Where did summer go?

It's been a long summer. The weather has been okay, not very warm but not too much rain. We have been having great fun, with days out, and a trip to Weymouth. There are plenty of jobs in the garden to do. In March Richard made me some raised beds and they are doing really well. We've got Peas, Leeks, Parsnips, Courgettes, Lettuce, Cabbage, Carrots, Herbs, Sweet Corn, Kale, Onions, Garlic, Butternut squash, Pumpkins and swede. We also have had a great crop of beans this year. We grew Potatoes in sacks and the green house is full of tomatoes and cucumbers. I have had great success with many different flowers this year. I planted up some hanging baskets that are flowering well. 

On a sad note Ginny my beautiful Rhode Rock, got poorly and passed away. We noticed she had lost weight and separated her from the others. I hand fed her for four days and tried a few different treatments I read online, but unfortunately she passed in her sleep. We wasted no time in filling the void in our hearts with some babies, 7 week old chicks. I will post some pictures of them soon. 

Thumper is going through his yearly molt and looks a bit scruffy. He's been a very happy boy and is doing well. My little boys are getting bigger and bigger. Luke is starting school in September and I will be back at University. Time seems to fly by these days. I've got lots of projects lined up and hope to post some of them on here. You can follow me on Instagram @sarahcouling for updates and fun stuff more often. Finding the time to blog is harder than ever right now, I would promise to make an effort to post more often, but I always do and then fail to follow through. *face-palm* 

Spring has Sprung.

 Edwina on her roost

 Princess Leia

 Ginny

What a busy weekend we had. I had a lovely mothers day and did everything I wanted to do. My Boys both made me beautiful cards that I will treasure forever. We made little progress with the chickens run this weekend as we've been working on another big project that I will tell you about later. The girls are so happy here and enjoying there new home very much. Monday Ginny laid her first egg. We were all very exited. She was in and out of the nest box all morning so I knew something was up, When she came out a bit later I went to check and sure enough she had done it! Princess Leia and Edwina have a few weeks to go I think as their combs and wattles are still small and pale. Ginny's little egg takes pride of place in the kitchen window, but for how much longer i wonder. :) 

My beautiful Hellebores are out and showing there dark purple faces as the first signs of color in the garden, Gardener world did a whole spot on them on friday, 'the Jewels of the early spring border', and they very much are in our garden. 

The Ladies have Arrived.

 We officially have back garden chickens, and I could not be more ecstatic. Meet Edwina, princess Leia, and the our one who is proving difficult to name. :) They are point of lay pullets we got from a local farm. They are 18-19 weeks old and nearly ready to start laying. Edwina is a Speckledy, princess Leia is a Silver Sussex , and my un-named lady  is a Rhode Rock. They are all beautiful birds, and we are very happy to welcome them to the gang. They are all hybrid hens that are better at producing eggs than pure breeds. Did I mention yet how exited I am! Today is there first day here with us. We left them to get settled in after clipping their wings. Then we got on with some other garden tasks in the lovely sunshine we had today. I painted Thumper.s (our lop-eared Rabbits) hutch with some wood protector and gave it a good yearly scrubbing, while he played on the grass. He has had to sleep inside while it drys, and until its all ready for him to go back in. We then ventured to the farm to collect some wood ready for the bigger chicken run to give them a much larger walk-in run to enjoy. I am looking forward to their poop. Yep that's right poop, for the compost I have heard it is wonderful. I am obviously also really looking forward to that first little egg! Millie was very, very, very exited by the chickens and will need 100% attention when she is near them as she cannot control herself around birds. She seems to have a very high pray drive, but I am hoping she'll catch rats not chickens. Will Keep you posted on that first egg...just in time for easter!

Hens.....

Really very exited to announce that I officially got the go ahead from our landlord for our hens this spring. Now, it's time to actually get exited and start all the work I've been planning. Garden things seem to all be falling into place. The council and the environment agency have joined forces and are starting work on the drains in our road next week. The drains are rubbish and every time we get heavy rain the garden floods. They have plans to dig up our entire garden and re-lay new pipe. This however goes right under my garden plot, so I haven't started it yet with anticipation of the work. However, now the date is fixed and the work is going to be done, I can plan for what I can plant there for spring! Also, I can get the borders done all nice without the worry of them getting washed away! :)


PS- I'm a brunette.