A Sting In The Tail

I thought I'd title this post in sort of honour to DD who managed to sit on a wasp at tennis camp the other week AND in true dramatic 6 year old fashion can STILL complain now of it! Still. The event heralded the next of our 'great plagues' and just as the apples begin to swell so the wasps have decided it's holiday time. This means 2 things - firstly the traps have to be dug out of the garage and hung up and secondly Horsley will still, try to lick them and be stung on various occasions on his nose resulting in allegro sneezing and licking of said nose.

The biggest concern of this past week has been managing the land. Huge cracks have appeared and a new gate we had erected is coming loose thanks to the arid conditions. Even the recent thunderstorms and deluges haven't touched the surfaces and not only is the condition a worry but the refusal of grass to grow is a real threat to our livestock. The thistles are seeding and need hacking out else the fields will just be overrun with them next year. As a self confessed semi-lizard and lover of all things bright, yellow and smiley from the sky I've never really enjoyed the wet - mostly as it dulls the complexion say nothing of the tan. But actually, guys, this is getting a bit serious - a bit like the never ending rain of winter and spring (and most of last summer for that matter) got a bit serious, so the land situation is becoming now. We have lush, grazing pasture that has been maintained from 1600's for this but it's not lush, green or anything other than straw like at the minute. So. Yep. St Tropez bottle as insurance for 'top up' I begin my rain dances... I apologise now to fellow lizards.

The conditions have also meant the red mites are mega this year for chicken keepers, the sheep are lying low to keep the flies away and I never got any highlights put in at my recent hair appointment as the sun has already turned them a tad 'Katie Price in July.' Looks like glossy brunette is heading back into my life then! DH's credit card sleeps a little easier... Going back to the red mite thing though - I learned through the accidental smallholder forum that these things can live ON ME. As if I don't already live in fear of going to the hairdressers and being told I have the big N.I.T.S (don't forget I work in a school) I swanned into Trevor Sorbie on Saturday expecting them to tell me I had red mite! Seriously, too many bugs about! Mind you, used to say that on an average Saturday girls night out in Liverpool...

So there's the weekly update. I've had so many lovely comments and tweets sent to me about the restyle of the blog, keep them coming! For those who have enquired about the new addition Blaze - he continues to settle in well. A little too well....now he can eat an egg whole (better than a hen I suppose) thus removing any evidence and managed to steal, eat then leave most of my treat - eat which was a wholemeal pastry med veg pasty. Cheers Blaze. We had Chester's ashes back this week also and scattered them in what is now 'Chester's Field' which we had a little oak plaque made up for him. Of course, as we made the sentimental gesture so the packed number 29 went past (nosy aren't yer?), Horsley ran off and DD fell off a pile of logs. Ah well, the choccie one would have known he was well and truly 'home' then!



Weather: Bit nippy - only 23 degrees and partly sunny today. No rain though despite the forecast for overnight stuff last night.