Making hay....

while the sun shines. Last year we made hay in September because it had been so wet that it couldn't be cut before. This year it was so dry there was no grass, but after the rain in earl August, suddenly there was enough to cut. Thank goodness we had a week of dry(ish) weather to get it all in.

I was called upon for Tractor Driving duties, and here's the lovely machine. A David Brown - this is the 4wd version. BiL also has a 2wd with smaller front wheels and a lift.

Sheep Sales

Spoils from the Woolfest Sheep Auction. Don't know what their names are as they're both very quiet.

Woolfest - Yay

Tomorrow we're off to Cockermouth for this year's Woolfest. This year we'll be taking four Kerry Hill fleeces from Ann and John's shearlings.

I was getting a bit worried that they wouldn't be shorn in time but John came up trumps and sheared them last Saturday.


And yes, he is shearing them on the roadside! And no, none of them escaped! They were real scaredy-cats before, but since being shorn they're getting rather bold. I couldn't believe how big they are!

More Baby Photos

Tiger is now in the next field to Kanga and is totally besotted with her. He runs up and down squeeling (he's too little to have a proper neigh).

His previous love, Rosie, is now totally ignored. Mind you, she doesn't do much except eat grass. Kanga is much more interesting. She runs round and chases people and attacks cars and everything.

He's obviously more keen on dangerous women. It's a pity he doesn't realise she's only a little girl and probably won't be interested in him when she grows up. He can still dream though.

Cross Country Practice

Can't quite remember when I've been as wet as I was on Wednesday evening. There was cross country practice at Ettington and unfortunately I volunteered to hold the video camera!




Considering he's been out of work since Easter he did very well




You can't tell from the vids just how wet it was. And the grass was soaking wet!

Baby's all grown up

Well she's 13 months old and she's already in a cob size headcollar - even if it is a little large. She stands about 15 hands high and doesn't have the look of a yearling at all.

This week she has resumed her education and is now being led around the field in a headcollar - albeit with a handler on each side. Most of the time she manages to behave herself. Every now and then she has a bit of a paddy but nothing like she has done.

Tiger is in the next field and is totally smitten with her. When she's being led up and down he follows the other side of the fence, whinnying. Only because he's so little it's a really high-pitched whinny. He's so cute! We might try them together, with supervision as I'd hate for her to bully him. I'd also hate her to become one of those horses who won't go anywhere without their companion.

Saying that she manages to behave herself, she's really good to catch and is quite happy to be made a fuss of. The problem is when you try to leave. She'll do anything to keep you there and can get a bit bargy, chase you, bit and kick at you. A wee bit scary. And if you try to drive the car away from her she stands in front of it and bites the bonnet. Naughty Kanga!

We were trying to find out if anything would phase her. She doesn't seem to mind umbrellas much.

Snow Babies

I was getting a bit concerned that the girls are out in all this cold weather. Ha! They couldn't care less!

My baby girl

Kanga was 7 months old in this pic. She isn't actually as big as Ruby but it's only a matter of time! I think she might be even bigger than Mummy when she's fully grown and she's got attitute in spades.

Unfortunately she takes after both Mummy and Daddy in her attitude and is extremely intelligent (or do all proud owners think that?).

Nah, Jack's a bit simple!

And this is her trying on her new rug. I don't think it's going to fit for very long.