Still awaiting summer

Well - way too long since I posted, but after both a successful lambing and much easier calving than last year, plus a massive summer flood, all we need now is for some decent weather to make some winter fodder. We have a show team of Shetland sheep - Cumberland Show saw a second for Toddy in the ram class and a second for Toffee and third for Agnes in the ewe class. Skelton show was then cancelled due to the weather, but we had a day out at North Lonsdale near Ulverston last week, and although we won no prizes in the minority breeds section, we had a lovely time.
New for next year, we will have only two rooms for B&B - the en-suite as it is now, and the current twin room which will have private use of the bathroom. This room will be available as either twin, or king size double. These alterations will take place in November, ready for our February re-opening.

Tups fighting!

All the boys have been in the shed now for over ten days and we have been keeping them penned up quite tight to try and avoid big fights. So today, out came the trailer, all loaded in and up to the field behind the house. Several serious bouts of headbutting later, some chasing about, some bloodshed (especially Jarvis because he takes such a long run up to a butt) and now it is dark so we just have to hope they have sorted the pecking order out and no serious damage is caused overnight. Fingers' crossed.

At a farm sale yesterday, we managed to pick up a bale sledge to make haytime easier, as this deposits the small bales in heaps around the field instead of one by one all over, and a calf restraining crate to make tagging easier.

We have had to haul a couple of windblown trees out of the river just below High Stocks Bridge caused by the storms, but the weather has been lovely the last few days so lets hope it continues.

Only seven and a half weeks until lambing, so lots to do!!

High Winds

Well it is windy today, but not as bad as the south of Scotland. It was lovely yesterday, the kind of day that makes you start planning lots of 'spring' jobs but back to normal today with the river on the verge of flooding and the wind blowing like a good un! At least it has given me a chance to clear up after the festivities, only the Christmas trees to take down now so that will be tomorrows job as even more rain is forecast.
Looking to get the hall and landing decorated before we open for spring so need to get on with that and also on farm, need to try and get sheds ready for lambing time, not easy when they are fairly constantly full of sheltering animals.