An afternoon in photos

These chickens

are very tolerant

towards hatchlings.

Picking flowers,

on our way

to the shore.

Before heading 

to the park

to finish

a lovely afternoon.

I'm baaaaaaack!

The lone sheep in the field to our right.

Hatchling no1 thinks that this sheep is stalking her.

She is certain that sheep listen and watch us.

She is also certain that this is the same sheep that would deliberately leave all the other sheep and come stand against the fence to talk to us at the last house.

The crazy thing is that I think she might be right.

Counting blessings

Because I have a lot to be thankful for.

And somedays, perhaps I take for granted all the blessings that I have in my life.

Then days like today happen.

All the pieces of my life feel disassembled.

The car, the computer, and the washing machine break down.

They say it comes in threes. Let's hope I am good for a while.

Even in the rain, waiting for the mechanic...

there is joy to be found.

Cathedrals to visit.

The sun will come out again,

but until then, we shall dance in the rain.

Today, I am thankful for all the blessings in my life.

Long awaited

This guy has asked every single day, 'Can I sleep in my big bed now?'

The new mattresses finally came.

Tonight, he is one happy hatchling.

He can't wait for hatchling no5 to sleep on the top bunk.

I've tried negotiating, but he is certain, his brother would much prefer the top bunk.

For now he'll have to sleep alone.

In his big bed. 

Sweet dreams hatchling!

Breakfast at our house

I read another article today.

About how it is too expensive to eat 'healthy' foods.

I don't believe it.

That's a photo of our breakfast today. 

Minus seven blueberry muffins.

Those were eaten straight out of the oven.

Total cost of our breakfast - £3.

For six people, that breaks down to 50p per person.

Granted we have this sort of breakfast on an every other day basis.

Our hens give us free eggs, so we have poached eggs on homemade bread, on alternate days. For me to feed 6 people breakfast for a week costs me about £10.

I don't think that is too terribly expensive.

How much do you budget for breakfast?

Whole lot of stuff...

A whole lot of stuff has happened since our move. 

Stuff like a significant injury which landed me in hospital...

Hence the total lack of blogging.

It has been a really tough couple of weeks.

But we are starting to get back up on our feet. 

Nothing like a sharp dose of hurting to make you really appreciate the wonderfulness of a normal day.

We had big plans for the spring, but needing to recover physically, had not been on the to do list.

Thankfully, I have lots of trusty helpers.

One of our plans did work out. 

Which made for five very happy hatchlings.

We adopted a pair of rescue cats. 

This docile, blue eyed sweetie is Samson. The black guy is Puss, and despite never having had children before, they have adopted the hatchlings with a level of patience I didn't know a feline could possess. 

This little guy (standing next to a chicken egg)... awe!... is another of this spring's plans.

And here are a few of his/ her buddies.

Baby quails!

Hatchling no4 put his hands on his checks and exclaimed, 'Oh my d'oodness! Those are the cutest things I ever did see!'

Hopefully life will allow us time to recover, and adventure, with a few less bumps and bruises, and I shall blog more regularly. Really.

I love the look on his face - 'I am tolerating the tiny humans...' 

Wishing you a very happy weekend.

First dinner

We made it to the other side of our move, and even managed to find enough cook ware to cook with. Except for forks... 

Anyways, I set up the dining room table in the conservatory, which is actually quite long, this just just the one end of it.

It really couldn't be helped.

With views like these.

That wind turbine is working hard to keep me in free electricity. So happy!

One of the most wonderful parts of living out on these islands, is being able to wake up each day and look outside. It makes you feel like you are on holiday, somewhere really special, everyday. 

It doesn't really seem to matter where you are, or which island you are on, the landscape is breath taking.

On a side note, have you ever moved house with chickens?

 Our hens took the empty house to be an open invitation.

This hatchling worked tirelessly all day to keep turfing them back outside.

Not that they minded. 

And when we thought we'd lost Dolly,

we found her in a kitchen cupboard.

Wishing you a very happy weekend!

Friendship

A boy

and 

his dog.

(It was only after I took the photos, that I realised, hatchling no5 was picking up chicken poo and feeding it to the dog. Ick! )

What do you do when you have your big brothers train?

'Do you like ketchup Thomas?'

'Huh?'

"ah well.... choo choo!'

A year has passed by

And it is not that I haven't noticed. 

The little lambs are all out in the field across the road. 

Little wobbly legs, blue painted numbers on their sides to match their mamas. 

This year has been full of wonderful changes. 

A whole lot of growth. 

Nonetheless, it just doesn't seem possible that we are doing this again.

This house moving lark. Those are the boxes of last April.

And these are today's.

(Stop laughing! I am completely capable of packing a box properly... I have simply lost my ability to care. Did I just write that?) 

So, we are moving again. As if the last time wasn't traumatic enough. Though my handsome helper is not going to be here, so perhaps there was enough trauma to ensure he is sensible enough to steer clear.

(This guy says he's driving us there, and there will be tears if I try to put his car in a big bad box.)

So, when's this move taking place?

4 days, just 4 more days.

Before the hatchlings and I, not forgetting our furred and feather family members, (whom are not insignificant in their numbers), pick up and adventure off to explore a whole new island. 

New beaches to explore, a garden to work on, and lots of hatchling requests for new projects, specifically of the animal variety.

Hatchling no1's friend brought us some of her goose eggs and her family's fresh honey. A lovely yummy gift.

Hatchling no4 spotted the goose eggs and declared, 'I am going to eat d'at one. Put the others in the incubator, and when my dinos hatch then I can have 'normous eggs for breakfast everyday!'

I hope he won't be too disappointed, when they hatch out as goslings. Perhaps, he could name then Pterodactyl and the like.

The hatchlings have already signed up for new groups and activities, and are plotting their summer.

The girls have made a few good friends and there are many plans to make the most of the inter - island ferries for sleepovers and back garden camp outs.

I can't wait for this to be over, but much like last year, it is all about keeping perspective. So much is waiting for us just over the horizon, and there is plenty of happiness to be found in the now. 

Perhaps, there is just enough time for one last play on our favourite beach.

Before we bid a fond farewell, to our wind turbine laden island. 

Thank you for a wonderful year.

No doubt, we'll visit you again,

but these boots were made for exploring. 

A new adventure is calling on the wind.

(I may have limited internet for about a week from next Wednesday, so if there isn't a post for a bit, we'll be back, and hopefully more regular as per last year.)