Local wildlife

Spotted by James when picking stones on the Lots this afternoon.

And just in case you haven't got your "I Spy British Wildlife" book handy, it's a leveret. And if you don't know what that is - well. . . . .

Every Picture Tells A Story

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We had planned to let the cows out later this week, but when James when to "shove the silage up" after dinner, they were all outside (they can wander in and out to the "loafing area"). The sun is shining, the sky is blue, the grass is green and the cows can smell it. So we checked the gates and fences, and opened the yard gate . . . .

The Great Grass Rush

Enjoying the sun in the Teapot Field

Nearly there. . .

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When I came back from town this morning, I saw something that I've not seen since early December - cows in the fields! So far it's only 16 dry cows, but it's a bit less feeding and mucking out twice a day, and it won't be long before the joyous charge through the yard of the milk cows, means that it really is the end of winter.

Another sign of the season - broad stripes in the the fields that Henry has rolled (and yes, there's enough grass to to see where he's been).

Looking for the summer

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At last the grass is growing - we finished putting muck on yesterday and this morning Henry is chain harrowing, while James is going on a grand tour - checking gates and fences and generally seeing that everything is as it should be.

From the bathroom (good view from the "seat" in the corner) I can see our neighbour's spreading fertiliser - but when it matters our grass will be just as green and maybe more nutritious

So, we're just Looking for the Summer

A fond farewell

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RIP

Strickley Geri

23/08/96 - 01/04/10

My favourite old girl, now gone to where the fields are always green and there's only gentle rain at night.

She was obviously in pain and struggling to get up. It's a good job farmers with dodgy hips have alternative treatment available.

Is it really summer?

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11:00 - spotted at Strickley - one swallow.

Looking rather sorry for itself and probably wondering where it's mates are, and why it made the effort to get here so early in the year.

Never have we seen one so early, and never has winter gone on so long.

Perhaps - "Summer is icumen in". If you click on the link you can read all about it. I especially like the modern version -

Summer has come in,
Loudly sing, Cuckoo!
The seed grows and the meadow
blooms
And the wood springs anew,
Sing, Cuckoo!
The ewe bleats after the lamb
The cow lows after the calf.
The bullock stirs, the stag farts,
Merrily sing, Cuckoo!
Cuckoo, cuckoo, well you sing,
cuckoo;
Don't you ever stop now,

Sing cuckoo now. Sing, Cuckoo.
Sing Cuckoo. Sing cuckoo now!

A New Toy

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Just arrived, and waiting for me at home, is a new toy. A present from me to me. It's a blank sheet of paper. It's a new filing cabinet. With more space than I could ever need. With a bigger desk to spread out all my work in hand. With more hamsters running faster on more wheels.

Yes - a new computer.

The only fly in the ointment - it will use the same slow broadband that we get living so far from the Exchange