Quiet Winter Times...

Snowdrops peeking out of the ground...................

Geoff and his little mate Lilli tucked up in front of the fire...........

Both fast asleep!

Yep, definitely that Winter Hibernation thing happening here!

BUT................ the bathroom is painted and getting ready for the  bath THIS Saturday! A lovely washed warm shade of ochre yellow was the final choice and whilst the bathroom is empty it made a perfect back drop for this gorgeous candlelit music stand l found at the Margate Train last weekend. Love it!

 

 

Inquisitive Geese!

Leave the gate open and in they come!

They have this absolute fascination with the back door!

And Treeka's food bowl!

Which gets emptied very quickly if there is ANYTHING left!

Then they just stand...............and stare.................

And poo!!!

Nice one guys!

Gates and Birches

Well the gates are out of the car.......................................now  I just have to decide where to put them!

At the moment they are just propped up either side of the Weeping Birch.

It's a bit hard this time of year to choose where they should live as they don't really 'nestle' anywhere as it's all so bare!

l do rather like them alongside the beautiful Birch bark though!

They will probably stay there forever!!

Recycling Weekend!

l rescued a great item from the rubbish skip at work last week. A very large wooden box!! As soon as l saw it I had just one thought in mind.....

A Hay Feeder for the big fella!! (Even though here in the photo it is being ably tested by the wee terror!!!)

It fits a whole bale of hay in perfectly and lasts him two or three nights. No more fighting hay nets in the dark which l used to hate and no more wasting huge amounts by throwing it all on the ground. One bale , in the wheelbarrow...in the box...job done for a few days. Love it!!!

We also salvaged some old sheets of ply which have made a good start on lining the inside of the duck and geese shed to keep them snug in Winter .The wind howls through the gaps in the sides! Yes, l know they are 'tough' and can quite happily spend all Winter outside if safe to do so , but l think  that once they get locked away they need to be warm and draft free inside!

And lastly on the Work Rubbish Tip Rescue Run was this enormous heavy hardwood door. It was very heavy and very difficult to move!! Not much good to us as a door ......but.........................

Screwed on top of an old Apple Bin it's made a great new platform for the goats to sun bake on in the Summer!! They love sitting on things and have one small platform already and some rather small rocks. (Small now as they are so fat!!!) So this one added to the group means they have more options and little Tinks wont have to end up on the ground like she usually does!

It didn't take long for them to try it out!

 But l think Fatty Bumba here has claimed it as her own already!

Frosty!

A very cold, chilly, crunchy start to the morning! It's important to feed our little  wild birds on days like this!!!..............

 There's not much feed out there for them!

They love their bird tables and get a feast of seeds ,scraps, fat and honey mix. Anything to keep them warm!

And the cows!!! It's important to feed this hungry lot too! Poor Poppy had a layer of frost down her back this morning!!! Not quite sure how she managed it as Blue didn't!!! It looked very pretty though!!

Only a Cat!

So l drape my damp towels over the chair after my shower so they can dry in the nice warm sitting room overnight. l get up this morning to find the cat  had thought obviously l had done this for HER benefit and was  curled up looking regal and comfy as the rain poured down outside! Grrrrrrrr!!!

And stay tuned!!! l bought these lovely looking gates during the week but they have now been in my car for three days as l have yet to get them out! Absolutely no time in the morning and pitch black dark when l get home means l haven't been able to examine them at great length or decide where to put them! Something to look forward to on my weekend!!

Oh and of course............the cat didn't even say thank you!!

 

 

 

Walking with Max

For a few weeks now on Sundays when l have been at work, Geoff has been taking Max for a walk down the drive and out onto the Rivulet flats where the Willows grow. It's very wet and muddy down there this time of year with leeches at every turn! Yuk! Not somewhere l choose to go much in the Winter!
Yesterday however l joined the two of them for their ramble and l was quite blown away by little Max! It was the best dog impression I have ever seen!

Over the creek

Wait for me!!!

A quick trot to catch up!

That's better!

A bit of an independent wander around and a drink...

Not for long though,he always came back for a group discussion!

And a bite! Don't be fooled by this oh so cute photo! When Geoff saw it he said "l think he was biting me there!!"

Then a clamber through these old gnarled fallen Willows. It's quite a narrow scramble for US let alone the pony !He looks a bit worried!

Eyes down, just follow Geoff!!

Head down to get though the last bit....

Mud!!!

Stopping for a breather

Then off again!

More discussing!

Back under this low branch where he had to really arch his back to get under !

And back across the creek!

We then did a quick detour up part of the drive to see if we could get a path through the other side.

Where Maxie finally politely waited for me!

Momentarily!

Then back home..

Pals!

He really seemed to enjoy it!

Top little pony!