From the Edge of Exmoor: March 2019

Seemingly in a blink of an eye, February was over. We went from cold winds and snow (and a minor argument with a hedge in the car), to rain, to a couple of glorious weeks of sun, and now back to grey and good old Devon mizzle. The view from our hillside has been ever-changing, and I would be hard pressed to name many of the incredible sky colours we have seen.

The sheep are getting ready to lamb (two weeks to go) and the cattle are roaming outside again, over a month sooner than last year, but with the option to retreat into the sheds when the rains batter down. The early sheep are also inside, and toasty in their straw, while the later girls are mostly in the swede field, occasionally breaking through the electric fence to roam. Only a few more swede-weeks left, much to our chagrin as they are sweet, cook quickly and put boughten roots from the supermarket to real shame.

Much of our time has been spent managing stock (including some incredibly fussy cattle in the top shed who turn their snoots up at even the best silage), laying hedges before the March deadline, and catching up on house/garden chores, such as finishing the veg bed and building a deck (now christened The Prosecco Deck).

Farmer Ian went to look after the other site when Farmer Rob and Sally went on honeymoon, taking Harry with him. Contrary to expectations, he settled in very well and set up camp in front of the Aga, occasionally on Sally's armchair (which is not generally an acceptable place for dogs to park their behinds). T'other Rob came to visit and we put him to work then sent him home exhausted but happy. And of course, Shackleton is missed immensely, but is all healed and back to full steam ahead.

Whether we'll have time to report during lambing depends on the likelihood of us still talking to each other, or anyone else for that matter...so in the meantime, photos from the last few weeks.