April showers

We have had a wake up call as april started,we were without power for 3 days and nights.. what a nightmare. when we lose the electric we also lose our water supply as the water has to be pumped up from a bore hole. We switched to the spring water, but needed to boil it before use. we had just a 1 ring calor gas stove to do this on. we are presently feeding 5 orphan lambs on bottles around the clock, and the only heat we could provide for our cats and kittens was from hot water bottles,both the old stone ones and the traditional rubber ones. with no lights from 6 till 6 each day, it was a gloomy and very tiring time. everything survived except the 40 ducklings ready to hatch in the incubator, there was nothing we could do to maintain the correct temperature, so very sad, there was only 4 days left till they were due to hatch.

we were totally exhausted after that episode, and doesnt it make you realise how reliant we all are on the click of a switch for instant light and heat?

well we are back on track now hopefully and looking forward to spring returning to us!! the lambs are doing well 23 in total, and a few more late ones due soon.

Unexpected Arrivals

We were due to start lambing mid-febriary with the Manx girls.....then i went out to the fields yesterday and there was a new little portland lamb!!!! and this morning a little ewe lamb born to another portland...these two girlies must have sneaked into the ram while we were away in august!!! mums and babies doing well. I have checked the rest and only one other is looking a bit portly for her due date hmmm.... will have to watch her closely. the 2 newborns are in the field shelter all tucked up and cosy. watch this space for the next little lambs to arrive!!

November weather Brrr

The weather is certainly changing now. we have had some really wintery showers today. The sheep are now needing some hard feed as the grass loses its goodness.

we are trying to get the ponies out as a pair at least once a week still. All the outdoor tidying has started and a few trees need to come down as they have outgrown their position. Lots of heavy work ahead.

We were showing 2 of our pedigree cats last weekend at the NEC at Birmingham.. it was the Supreme cat show, we did really well taking 1st and best of breed with both.

There is a warm mulled wine basted venison casserole in the AGA cooking away slowly all ready for tomorrow... yum yum!!

August Holidays

We have 2 weeks left available in Bramble cottage during August, so special offer, a week for two people in a cosy cottage, no hidden extra's and we accept well behaved dogs...£325 !!! all electric/bedding/towels etc included.

our fruit trees are laden with plums and cherries, come and pick your own, delicious fruit not chemically sprayed. Eggs from our free range hens and ducks.

Herdwick lamb joints sometimes available too. tel 0774 094 8024/01845 597309

Borrowby Show Winners

What a fabulous day we have had. Up at 5am and all animals fed,watered etc.. then off to the Borrowby show with our sheep. The Herdwick shearlings took 1st and 2nd place, then our wicked manx laughtan got 3rd place. The portland ewe lamb took second place, and the herdwick ram lamb also got a second. we met old friends and new and had a wonderful time.....back home now and happily weary!!

JULY AT ROSE COTTAGE FARM

Meet our new sheepdog, Bran, she is 4 years old and a great asset to us. she and our old girl 'Lass' keep our rare breed flock on their toes.

The manx loaghton ewe reared her triplets successfully, they are a mischievous bunch with crazy horns, that give the two dogs a merry chase about.

we are showing our Portland lambs and possibly the Herdwicks at 2 local shows, Thornton le dale and Borrowby. The holiday Bookings are steady, and the visitors are enjoying the saturday sheepdog demonstrations i am giving.

We have paired the two black ponies up and are driving them frequently at the Sutton Bank top area.

Siberian Kittens Born

we have had 2 beautiful litters of siberian kittens born during our busy lambing period. These semi long haired cats are often able to be tolerated by allergy sufferers, we had 11 born and already 9 are booked and they are just 4 weeks old.. but are'nt they gorgeous!!