egg layers!

well the two new girls survived the night but are still being picked on by the others. However they have both layed an egg this morning! Poor little things. they talk away to me and are not so scared of me as the others. I shall give them some tidbits when the others aren't looking to reward them for the eggs.One of the newby's has just emerged from the front garden. God knows how she got there but at least she was heading home and went straight into the pen when I called her.
The duck is still sitting on her eggs and the father keeps coming ever so often to have a look at her.
nothing else to report.
sheila x

Sold a pup?

We stopped on the way home at a chicken farm and asked if he had any chickens he wanted to rehome? no he did not, he said. all my chickens are perfect but I will sell you two. When we got them home we found that they are threadbare and one in particular has been so badly henpecked it's practicely naked around the neck! Of course as soon as we put them in with the other hens they were attacked and had even more feathers pulled out! We have seperated them for now but will put them in to sleep together tonight. god knows what the morning will bring.

popes

I had to laugh this morning when I read a review of a book by John Julious Norwich called "the Popes"
Describing a 10th century pope he wrote "We read with some surprise that his rapes of virgins and widows had deterred female pilgrims from visiting the shrine of St.Peter,lest in the devout act,they should be violated by his successor"
And on the trial of John XX111 in 1416 " The most scandalous charges were suppressed. the vicar of christ was only accused of piracy,murder,rape,sodomy and incest"
Paul II in 1464 only had two weeknesses, for good looking young men and for melons. A surfeit of both brought on the stroke that killed him!
and finally the incorrigible John XXIII was rumoured to have seduced 200 matrons, widows and virgins, to say nothing of an alarming number of nuns!

Oh well. The more things change the more they stay the same!
Sheila x

wonderfully camauflaged

15 duck eggs in the nest so far. Aren't they well hidden? graham scared the mother off when he started to mow the grass but I guess she will come back as she did last year.

Yesterday

Deciding to pull myself together, graham and I went to a local shop. On our way there we decided to visit our old hens in their new home. What a surprise to find Ed the Duck still firmly in charge. Still bossing the two cockerels, who are so grown that we hardly recognised them. One of our original hens has died but the others are still the same. they all live in a hut with a big fat pig! They perch on his back and he doesn't seem to mind. There were three horses, several very noisy geese and two large owls, and one small owl. all in all a total menagerie. We came away with some fresh eggs and an invitation to visit any time!
The weather is absolutely glorious and spring is definately here. Time to put the garden furniture out. Perhaps not, as soon as we do the weather will revert back to winter.
sheila x

Thanks for your concern!

Today I had to have a fasting blood test at the doctors. It's the first time I have been out for a week. I even missed the W.I last night as I didn't feel well enough. However I should say that I am feeling much better then I did and all I have wrong now is a hacking cough. Thanks to all the people who telephoned and wrote to see how I was. Graham has just taken me to the shops which I needed to do but I have come back feeling exhausted! ( End of whinge!)

spring lambs

I am still not well enough to go out so Graham took these photos of the new lambs near our house. Aren't they adorable?

Is it spring?

I am still not feeling too good but in an attempt to pull myself together I made some french bread because we always used to go to France in the spring time and it reminds me of better times.

The barmen

Hope this picture comes up of the barmen at Woody's.

sore throat

I have not been feeling too good for the past couple of days. A very sore throat, possibly tonsillitis.Apparently everyone in Sheffield has it. The only thing is that I haven't been to Sheffield!
Any way so nothing has been happening except me whining about how ill I feel. Could it be that my new found vegetarianism has weakened my immune system?
We had a nice card last week from Park Circle where we stay in Florida, saying how much they miss us around the place, and today an e. mail from Peter, The owner, telling us that he had been in our favorite bar, Woodies last night and the two bar men had sent their best wishes. I was going to put a picture of them on here but my computer won't let me.
Must go and gargle. More later.
Sheila x

new hens continued

Well I opened the door to the 6 acre field. Not without some trepidation I can tell you. All three hens went out. Two minutes later all three hens came back and they have made no effort to repeat the experience despite the fact that the door is open. They are still not interested in interacting with me and are not interested in any food other then the layer pellets and corn. They have however learned to go on the perch at night and have put themselves to bed for two consecutive nights so things are looking up somewhat. We shall see!

committee dinner

Out last night to the Wagon and Horses for our annual W.I. committee dinner. It was excellent. I had Mussels cooked in cream and white wine followed by Vegetarian cottage pie ( which was so lovely that I hardly got to eat any as everyone wanted a taste!) chips and veg etc.
For pudding I had lemon pancake and icecream. all of this was helped along by copious amounts of Merlot!
My new hens are still not responding to me, nor to any titbits I am attempting to bribe them with. So I have decided to let them out into the 6 acres next door. I don't know what we will do if they won't come home. fun and games no doubt. more on this later.
Sheila x

new hens.

My new hens are very timid and run away when I approach. They are not eating any of the food I am putting out and much prefer to eat the grass. I think they have probably never seen grass before and are going mad on it. It has only been three days since they came to their new home so I suppose they probably need more time to settle in. My other girls were so much more adventurous and outgoing!

The new girls

I only bought three new chickens. Just as I thought, the man had every type of chicken in the world except the ones I wanted. However I did want these three which are 2 bluebelles and 1 black rock. They are unlike my other girls who were very boistrous. These are timid and placid. They are locked in for a while until they know where they live.

And so to bed!

After going to bed at around 11pm we finally dropped off at 12.30am. suddenly there was an almighty yelp and all the lights went on. Graham said " I have been bitten on my hand!" At first there was nothing to see and I was convinced he had probably been scratched by a duvee feather. Pretty soon though his hand started to redden and swell. This instituted a stripping of the bed etc but we couldn't find anything. After trips to the bathroom and the kitchen to put vinegar on the bite.( which Graham said was very painful ) we decided to try going back to sleep.As soon as we went back into the bedroom Graham found the culprit. A great big Wasp! Now where would a wasp have come from in a very cold March? needless to say the wasp died of a slight headach curtesy of Grahams shoe.
Going back to sleep was impossible so once again it was back to reading until about 2am.

The vegetarian diet is going so so. It all seems a big faff but maybe thats because I am cooking two different meals. I haven't missed meat yet though.
more later. I have to go collect my new chickens now.
Sheila x

continuance.

Continueing yesterday's post I can reveal that after some initial tossing and turning I did manage to sleep until 3.30am. I then got up and took two ibuprofen with the result that I did go back to sleep and then couldn't wake up at 8am!
I have just called a local hen breeder and told him what kind of hens I wanted.He did the garage mechanic sucking of teeth thing and said " Oh you don't want them. They are temperamental buggers" I have a feeling that when we go tomorrow I shall finish up with a bunch of hens that are nothing like what I want! We have done a quick recci. of the hen huts and environs just to check that the new girls will be comfortable in their new home. Graham has gone to the shop to get some empty boxes to transport them in. Photos tomorrow hopefully.
Also continueing the vegetarian trial I am having Mashed vegetables ( Potatoes, sprouts swede,parsnip,onions sweetcorn, and peppers) done in the oven with Parmesan cheese and an egg.
I shall have sides of Mange tout and sprouts. graham is having roast rabbit.
This will be followed by yoghurt and honey. I think this meal will meet all my diatary requirements but who knows?

To those in my family who are having a hard time at the moment, I send my love and all my thoughts.
sheila x

So tired!

Oh I am so tired. Last night I went to bed expecting to sleep but was still reading at 4am. Then when it was time to get up I couldn't wake up! Jet lag eh?
I have decided that I don't really like meat so I am going to try a vegetarian regime (except for bacon) and see how I get along with it. Todays dinner is Stuffed aubergines, Rice and cauliflower cheese. A bit of a mix but I don't know what else to have. Graham is having the same but with a lamb cutlet.
Wish me luck when I go to bed tonight.
Sheila x