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Margaret’s Lamb
The other day (after my elevenses at ten o’clock), I stepped out of the greenhouse and looked to my left; this was what I saw: These are hoggetts; one year old lambs. They are the brothers and sisters...
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Margaret’s Cows
The other day, I was enjoying a mug of Earl Grey in the greenhouse, doing a spot of watering and listening to some tip-top pop tunes on my headphones. Singing away to myself I didn’t hear that I had...
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New Life and Poppy’s Triumph
A while ago, Margaret (the farmer whose land surrounds most of the Priory) bought a cow in calf, and the other day, long, long after all her other calves were born we had a new arrival. He’s a very...
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"Stood a Lowly Cattle Shed"
Once a week I drive up onto the ridge above the Priory to visit Margaret. In her large, warm kitchen we have a natter, exchanging gossip about the Priory and the village, and a cup of tea. Afterwards,...
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Spring Lambs
I went up to see Margaret the other day. (In case you don’t know, Margaret farms the land on three sides of the Priory estate). I hadn’t seen her for a while and, as well as having a natter and...
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Slowly, slowly …
… as we head into June, May is arriving. What should have been a show-stopping leap centre-stage, has been a slow, very late and frankly embarrassing shuffle in from the wings. Not much is flowering...
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Cows In The Asparagus
As I parked my car this morning, I could make out a black and white figure, lurking beneath the hornbeams; below the greenhouse. And up to no good. But what on Earth …. ? Ah. I see. Great!...
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Lambs And Calves. Again.
I was going to be so strong. Honest, I was. I was going to resist, you see. Resist posting yet more photos of cutesy calves and lovely lambs. After all I’ve posted lots of photos of both before....
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Keeping Busy, Keeping Warm
The grounds of the Priory can be a scary place when the wind gets up. Even the largest trees twist and sway alarmingly; creaking, groaning and occasionally hurling down dead branches. Generally, I...
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A Stampede Of Cows
As well as this gardener walking about in his shirt-sleeves and whistling, there are various other markers that spring has finally arrived: from the scent of wild garlic by the riverbank; to early...
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A Mild Sense Of Panic
After almost three weeks away from the Priory, the difference on my return is marked and, for late March, the garden far more advanced than usual. (I shall do a post soon about my walk across England....
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Walking Across England
I’ve recently returned from a fifteen day walk across Northern England. I started at Ulverston, Cumbria and finished at Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland. My route comprised the Cumbria Way, the...
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One Day In May
Yesterday was a special day. A five-minute walk away at Margaret’s farm, the cows were being let out to summer pasture. I’ve written about this annual event in the Priory calendar before (see ‘A...
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An End To May
As I walk about the Priory gardens, I am watched. When deep in thought (it happens), I might suddenly look up and be quite startled. These four made me jump – but then it doesn’t take much. Margaret’s...
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Cyril And The Cast Sheep
(Apologies for the poor quality of these photos. Under the circumstances, you’ll understand why I used my smart phone rather than my ‘proper’ camera). It was only when I befriended a farmer, that I...
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A Happy Ending
The day after my adventure with Cyril and The Cast Sheep, I walked up to the farm to see the new arrival. Margaret was delighted (and relieved) that the unfortunate ewe had not only made a full...
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Lambing
I know that I’ve posted a lot of lamb photos over the years and quite recently too (see A Happy Ending), b .. b .. b .. but I had never witnessed the birth of a lamb. I’ve seen dozens of newborn lambs...
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Margaret’s Farm …
… sits on the skyline above the Priory. I visit once a week to stock up on eggs, catch up with local gossip, spread local gossip, help out if needed and wander round the farmyard. After several...
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Out To Pasture
It’s that time of year again. I’ve shown the annual turning out of cows to pasture before (See ‘A Stampede of Cows’) but as it is such a big event in my calendar (party invites having dried up...
View ArticleReblogging: Lambing
Here's the second of an occasional reblogging series from my seven-year catalogue of posts. oooOOOooo It's not as if I need an excuse to go up to Margaret's farm for a natter and a cup of tea. She's...
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