Back to The farm.

Home again. Home again. Jiggedy Jig. Back to the farmy we go. And autumn has come.

I came home to a pigs welcome. And a pigs welcome is a such a joy.  When I first walked out into the field yesterday morning, Sheila was lying down sleeping in the sun. She saw me, leapt up and galloped across as fast as her big fat self could go and without a sound (and you know how vocal she can get) she just laid her head against my leg and offered her ears for a scratch. She stood like that for a long time, just leant up against me. I love Sheila.

Poppy on the other hand ran about squeaking! There is still so much grass in the fields, even the pigs are grazing flat out and getting fat on it.

The farmy is in full autumnal form. Jake and The Matriarch and John looked after the animals and birds and bees very well. Even the peafowl are looking fat and healthy.

Tima ran for the gate when she saw me, waited impatiently until I opened it nudged me for a millisecond then she ran off on her old tour of the gardens.  (She was not allowed to wander at will while I was away). So she was very eager to get back to work.

There is still plenty of food in the gardens. Though the tomatoes are finished and the cages need pulling out, there are still cabbages and kale and leeks, celery and some of the more hardy herbs. In the glass house basil and lettuce and cilantro is sprouting. I bought home a good number of lettuce seeds for the winter salads. I will sow a batch today.

The farmers were just finishing the harvest of the surrounding fields so the bean dust is heavy in the air…

… and that blowing dust  was INSIDE the West barn. I am still sneezing. But next year I will have put a few more acres into grass around the West Barn so very slowly we will create our dust free oasis.

The two bobbies at the West barn are looking fat and content. 

All the cats are present and accounted for – Marmalade is heavy with her pregnancy.  I am grateful that I will be here for her birthing. Boo is so enthralled by kittens that I am afraid he will try and steal her babies to raise himself. And  even though Marmalade loves Nanny Boo, I am fairly sure she will not let him borrow any of her babies without a fight.

Now, I must begin to get everything ready for the cold.  Although today looks like it will be hot – the temperatures are forecast to begin the slide downwards by the end of the week. And we have a lot to do before the freeze.

Have a lovely day,

Your friend on the farmy,

celi