Working dogs have to work at Kensmyth, Clay Meadow… just look at that drool at teatime…

from sunrise…

to sunset…

working all manner of livestock LOL

Lest we forget…

attributed to Amy Goodman

today we remember all who suffered in the senseless wars…

well the weather is throwing all sorts at us as we conclude the first week of November – climate change is here to stay for sure as we discussed with some very important visitors today. more on that news a different day… meantime – farming life means getting cold and wet at all hours LOL

Gold at the end of the rainbow even? … but a warming roast meal usually defrosts us at Kensmyth and this one was provided by the George at Kempsford on the way back from an Alpaca visit  LOL

Well November is the silly season for folks letting fireworks off at all hours, on all days before and after the traditional 5th day of Guy Fawkes fame… scary times for Farming folk as livestock can be scared and “flight” animals will run blindly into anything in the dark.

Check, check, check your livestock at all times, in the dark now that the clocks have changed and make sure you do headcounts.

Gundogs work all night here to keep our livestock safe but “regular” dogs should be inside…

Tupps are in and ahead of the game the Lamb Guard old faithful is waiting… warm straw for long nights ahead

checking the fencing on the banks…

any lambs in there yet Mum?

with October roaring out with sub zero temperatures, surprisingly November crept in like a damp squib… but what better way to celebrate than a rare visit to eat out. We always like to try new things and always try to eat locally to give the business locally too. This time we popped out to a European cuisine/Meditteranean cuisine restaurant in Cirencester called Tierra and Mar. Run by Bret and Silvia who serves you, it was an elegant dining experience in ambient surroundings…

canapes…

followed by our mutual choice of Tuna…

then one crispy duck balled with pumpkin whilst hubby had bream

then I had the lamb and hubby had beef cheek

and then hubby had chocolate mousse with pears whilst I had brioche in crème anglaise… finished off with petit fours and a beautifully presented bill. Definitely one for the repeat to go again to list.

I had all good intentions of getting some equines and Alpaca to wear these but time ran out LOL…

Happy Halloween from the Big Dark Scary one

Sometimes horses feet are neglected and it is a sad fact of life that can totally change the way a horse moves and reacts to things. When I first saw our Draught Mare she had terrible feet but I knew that we could get those “right” and she had everything else going for her for what I wanted to breed as Rare Draught horses. see for yourself…

Before:

and “getting there” now…

thank you to the Blacksmiths that have worked with us over the past 6 months – I knew we could do it… but don’t be fooled by this sized down photos… shes a VERY big horse!

so pleased this little Draught Mare at just under 17.2hh has come so far in such a short time Bless.

Time flies by so quickly – just take a look at these foals now – just gorgeous and shortly for sale too when weaned….

living out full time and definitely in their Winter woollies but “spotting out” nicely LOL

Well the applemania consumption continues at Clay Meadow with the Alpaca enjoying a teeny bit chopped up finely, the ponies the windfalls and the Draught mares munching the cookers with their newly filed nashers lOL

And the humans? Well how many ways can you eat apple that we haven’t yet done? aha – dried!

  first you peel them and chop and layer on trays

then you put them into the drier and you wait…

and then you wait um about 24 hours and lose the will to live but get this…

they do taste nice but (my opinion) not worth the wait and the company selling the machine were next to useless I might add giving no dry times or temperatures to work with!

Nope – not for me, lost the will to live – back to um – I know… baked!

  one hour, yum – result!