FALLING DOWN

Yesterday’s freeze stripped the trees of many of their leaves. In some areas the lawns are deep with them. Falling in a crackling rustle all day. No gentle turning of colours for these leaves. Just the fast snap of cold.

I worked in the barn all day preparing pens for winter. As usual I create areas of deep packed straw that will deepen across the winter.

Having found no good supply of straw yet. The animals still just eat their wonderful oat straw and my usual supplier has gone over to corn husks ( these are dusty and stink of chemicals so I don’t use them), so the first layer is wood chips then old straw.

The animals will not be invited in for a while yet. I only use the barn when the weather is truly nasty. The cows are fine outside.

I weaned Molly from her big piglets yesterday. So it was nice to be in the barn with the music up loud. Keeping an eye on both the little pigs and their forlorn mother.

The pigs never care. They just ate and slept all day – mostly outside in the sun in their empty garden.

Molly will be alright. I will work on her electric fence today. Then shift her house into the back field. She will be behind an electric fence for a few weeks until totally settled then I will take it up and she will be free to join Poppy and Sheila.

I worked in the piglet house for quite some time. Opening up their second sleeping area, my guests helped me move the blue fish bowl house onto the deep pack of old straw waiting in there, and I reorganized their water and feed. Things are much easier to manage now their huge Mama has moved out.

Everyone has more space.

We all need space. I certainly need space- space and light.

More sun today. So I will work on the fences.

I hope you have a lovely day.

Love celi