Kensmyth

Today I have a sense of an ending. So very many things are coming to an end. The sunshine did not shake off my feeling of despair at the injustice, despite the 23 degrees we had here today.

I always feel invigorated with crisp frosts and crunchy leaves underfoot and lengthened Summers seem to make the “if onlys” of Life itself so much sadder.

However, ever an optimist, there is always a bright side to life and you should always count your blessings…

Laughter (and Karma) is the best medicine

Right then. All visitors to Kensmyth know that we like a Big Coffee here to start our farming days. whilst visitors are given a choice of small, regular, medium, large or extra large, it got me thinking about Courgettes.

We all love fresh veg here, especially Courgettes and I love Courgettes and can eat them pretty much anyway including raw but I recently got told off by hubby who grows them for me, for not eating them or picking them quickly enough LOL. Apparently the one in the photo is now classed as a Marrow.

So – Size matters right – at what length precisely does a Courgette become a Marrow please?? LOL !!! you judge…

Everybody knows at Kensmyth we breed for natural fleece. this means that pure natural fleece can be handmade into garments. But for us, the bigger Alpaca, the more the fleece and often, the more the trimming of the head is required.

Many readers will recall my stitches in my leg blog a while back and it is healing, slowly, but may thanks to Kirsty (our Shearer) for stepping in with the lads (mine) to assist on our second “head” shear of the year recently. We do this because otherwise, if left, these particular Alpaca will not be able to see anything at all – remember they see sideways having peripheral vision – long before official shearing time next year.

Peas in a pod, so proud of our breeding and fleece producing Alpaca… Kirsty can vouch for them LOL

oh – my heel is healing, thanks to all of those who ask, just taking a very long time as it was very deep… yes ouch and i walk very oddly – but you will never keep a proper farmer from working!

Readers of my blog since 2007 will know that every year I quote from the War of the Worlds, Justin Haywards song..

Forever Autumn. This beautiful song invokes so many memories for me but always seems to best describe this month where an Indian type Summer can lead into a full on Autumn where colours truly do stand out… enjoy

well the lads have been out doing the Hedgecutting now it is the appropriate time, looing very smart and tidy I must say – well done boys.

Meantime, I am trying to keep up with the smorgasboard of choice of different types of apples in the Orchard…

well the flies are still bad here and not looking to get castrates done just yet… meantime Pony Power

Winter is coming, the days are shorter, the nights cooler and… we are all stocked up ready!

NO – we do not have Flystrike, nor never have here but it is the time for it folks, especially those considering castration – wait a few more weeks until they have gone.

meantime – if you seal the end of these fringes by singing them with a blow torch (hubby of course) then they do not fray and frazzle at the ends…

still on the holiday theme, we did manage to grab a bite in Malmesbury, the Bird Cage I think it was called, very modern and snazzy… I had a whacky Pizza but unfortunately overcooked for my liking…

and whilst I was cooking at home en famille with our home grown chillies…

what should pop over the horizon to end the day but a Hot Air Balloon LOL

great form of advertising !

well hubby took a week off to paint the cabin – as you do – but we did get time out… visiting George Vets in Malmesbury LOL

The Abbey is fantastic in Malmesbury and no I did not go into the Naked Gardens but the town is pretty with its market place and stalls along the high street – even selling Chillies but a different colour to ours !