It has been a busy old day. The happy farmer has spent the day, in the sunshine, working at the fank, gathering in the sheep and lambs, shedding and penning them, and marking each individual lamb. The lambs were castrated and their tails docked. They were vaccinated against various ailments, braxy, tetanus and so on. All of the sheep and the lambs were dosed with liquid to prevent liver fluke and gastric worm, before being allowed back to the fields and the hill to recover.
I sat watching the sun set, listening to the throaty chorus of the sheep, as they called to their lambs. One stood chewing the cud as if she had a piece of gum in her jaws, waiting for her turn to add her bleat to the tune, and all interspersed with the cuckoo calling from the woods, purple tinged, by the sun’s rays. The happy farmer and eldest daughter were racing in the distance through the fields on the quad bike, heading for home, after a final check of the sheep.
The potatoes, onions, leeks, carrots, courgettes, beetroot, swede and runner beans are now planted in the vegetable patch. I stood for nearly an hour walking back and forth across the ground with the hose, the dry weather is spectacular, but has left the ground dry and thirsty. Hopefully the heat and water will encourage the seeds to germinate, and begin to grow into edible delicacies.
My eldest daughter was thrilled; her cactus has sprouted a huge delicate pink and white flower. It had been a present from her grandparents, who had owned the cactus for years, it has never flowered before. In fact they said it was not a flowering cactus, but tonight, it is there, on her windowsill, blooming away.
Until next time…
I sat watching the sun set, listening to the throaty chorus of the sheep, as they called to their lambs. One stood chewing the cud as if she had a piece of gum in her jaws, waiting for her turn to add her bleat to the tune, and all interspersed with the cuckoo calling from the woods, purple tinged, by the sun’s rays. The happy farmer and eldest daughter were racing in the distance through the fields on the quad bike, heading for home, after a final check of the sheep.
The potatoes, onions, leeks, carrots, courgettes, beetroot, swede and runner beans are now planted in the vegetable patch. I stood for nearly an hour walking back and forth across the ground with the hose, the dry weather is spectacular, but has left the ground dry and thirsty. Hopefully the heat and water will encourage the seeds to germinate, and begin to grow into edible delicacies.
My eldest daughter was thrilled; her cactus has sprouted a huge delicate pink and white flower. It had been a present from her grandparents, who had owned the cactus for years, it has never flowered before. In fact they said it was not a flowering cactus, but tonight, it is there, on her windowsill, blooming away.
Until next time…
My brother has had cacti for years and they have never flowered! Well done that daughter!
ReplyDeleteCastration, vaccination, tetenus and then...the beautiful cactus flower. Don't you just love life! You certainly have a full and varied day - and you must have lots of energy to get through it!
ReplyDeleteLove the throaty chorus of the sheep calling, I could almost hear them. Your veg planting sounds very productive. Bet your girl is thrilled!
ReplyDeleteCatching up en masse again. So glad my farmer hasn't met Klaus - the evening sounds like his idea of heaven. Claims he has to sample what he grows! Pretty dry here too but we've spent the last week under sea fret so that's providing enough moisture to get the seeds going. Just finished the cottage cleaning now off to prepare for the B&B's. The peaceful life of the rural idyll, eh?
ReplyDelete