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| << September 2022 | October 2022 | November 2022 >> |
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1st: Abundant honeysuckle Every year at this time these honeysuckle berries attract such a variety of birds: bullfinches, blackcaps and marsh tits to name but three. Today was the turn of this gorgeous looking male blackbird, and my goodness did he have a feast. (photos taken at full zoom and through a rain splattered window so not the best quality).     |
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2nd: Enjoying their apples We picked the last of our apples from the 4-fruit tree area today (we still have more to pick in the Grren Lane). All were cored and whilst we now have a large pan full of stewed fruit, the poultry thoroughly enjoyed polishing off the remains. About an hour after this photo was taken, there was not a lot left!!  |
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3rd: Quick, where's the camera Getting a 'natural' photo of all our seven setters together is pretty bloomin' rare and when it does happen, we usually have them looking in eight different directions, at least one of them drooling and then a last minute head flick causing a motion blur right in the middle of the photo. This is the most recent attempt - rather like the black and white version even if we do say so ourselves!!   |
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4th: Veg Peelings and ends from the allottment-grown marrows and tromboncinos before we take the veg inside to make yet more soup!! The birds are very grateful!  |
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5th: Spinning Two videos that show the very different types of spinning we. David is spinning washed raw alpaca and Jack washed sheep slithers. These produce very different rugs - the former are fluffy and look like the fibre as it is on the animal's backs, the latter is smoother and far more homogenous. Both are incredibly soft, long lasting and beautiful additions to any home. How licky are we to get to work in this way!! |
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6th: Thirsty work It's thirsty work, racing round the smallholding!!!  |
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7th: Eko Alpaka Jack sent the afternoon at the amazing Eko Alpaka here in Devon with David, Anila and Sami (British Alpaca Fashion Company). The real purpose of the visit was to see their guanacos so we could learn a bit more about our rescue boys and how best to care for them as they settle in with us. Whilst there, Jack was also treated to a tour of their amazing design studio and got to see and feel a huge range of their stunning alpaca fabric. If you fancy your alpaca fibre being turned into scarves, jumpers, slippers, suits, throws, furnishings etc, this is the place to go. Have a look at their website: http://www.ekoalpaka.com/ (And of course if you fancy an alpaca rug, you can still come to us 😉)  |
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8th: Successful move What a stunning day it has been here in North Devon - and for us, the first time for moving the guanacos to fresh grazing with the rest of the 4-leggeds - or SAGGs as we call them (Sheep, Alpacas, Goats and Guanacos). Delighted to say that after a bit of anxiety, they totally got it - as the (rather shaky) video shows. Very happy!! Bearing in mind that within 24 hours of getting these two, a mere month ago, they had leapt over a five-bar wooden gate and two sets of 4 foot high stock fencing, all in their desire to get as far away from us as possible!!! Think maybe, just maybe, they are now part of the gang!!! |
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9th: SLHs (Smallholding Little Helpers) We all have our SLHs. This was ours yesterday: White Toe rearranging the spent hay we were raking up, adjusting the tines in the actual rake and inspecting the quad. And THEN, deciding it was all way too beneath him and walking off. 🤣 |
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10th: Stunning October colours It's the second week of October and two of our favourite wild flowers are in fab bloom still: yellow poppies and fox and cubs. Pictures also of fuchsia and a pink rose cos we rather like them too. Such stunning colours.     |