10 Days To Go

All Out

At last almost all the stock is outside. Yesterday the younger calves (more or less over 6 months old) went outside for the first time in their lives. They had a wonderful time running down the lane in a cloud of dust and kicking up their heels in the Meadow.

“Doing Up” in a morning and evening is now a bit easier – but the youngest calves are still inside, and there’s more of them every day. Yesterday we had two heifers and two bulls. I suppose a 50/50 split is fair but James said they were the wrong way round – the cows that had the bulls should have had the heifers etc.

And it now only 11 days to go until we will be producing organic milk!

Happy Birthday!

The youngest of the Strickley Robinsons is one today -

Happy Birthday to Fletcher David Shipley

Impressive Engineering

As you know I was foolish enough to let a car load of men and boys go to PV Dobsons unaccompanied by my hand on the cheque book. Allegedly they went to get some essential specialist nuts and bolts, but secretly they had their eyes on something bigger, shinier and a lot more expensive. My cause wasn’t helped by the astute marketing technique of letting farmers’ sons and grandsons see the small versions of the Big Boys Toys outside. So not only are we the proud owners of a MF 6465, but Robert and Chris have some new diggers in the sand pit. The tractor is now poised and ready for the word (the word being “mow”)

You may think that the “Impressive Engineering” in the title refers to the big red beast above, but really it’s a tribute to the resourcefulness that can turn an unloved useless piece of scrap into something new, useful and even green! Taking the roller up to The Lots was a slow, noisy, rumbling business. But by taking one old Kidd feeder, cutting off the top, turning the chassis upside down and adding ramps (and a few more tweaks) Henry and James have produced just what we needed – a brand new made-to-measure roller trailer (I have been meaning to post this for a few weeks, but was missing the essential “before” picture)

Scrapheap Challenge watch out!

Coming Soon

After two years of wearing the same clothes, the Strickley Website has had a bit of a makeover. Not too drastic - no noise or flashing images, just a subtle change of hue and a new set of buttons.

If all goes to plan I will upload it tomorrow. It may even be a fait accompli by you read this.

A Serious Warning

Take heed - never let two grown men take two young boys to a tractor dealership without a responsible adult. They may tell you they are only going to get a couple of nuts and bolts, but beware!

The two bolts could end up looking (and costing) more like this . . .

More Signs of Summer

Two deer chasing each other across the fields.
Swallows swooping round the yard in pairs checking that last year's summer residence is still standing.
And, spotted this morning, RABBITS nibbling my new plants!