another fatality

when I went to let the chickens out this morning I found that another of the babies had died. That means we only have one chick left now. I don't know what has caused it's death. It just looked peaceful.
sheila x

what weather!

It has never stopped raining all day. More is forcast for tomorrow and even more for the day after! we have also got a plague of hoverflies ( not us personally, but Mablethorpe). When I went to the shop and parked at the co-op there were great clouds of them, getting in your hair etc. All the cars were alive with them and it took ages to get them out of the car before being able to drive.
susan and Trevor are having a great time in Skeggy. It doesn't rain in the pub! They have been going everywhere by bus so that they don't have to drive. And it's free with a bus pass!
nothing else to report. Life is very boring
Sheila x

mucking out!

Yesterday I went and bought a powder that treats red mite in Chickens. I don't think my girls have them but they are "lopping" rather a lot. whilst at the Agricultural shop the woman convinced me that I needed to clean the shed with Jeyes fluid ,so this morning, and it has taken me all morning, I have treated all 6 hens and had everything out of the shed and washed it all with Jeyes fluid. everything is beautifully clean now! I couldn't catch the babies though. They are far too fast for me!
Nothing much else happening. Gina and Andrew are coming on Friday.

Funny

This made me laugh. you have no idea how hard I try not to sneeze






MY LIFE AS A CAR
« on: Today at 12:35:55 PM »
Quote
Please don't let me get like this - don't think I'm there yet IF MY BODY WERE A CAR... If my body were a car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a newer model. I've got bumps and dents and scratches in my finish and my paint job is getting a little dull ... But that's not the worst of it.. My headlights are out of focus and it's especially hard to see things up closeMy traction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather. My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins.It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed. My fuel rate burns inefficiently. But here's the worst of it -- .......Almost every time I sneeze, cough or sputter - either my radiator leaks or my exhaust backfires!

doghouse

It seems I am in the doghouse because I have been running Sheffield down. Sorry about that but you have to experience moving away. When you go back you see all the changes that perhaps you wouldn't notice had you continued to live there if you see what I mean ?
Anyway it doesn't change the way I feel about all my family and friends who still live in Sheffield although to be fair I see more of some of them then I did when I lived in Sheffield!
Susan and Trevor are coming on Friday and two lots of friends have visited this week so I don't feel that I am missing anything.
Last night the W.I went to visit an open garden at East Keal. It was an old vicarage, circa 1735 and after we had walked the garden which was fantastic, we were invited to partake of cake etc in the pool house.!
Sonia has been having weird weather but it's been glorious here all day. Perhaps it's coming and we will get all the crap tomorrow. I hope it's nice on Saturday as we are invited to a garden party.
No hen news.
Love Sheila x

Back in sunny mablethorpe

Well here we are, back in sunny Mablethorpe.I thought Sheffield was the most appalling place and can't see how anyone would miss it.We stayed for one night in the Royal Victoria which used to be a top class place where only the rich stayed. It was a big disapointment and seemed slightly shabby.Anyway it was somewhere to sleep. Cherie's party was just a big family affair. There were people there who were relatives but who I hadn't seen for a long time, and it was the usual loud, shouty affair.
Next day, we went to lunch at the Grange Golf Club as a guest of Muneer. What a lovely place! there were ten of us and we had a lovely 3 course lunch, which muneer got a discount on as a member. He was also able to get members rates on the drinks which was a relief to Graham as I was paying for them as his birthday celebration! Anyway there was Sonia and Michael. Joseph and Karen, Muneer and Pauline, Gina and Andrew and of course me and Graham. We got there at 12.30 and came out at 4pm and there was constant banter which was hard to keep up with as everyone talked at once. Bliss! To be amongst those we love is just the best thing! when I win the lottery I am going to have a family holiday!
I'm out tonight with the W.I so we have had dinner at lunchtime, If you see what I mean.
No news on the chicken front. All is going nicely.
Sheila x

Another dead chicken

when I went to let the chickens out this morning I found that one of the chicks was on the floor dead. There were no marks on it but it was very stiff as though it had been dead all night. It was perfectly alright when I put them to bed so I don't know what has happened. If I carry on at this rate I shan't have any chickens left.

muffins

.

I just made these Raspberry and toasted Almond muffins. The smell of the raspberries cooking is out of this world! We will have them with the clotted cream. they are quite easy to make providing you have the ingredients to hand.

RASPBERRY AND TOASTED ALMOND MUFFINS


10zs S/R Flour
6ozs Sugar
5 oz flaked Almonds
5 0z margerine
150. mls Milk
2 Beaten Eggs
12 oz Raspberries

Toast almonds
melt margerine in the milk
Mix everything together except Raspberries
Beat well to ensure well mixed
add Raspberries
put in muffin papers and cook for 25 minutes at gas 5

sheila x

this one is the cutest

the chicks

big chicken house

I spoke too soon in yesterdays blog. All the chickens put themselves to bed in the big house without as much as a by your leave last night so we are able to close up the nursery until it's needed again. The chicks are galivanting everywhere and make us laugh how they climb through the fence that the bigger birds can't get through. If they are all cockerels I don't know how we will decide which one is for the chop!
The weather is glorious despite the weather man saying that we are going to have torrential rain.
Curry for dinner tonight so I am marinating some lamb so that we can have some Tandoori meat as well as Lamb curry and Lentil curry with rice and chapattis.
nothing else to report.
Sheila x

not much to do.

Today is very boring. thats what you get when you are old. graham is very busy with his posters and I am rattling around the house doing little jobs and reading the paper. I went into the garage and pulled a plug out of it's socket, thinking that I was helping Graham but he went berserk. I thought at the very least I had stopped his life support machine but no,it was only the plug that controls the automatic light censor. He will have to fix it and that will take time away from his posters. Oh dear! how sad. never mind!
had a phone call from gina. she's chuffed because they were throwing away their,as they thought, potato plants that had died, only to find an abundance of potatoes. They are going to sow some more now so that they can have some for christmas.
nothing to report on the chicken front. The babies are running free and oh boy can they shift? I don't think it will be long before they can all go back into the big house together with the other hens.
sheila x

Paella

Yesterday we went to a farm near Immingham. the man said he would give us some Lime for our chicken run. It was very interesting. he makes paint with no chemicals etc from lime. they are lovely colours and textures ( which he gets from the addition of horse hair etc.) brilliant!
He also sells Paella cooking utensils which he imports from Spain. I toyed with the idea of buying one but may still go back and get one. He also told us where to go on Grimsby docks to get the best fish and shell fish etc. All together a very rewarding trip out.
The weather today has been dreadful. Cold and dull and just like a November day.Away with the shorts etc and hello jumpers!
Nothing to report on the chicken front. All is well for the moment.
sheila x

Lemonade scones

I like these lemonade scones. They don't have any sugar in so can be eaten as a savoury with cheese etc or as a sweet with jam or fruit.
We have just been to pick some strawberries to have with ours!
On a more somber note. Both the hen and the Scottish chick are both dead despite my best efforts.
weather is lovely so I am off to sit out a bit before it rains.
Sheila x

scottish chick

This is how the baby chick looks as we go to bed tonight. I hope it will survive 'till morning. If not, well I tried.
Sheila x

a scottish egg

One of the scottish eggs has hatched but has been thrown out of the nest. It's a poor little scrawny thing. I have wrapped it in a teashirt and will try to keep it alive although I don't hold out much hope. The hens are not even bothering with the remainder of the eggs so I don't suppose there will be anymore chicks. Oh well we tried!
The poorly hen has rallied a bit and has gone out into the field. I don't know if she will come back at dinner time or not.
The weather has been sunny today but now at 4.30 it has gone black overhead. all is doom and gloom. Oh and my back is sunburnt despite the fact that I stay in the shade.
Sheila x

Empathy

Another hen came and lay next to the dying hen for a while.

dying hen

This hen has been a bit quiet for a couple of days but was much worse this morning. I gave her a solluble asprin and a quick bath in a bowl of lukewarm water. she has been laying on her side ever since.The others have been pecking her.

Poor old graham!

Graham always seems to get work when it's lovely weather outside. I can't help him as I am useless with a brush.

this is the video of michael Jacksons last rehersal.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8131776.stm

life is just a bowl of cherries!

Me and Graham have just stripped our neighbours cherry tree. 5lbs of lovely cherries, not counting the ones we were compelled to eat. I shall make some jam tomorrow when it is said that it will rain.
Sheila x

The amazing bed sheets!

I thought I was too hot. Then I realised that I had got all Grahams bedsheets as well as my own. It's funny how it's reversed in Winter!