11

Poultry & Waterfowl / Re: Avian Influenza

« Last post by Penninehillbilly on December 30, 2025, 02:13:46 pm »

Good Luck FW, hope everything is OK, So far I think our nearest 'livestock' report is York, but we don't hear about wild birds just dying out in the wilds, its worrying.
Our geese are still out, no running water but a fresh bucket every morning.
Massive flock  (skein?) (2 lots near each other) of geese went over this morning, heading east, unusual.


I'm envious of your Shetland geese 

12

Coffee Lounge / Re: Silstice blessings

« Last post by Penninehillbilly on December 30, 2025, 02:03:16 pm »

Our house is full of the scents of feasting 
Solstice greetings to all those who recognise and celebrate the start of the new growing year.  I am so happy to see the return of the sun    Juliet

The Solstice means much more to me than Christmas, which is such a man made and commercial day, and just a day off work for us, apart from seeing to animals, which is rarely 'work'.
I try and get the Christmas lights up and ready and light up at Solstice time to greet the new year and return of light, easy this year at just after 3pm, someday we'll get round to doing a special meal  .
One thing I always think re Stonehenge, I would celebrate the first sunrise in the new year, that's the special sunrise :-).

13

Poultry & Waterfowl / Avian Influenza

« Last post by Fleecewife on December 25, 2025, 10:58:53 pm »

We are in the south of Scotland and find ourselves today sandwiched between Bird Flu control zones, three just to the east, one to the west, with a 10km gap between the two.


The only birds we have now are our four Shetland geese.  We have no water courses but we are under the wild goose migration routes.  All we can do is keep everyone and anyone out and 

14

Coffee Lounge / Re: Merry Christmas!

« Last post by Fleecewife on December 25, 2025, 10:48:32 pm »

Thank you all.
We have had a wonderful day NOT celebrating Christmas.  Instead we were clearing up storm damage to some of our larger trees, converting them to firewood.  It was wonderfully quiet and peaceful - oh, apart from the chainsaw noise we shared around the area 
Juliet

15

Coffee Lounge / Re: Merry Christmas!

« Last post by SallyintNorth on December 25, 2025, 10:21:22 am »

Seasons greetinsgs to those who celebrate it

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Coffee Lounge / Re: Merry Christmas!

« Last post by Rupert the bear on December 25, 2025, 08:51:06 am »

Seconded, and to you too Rosemary

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Coffee Lounge / Merry Christmas!

« Last post by Rosemary on December 25, 2025, 07:06:15 am »

to one and all.

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Coffee Lounge / Re: Silstice blessings

« Last post by doganjo on December 22, 2025, 10:02:10 pm »

O F G S - not another flipping celebratory label   

19

Coffee Lounge / Re: Silstice blessings

« Last post by SallyintNorth on December 21, 2025, 04:25:12 pm »

I am so happy to see the return of the sun    Juliet

More in the knowledge than the light for a while, I never think the sunset/rise times really start moving noticeably for a few more weeks.  (Just the occasional minute, not every day, for the mo.)  But knowing we're past the shortest day certainly brings a lightening of the spirits!

Our tups came off today, their spirits went the other way I think! 

20

Coffee Lounge / Re: Silstice blessings

« Last post by Fleecewife on December 21, 2025, 03:59:07 pm »

Our house is full of the scents of feasting 
Solstice greetings to all those who recognise and celebrate the start of the new growing year.  I am so happy to see the return of the sun    Juliet