Apples and grumpy men

Bit gloomy today although the sun did appear to be making an effort this afternoon.  Sadly, this did not appear to cheer up the decorators who may have had a bit of a falling out!  The alpacas are happy every time I go near them as they always think there are apples on the way.  There usually are as I have a bumper crop and there is no way we can eat even a small quantity of them.

Not much can be said for the greenhouse which is having a fallow year with two lonely tomato plants and a cat in it - stray ginger has taken up residence in there.

We have the decorators in!

Nearly October and it is still warm!  We have the Decorating Lads in at the moment painting the lounge which is taking a while as they are very meticulous and we are having all the pine painted white.  I have spent the last week with no carpet and all the furniture piled up around me - also no curtains so a good job the road is not too busy!

The lambs have settled into the Grave Diggers field and pester The Flower Lady when she is trying to pick blackberrys.  Nice to have them there as I can pop over and sit with them after tea - some of them like a bit of a cuddle!

Carl is doing some welding on Saturday, as the Aunt has broken her cattle crush and it is Tb testing on Monday, and then it is time to check over a couple of limping sheep.  Feet are causing me a bit of a problem this year.

And still waiting for Sam's wedding photos which seem to be taking forever.

A slow start

Getting a bit irregular with the posting again, I am afraid!  Trying hard to get knitting up together in preparation for Christmas markets which, I know, seems a long way away but when your knitting is a little on the slow side one has to prepare quite a way in advance!

The tups have now gone in with the ewes but it has been a very slow start, probably due to the weather which is far too hot for this time of year.  Leaf, the older Southdown, is doing his best.  He wanders round curling his lip and sniffing at bottoms but then he gets hot and has to have a little sleep - he has managed four out of thirty so far.  Kane, the Dorper ram, is working for the first time and is keen but the girls keep hiding in the shed to get away from the heat so he has managed one out of sixteen.  And then there is Walnut!   Walnut is a pedigree Southdown ram and it is his first time - he started well but the girls were not ready and now he appears to have given up and just wants to go back with his best mate Kane.  There is a slight question over his sexual preferences!!  I am about to go and see the Grave digger to see if a possible solution can be found!

Here is good, reliable old Leaf in action!