seeds and plants I had sown and put in. We decided as its very localised weather around it would not be raining and the weather forecast of a chance of showers would miss us. So the hose would have to come out for the first time this year. By the time we had unpacked bags, had a cup of tea and got our pig clothes on the weather had turned with big rain drops falling, thinking it may pass we carried on up to feed the pigs, which by the time we got up to them shelter had to be taken as it poured. We decided to come back leaving fee...

 Now we are in February the weather has started to change into mid winter weather, a flurry of snow, sleet, rain, wind and damp weather has made everywhere look a bit drab. Mud is everywhere, the cows are grounded to a small bit of the field and hanger as there big hoofed would rip the fields up making them no good for grass this year. Pigs keep digging, hiding their troughs under mud, four were moved after there was nowhere left to put there food troughs or for them to stand. I keep getting stuck, a small group of four managed to push me over in  their eagerness for food tonight. mud managed to get through my overalls, in my boots, inside my rubber gloves and up my sleeve. Then it started to snow, thankfully by the time we had got back to the house it had stopped. Franklin was back at the vets for a check on his stitches, a couple were removed for his leg to drain. it has had to be manipulated and sprayed with blue antiseptic spray twice a day thankf...

 With mixed weather of sun and rain mornings have looked like this, normally Autumnal weather leaves beautiful mists in the valley but this year it has been the coolest and wettest summer since we moved here nearly ten years ago.  Wednesday morning when feeding the pigs we only had six in a enclosure when there should be seven, overnight we lost one. Normally there is evidence of an escape - digging under the electric fence, the fence out of its hooks, hoof prints and earth dug up as they forage but there was no signs at all. It's just vanished. To find a black small pig where we are surrounded by woods is a bit like searching for a needle in a hay stack, we are hoping its still near, neighbours heard pig noises yesterday evening so it may find its way back. Empty enclosures have been left open with food and bread ( the bread has gone?). Sandy our sow went missing for four days when we first got her after being scared of the other two sows she came to us with return...

Grey, wet days - we seem to be having quiet a few of these at the moment. The sky has shown many colours of blue today, not the bright sunny blue but dark stormy shades,the it's going to pour in a minute blue and it's all getting a bit boring. The winter ritual of Monday morning cleaning out the cows hanger seems to be getting harder each week. At least we should only have around another six weeks before the cows will be allowed out in the field. They enjoy coming in once the hanger has been cleaned  hay that is no good for eating is laid down for them, which they start eating it straight away - if this was put in front of them to eat at feeding time they would refuse it. You wouldn't think cows are fussy but they are, along with the sheep who now have a hay net in the hope they will not waste so much. The donkeys are sifting through their hay rations to find the best bits, then will eat the less appetising left overs. Most of the animal...