We've finished calving! Primrose, our pet cow, held on for a long time, but she eventually calved yesterday. She's a very proud mum. We'll keep her in with two other cows and young calves for a few days, and then they'll join the rest of the herd in the fields.

The cows are sharing the barn with the hoggets (yearling ewes).

The hoggets have been shorn early this year. In the photo Chris is catching the sheep for Ian South to shear. We are going to keep the hoggets in the shed for a week or two so that they get used to being naked, and also so we can feed them some cake. If they get used to eating sheep cake now, they come up to eat it much more readily when they're in lamb and they really need it.

Sarah and Bramble
Now for some doggy news. Bramble the cocker spaniel is rapidly turning into Sarah's dog. She's so full of life that I can't keep up - actually that applies to both of them!
Beetle is still well, but unfortunately Ben, our young collie, was run over by the quad bike at lambing time. He was very poorly to begin with, and the vet thinks he may have cracked his pelvis. He's making a recovery, but he's still quite lame. Time will tell....very sad, as we're all so fond of him.

Our other bit of sad news is that Sam (the old scruffy collie) had to be put down before lambing. He's buried on the farm.

Beetle and Ben

We're fast becoming a vintage machinery refuge. Chris' brother, Nick, traced his old tractor and bought it back. Chris, Nick and Rupert have just had a lovely afternoon playing with their new toy.

Sarah's Landrover has been promoted to number one farm vehicle. Chris uses it every day to feed the animals: