Thanks Pipp, you’re so welcome - All promotion for dear fiends and kindred spirits is done with love! No charge…. ♥️
Its a way of life, sometimes hard, sometimes joyful but I think the rubber bands are just about the worst aspect of farming I’ve had to encounter, a necessary evil though regardless of trembling and tears! I really should be used to it by now. Regardless of hardships though, I wouldn’t change one second! X
Jan mine has evaporated entirely... I have just sent a message to a man close by who is looking for a home for two (female) lambs... how could I not!
You have a Seth too! What a coincidence, mine is actually Seth-Olivier because he was born here and I wanted him to have the option of of French name that was easier to pronounce, but he is Sett to everyone since the maternelle. In September he starts at the Lycee, how time flies... has your Seth had to adapt to school here? I know I said this in my last comment but I do wish we weren't so distant... have a lovely Sunday afternoon, we have the strangest cloud covering here, I have a feeling Sahara sands may be voyaging again! xx
Hi Roselle, apologies for the delay in replying, I am on half term and desperately trying to make headway in the garden. Today is a down day due to terrific and very regular downpours so I’m determined to catch up here with comment reply’s and reading!
Sonny is doing very well, he has three ladies and two lambs that he has adopted as his own and protects with all the usual male bolshiness one would expect… I miss him. I miss them all, too much and have been hunting gently for two females… shhh! It’s a secret though..! X
Thank you lovely, country life has its moments like any other, some, most even are amazing and beautiful others are just so so hard! I should be used to it but the rubber bands… never! X
Oh Dear Susie, I so feel your hesitation yet I know you would never turn down helping a friend whatever the circumstance. Your skill, knowledge and wisdom are sought by many, a valuable asset as a friend or acquaintance. I'm happy you enjoyed the wonders and beauty of nature, a gift for what was to follow. Love n Light.. chat soon.... XX00
Thank you darling, it’s just one of those jobs that always gets to me and this breed of sheep is so tiny it makes the task ten times harder - I’m always terrified I’ve made a mistake and trapped something I shouldn’t have!
But no, I can’t say no, I know well thé problem of having too many rams!
Love and light sweetie, it’s was good to chat last night with no WiFi tantrums for a change♥️xx
😊 If only I happened to be popping by Barcelona next Wednesday! Bugger it. NZ is a bit far away. I love that city and would love to see Pipps photography in such a stunning place. I also adore how you are such a champion of others Susie.
I may have mentioned it before, but there is a wonderful NZ book called "The Axeman's Carnival" written by Catherine Chidgey. The narrator is a magpie. It's worth a read and has won various awards. It's both funny and horrific and actually takes place on a farm which as you know can be a brutal place for animals at times.
You are a brave woman Susie. I just couldn't.
Blowing Dandelion Wishes over the ocean to you, the community here, and the world.
I’m only a few hours away Jo, and still can’t make it, much as I’d love to! But, just in case you do happen to be popping into Barcelona on Thursday, please divert this way on your return for tea or a glass of elderflower wine!
I looked up that book and added to my list of birthday must have books, the reviews are amazing and having read all I could online I have to have a copy! Thank you for the recommendation…
As for thé rubber band thing, it’s not brave, just a matter of necessity believe me, or I wouldn’t either! I dread it every single year and it is without doubt the most awful job I have to do, except of course having to bury mutilated bodies 😢
Sending dandelion wishes right back… I hope thé week is a gentle one xx
“…green forest waves washing over cherry blossom surf… “ GORGEOUS. Riding that wave with you, and its necessary balance, toward the little lambs. Oh life, you’re such a mysterious play of opposites. ❤️
Oh Kimberly this time of year is made of poetry and song and blossom filled surf too which I will happily ride with you whenever you have a moment free and once the lambs are recovered from my necessary messings! I pray only that I have made no errors and left something important out… or trapped something else equally important within and the trembling doesn’t help!
Growing up in Orkney, the rubber bands were certainly a part of everyday life at this time of the year, not that this makes it any easier.
There was a magpie chick in our village who would come and beg for scraps. I'm not sure what happened to its parents, as I didn't see them feeding it after it had left the nest. However, it became rather bold and aggressive after a time, pecking bare toes in flip-flops and sandals, demanding food loudly. At one point, I was literally running away from it down the hill, much to the amusement of the nounou and Aurélie. Then it vanished too, like its parents. I like to think it flew off to find a territory of its own, but I also suspect it might have pecked the wrong toes. I still love magpies though, they are just so clever, so individual.
Thanks for the reassurance Alex, I grew up on a sheep farm, I really should be used to the dreaded rubber bands by now, it still gets me every year though! I’ve another to look forward to in a week too! :-(
Magpies are so clever and cheeky! And much hated by many, I suspect you were right in that supposition too…
I think any animal chasing you is a slightly scary experience… I’ve been chase by swans three times in my life, once when I was just three years old, they don’t scare me but I don’t trust them ever!
Have a great weekend, it’s supposed to be very warm here for the next two days, then, just like last week, the temps are plummeting again… crazy, as you said!
Ah, swans! I was terrified of them when little, mostly because of the nonsense about them breaking children's arms!! I don't trust them either, especially when Ailsa is feeding them at the chateau in Vizille!
It was 31°c in the shade where we were yesterday, in Moirans, which is ridiculous. In the car it was 35°c. Like you, however, it's going to drop fast tomorrow I think. I've made the most of today and harvested Calendula blooms, mint, and lemon balm (this is already the second mint harvest, determined to have lots of dried mint for tisanes!).
Thanks Pipp, you’re so welcome - All promotion for dear fiends and kindred spirits is done with love! No charge…. ♥️
Its a way of life, sometimes hard, sometimes joyful but I think the rubber bands are just about the worst aspect of farming I’ve had to encounter, a necessary evil though regardless of trembling and tears! I really should be used to it by now. Regardless of hardships though, I wouldn’t change one second! X
So much to be grateful for. Thank you for the reminder, Susie. And big warm hugs for the one bad one ❤️
Many thanks Lisha, warm hug gratefully accepted - I hope the day is being kind to you xx
We're managing ❤️
Oh Susie -- the lambs! My resolve would be in a puddle. And you have a Seth! (My youngest who moved to France with us is a Seth :)) x
Jan mine has evaporated entirely... I have just sent a message to a man close by who is looking for a home for two (female) lambs... how could I not!
You have a Seth too! What a coincidence, mine is actually Seth-Olivier because he was born here and I wanted him to have the option of of French name that was easier to pronounce, but he is Sett to everyone since the maternelle. In September he starts at the Lycee, how time flies... has your Seth had to adapt to school here? I know I said this in my last comment but I do wish we weren't so distant... have a lovely Sunday afternoon, we have the strangest cloud covering here, I have a feeling Sahara sands may be voyaging again! xx
Comment appeared twice then deleted!
My Seth is older and came with us to start a business here but got Lymes 6 months after we moved in - it's still a long journey.
It would be wonderful to be nearer! xx
Susie, this was lovely as always; and painful too. Oh dear.
And how is your young ram (is he entire?) doing? Or should I not ask? x
Hi Roselle, apologies for the delay in replying, I am on half term and desperately trying to make headway in the garden. Today is a down day due to terrific and very regular downpours so I’m determined to catch up here with comment reply’s and reading!
Sonny is doing very well, he has three ladies and two lambs that he has adopted as his own and protects with all the usual male bolshiness one would expect… I miss him. I miss them all, too much and have been hunting gently for two females… shhh! It’s a secret though..! X
No need to apologise Susie! We both know what it's like to be busy. Hmm hunting for two females - haven't you found a couple??
Lovely photo, as always, btw.
Rx
Beauty and sadness 💛 sending love.
Thank you lovely, country life has its moments like any other, some, most even are amazing and beautiful others are just so so hard! I should be used to it but the rubber bands… never! X
Oh Dear Susie, I so feel your hesitation yet I know you would never turn down helping a friend whatever the circumstance. Your skill, knowledge and wisdom are sought by many, a valuable asset as a friend or acquaintance. I'm happy you enjoyed the wonders and beauty of nature, a gift for what was to follow. Love n Light.. chat soon.... XX00
Thank you darling, it’s just one of those jobs that always gets to me and this breed of sheep is so tiny it makes the task ten times harder - I’m always terrified I’ve made a mistake and trapped something I shouldn’t have!
But no, I can’t say no, I know well thé problem of having too many rams!
Love and light sweetie, it’s was good to chat last night with no WiFi tantrums for a change♥️xx
😊 If only I happened to be popping by Barcelona next Wednesday! Bugger it. NZ is a bit far away. I love that city and would love to see Pipps photography in such a stunning place. I also adore how you are such a champion of others Susie.
I may have mentioned it before, but there is a wonderful NZ book called "The Axeman's Carnival" written by Catherine Chidgey. The narrator is a magpie. It's worth a read and has won various awards. It's both funny and horrific and actually takes place on a farm which as you know can be a brutal place for animals at times.
You are a brave woman Susie. I just couldn't.
Blowing Dandelion Wishes over the ocean to you, the community here, and the world.
Jo xx🌠
I hope I can wait for my birthday Pipp.. 😉
I’m only a few hours away Jo, and still can’t make it, much as I’d love to! But, just in case you do happen to be popping into Barcelona on Thursday, please divert this way on your return for tea or a glass of elderflower wine!
I looked up that book and added to my list of birthday must have books, the reviews are amazing and having read all I could online I have to have a copy! Thank you for the recommendation…
As for thé rubber band thing, it’s not brave, just a matter of necessity believe me, or I wouldn’t either! I dread it every single year and it is without doubt the most awful job I have to do, except of course having to bury mutilated bodies 😢
Sending dandelion wishes right back… I hope thé week is a gentle one xx
Oh my, imagine that. Barcelona for Pipp's art and then a hill in France for Susie's Elderflower wine!
One day...
❤️
I’m raising a glass to you now Jo 🥂x
“…green forest waves washing over cherry blossom surf… “ GORGEOUS. Riding that wave with you, and its necessary balance, toward the little lambs. Oh life, you’re such a mysterious play of opposites. ❤️
Oh Kimberly this time of year is made of poetry and song and blossom filled surf too which I will happily ride with you whenever you have a moment free and once the lambs are recovered from my necessary messings! I pray only that I have made no errors and left something important out… or trapped something else equally important within and the trembling doesn’t help!
So far so good… X
Growing up in Orkney, the rubber bands were certainly a part of everyday life at this time of the year, not that this makes it any easier.
There was a magpie chick in our village who would come and beg for scraps. I'm not sure what happened to its parents, as I didn't see them feeding it after it had left the nest. However, it became rather bold and aggressive after a time, pecking bare toes in flip-flops and sandals, demanding food loudly. At one point, I was literally running away from it down the hill, much to the amusement of the nounou and Aurélie. Then it vanished too, like its parents. I like to think it flew off to find a territory of its own, but I also suspect it might have pecked the wrong toes. I still love magpies though, they are just so clever, so individual.
Thanks for the reassurance Alex, I grew up on a sheep farm, I really should be used to the dreaded rubber bands by now, it still gets me every year though! I’ve another to look forward to in a week too! :-(
Magpies are so clever and cheeky! And much hated by many, I suspect you were right in that supposition too…
I think any animal chasing you is a slightly scary experience… I’ve been chase by swans three times in my life, once when I was just three years old, they don’t scare me but I don’t trust them ever!
Have a great weekend, it’s supposed to be very warm here for the next two days, then, just like last week, the temps are plummeting again… crazy, as you said!
Ah, swans! I was terrified of them when little, mostly because of the nonsense about them breaking children's arms!! I don't trust them either, especially when Ailsa is feeding them at the chateau in Vizille!
It was 31°c in the shade where we were yesterday, in Moirans, which is ridiculous. In the car it was 35°c. Like you, however, it's going to drop fast tomorrow I think. I've made the most of today and harvested Calendula blooms, mint, and lemon balm (this is already the second mint harvest, determined to have lots of dried mint for tisanes!).
Gorgeous writing! "The rest will follow like forest waves washing over cherry blossom surf…"
We're in Portugal. A bit far to pop over to Barcelona... perhaps another time.🫶
Thank you so much Veronika, yes, Portugal is a little far, as is France… such a pity.
I hope spring is merrily moving on… not too fast that we don’t have time to enjoy it though… 🍃
spring is definitely in the air the last couple of days. We had 27 degrees C today! Counting our blessings best spring wishes to you too 🌱
"I drive home in tears both times knowing what I’ve done. Again." 💔
Thank you for reading Nathan, Country life is not all butterflies and roses… 😔