Saturday, April 17, 2010

My week....

...mostly in pictures:
Look at this heap of floppy puppies. There were eleven in total; 10 week old fox hounds. (Are we allowed fox hounds these days? Perhaps they were only hounds.) I have never seen such a soppy, floppy bunch as these three, just chillin' in Sunday's sunshine.

Well, I didn't go to buy pups I went to buy some hens. I wanted Rhode Island Reds - a good dual purpose bird and a breed which isn't as readily available as I had hoped. We found some eventually on a farm up in the hills up beyond Llanfair Caereinion. Puppies, hens, geese, ducks and peacocks seem to co-exist quite happily if a tad chaotically. All the stock seemed  healthy and I came away with 4 young layers and a mighty cockerel.

We all know how difficult it is to get a good photograph of a hen - let alone a penful of the critters - it's a bit like photographing a group of children. There is always somebody gurning, scratching or turning round. See what I mean here? Backs turned, heads down and even when I manage a head shot it's such an evil visage I rather wish I'd not bothered.

Daniel came and stayed for the night en route to some arduous, mountain trail. It was his birthday too - 30 - and the many kilometres he planned to cycle were his way of celebrating. Me? I'll settle for cake.

We've had some beautiful weather too; it's now possible to see a tinge of green in the trees and hedges. On lower ground I've noticed the hedges are almost in leaf. Shrewsbury's unlovely by-pass was almost pretty on Thursday morning with young fresh greens and frothy white blackthorn. I wonder how many of the motorists rushing by noticed just how beautiful the embankments were. Thursday was a day for 'me' - a restorative visit to the hairdresser and a mooch round the shops. My shopping mojo had deserted me though and I came away empty handed. Something it helps to buy something - anything - to set you off on a spree, but even trying to break my buying duck by purchasing a note pad and pens didn't work.  Perhaps it was the combination of the last days of the Easter holidays and the rails and rails of flimsy summer clothes that were unhelpful. There was a distinct chill in the air and bikinis and strappy tops made me shiver.

I've planted broad beans and peas outside and the penalty for any marauding pheasant who fancies scratching for supper will be severe. The first few spears of asparagus are through. How quickly they grow. Again, you pheasants 'Watch it or Else'.











The brave hunting dog, Chester found the beginnings of a pheasant's nest; a single egg on a bed of leaves in a patch of long grass and daffodils. For once he didn't rush in and eat first but stood patiently waiting for me to check it out. That's progress perhaps.

 We have a man on a roof - the Glam Ass's latest project, a field shelter nears completion. I will soon be able to stop worrying that he will fall off before he's able to do some of the jobs which need doing on the ground.
 
And flowers - colour at last. (Though white blossom can hardly be said to be colourful.)

The pink primroses are a bit of an oddity - in reality not such a horrid pink as my photograph makes them. We're not sure if they are a wild variant or the result of a bit of primrose promiscuousness. Anybody got any ideas?

All welcome none the less.

Then there was a Jamie Oliver Party (think posh Tupperware), Granny T's funeral and the next instalment of fettling the Village Hall Garden.....

Finally the news that Doreen and I have been waiting for - our book 'Marton, the story of a Shropshire village'  should be with us at the end of next week. I'm always a little reticent about mentioning real names in this place but feel now, as our names are going to be on the front cover it's hardly an issue. We also need all the publicity we can get as we need to sell, sell, SELL. 800 books are going to take up a lot of space somewhere.


 So that was my week - never promised it would be interesting. Let's see what the next one brings.

The Young Farmers' Dinner Dance is on the horizon - better go and look out my dancing shoes.

18 comments:

rachel said...

Oh my, those big fat hens are beautiful! Or, at least, their rear views are. I agree about the evil face.....

And your week was very interesting indeed! And hopefully about to get interestinger. How do we buy the book? Don't be shy - we've followed enough of the events of Marton high life to want to know more!

Julia Dunnit said...

Well it sounds a deal more interesting than my week! This Rhide Island Reds are a bit noble looking aren't they. And if that young man is photographed in a room of yours - what a marvellous aspect, no wonder you are so in tune with the changing of the seasons. I have a clump of pink primroses too - amongst a bank of yellow. No idea how. But love 'em!

bodran... said...

Good morning! a lovely blog thats made me feel all desperate not to be stuck in the shop, never mind.
I will i think be taking a trip down to collect some hens off SBs and we may meet up at derwent garden centre? though not arranged properly yet so i'll see you then and bring your box XX

Annie said...

Another brill blog. :-) I noticed the sprouting greenery on side of A5 too :-) Daffs look lovely too. Love your new hens...does this mean the chance of that incubator filling again? Fingers crossed.
A x

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

What you may think of as not very interesting, to me here in Virginia really is!! I really do love reading your posts, seeing your great pictures and your lovely new additions!! Enjoy your weekend!!

Frances said...

I agree that your week sounds quite interesting with such a variety of events, occurrences. Your observations are wonderful, and I love the way you describe everything so that we can all see what you've seen.

Thank you!

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

Those grey fluffy hens are very glamourous !
I agree with everyone else .... a very interesting week ! And I need the book so I can read more of the same .
Sorry your day out didn't result in satisfactory loot . One day I'll take you up on your offer to have a joint Day Out , our little legs twinkling . I love a good mooch .

Pondside said...

We're still looking for hens over here too. Since the city made it legal for residents to have 4 hens in a back yard it has been difficult to find laying hens. I predict that by June there will be abandoned hens in the parks.
What is it about men and a roof? The Great Dane is always trying to get up onto ours and I am always telling him to hire someone to go up as he's more value to me with his arms, legs and head intact....but he persists.

Angie said...

What a great read ... loved all the photos ...think I might have come home with the hounds lol.

Please tell us more about your book ...maybe you have ... on an earlier post and I have missed it as I'm a new follower ..if so just point me in the direction.

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

I love your Rhode Island Reds. The plumage is a fantastic colour. Sounds a pretty good week to me! I do know what you mean about not being able to make a purchase. On the rare occasions I go shopping I can easily come home empty handed. Going to a bookshop or a garden centre usually helps to break the duck!

snailbeachshepherdess said...

Wow - have I seen that cockeral before??? Look at the back of Never on A Sunday!! :-)))
Lovely pictures, it has been a glorious week - still only one lamb!!!

Tattieweasle said...

I've got pink ones too!!! What a relief I thougth they were rather worrying when I first saw them but perhaps they're OK now seeing as a lot of people are owning up so to speak!. Love the photogrpahs esp of the hounds. Hope your chickens soon all settle in!

Kirsty.A said...

I love reading your blog so different from my suburban life. Do the pheasants read it too?

Twiglet said...

A bit of cross fertilization going on up in the Mountain kingdom I think! Great pics and I know what you mean about shopping. You never see anything you want when you have time to look and then as soon as you are in a rush or have an unhelpful shopper with you, the racks are full of things you would love to try on!!

Chris Stovell said...

Great news about the book - you will tell us more, won't you?
(Ps - your home does look gorgeous from the glimpses I catch).

Pam said...

What lovely pictures! It looks like you had a great week and happy birthday to Daniel.

Molly said...

Great Pics. Looks as if the pups have put a halt to the building work going on up Llanfair. Don't blame them - the scenery on the journey up there is breath-taking - a treat in itself.

Friko said...

A week of gentle country pursuits. A week to observe new life all around,what could be better. Not interesting? It's what life is made of.