Sunday 18 June 2017

The cock doth crow!

I am not complaining, truly I am not...... but it is still hot, hot, hot, here, and we are all cooking nicely, including the sheep who are still wearing their winter fleeces because the shearer man has not turned up to shear them yet, the cows who are besieged by loads of flies as they graze out on the field, and the chickens.
 
Chickens?
What chickens!
These two chickens....
 

And once again the crow of a cockerel can be heard at Labartere as he lets all the cockerels in the neighbourhood know that there is a new cock on the block. But I must say that his voice was rather crackly and weak at first, nevertheless we could still hear him indoors. His voice is getting stronger though, and this morning he did manage a full voice crow, which was nice to hear.
   They are Buff Orpingtons, a male and a female. She hasn't laid an egg here yet, but it is hot, and they are both needing to get used to their new home, and they are in temporary housing at the moment which is a bit on the small side, but not to worry, Lester is going to get the last bit of fencing wire up on the Chicken Pen later on today, and then they can be let out so they can stretch their legs.
 
The only thing is that Burdock City has not been cut down yet ....
 

 
...... but I scythed down the tall mass of weeds behind it this morning.
This is where horrids, like snakes, rats, and mice will be living, so I am loath to tackle it by myself,
so Lester will have to help me with this job.
 
Meanwhile our mini nursery is coming along....
 
 

... with lots of little plants having already gone out into the Veg Plots.
 
It remains to be seen how much will survive in this heat though, but I stoically carry on, as do they. 
There is no end in sight for this heat wave at the moment, and this is still early summer.
But I am not moaning, just saying, that's all!
 
Hope your gardens are flourishing, and that you are too..
Bye for now,
Vx

 

8 comments:

Cro Magnon said...

This is when our pool no longer seems like an indulgence. I throw myself in several times a day.

Vera said...

CRO MAGNON, were it not for getting wet and then having to dry off, then I would also like a plunge in a pool!

Coco said...

Your seedlings look fabulous! What a great start. And I hope Mr and Mrs Orpington settle in well.

It is beastly here too, hot and humid. We´re living on gazpacho and cold salads.

I´m combing the potatoes for beetles and larvae every morning. Lots of squishing. And there´s some beetle eating the roses, too.

As Mr. Strimmer was busy with another project recently, I will try to follow your example and get some scything done on the nettles and brambles taking over the ruined barn. But early. Very early.

Rhodesia said...

It is hot and I am having to water madly to keep my veggie garden going. BUT I prefer to be too hot any day rather that too cold, I hate cold!! It looks like it is going to get hotter as well!! Have a good week Diane

Vera said...

DIANE, the heat is difficult to cope with when there are so many jobs to be done, but we have sort of 'given up' trying to do them for the moment and just keep up with the watering! Nice to hear from you, and hope you have a good week too.

Vera said...

COCO, it did cheer us up that we were not the only ones fighting the bugs on the potatoes, although not so good for you of course! And well done you for having a go at scything. It does take practice, but is a very satisfying once you get into the rhythm of the swing.

Old School said...

I'd like to try scything. What sort of scythe do you have?

Vera said...

OLD SCHOOL, I have an Austrian scythe, but there is an American style of scythe as well. I learnt my scything skills by watching YouTube videos!