Down on the farm...

We are looking after our friends farm this week! Its a wonderful experience that came about when we visited them for the day for our kids to play together. As we talked about the joys of having a space so wild and free for the kids my friend mentioned that it only became a problem when they go away on holidays and need someone to look after the animals... excitedly I put my hand up!
I had to ok it with Lee first but I was sure he would say yes and he did so here we are...

Saturday we turned up very excited and of course all this farm, animals and land and the girls went straight to the kids bedroom to play!

We had a lovely evening in our new home with open fires and gorgeous views. Awoke early Sunday to let the chickens out to a very windy day. We had to batten down the hatches, all the had plants blown over and our rabbit hutch lid had blown off!

Lee made a cracking Sunday dinner. I had fun watching Lee trying to escort the ducks in at night they were defiant and he had to manouver them slowly around in circles at times! The pigs are so sweet, its a little hard for me feeding them knowing they are going off to slaughter after this week. Kids are a bit scared of the chickens they wait clucking at the door. After I showed kids and husband not to kick them away but to just reach out as though going to stroke them they found out chicks are not so scary.

Tried to make a lovely farm house loaf but failed, the pigs were happy though!

Monday I  attempt bread again to have with soup but not great unfortunately the hard crust burnt! More bread for the pigs!

We went off to Yoga in the afternoon and I called in home to fetch my yeast to try bread again tomorrow. We enjoyed a walk down to the crags to see dinosaur bones and then settled into the lounge with a roaring open fire, girls and I reading all the lovely books.

beautiful sunset

Tuesday morning 6.30 the cockerel crowed and I dragged myself out of bed soon feeling uplifted in this fabulous place by a beautiful rainbow. The wind was still up so did a quick sprint round all the animals.

I started the new bread and cake and  friends come at 10 to play in the den on the big rock or around the house and help water and feed the animals.

We  wrote a little about the farm and drew a picture.

Yay at last lovely bread and cake for lunch. The bread rose lovely
and retained its shape after cooking, it was delicious.

 Lemon drizzle yum yum
 

B fell asleep at tea. The rest of us had a yummy curry then orange cake for afters. The rooms here can feel quite cold I forgot how lovely hot water bottles are, it reminds me of my childhood at cold grannys house!

I thought the chicks had been born by broody hen but one broke unfortunately. The pig house lid was  blowing off, we heard a clanging and couldn't work out what it was for ages! Lee to the rescue with drill and screws.

B went to bed early and I'm tired too I went to bed early last night but still not caught up it is real hard work. I  admire my friends living this life and with her four children to look after too.

On Wednesday I woke at 5.30 not realising the time went on automatic to let out hens and ducks, I thought it was odd that they didn't want to come out at first, the cockerel looked quite affronted! I only spotted the time after I had had breakfast and went to get ready!

I made myself a cuppa and got back in bed to read till a more human hour! I had to go off to teach my family yoga class for sure start at 9am so left the girls playing and lee rousing himself with a cuppa.

The yoga session went well I looked forward to getting back out of the city its a lovely run up to the farm as the houses get less and nature takes over and after being stuck in traffic at hillsborough its a lovely feeling to get out on the country lanes. Sun shining windows down. The clay pigeon shooters were getting set up in the next field as I drove down the farm lane. I spotted lee and the girls just setting off on a walk with 'jack' the goat.

We have forgotten all the animals names except carpet cat so have renamed them! As I arrived in the yard the broody hen had come off her eggs and was causing a mini riot in the field, two hens were attacking her and then the cockerel joined in, I think she had come out to stretch her legs then attacked a nearby hen going near her nest! I managed to grab one of the other hens and shoo the others while clucky hen made her way back to her eggs and then I could put the wood guard up that had fallen down.
 

We walked down the lane with Jack who decided at the gate he was missing Jim so we headed back. Goats are a bit of trouble according to my farm friend she tells me they don't eat what you want them to eat only what they want which is usually stuff they shouldn't! They have to have an electric fence around them as they caused all sorts of trouble when they first came and could go anywhere. Goats are amazing jumpers being able to leap up onto a gatepost with all four hooves fitting on the top!

After sorting all the animals, egg collecting being the favourite activity this week, Lee went off to work so the girls and I headed down to the caves playing Vikings climbing had a great afternoon headed back to make tea to make  sausages feeling a bit bad about the pigs! I drew the line at feeding them the left overs even though lee thought I should have I chucked them in the bin. I couldn't feed the hens leftover egg either apart from that they have had lots of treats on our leftovers this week.

I had to go teach my adult yoga class in the evening leaving lee to put animals and children to bed! A quick stock up at the shop on my way home meant that when I got back it was 11 and pitch black. A bit spooky opening and closing farm gates I have to tell my ridiculous imagination that a mutant zombie will not come up behind me.. ran the last few yards to the farm house door! lol
Settled down with a cuppa and my jewellery making kit that I fetched from home and made myself and my close friend Clare whose birthday it is this week something nice. Eyes tired at 12.15 so off to bed with hot water bottles I don't think my head was on the pillow before I fell asleep!

B woke me up coming for a cuddle no dummy last 3 nights her choice. See how it goes ; )
Cockerel crowing bang on 6.30 so out in my dressing gown and wellies (how fetching) all birds released! potter around the kitchen making breakfast for everyone then started on a cake for Clare I had invited a few people over from our local home ed group so spent the morning baking and tidying up a bit. Girls watching telly. Had a great day with friends and our last day at the farm we will miss this..

It seems that Lee and I after a long talk tonight have decided that this life is what we would like! We have to think how we will achieve it but we are both determined to give our children this lovely environment to grow up in.