25^th February

Eldest daughter was highly entertained by the early morning visitor to the farm. A neighbouring bitch on heat was circling the dog kennels trying desperately to find a way in through the fence. The sheepdog had his nose glued through a gap, heavily panting away, trying equally hard to find a way out. Luckily there was no way in, or out…..but glad to see ours are not the only dogs to go visiting in the neighbourhood, even if ours seem to prefer the neighbouring hens to other people’s dogs!

A lull in the too frequent stormy weather allowed the happy farmer and a trailer of children to make their way through the fields on the quad bike to feed the animals. Visiting auntie was happily perched on a bale of hay among them, as they made their way around the highland cows and over to the horses.

Later we headed to the beach in search of shells and driftwood. The sun shone for the most part and the cliff faces provided welcome shelter from the odd malingering shower as we braved the sea breeze, a seal in tow and four swans, as we scoured the beach for our treasures. No driftwood unfortunately, but a bag full of shells and we wandered home contented, where tea and pancakes fresh from the range quelled our appetites. I unfortunately had to do the baking as my youngest and busiest little baker was down visiting her Seanmhair (grandmother) busy mixing a birthday dumpling for Friday, and youngest’s birthday.

Today the storms are raging again, battering the farmhouse once again and the interior is being turned into an obstacle course. The happy farmer frustrated at not being able to get on with his building work outside is busy fitting a shower into one of the bedrooms. The problem with these projects is that they seem to take over the whole house, a bit of wood here, some rusty nails there and of course the pile of discarded jumpers, coats and gloves from the morning’s feeding rounds, not to mention the wellies and the ever so big boots….

Until next time…