[sandy]

After a day of our dog being sick we took him to the vet, not sure why he is ill but we both have been ill, he hadn't even eaten anything bad, anyway, he looks a bit better tonight. We then set about pruning a tree that was hampering the phone connection, that took ages as we had to borrow a ladder.I cleaned out the chickens and they enjoyed all the worms I found turning over logs and stones, I was asessing where to put the new hutch for my ducks, hope to get some, maybe a couple. I am doing some research but they would love the pond A few trips to the tip and some shopping a bit of a lazy day but looking forward to visiting Anne with our possy....Me, Steve and Robin, our surrogate uncle then I shall cook a nice Sunday roast....NOT a CHicken!!!

[doganjo]

MMMMm............................  looking forward to that very much!  When are you coming down?

[sandy]

Just after 11.00am if thats OK? Bruce is still quite poorly, he has tablets and medicine to stop him being sick but not sure what it is??

[doganjo]

You won't be taking the dogs down will you?  I'd rather you didn't if Bruce is sick.

[sandy]

No, he will stay in his bed, not even taking him out for a walk....Islay is fine, I hope he recovers soon.

[garden cottage]

funny how a lovely sunny day can turn into a crap day. one of our ryeland breeding ewes started showing some unusual behaviour signs, turning in circles odd head position slight foaming at mouth, the ram had kept marking her as she hadnt taken. off to the vets with livestock trailer,after quick diagnosis we were told its listeriosis found in sheep faeces and soil, 2 injections 1 stomach tube to get fluid into her plus another syringe of antibiotic and off home we go. wed been told to get 3litres day of fluid into her via stomach bag. let her settle down after journey, went out to the trailer to administer fluid she was stone dead. it may be that weve had a bad run of luck with the sheep but every time something starts to go well you then get a smack in the face with sheep, struggling to justify keeping them if things dont improve..........neil

[ballingall]

funny how a lovely sunny day can turn into a crap day. one of our ryeland breeding ewes started showing some unusual behaviour signs, turning in circles odd head position slight foaming at mouth, the ram had kept marking her as she hadnt taken. off to the vets with livestock trailer,after quick diagnosis we were told its listeriosis found in sheep faeces and soil, 2 injections 1 stomach tube to get fluid into her plus another syringe of antibiotic and off home we go. wed been told to get 3litres day of fluid into her via stomach bag. let her settle down after journey, went out to the trailer to administer fluid she was stone dead. it may be that weve had a bad run of luck with the sheep but every time something starts to go well you then get a smack in the face with sheep, struggling to justify keeping them if things dont improve..........neil

The thing about sheep, is that if they can try and die they will. You just have to presevere with them, everyone goes through very unlucky spells. For a time when I first got Anglo-Nubians goats, everything I had died, and that lasted for about 5 years before things suddenly turned around.

I'm sorry it all went so badly for this one.

Beth

[doganjo]

Sorry to hear about your sheep.  My friend in Aberdeenshire who breeds blackies says that every lamb she has ever known is born with a death wish!  I couldn't count the number we tried to save when they were in our fields.  She's bred them for years.

Hope Bruce is better soon.

[northfifeduckling]

So sorry about your sheep. When we were given the ducks we had a few that just died. It is so sad every time, but we all have bad and good spells with animals. Don't feel discouraged about keeping going!

[Rosemary]

Sorry to hear about your sheep. It's rotten when something you've looked after dies like that.

[Rosemary]

We've had a busy day. I'm looking after my friend's horse this weekend, so I had two boxes to do this morning. Dan's Mum and Dad came round and we had a (work) party. We bribed them with bacon rolls. Dan's Mum swept and hosed the yard while his Dad cut willow whips and planted them on the riverbank. They'll either take or they'll not - but they didn't cost us anything. Dan and I did the sheeps' feet and gave Jura and Jinx their Heptavac P Plus, then we moved them onto the track. We don't have a whole lot of grazing so we have to use what we've got. They were so happy to have fresh grazing!

I cleaned out the hens, while Dan lifted and split the rhubarb (Annie, it's in a Tesco bag on the bench outside the house. Swing by any time to collect), lifted the leeks (pencil slim - what an embarassment) and planted early Anya potatoes.

After bacon rolls, it was into the field to tidy up - lifting stones and stuff. We had some fencing done and a hump of waste material moved earlier in the year and it's left a Somme-like area. We're lifting stones in preparation for reseeding.

Now Dan's watching the football and I'm off to do the horses, then dinner, "Lark Rise to Candleford" and bed.

[sellickbhoy]

the business continues........

i built one 150 ft long raised bed all around the perimeter fence (which was erected teh day before!)

I'm not looking forward to filling these up, it took long enough to do the 2 32' foot beds!!

I also built another 5 8' by 4' beds - so now, i've 300% more growing capacity than last year (as well as an extra tunnel and a new greenhouse!)

I also cut about 25 willow whips (the orange variety) and planted them in the garden. hopefully they'll do their job and help the soil/drainage situation in that part of the garden!

i bought mrs SB a kite for her christmas - we spent some time trying to make that work - no joy, back to the drawing board.

went into LIDL to see what gardening stuff they have - i might pick up a cherry blossom tree next week. But i was thinking of buying one of their cheap cloches, i want to make an agility course for my dog and i think they'll make a decent/cheap tunnel for him (as well as come in handy for growing some veg!)

[ballingall]

Goodness me sellickbhoy, you are going to be growing a lot!

I spent the day dodging hail showers, fixing the fence at the bottom of the veggie garden so that rabbits can't break in and eat my plants (when I plant any!), removing all the rocks that the previous owner used to use as a path.
Trimmed three of the goats feet, and obviously had to spend a fair bit of time on feeding rounds for the babies.

Talking of Lidl's, having seen their catalogue for this week, I am tempted to purchase their mini electric rovator.

Also- I have some corrugated metal sheets that I want to get rid of- if anyone wants some you'd be welcome.

Beth

[northfifeduckling]

HappyH., I only just noticed- the Observer has a special offer in today, with 3 dwarf fruit trees for £ 23.98 (1 Apple Gala, 1 Golden Delicious, 1 Pear Doyenne) + 10 free strawberry plants (p&p 3.49) they don't seem to do this offer online, the phone nr. is 0330 333 6856, order code GUP07

[HappyHippy]

Excellent - just the thing for big pots in my garden.
I'll be on it 1st thing tomorrow. And strawberries - well, you can never have enough 
Thanks for the tip