Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
ALL TAKEN IN MY GARDEN. LYNNE.
Month: April 2009
Starting from number one there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
Only a couple of days of photographs left.
Some pics taken at Nauticaa, Sealife Centre, Boulogne at Easter.
1. Black tipped harbour shark. Jill.
2. Iguana. Jill.
3. 10ft. shark. Jill.
4. Tropical fish and coral. Jill.
5. Sealion teeth cleaning. Jill.
We candled the Turkey and Geese eggs last night. All of the Geese eggs are fertile, even three from our own Geese. That was a bit of a surprise as I thought that the disturbing that they went through when we moved them the eggs would have been infertile. Out of twenty seven Turkey eggs five were infertile. Considering that they were posted to us from Scotland that was good. If I remember I will take a photograph of the candling of an egg to show the air sack forming.
We are still fencing around the Lake to protect the Geese and to stop the Otter from taking any of our Fish. I am sure that the fencing the Geese will have protecting them should keep this lot alive. Once it is up we are going to try to let the Geese that we purchased out of the stable that they are in. If we let them out before the fencing is finished they will go onto the Lake and disturb the Canada Geese that are nesting.
Tass and Kye have just come in with a squealing baby Rabbit that they have just dug out of a Rabbit Burrow. The Kitten is so small that it has not yet opened its eyes. We have managed to find the Burrow and replace the Kitten. The Mother should return, although she may move her young to a safer place away from the Dogs.
Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
DAVE LEFT THE DOOR OPEN ON THE GREENHOUSE AND THE SQUIRREL THOUGHT IF IT HID WE MIGHT LEAVE IT IN THERE WITH ALL THE BIRD FOOD !! LYNNE
ALL TAKEN IN MY GARDEN THIS WEEK. LYNNE.
Quite a lot of Swallows returned to Denbury on Thursday, going in and out of the Barns busily repairing their last years nests or making new ones.
I have been working around the Lake today increasing the height of the electric fence to protect the Geese from what ever has been killing them. If what I am doing this year does not protect them there will be nothing else that I can do other than put a six foot fence all around the Lake. Unfortunately that will cost to much. Whilst working around the Lake I have been watching the Swallows skimming the Lake to catch their food.
Thornton after visiting the Holiday Cottages to see what treats he can scrounge is spending most of the rest of the day in the Horse Field with the Sheep and Lambs, returning to the Farm House as the night draws in. He is not getting chased away as much as he was when he first started to mix with the Sheep. Just now and then a Ewe if one is about will give him a little nudge if she thinks Thornton is to near her Lambs. I think that the Lambs are what is fascinating Thornton, for he is always getting close to them. He may well decide that he want to be a Sheep, We cant see it as he likes his home comforts to much. Thornton does not like the rain, that will be when we will know if he want to be a Sheep if he stays out with them in the rain.
The Diary is late as Thornton had followed the Sheep into the Woods. We went to make sure that he was alright. If he had of been we would have left him. But he could not find his way out of the Woods. As soon as he heard us he called out and tried to get back into the Field. We needed to show him the way. As soon as he was in the Field he gave a skip and a jump and ran back as fast as he could to the Farm House. He does like his home comforts. Better than a dark cold Wood.
Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
Kune kune Piglets.
Darcy, Kune kune Sow.
Bridget the Kune kune Mother.
One of our choices. Black and White Piglet.
Another. This is a Tricolour. You cant see the brown as it is so dirty.
As our Holiday Guests, not only the Children but the Adults have all enjoyed the close contact with our Animals, we decided that we would get a couple of Kune kune Pigs. We purchased a couple over the phone this afternoon. If we get the time we will collect them over the weekend. One is Darcy the Ginger Sow in the Photograph, the other will be one of the Piglets in the first photograph.
The reason for purchasing Darcy, as she is now called, is that she is about 2 1/2 years old and is ready to go to the Boar. She is also very friendly. When she arrives at the Farm we will send her a few miles away to be mated.
The Piglet we are purchasing will be a castrated Male, as we are told that two Females can quarrel, and we don’t wont the bother of a Boar. We are being sent a few photographs of the Male Piglets so that we can make a choice. We will either get a black and white one or the tricolour.
I have taken the item below about the Pigs from the Internet, to give you a bit of info about them. As you can see they are very kind and easy to handle. They are also able to be free range and graze on grass. We are told that Kune kune means fat and barreled shape. I am sure our Holiday Guests will enjoy them.
The Kune kune pig comes from New Zealand. How they got there is a mystery as they are not indigenous to that country. They were kept by the Maoris for meat, living not in enclosures, but free to scavenge around the houses. This probably explains their love of humans and excellent temperament. In 1976 things were looking desperate for the Kunes, and very few were left, but thanks to Michael Willis and John Simister buying every Kune they could find, 18 in all, the New Zealand Kune kune pig association was formed. They have done an excellent job and there are now over 1000 pigs in New Zealand.
Kune kune pigs vary from 24″ to 30″ high and weigh between 140-220 lbs. They are covered in long hair, which can be straight, wavy or curly. There is a wide range of colours, from cream through gold, tan and brown to black. They also come in a variety of spotty colours. An interesting feature is they have a pair of tassels under their chin called Piri Piri. They have a medium to short head with either prick or semi lop ears. Their body is best described as non-extreme, not long and lean like a commercial pig, or short and pot bellied like the Vietnamese variety.
Kunes have a steady temperament, and are extremely easy to handle. They are very gentle, and ideally suit the new pig keeper who may be intimidated by larger more boisterous pigs. Because of their small size they do not cut the land up as much as larger pigs.
Starting from number one there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
WE HAD A COUPLE OF DAYS IN NORTH YORKSHIRE THIS WEEK AND TOOK THESE PHOTOS OF WHITBY ABBEY. LYNNE.
Ann, Barry, Mum and Friend are Holidaying at the Farm this week. Last night Barry came in from fishing, or so they thought until Thornton had his nose on Mums nose. If he is not knocking on the Twins Cottage door he is at Ann and Barry’s on the scrounge. Ann and Barry are on their way back home tomorrow, like others they have left him a packet of biscuits. They were probably the first of our Holiday Guest who saw him last year, it was just after he was born. The three ladies when they arrived last Saturday didn’t like to ask after Thornton just in case we may have eaten him. As if.
After very careful consideration we have decided that we are not going to keep Reindeer at Denbury any longer. The other Female that was frightened by the Helicopter aborted her Calf a couple of days ago. Since they were frightened they seem to be on edge every time that any type of aircraft flies above the Farm. They were also frightened by a Tractor that came along the Drive. Reindeer are without doubt one of my favorite animals and we will all miss them when they go.
Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
Getting very short on photographs. Only one day left.
Here are 5 photos from San Diego , California. Penny, Chicago Chicago Chicago
Flowers in Seaport Village. Penny, Chicago Chicago Chicago
Calla Lilly on Coronado Island. Penny, Chicago Chicago Chicago
Dragon Tree in front of the Hotel Del Coronado. Penny, Chicago Chicago Chicago
Garden flowers, Coronado Island. Penny, Chicago Chicago Chicago
A really strange garden plant on Coronado Island. Penny, Chicago Chicago Chicago
Any of you who did not manage to see the Roe Deer on the Valley camera last night, missed one of the best deer antics that we have seen. Three Deer were happily grazing quite close to the camera when what looked very much like a Buck appeared from no where and started to chase one of three. It was quite a chase around the field. Running at full speed around the Field quite a few times and bouncing over the stream. I must admit I did have a little problem trying to keep up with the chasing. The what might have been an intruder had another two accomplices who did a little chasing but nothing as the first. The original three have been around Denbury for over a month. I will try to find time to put up a longer range infra-red lamp to see further down the Valley as I am sure that they will be in the Valley more than the few times we see them.
The Farmer on the other side of the Wood that the Sheep go through to the Farmers Field has put Sheep netting up so that our Sheep do not spoil the crop he has just put in. Since then the Sheep have been grazing in our Horse Field that is very close to the Farm House. It is the perfect spot for Thornton to see them. Yesterday Thornton went to investigate. For some of today he has done the same and has had no problems as he did a little yesterday. He keeps coming back from time to time, knocking on the door to be let in. As it started to get a little darker he has come in for the night. I don’t think that Thornton will want to be a Sheep full time. Although it is good to see him with the Sheep.
Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
Getting very short on photographs.
The first Chicken out.
A little later.
Dolly with her Lambs.
Thats Thornton just behind the Ewe in the foreground.
All the Chicken free range.
Thornton has been mixing with the Ewes and their Lambs this evening. It started when I tried to get a few photographs for the Photo Page. A little feed was put out for the Ewes and Thornton decided to join in. The Ram wasn’t best pleased and gave Thornton a few head butts, that didn’t seem to worry him at all. Initially the Ewes were a little wary but soon allowed Thornton to get near their Lambs. We had to make Thornton come back to the Farm Yard as he may have gone into the Woods and got lost. He would eventually have come back on his own, but we couldn’t take the chance. When he decided it was time to return with a little encouragement you could see him jumping and prancing with excitement. Some of you may have seen it on the webcam.
The nine Ewes have given birth to twelve Lamb between them. All but two are white, the other being brownish rabbit colour with dark chocolate noses and feet. I tried to get a photograph of them but the Ewe took them away before I arrived with the camera. I will try to get some more photographs over the next few days.
We let the Chickens out of their House for the first time today. The first one came out very quickly, the rest taking nearly half an hour. We have left the Chicken House in one of the Horse areas until we have time to move it nearer to the Holiday Cottages. Thinking that we could confine them to the corral area we put some sheep netting on the fencing. That was a waste of time as they soon walked through the netting. They haven’t strayed far from their House and should be easy to put away tonight.
Starting from number one there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
Getting very short on photographs.
WE SPENT A COUPLE OF DAYS IN NORTH YORKSHIRE THIS WEEK AND TOOK THESE.
WHITBY. LYNNE.
HELMSLEY. LYNNE.
THE FAMOUS DAFFODILS AT FARNDALE AS VIEWED BY MY ELLIE. LYNNE.
STAITHES. LYNNE.
ROBIN HOODS BAY. LYNNE.
Starting from number eleven there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
Flower bed at my local park. Vicky.
Tulip. Vicky.
Swan grooming. Vicky.
Sunset at a local nature reserve. Vicky.
Song Thrush. Vicky.
I had no intention of doing a Diary today until I had a phone call from our local Police. The reason for the phone call is of little relevance until the sting in the tail.
Yesterday evening from our kitchen window we saw two people with their dogs walking on the footpath that passes through our Farm Yard. They were in my opinion, by the way they were acting, either being extremely nosey or possibly even looking for what could be stolen. On two occasions they trespassed on our property, once was onto our Cottages Car Park that was obviously not the Footpath. On seeing them trespass I had no alternative but to challenge them.
By the time I had put my shoes on and gone to challenge them they had reached the entrance of one of the Paddocks, and had again left the footpath. They were gesturing to what was in the Paddock. By this time I had challenged them from a distance. Instead of continuing on their way the man decided to make various unnecessary remarks. I am not the most patient of people and told them to (swearing)off. By this time what they were gesturing to showed its self. It was Thornton. The people allowed their dogs to put their faces onto Thornton’s face. One of the dogs was even making a low growl. Seeing this made me even more annoyed and I shouted again for the people to so and so. Turning to walk on, the man again made a couple of nasty remarks. As the people walked away Thornton started to follow them, making me have to run up to him to make him turn to return to the Farm. I told them again in no uncertain terms what the so and so did they think that they were doing A threat was made to me that they they would report me to the Police.
The phone call was to tell me that I should attend the Police Station to be arrested about the incident that happen with the walkers. I was told that if I did not attend I would be arrested at the Farm. I put the phone down with little intention of attending the Police Station. I have had a number of altercations with people using footpaths that go through the Farm. Always for trespassing or going the wrong way, not having the dogs on leads or interfering with property or the Animals. A number of those people have complained to the Police. Always a Police person has come to the Farm and asked what has happened. On hearing our side of the incident the matter has been closed, so it was strange that I was told that I was going to be arrested. With this in mind I decided to go to the Police Station to make a complaint.
I was arrested by a what an aggressive Women Police Officer, my photograph, fingerprints and DNA was taken. I was locked in a cell until I was interviewed on tape.
The interview that followed was carried out in a very formal way. Some of the questions I was asked and a couple of the remarks that were made to me were not what I would have expected. One being, was it unreasonable for the walkers to pet Thornton or any of the other livestock. I think that it is unreasonable for any person to interfere with any of my animals without my permission. As you know we nearly lost Thornton a few months ago and if we had not seen the incident yesterday the same thing may have happened. The walkers even made allegations that I had threatened them with violence. I didn’t and the word that were alleged that I had used are word that I would not use. After the interview I was bailed to attend the Police Station on the 1st of June.
The sting in the tail. The walkers were a high Court Judge and his Partner.
Before telling me who the people were, the Police Officer suggested that the the people did not look like robbers. Without a label or a robbers uniform can any one tell me what a robber looks like. I asked the Officer, she couldn’t answer. The Judge didn’t look like a Judge either. Not that it would have made any difference if he had.
I would not have been arrested if it had been any one else. I will be speaking to my Solicitor to make a formal complaint.
Starting from number six there are five new photographs on the Photo Page.
Just one days photographs left.
Christchurch Cathedral near the centre of Oxford. Clive.
The start of the Mesopotamia walk along the river Cherwell near Oxford. Clive.
The weir at the other end of the `Mesopotamia walk. Clive.
The Victoria Arms at Marston on the bank of the river Cherwell, one of the Pubs featured in the Inspector Morse series, Clive.
The Oxford canal just outside Oxford. Clive.