BLANK...

   Umm. Well, the garden has taken a back seat this last week or more. Pulled a few carrots and swedes, dug up a few leeks but other than that, nowt done! Yes it has rained and boy did it rain the one day! My neighbour was out and about unblocking the culverts. Other days have been damp and miserable but some have been mild enough to go do some work but did I? No. Shame on me! I did today (19/12/17) clear some brambles and leaves etc to allow me better access with the wheelbarrow to feed the sheep.
  I am now having to feed the rams hay. I had to get our local farmer to drop me off a huge bail of hay. As it happens he owed me for damaging my fence back in the autumn so he let me have the bail gratis and said there was another if I wanted it. He is a very kind and generous person. We have lost another chicken. No idea why. It just gave up and went into a corner and died. Guess it was its  time. Hopefully there is not anything infecting the birds. The rest look fine at the moment. Egg production is pathetic. They do not like the short days. One chicken is in moult and she looks a site.
   Hopefully it will stay mild and I will have the will to go out and do some work, however, Christmas is around the corner and I have baking to do! Lol! 
   Next blog entry will probably be in the New Year rather than next week

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL.

Buff Orpington hen avoiding Mr. Ixworth

Forthsythia bud starting to burst

Snow?

   What can I say? The week has gone by and to me it seems I have done in the garden. It has been wet and the odd morning of frost but really the weather should not have stopped me getting on with stuff! We even had a sprinkling of snow. There were a so some late migrating Gru (Common Crane) that flew over. Guess the wind has been in the wrong direction for them. Mind you short days do not help in the slightest! Hey ho. The branches of the pine tree have now been cleared and a bonfire is waiting to be lit. Needs to be dry though. I continue to pull carrots and swede, cut cabbage and dig up leeks. Much to my surprise the peas I sowed which are now about two/three inches high are surviving the frosts. Goodness knows if they will get through the winter. There has been more going on on the animal front than the garden front.
   One of the hens has died, the only Rhode Island red. No obvious reason. I am now having to feed the rams hay as they have managed to eat down the grass. I need to  get rid of some of them.
   Christmas is just around the corner and we will have Champeau veg with our turkey crown without doubt. Sprouts, parsnip, potatoes all home grown.
   I have now started to think about next years seed sowing. The online catalogues of both my favourite seed merchants are now available so I need to put some serious thought into what I may plant and sow next year.

First snow of winter