Some Summer

Well. Some summer this is turning out to be. Enough rain to float Noah's Ark.. The only things doing really well are the courgettes and pumpkin, cos they need plenty of water.

Since my last blog we've rehomed the 2 Black Rock hens, because they were poor layers, and they have been replaced by Lavender and Cloudy (named courtesy of Ellie) who are Bluebelles. However, disaster struck again last week. I went to the nest box to collect the eggs as usual and found Sweetie in there. When i tried to move her out of the way i knew something was wrong, and in fact she was unconcious. We tried hard to revive her but she died. Her friend was Penny ans she is not very happy at the moment, going around squawking her head off.

We've bought another Rhode Island Red and another Warren. They are Sweetie 2 and Marmalade. Hopefuly new friendships will form and all will be well. Jemima is now let out of the pen whenever we are at the allotment. She is the only one not to run away if you try to catch her, and she enjoys following us around the allotment. She now expects to be let out when we arrive and she dashes out as soon as the pen door is opened. Her favourite thing is a good dig on the compost heap, to get the copious amount of worms there. She finds them faster than she can eat them and lets 'spares' hang from her beak while she swallows!!

The rain has made doing much on the lotty almost impossible, but the runner beans, mange toute, peas and carrots are coming on. The onions started to go mouldy and the lettuces have been mostlyeaten by the biggest slugs and snails you have ever seen. My lovely row or celery has gone to seed and tastes vile... Deep joy.

Finally, Cookie says 'Hello' to Rex in New Zealand xxxxxx