Kensmyth

http://www.cogges.org.uk/filming-downton

well our Alpaca products are sold far and wide and we were invited to attend a Christmas Fair at Cogges Hall – Cogges Manor Farm near Witney recently.

Amazing buildings and home to Yew Tree Farm from Downton Abbey, no Christmas Day Special Episode this year from that fantastic series…

with the weather throwing thick frost and ice, hay is essential to all livestock and has to be taken out to the farthest flung corners of the farm… shorter days just mean you get to see fantastic sunsets and stars!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38133658

BBC News

well it looks like November will leave us with a Lions Roar of cold weather to remind of Winters past – all of the livestock here including myself are just loving it – no really, we love frosty mornings just look…

there are some beautiful churches in the Cotswolds but this Pub is just perfectly named!

thank goodness it is the week end… I could not cope with another Bad Hair Day!

I love the trees around the country at this time but…

as they lose their leaves… just a pity it makes the grass toxic for the livestock grazing there!

well you have to see the funny side of that last blog do you not? for those of you a bit squeamish about snakes – which clearly I am not although I much prefer the genuine reptiles rather than the two legged versions – here are some Greyface Dartmoor cute sheep!

and some daringly cute Alpaca… waiting to jump on their mud bath when I turn away…

As always, apologies for being late with our blogs… I have been a bit tied up lately as you can see…

and yes, that is me and NO I have not been on holiday…

and yes, I did hold a Python and yes it did try squeezing me and yes…

I did it again many times over the years since then but

this photo always reminds me of how strong you can be in the face of adversity …

like when people mess you around when you are just so busy you just don’t know why they do

.. and which task to tackle next!

Regular readers know that this is the time of year that we actually take our “wares” out. No, not the livestock but the numerous products that we make from their fleeces. It is always great to catch up with regular friends and rather timely I thought… I saw a sheepskin bag!

I am always fascinated by the skills of others and these Felted shoes were breathtaking…