When you feel like life is getting the better of you I always find the best antidoteto the overwhelmed feeling is some good hard work. It has been cold so I broke out the clown pants, hauled them on and got stuck in.
In the last two days I have shoveled out and cleaned most of the north side of the barn, over summer the cows creep in on occasion and the sheep find their way in through the broken north door, someone is sick like Queenie with her sore eye and before you know it there is shoveling to do.
I hauled the chicken ark all the way around the exterior of the farm and into the gardens. When Our John got home he helped me place it over a small area of the vegetable garden. Covering a couple of tomatoes and the brassicas. This is going to be a great development.
Yesterday I completely rearranged all the furniture in our big room. I do all my best housework when I am mad
The Middle Kitten did die. Apparently we have been struggling with a massive infestation of worms in their wee organs. Even though they were wormed when they first came, the worms had already gotton into the bloodstream of the first two. Round worms are hideous. And very hard on tiny weak kittens. The dogs have had an extra dose of worming stuff too just to be sure.
But the little Marmalade kitten is getting stronger I think. He is the toughest little cat and hates to have Boo out of his sight, so we have been taking him for walks outside to get his body moving hoping his bowels will follow suit. He just plods noisily along behind Boo, with me walking backwards in front of them to make sure that Boo does not pick him up.
I have to say that Boo is a lot calmer now that there is only one to mind.
I think Daisy must be about four and a half months pregnant now. Time is flying past!
Apple Upside Down Slice.
So, things are back on a more even keel. Today I am going to cover the ark in heavy plastic. Then continue with the cleaning of the barn. After the barn I will start the chook house. I hate cleaning the chook house, so I am hoping that I can run the laying chooks across the fields as well, next year. I will happily drag two arks if it means no chook house to clean out. This winter maybe I will find someone to build me another ark, with laying boxes. Then all the fertiliser goes straight onto the fields, without the need of a shovel in between. From now on the chook house will only be for the winters!
What an excellent decision.
I hope you all have a lovely day.
Your friend, celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
71 responses to “Getting Stuck In”
The arks are a perfect idea.
So glad Boo still has a kitten.
Worms (hook, pin, whip..) are a problem in our climate. Old farmers always said all kittens and puppies are born with them and you have to be ready – even then it sometimes doesn’t turn out well. Lost a darling pup to worms when a kid. The adults strays seem to recover, but the little ones often don’t. You did everything you could. And there’s this darling little one for you and Boo.
We had recurring problems with RC for a bit although she hasn’t been outside since we took her in – and Molly has had a bout with whip worms recently. It’s just a battle even if you are careful.
All the apples must be glorious (and I love the tall sunflowers bending down – will you save some seeds or let them manage themselves?)