Boxing Day Stroll

Chris and I joined my parents for a lovely Boxing Day walk to burn off at least some of that Christmas dinner.

We called in on the girls first to make sure that they are all enjoying their new field. Since the hay rack was full and untouched, I'll assume that to be a good sign. They all look very well and Barney seems to have lost interest so hopefully this means that lambs are on the way!

We decided to visit Craggy Wood which has beautiful views of the fells and fabulous old beech trees.

These woods are steep and rocky in places, but the dogs had a wonderful time exploring.

The view from the top was well worth the climb.

Fleecy Presents

What with moving house in the new year and the car in for its MOT, we're being a touch careful with the pennies this Christmas. However, that doesn't mean that folk have to miss out on pressies when our sheep generously provide the raw materials for us. These are made out of the odds and ends that I rescued from the scrap pile (I sold the main parts of the fleece): all those skirted bits that I picked through to salvage what I could.

I'm not an expert fleecy person like some on here, but I'm trying to learn. I washed and carded the odds and ends and then needle felted bits into bracelets and little balls, which were then threaded onto silver memory wire.

Ta daa... Christmas pressies that really are from me and my flock :o)

Snow photos as promised!

I have to admit to being a little distracted from my blogging activities these last few days. However, I did say that I would post photos of us and the dogs enjoying the snow, so here we all are!

What you up to Dad?

Chris makes tracks!Ha haa, job done :o)

Never mind making snow men, has anyone seen any sheep?
Woo hooo! Forget the sheep... This white stuff is great!!

The big interview!

I've been keeping this a bit quiet but now that it looks as though it is happening, I can't hold it in any longer, it's just too exciting!

On Thursday I hopped on a very early train to Edinburgh. I had a knot of butterflies in my stomach and every five minutes flicked through a pile of papers, desperately practising a presentation and ensuring that I knew as many facts as possible about reintroducing species and community involvement in conservation projects.

I had managed to get an interview for the position of Knapdale Beaver Field Trial Officer. Funnily enough, I'd had an odd gut instinct about this job ever since I saw it advertised, but I tried to force myself to see reason: I was up against some very strong competition!

The interview was held at Edinburgh Zoo in their mansion house. It is a big old hall with real atmosphere. I was left to wait in a lounge that could have been straight out of a Jane Austin novel. After what seemed like an age, I was shown through to a rather imposing interview room, complete with huge dark wood table and wall to wall shelves of ancient tomes.

I shan't go into the detail of the interview here. Bits of it went well, but I was so nervous that I felt that I rambled in places and walked out kicking myself for missing out loads of important information that I'd hoped to get across. Too late now though, all I could do was wait.

At 9.30 the next morning I got the phone call. "Oh wow!" Was the first thing to leave my mouth.

Chris and I will be moving up at the end of January and I'm hoping to secure some sheep grazing as quickly as possible.

What a week!

Roving Reporter Fox

Fox's friend Scout has signed him up as a roving reporter!
Scout is a hard working News Hound (actually he's a Border Collie, but News Hound has a rather nice ring to it!) and has recruited Fox to report on wildlife for his blogs. Scout is a busy chap and writes for lots of publications including the Westmorland Gazette and the Kennel Club's Discover Dogs. Take a look at Fox's introduction here.

In the grip of winter

Over the last week it got colder and frostier day by day until at last Chris and I woke last Thursday to a winter wonderland. I thought I'd share some photos of our fun in the frost... snow photos coming soon! We really love the cold :o)
Whisper finds a frosty stick. The field was blanketed in an icy fog. Temp -5
Haw frost on a thistle...and on sycamore keys.

Even the dogs themselves were frosty! Look at their ears and whiskers!

A red squirrel braves the cold to visit the feeder outside my office.

Guerilla Gardening

With the arrival of the frosts at last, Chris also decided that the spot of guerilla gardening that we've had planned for the village could safely go ahead. We had to wait until the heavy rains had stopped because we were worried about the seeds getting washed away.

Chris set to work (I had to go into the office) sowing a mix of native wild flower seeds into the rough areas of the village green. He used plenty of yellow rattle seed which will partially parasitise the rank grasses, weakening them enough that other plant species can compete.

Some of the villagers wandered out to see what he was up to and were quite pleasantly surprised when the plan was revealed. Chris was rewarded with a well earned mug of coffee at our friend Gary's house which overlooks the green.

Now we just have to watch and wait. Hopefully it will look something like this next year!

Bye bye Herdwicks!

It was very sad, but had to be done. I sold my three escape artist Herdwicks at auction. I simply couldn't keep them in and they certainly weren't doing their job helping me to train Fox and Whisper. I confess to feeling a tad sad and guilty but it had to be done.

I've never gone through the whole process of selling sheep this way before so it was a useful experience, though I was glad to have my friend and Lowther Farm Manager Richard there to guide me and put in a good word with the buyers.

As they entered the ring, Richard ushered me in with them. "They'll sell better that way," he said, "These are very special sheep!" he announced to the room. I got the same price for them as I bought them for and was complimented on their excellent condition by some of the farmers watching. Getting £25 per head doesn't sound great but it is pretty good for ageing Herdwick ewes in the current climate. I still wish I hadn't had to sell them though.