I think winter is already here. GS has chopped sticks all day for GSM’s fire. Doofus loves a walk in the crisp winter air. Unusually the sun was out this morning, so I could take some photos. The weather forecast is a week of rain starting tomorrow, so the horses will come inside, there is nothing as miserable looking as wet horses in the field. Well, actually, wet GSW in the field is sadder lol.
Making Bread
Mix 500g white bread flour, 2 teaspoons of salt and 7g yeast in a large bowl. Make a well in the center, add 300ml of water and 3 tablespoons of olive oil and knead for 10 minutes. Leave to prove for 1 hour, knock back the dough then leave on the baking parchment for another hour. Bake at 200’C for 30 minutes.
The proof was in the tasting, It was ok on the outside, but the middle was really dense. I’m going to try leaving the dough to prove overnight in the fridge next time. The horses really enjoyed this baking experiment.
GSS Birthday
It was GSS’ birthday during the week, so we had curry for dinner and GSM made a lovely chocolate cake. We put candles and sparklers on it and switched out the lights to get the full effect. Little did we know that the sparklers were actually ordinance left from World War One.

Whoa, send for a firefighter!

Cushy B gets a telly
We had to move the Experts’ abode to a more sheltered position which just happens to be right outside the horses’ stables. The horses are having a great time mugging the Experts as they pass by for carrots and apples and Cushy B’s window lets her stare directly in their windows.

I’m looking into the distance 
No, I must look, they are too interesting 
Any carrots? Apples? A pat on the nose?
Tim’s New Bed
Sooooo, GSW has a sore back (and that’s a post for another day) and Expert Forester kindly offered to help her with the horses. Let’s see how he did:-

Hmmm, is this a new groom? 
Better keep an eye on him 
The new bedding arrives 
Can he spread it out properly? 
Wait, I’ll help 
This is how you do it 
See how? 
Right, you have a go 
Back to eating hay

Right son, let me check 
Seems ok, my knees are weak 
Yup fluffy and dry 
Ahh, clean bedding 
Just scratching my back 
Oh that was good 
Missed a bit 
Fabulous 
Shaking down 
Back to my dinner, you passed mate.
Life’s a Beach
GS, GSW, EB and EF took the dogs to beach yesterday for some fun.




Dunes 
EB cant throw the ball until Needy Blonde gives it up 
Nope 
Throw the ball, EB 
Where’s that ball? 
Doofus is still looking, Needy Blonde has the ball 
Sunset
Bits and Pieces
I’ve been trying to get a photograph of all the butterflies round the farm in September. They seem to know when I’m focussing and fly away. I got a good photo of a shield bug, they are great insects, they mate for life and look after their young. Here is a motley selection of wildlife snaps I took last month.

Shield bug 
We missed the brambles, the birds got them all
Rains and Drains
Some of our field drains were blocked and with the constant rain we’ve been getting, it felt like the farm was floating lol. We got a lovely contractor in to fix things and we are a lot drier now.







GS fixing the San Andreas fault at the poly tunnel 
It will take the run off from the drive out to the river
GSM’s birthday tea
It was GSM’s birthday last month so we had afternoon tea for her.

Lots to eat! 

Awaiting the guest of honour 
GSM reads her card 
The cake 
Blow out the candles, GSM 
Happy birthday to you 
Let’s have cake
We’re in the Honey
Its been a while since my last post, this was due to our broadband being down. So I’ve got lots to catch up on. Expect a few posts in rapid succession.
Last month, we extracted the honey from the bee hives. I took photos at each stage:

First make the bees sleepy 

Expert Beekeeper pride 
The combs in the hives 
The combs are heavy 

Scraping the wax caps 
Keep the wax for candles 
Into the extractor

Load up with combs 
Expert forester lends his strength 
Draining honey from the wax 

The honey extracted 
Filtered and drained 
Farm produce! 
The combs are put outside for the bees to clean

Bees cleaning the combs 
Back in the hive for winter











