Grand Plans Day

Full of energy, well more or less depending on what time of the day it is, Sunday hits me with a thump. Despite my intentions to use the day as a catch-up from the previous week or to get ahead for the new week ahead, by the time  mid morning arrives my energies have dwindled away to nothingness. For me Sunday is really a day of rest despite my intentions of it being as busy as all the other days of the week.

So, feeling myself sinking into slothfulness I was not best pleased when Hubs decided to do a walk about round the 'estate', (the kitchen field in this case) and it was raining although not much just a drizzle which was enough to do a light soaking, and he was in Grand Plan mode, bless him. And I must admit to being a bit of a grouch which was naughty of me. When in Grand Plan mode, Hubs is unstoppable and he tires me out. But then when I am in unstoppable mode and doing my buzzing about like a busy bee round a bunch of flowers no doubt I tire him out as well. But today, he was in his unstoppable mode so I just tagged on behind.

Subject: ongoing......where to site the Chicken Hut. The flock needs to be evacuated from the Courtyard. They are not particularly messy because Bools and Gus hoover up any poos left behind, but not on the garden chairs. We have to mop the poo off them ourselves. The flock also needs to come down from the fig tree and have somewhere proper to lay their eggs instead of spending their time trying to find hiding places for their egg stashes.

.....it was decided to put the Hut beside the Half Barn. We tried moving the donated horse box into position so it could be used as a temporary residence. After much effort, Hubs did finally manage to back the horse box into position, but it looked dreadful parked up so close to the house and so it was moved back again to its position under the oak tree.
......it was then decided to put the Hut somewhere else, perhaps out in the field, by the Middle Barn.
......more discussions....the Hut to go by the Half Barn, as was originally intended, but that we would build one. Ummmm. I am sure we can build things. After all, I do dressmaking so surely if I can make curtains and duvets, do patchwork, make most of my own clothes..... I can follow a pattern.... I can look on the internet for help....we can do, I am sure.....

Subject: new....goats: Of all the animals we have gathered so far, it looks like we shall be properly prepared before we acquire our little herd of goats. Their home is to be the Middle Barn, which is also going to have a temporary bedroom for guests. Cosy, don't you think! However, most of the Grand Plans talk was to do with how we were going to get the goats out to their grazing for the day. It was decided to fence some of the Kitchen Field and make a narrow corridor to trot them through, like their own little M25.

Subject..ongoing....pigs: Hubs has decided that the Small Veg Plot can double up as rooting around space for Max, our Tamworth boar. His girls will be moved around, but he won't go far from his spot, the reason being that he can be a miserable old git. It will have to be organised properly. It is likely that Hubs will take it into his head to let Max into that veg plot when I have veg growing there.

Subject....new...where to site the Polly Tunnel: not got one yet as can't afford one, but in time......Typically for us, it will not be a titchy thing, but will be quite a size. We can be subjected to howling winds sometimes, not often, but sometimes. The winds funnel alongside the nearby escarpment. 'Cement the hoops of the Polly in' was decided. With luck that should stop it blowing away when the winds come. Position of Polly was also decided as was another row of fencing to make an enclosure for any animals needs to be kept separate, like our Jacob ram who has surprised us by making a couple of our ewes pregnant (we think - their udders are looking plump) and might need to be housed away from the girls so we can do proper flock management. That enclosure will also house a small orchard of up to thirty trees. Hubs will also need some sedatives. Young trees, goats, and / or sheep all together in one space is a recipe for disaster.

Subject....newish....Geese Pond: geese also need to be evacuated from the Courtyard. And they need a pond. Hubs is hoping that this will keep them away from the nearby river. But the pond will be small, and it will have a weeping willow beside it so that they, and the chickens, can camp out beneath its draping fronds. Well, that's the plan.

At this point it rained harder, thank goodness, so it was  all indoors for a cup of tea, some Yoghurt Cake (very yummy), and some dog biscuits. I then switched on the electric blanket in our bed and went for a roasty sleep to dry out and warm up.

It was a grand Sunday. Hope yours was too. And hope that you have some Grand Plans cooking up as well!