April 2009 Diary Clyro Hill Farm
Well, the April showers have turned a bit nasty! I am typing
this while it is thundering and lightening outside and Ramos
and Rosie are trying to bark in tune!
The Easter weekend was glorious and made us feel spring was
well and truly here, but it was all change on Tuesday. Actually,
I know it sounds daft, but we do need the rain to help the
grass growth. The fields are looking greener and this should
really bring them on. The sheep are making the most of it and
lambing was a relatively smooth and painless event this year.
We, like many other farmers in the area, have had an enormous
number of twin lambs. It must have been the fine autumn and
wet summer last year.
The first foals will be arriving in another week and a calf
or two shortly after that.
The visitors to the log cabins have got plenty to see if they
want to join in. We have had plenty of Easter egg hunts and
there are always more to find!
We have had our beef back and have to say that it tastes superb,
so give us a call if you want to try some.
March 2009 Diary
I sat down to write this and the sun was shining and the birds
singing. I felt sure spring was nearly here. Alas, I was wrong.
Less than two sentences in and the snow is falling!
I have checked back in the farm diaries and we have definitely
had more days of snow this winter than any other year, since
we first came in 2000. The frost has been amazing as well.
We had a week of the most beautiful hoar frosts. Well, they
were nice to look at, but it did mean we spent most of our
days defrosting drinking water for the animals and also for
our log cabin guests.
The chickens are convinced spring is on the way, they have
all started laying and nesting in the barn. Two young hens
found a nice soft spot in the corner of our stallion’s
stable. I didn’t think they were laying until I caught
the stallion in the act of eating the eggs one day. He loves
them and the shells! It’s no wonder his coat is so glossy!
The geese have been less productive. Tony’s mum says
we should have our first eggs by Valentine’s Day. They
are either hiding them well or popping into the stallion’s
stable, but we can’t find any signs of eggs yet.
Our first lambs are due in a couple more weeks and so we are
trying to get some sleep now in preparation for some long nights.
I hope it has warmed up a bit by then and stays dry so they
get a good start in life.
We are just sending a beef animal to the butchers, so if anyone
wants a box please let us know as soon as possible. It will
be hung for 3 weeks as usual and you will get it in time for
Easter. We also have a few turkeys in the freezer if you are
thinking of having a special dinner. There may even be a goose!
December 2008 Diary
 Well, it’s that time of year again! It seems to come
round quicker each year. The last week has been rather frantic,
but with a few breaks to go sledging and snow clearing. The
poultry wasn’t too impressed with the blizzard we had
on Tuesday, but as I have said before, our farm looks so tidy
when the snow has just fallen. Unfortunately, as I write, it
has all melted and joined the quagmire!
We had a couple of unexpected arrivals in November, well 12
to be exact. Both dogs, Poppy our cocker spaniel and Rosie
our working bearded collie have been up to mischief and the
results arrived within a couple of weeks of each other!
They are delightful, but getting quite a handful now they are
mobile. Shutting up time is even more manic than usual. Not
only do we have to check in the poultry, but find all the puppies,
which can be a bit of a job in the dark!
If anyone hasn’t yet confirmed their turkey order there
are a few left and we would be pleased to hear from you very
soon.
We have had calls from far and wide for the puppies, but still
haven’t sold them all. They will be ready to join new
families just after Christmas if anyone is looking for a companion.
We have had a wonderful first year with our log cabin holidays
and look forward to seeing many of you again. Many thanks also
to all our customers who have continued to support us with
meat and poultry orders.
We would like to wish everyone a very happy and peaceful Christmas
and every success for 2009
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November 2008
Diary
I don’t know about you, but it’s the first time
I can remember spending autumn half term sledging! Usually
it’s leaf raking pumpkin soup and lanterns. This year
we had a small blizzard instead! Our Spanish horses were completely
bemused at the white stuff. The turkeys decided to watch from
a safe height on top of the hay bales in our barn! We’re
sort of still waiting for summer so it was a bit of a shock
to the system! Talking of shocks, Tony had one this morning,
when he opened the door to the dog kennel and found that Rosie
had had 8 puppies in the night! Many more and we would have
more sheepdogs than sheep!
Does anyone want one as a stocking filler?
Also a reminder that our beef animal will be going on 17th November, so if
anyone wants a beef box it will be ready around 12th December. We have managed
to get a local courier to do the main Christmas deliveries and they will be
Friday 19th December and Tuesday 23rd December. Both days are now only £10.40
for orders under £100. Turkeys are selling quickly at the moment so please
get your order in soon if you want something.
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