Checking the Sheep

One of the jobs that has to be done every day and sometimes twice is checking all the sheep in the fields. This is usually carried out by Farmer Daughter who drives around them in our multi terrain vehicle ( the gator). The advantage of this is that she can drive close to them without disturbing them, she can carry any medicines she may need, she can take stock feed potatoes or hay in the winter,  it's quicker and drier in wet weather. This time of year there are obviously ewes and their lambs to check. Each ewe and lamb is marked with a number, singles in one colour and doubles in another. It is then possible to quickly see which lambs should be with which mum. It also gives an indication of the age of the lamb. This lamb being only no. 7 was obviously one of the earlier ones.

The sheep are checked to ensure they are all looking healthy with no signs of any problems, that they have not escaped from the field and they have adequate grass.

I sometimes incorporate checking the sheep into part of my walk. It's no great hardship in fine weather and when they are in a field with a beautiful view.

It does take a while on foot and the disadvantage is that they tend to wander away from me. Poppy stays firmly on a lead during checking. She doesn't chase the sheep but they have more of a tendency to move away if she is wandering around.

This is probably one of my favourite views from our fields. It makes me really realise how lucky we are to have such lovely places to wander and makes me think of all the people who have been shut up in their houses for weeks. How pleased they must feel to have a little more freedom these past few days.

I think they must have similar thoughts as I do as the day comes to an end. That's another day got through and hopefully another step closer to seeing a bit of normality.

VE Day Themed Bake Off : The Other Entries.

Yesterday I explained about this week's family bake off which is created in each family member's home and shared with the others by means of video and photos on our group Whatsap. Younger daughter made a couple of entries one of which was this very tasty Welsh Rarebit reflecting her residence in Wales. I thought this one looked particularly delicious and well presented

She also made Welsh cakes, another regional specialty which she then served as a Welsh cream tea. Another yummy choice. Let's hope she had the jam and cream the right way round.

Farmer Daughter chose to make Cornish Pasties. Her presentation may not have been as good but technically I think hers should have scored high. Making pasties is not easy. She had made her own pastry and had done some great crimping.

My sister chose a recipe from a National Trust cook book and made a very tempting cake called Churchill's fruit cake. Another well presented entry.

It certainly looks like a good cake with well distributed fruit.

My niece opted for these beautifully decorated biscuits which certainly reflected the theme.

So who would you have given a first to? Well the 4 judges results were a tie putting the fruit cake and my Cornish cream tea in joint first place.

VE Day Themed Bake Off : The Traditional Cornish Cream Tea

The second round of the family Bake Off was held last weekend. My niece was the leader this time and with VE Day in mind the remit was 'A Traditional British Dish". I chose to do a Cornish Cream Tea. Traditionally this is served with a slightly sweetened bread roll called a split. Step one was therefore to get baking the splits.

I use my mum's recipie for this. Below is a picture I took a while ago straight from her book. She frequently made these when we were children and my Gran also always had some on the table when we went to stay. Note that they are made according to this with plain flour. 

Flour along with many baking products has become a bit of an issue in the UK due to it's shortages on the shop shelves. There have been two suggested reasons for this. One is that many people are doing a great deal more baking and the other is due to a lack of packaging being produced. I decided to buy a 16kg bag of flour from Amazon and have been able to share some of this with my friends either when they have called to the farm for eggs or when I have delivered eggs to their doorstep.

The next requisite is clotted cream which I was able to add to my click and collect supermarket order.

I also had a small amount of homemade strawberry jam left from last summer.

The judging is done virtually by photos so presentation and looks seems to be key. I therefore set the atmosphere for the afternoon tea.

How the cream and jam are served is another issue and one that causes many arguments. Which comes first, the jam or the cream?

Devon and Cornwall vary over this.

My sister and I have husbands who love to wind us up over this but then off course neither of them have Cornish blood running in their veins like their dear wives.

There is only ONE way.

Jam and then cream. How would you get the strawberry on top otherwise?

Tomorrow I will give show you the other entries and tell you the judges' decision.

Horses

I have managed to capture a few of the horses on our farm when I have been out walking. I thought I would share these particular ones with you all. This first pony has been on box rest and is still only allowed out for half an hour twice a day. It's impossible to tell a horse to take it easy and this one was far too pleased at being allowed freedom.

The muzzle is to ensure that she only eats small amounts of grass. Her time outside will gradually be increased.

I wish I could jump for joy like that.

This mare has just had her foal. It is a few days old here.

They have some lovely warm weather to start off on the right hoof!

Animals are remarkable in how quickly they adapt to life.

I thought these pictures would act as a tonic to you all.

VE Day

Planned celebrations for VE Day that were to be held in the village hall were obviously cancelled some time ago. We spent instead a quiet day at home. I did manage to search out a few flags.

Generally life went on as normal.

A little bit of scaffolding for some chimney repairs was put to good use.

There was still some time for reflection on what World War 2 meant to my family. My mum was a child in Cornwall along with her 4 siblings ( 2 more were born post war). There were some adjustments to their lives. A shelter was built in the garden, gas masks worn to school.

Their father and grandfather were both involved in the home guard.

Mum tells stories of some kind of grenades being hidden in the garden with the detonators kept in a drawer....

Meanwhile in Bath my father like many young men spent his late teens and early twenties serving his country in the RAF as a radio operator. He was based in India for the duration. Sadly this picture depicts the last time he saw his mum who was killed in the Bath Blitz.

We have much to be grateful to them for. 

Our modest celebrations consisted of a cream tea in the garden. 

Meanwhile my mum and sister celebrated in mum's home with a very classy looking offering from the local farm shop.

Poppy Time

Most dogs have probably enjoyed lockdown a lot more than their owners. They have had their family at home with them and more than likely had more walks. I saw a joke quite early into the lockdown on Facebook depicting a dog hiding and refusing to go out for a walk having been dragged out by every member of the family! Poppy has certainly got used to us being around most of the time. I am probably walking her about the same as usual but she has been out for quite a few early morning runs with Farmer Daughter.

Poppy is absolutely obsessed with retrieving a ball. She would keep going until she dropped given the chance.

I thought I would share these photos I took today. I was quite pleased with them bearing in mind I was throwing the ball and taking the pictures.

All that activity needed a bit of a cool down. What better pace than a water trough.

It apparently tastes good too!

Yuk!