Léonie Cooper

Gameshope, Scottish Borders 8th February 2025.

February 2025

27th

Today I sat by Borthwick Brea trying to get a picture of a nesting heron; I snapped it once before it got spooked and flew away.

A grey heron in flight against a clear blue sky. The heron is positioned slightly off-centre, appearing to be approaching or departing from a cluster of evergreen trees. The trees are dark green and fill the lower half of the frame, providing a strong contrast against the bright blue sky. The overall impression is one of serenity and natural beauty. — full frame

The original scaled frame is above, below I've cropped the frame and scaled; left clicking expands the images.

A grey heron in flight against a clear blue sky. The heron's wings are spread wide, and it appears to be descending or approaching a pine tree visible in the lower right of the frame. The overall impression is one of wildlife in its natural habitat. — cropped frame

I waited an hour but the heron didn't return. Uncomfortable sitting damp on wet grass, I require a small seat, and maybe a flask of sweet tea. Whilst waiting I took other pictures.

A white passenger jet aeroplane flying high in a clear, bright blue sky. A contrail, the vapour trail left by the plane's engines, is clearly visible extending down from the aircraft. The overall impression is one of vastness and travel.

The other day (24th) I walked to Borthwick Brae to take a picture of the Heron but found I'd left my memory card in my laptop, hence returning today to take the photograph.

A hawk in flight against a clear blue sky. The hawk is centrally positioned and relatively small in the frame, emphasizing the vastness of the sky. The overall impression is one of freedom and serenity. — full frame

A Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) in flight against a clear blue sky. The bird is centrally positioned and is silhouetted against the bright sky. The focus is sharply on the bird. — cropped frame

During the years of traumatising extremities of weather, I never ceased to be fond of the great outdoors. I enjoyed being outside, as much as potentially sharing my pictures with you.

A pheasant partially hidden in tall, dry grass. The pheasant's head, neck, and part of its body are visible, displaying its distinctive plumage of browns, reds, and iridescent greens. The background is primarily composed of the tall, dry grasses that obscure much of the bird.

After spooking the heron I retreated to the roadside, backed off by a fence, hoping to blend my grey jacket in with the tarmac of the road. Woodburn can be seen in the distance.

Leonie wearing a grey sweater and a pink beanie, sitting in a grassy field and taking a photograph with a camera mounted on a tripod. The background features a pastoral landscape with rolling green hills, a partly cloudy sky, and a road. The overall impression is one of peaceful outdoor photography in a serene rural setting. — Remote control on my Apple Watch enabling me to take a self portrait.

The roadside behind me, on half an hour ago, had been occupied by road workers filling in potholes; guess this spooked the heron also.

A close-up view of a wire fence knot, with a blurred background of a truck driving on a road in a rural setting under a bright blue sky. The focus is sharply on the wire knot and the background is out of focus, suggesting a deliberate artistic choice to highlight the texture and detail of the fence. The overall impression is one of a simple, everyday scene observed through a specific, limited perspective.

We've had two mother ewes lamb three lambs, a Blackface cross had one, and a Zwartble cross had two; both lambed without intervention.

A ewe and her newborn lamb in a barn. The ewe is mostly light brown, while the lamb is a light tan colour. Both sheep are standing on straw bedding inside a wooden pen or enclosure. The overall impression is one of new life and the warmth of a farmyard setting.

Lambing is a good excuse to not be in Ancrum today, I cannot stomach what villagers say to each other about me, to suppress me into ostracism.

26th

Charlies gone to work, left me holding the lambs, I'm wearing gloves to touch them, don't like blood and slime, its horrible, its gore.

A ewe (a female sheep) nuzzling her newborn lamb, which is lying on a bed of straw. The lamb is still wet and covered in some amniotic fluid. The overall scene depicts a tender moment of maternal bonding immediately after birth.

Recently they've been dropping them by the ring feeder.

A ewe tending to her newborn lamb lying on a bed of hay in a barn stall. The lamb is still wet and covered in blood from birth. Another lamb is visible in the background. The scene depicts a raw and immediate moment of life and birth within an agricultural setting.

Both lambs have suckled, mother ewe is penned with water and hay; Charlie is doing the rest when he returns from work.

A ewe tending to her newborn lamb in a straw-filled pen. The lamb is still wet and covered in its amniotic fluid. The ewe is licking the lamb, a sign of maternal care and bonding. There is some blood visible from the ewe's recent delivery, which is a normal part of the birthing process. The overall scene conveys the tender moment of a new life beginning.

I've stopped eating chocolate, and pasties, because of my apple watch I'm on the path to health, I now have an effective exercise routine.

Serene twilight scene over a body of water. The sky is dominated by a dramatic display of dark, brooding clouds, punctuated by a sliver of warm, colourful light near the horizon suggesting either sunrise or sunset. Silhouetted evergreen trees flank the scene, emphasizing the darkness and stillness of the landscape. A single, small light, possibly a star or planet, is visible in the upper portion of the frame, adding to the feeling of vastness and tranquility. The overall mood is peaceful but slightly melancholic, with a contrast between the darkness of the land and the vibrant yet subdued colours of the sky.

Charlie arrived from work and took me for a drive to see a calming forest sunset; he goes an extra mile being considerate and caring about my mental health.

25th

Today I travelled with Charlie to pick up lambing supplies.

A dark-coloured pickup truck with its tailgate down, parked in a farmyard. The truck bed contains some hay or straw. The background includes farm buildings, agricultural machinery, and a partly cloudy sky. The view is framed by a partially open doorway or gate.

Charlie standing in a large agricultural building, likely a grain store. He's holding a red bucket and an orange shovel. Behind him is a large pile of grain or similar agricultural product, and several large sacks of fertiliser are stacked near him. The overall impression is one of agricultural work or storage.

This ewe lambed last night behind the ringfeeder, they are aware of our camera.

A ewe and her two newborn lambs in a wooden pen filled with straw. The ewe is light brown with a number marked on its side, and the lambs are lighter in colour. The scene depicts a typical farm setting, focused on the new life of the lambs.

Poly tunnel feeding time for mother ewes in lamb.

A livestock pen filled with sheep. The sheep are various shades of light brown, tan and dark brown, their wool long and thick. They are standing in straw and are closely packed together within wooden barriers. A tarp covers the top of the structure.

The length of it.

A panoramic image shows the interior of a barn, specifically a sheep pen. The space is dimly lit and features sheep and lambs huddled together in wooden pens. Hay is scattered on the floor and piled high in a circular feeder. A temporary plastic covering appears to extend the roof-line of the barn. The background is slightly visible, showing a rural setting with a house and possibly other farm buildings. The overall impression is one of a rustic, working farm environment.

Less than one day old.

A young, light-coloured lamb standing in a dimly lit barn stall filled with hay. The lamb is looking directly at the camera, with its large ears visible. Other sheep are partially visible in the background, also within the confines of the wooden structure. The overall impression is one of a farm setting, possibly a lambing season.

Tired and emotional today after uploading a Bethune diary post; I'll be glad to fall asleep in a few hours time.

24th

Two days of stormy weather appears to have blown away to the reveal a sunny morning; on the way to the poly tunnel I noticed a rainbow had appeared over Borthwick Brae.

A vibrant rainbow arches across the scene, its colours partially obscured by the overcast conditions, suggesting a recent rainfall. The landscape is gently rolling hills dotted with farm buildings, trees, and grazing sheep, creating a tranquil yet somewhat somber atmosphere. The contrast between the vibrant rainbow and the subdued colours of the landscape creates a visually compelling scene. The overall feeling is one of quiet beauty and perhaps a sense of hope or renewal following a storm.

Early this morning a mother ewe had strayed from her two lambs; placing her back into a pen Charlie said the mother ewe had "forgotten to be a mother". She appeared contented to be with her lambs later in the day.

A dark-coloured sheep lying down in a wooden enclosure filled with hay. Two newborn lambs are nestled beside the ewe; one lamb is light-coloured with a reddish mark, and the other is dark-coloured like its mother. The mother sheep appears relaxed and content.

Midday the lambs were sitting and suckling from their mother ewes, we've had no new lambs for twenty-four hours but ewes are very big, uncomfortable and also panting. The aging Herdwick is bullying other ewes, she'll be auctioned at Longtown very soon, if not in lamb she'll be cast.

A tranquil river scene under a bright, sunny sky. A gently curving river flows through a pastoral landscape of rolling green hills and sparse vegetation. The sun is prominent in the sky, partially obscured by fluffy white clouds. The foreground shows dry, windswept grasses along the riverbank. The overall impression is one of peace and natural beauty.

Got some much needed exercise this afternoon via a walk along Borthwick water.

Panoramic view of a rural landscape under a bright, sunny sky. The foreground shows a field of dry, brown grass with patches of green and some standing water. A wooden fence runs along the left side. In the mid-ground, a shallow, flooded area is visible. The background features gently rolling hills, some sparsely wooded.

Panoramic view of a tranquil river scene on a sunny day. The river meanders through a gently rolling landscape of grassy fields and sparse woodland under a bright blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds. The sunlight is bright, casting reflections on the calm water.

Panoramic view of a serene river scene on a bright, sunny day. The river meanders through a gently rolling landscape of grassy fields and sparsely wooded hills under a mostly clear blue sky with scattered fluffy white clouds. The sun is visible in the sky. The overall impression is one of peace and tranquillity.

Returning to Woodburn.

A rural road stretching towards a distant hilly landscape under a dramatic, partly cloudy sky. The road is relatively narrow and shows signs of wear, with some potholes visible. The roadside features a fence separating the road from a grassy field with some puddles, suggesting recent rain. In the distance, low hills and a line of trees are visible. The overall mood is somewhat bleak yet peaceful, with a contrast between the dark road and the lighter sky.

Exercise is so good for anybody suffering from aling mental health!

A ewe and her three newborn lambs nestled together in a straw-filled pen inside a barn or shed. The ewe is light brown, with a woolly coat, and stands over her lambs. Two of the lambs are visible, lying close to their mother, while a third is partially obscured. The lambs' coats are still wet and appear light in colour, typical of newly-born sheep.

Penned.

A ewe and her two newborn lambs inside a wooden enclosure filled with straw. The ewe is light brown, and the lambs are white. The ewe appears to be looking directly at the camera. The overall feeling is one of new life and farm animal husbandry.

After my walk I returned to Woodburn to find a mother ewe had lambed twins.

23rd

My body believes chocolate to be evil, and no longer tollerates it, servere stomach cramps decree it so; stop eating chocolate. After visiting Hawick we returned to the farmhouse and tended to new born lambs, all tails were docked, all male lambs castrated.

Leonie holding a box of Aseptic Rubber Rings for castrating and tailing lambs. The box features a picture of two lambs lying in grass. The background suggests a farm setting. The overall content depicts a common agricultural practice.

The orange colour on their fleece is iodine, to cleanse their belly button from infection.

Charlie applying a metal clamp to the genitalia of a lamb. The lamb's hind legs are spread apart, and its fleece is light-coloured with some reddish-brown staining around its rear. The person is wearing dark clothing, and the background is a rustic wooden structure with straw on the ground. The overall impression is of a farm animal husbandry procedure, likely castration.

The process of docking and castrating takes less than a minute per lamb, and is near enough painless when lambs are very young.

Charlie holding a newborn black lamb, between pincers is an elastic band used to castrate the lamb. The overall impression is one of routine farm work, focusing on the care of a newborn animals.

Charlie gently holding a newborn lamb in his lap inside a barn. He's using a tool to likely apply a tail tag or perform a similar procedure on the lamb’s tail. The lamb is predominantly light-coloured with dark markings, and other lambs are visible in the background within a pen. The overall scene depicts the everyday work and care involved in raising livestock.

We also numbered each lamb with their mother ewes, as the pens will be merged together to free up hurdles for mother ewes to be lambed.

22nd

Another mother ewe has lambed tripplets, one died, leaving black and white twins for mother ewe to lick; very messy, required intervention.

A placenta on a bed of hay. There are spots of blood visible on the hay. Part of a dark-coloured ewes leg is visible in the upper left corner. The overall impression is of a recently completed animal birth.

I don't know how Charlie does this without gloves; he calls this cleansing, I call it gore.

Charlies hand and wrist covered in placenta blood and fluid, having pulled out a stuck new born lamb from a mother ewe. Charlies dark clothing and partially visible high-visibility jacket are also visible.

Internet here is slow to upload mp4 files.

Been kept awake with clenching stomach spasms, yet doctor says I should not be in pain with my stomach; internet research suggests Irritable bowel syndrome IBS.

A close-up of a black sheep with long, dark wool eating hay. A hand is visible in the bottom right corner, seemingly offering or interacting with the hay. In the background, there are other sheep, a stone wall, and a hillside. The scene appears to be a rural or farm setting. The overall mood is peaceful and naturalistic.

They like freshly opened bales of hay and will eat from my hand.

A muddy track or lane, deeply rutted by vehicle tires. The track leads from a wooden gate on the left to a small cart or trailer parked further up. The surrounding area is rural, with green grass and a stone wall visible in the background. The overall impression is of a farm track after recent rain.

Driveway is going to be scraped again this autumn.

A close-up view of a dark-blue pick up truck tire deeply embedded in thick mud. The tire is visibly dirty, and the mud extends around the wheel well and onto the surrounding ground, indicating the vehicle has been driven through a muddy area. The focus is on the texture of the mud and the tire's interaction with it. The overall impression is one of off-road driving and challenging terrain.

It's not a problem for our L200 but messes up the farmhouse, notably the kitchen, it's a near constant mop to keep the mud out. Yesterday my faery friend asked if I still heard messages (auditory hallucinations), I replied "yes, but I've become a better listener". Who in history has ever been contented to listen to their thoughts I asked myself.

A sheep nursing two lambs inside a makeshift pen constructed within a larger barn or shed. The pen is made of wood and wire mesh, and the floor is covered in straw. The sheep and lambs are dark-coloured, and the overall atmosphere is rustic and pastoral, suggesting a farm setting. Another adult sheep is visible in the background. The temporary nature of the shelter, perhaps tarpaulin or plastic sheeting, suggests a recent birth or temporary housing.

This is the lambing count in the polly tunnel, three pens, five lambs with three mother ewes. There all quiet contented, although we are watching out for watery mouth. We called in at Harbo in Hawick to pick up some wormer for the ewe lambs; this covers them for three weeks against fluke and tapeworms.

Leonie holding a bottle of Ovidrench, an oral suspension for cattle and sheep. The bottle is white with a green label showing a pastoral scene with various farm animals. The background is blurred but appears to be a farm setting with various tools and containers visible. The overall impression is one related to livestock farming and animal health.

Making a pen on the driveway.

A muddy driveway leading to a farm house. Charlie in a high-visibility jacket is working on a section of wooden fencing near the house. A sheep is visible in a fenced area on the left side of the driveway. The overall setting appears rural and somewhat rustic. The focus of the image is from a low angle, giving the viewer a perspective of looking up along the driveway and towards the house.

We bring them down from the paddock by baiting them with food, a shake of a bucket keeps em coming. One or two stay behind sheep can upset the entire flock to flee in panic, then it gets harder to bring them in. Writing that one or two remaining will go to the flock, if their anxiety is abated.

The trough is dragged into the pen, unaware the flock follows.

A flock of sheep, predominantly white with a few darker-coloured ones, gathered in a muddy farmyard next to a wooden fence and a stone building. The sheep appear to be feeding from a trough. A portion of a horse trailer is visible in the background.

Close the pen, remove the trough.

Charlie, feeding a flock of sheep from a long metal trough. The sheep are a mix of white and black varieties, crammed together in a wooden pen. The setting appears rural, with a stone wall and hilly landscape in the background.

Charlie prepares the drench gun, each sheep recieves one dose each; accompanied by one red dot.

We place them close together because this makes them easier to handle, plus they cannot jump out; they are only kept like this for five or so minutes.

Four sheep huddled together in what appears to be a pen or enclosure. Their wool is long and somewhat matted, and they have numbered tags in their ears. Some of the sheep have coloured markings on their wool (red and teal/green).

Here is the spray I used to mark gimmers that had been wormed; as we cannot sell wormed livestock at Longtown auction until the wormer has left their system.

A close-up of a sheep's face, with a person's hand holding a can of Country Mark Stock Marking Spray in front of it. The sheep appears curious and is looking directly at the spray can. The setting appears to be a farm or pasture with wooden fencing visible.

Charlie still wears his ragged overhauls despite me buying him new overhauls; he's the same with clothes but smiles when the job is done.

Charlie standing proudly amongst a flock of sheep that are penned in a small enclosure next to a building. The sheep are mostly white and fluffy, with a few darker, black sheep mixed in. Some of the sheep appear to have markings, possibly paint, on their wool.

We penned our other gimmers with a hurdle into a calf creep; one ewe did not get wormed, she is being transported to Longtown auction because she aborted her lamb.

A group of sheep huddled together inside a wooden pen or enclosure. The sheep are mostly light grey or beige in colour, with some variations in shade and markings. The pen is simple, made of weathered wood, and the floor is covered with straw.

Returning from Ancrum, swore I seen Stewart Copeland in Denholm, of all places.

A sheep and her two newborn lambs nestled together in a bed of hay inside a wooden barn. The mother sheep is lying down, and the two lambs are cuddled close to her, suggesting warmth and protection. The scene is dimly lit, adding to a peaceful and intimate atmosphere.

We have to keep an eye on the lambs welfare, because ewes can be lousey mothers, some are murderers, squashing to death one lamb to focus thier attentions on another lamb.

Two lambs nestled together in a pile of hay. One lamb has light tan or beige wool, and the other is black. The light-coloured lamb is in the foreground, and its face is clearly visible, showing a peaceful expression. The black lamb is partially obscured and in the background. The overall mood is calm and gentle.

One last visit to the poly tunnel, we'll not be returning tonight unless the CCTV does alerts us to lambing ewes.

21st

First twin lambs of the year have been born in Woodburn Farmhouse polytunnel at midday; both lambs are suckling mother ewe without intervention.

A newborn lamb, light tan in colour, standing in a bed of hay next to its dark brown or black mother sheep. They are inside a wooden enclosure, partially covered by a white tarp. The setting appears to be a barn or similar agricultural structure. The lamb is small and appears to be recently born. The overall impression is one of new life and the protective presence of the mother.

These two below have proper teeswater markings.

A ewe and her three newborn lambs nestled together in a bed of straw within a wooden pen or barn. The ewe is large and light brown, with a thick fleece. The lambs are small and fluffy, and appear to be resting comfortably close to their mother. The scene is dimly lit, giving a peaceful and intimate atmosphere.

Charlie let me film them before he penned them off, then left them to bond; this is the 3rd year I've seen lambing at Woodburn.

As I was returning to Woodburn from Ancrum another mother ewe lambed; Charlie was in a rush to return. That's twins and a single lamb from two mother ewes.

19th

Loving these early morning Ancrum sunrises from my living room window.

A vibrant sunset viewed through the slightly ajar slats of a window blind. The setting sun paints the sky in shades of pink, orange, and purple. In the foreground, a street scene is visible, featuring houses, cars, and a lamp. The overall mood is peaceful and serene.

Charlie kindly helped me with pre-paid electricity and gas yesterday, I have a warm house today.

18th

Fixed fan problem on my Optiplex 3070 micro, replacing the fan with a fan from my old Optiplex 3020 micro machine.

17th

It's snowing this morning, I adore the snow settleing on the countryside; winter is my favourite time in Scotland.

Trying to shift the flu with honey and lemon; have throat lozenges and paracetamol to lower my temperature.

16th

Visited Teviothead, Charlie wanted to see the Hizzy Cairn.

A cairn, a man-made pile of stones, enclosed by a dark green wooden fence. A small plaque is affixed to the cairn. The background is a sweeping vista of rolling green hills under a cloudy sky. The scene appears to be rural and possibly in a mountainous region.

A lovely and quiet place, undisturbed to unwind, rest thoughts.

An informative signboard detailing the Reiver Trail in Scotland. The sign's main focus is on Johnnie Armstrong, a notorious border reiver (a type of outlaw) who was executed at Carlenrig.

Interesting to learn the story of Johnny Armstrong.

A narrow, paved pathway bordered by weathered wooden fences. The path leads to a stone structure in the middle distance. The surrounding area is a grassy field with a few trees and woodland in the background.

A paved pathway bordered by wooden fences, leading towards a distant landscape under a cloudy sky. A lichen-covered stone stands prominently at the path's beginning. Bare, leafless trees frame the scene. The overall impression is one of a quiet, possibly rural, location.

I liked Teviothead Kirk, the bell has a nice sound.

We didn't visit anywhere inhabited and did not stay out for too long, as both of us are sick with flu!

15th

Charlie pulled some disconcerning faces whilst fetching hay bales today.

Charlie loads bales of hay into the back of their pickup truck. The truck bed is partially filled with several large rectangular bales of straw or hay. The background consists of an old stone barn or outbuilding, showing some age and wear. The overall atmosphere is one of rural work and quiet contentment. The ground is wet and muddy in places. The sky is overcast and gray, adding to the somewhat somber but peaceful mood. A shovel or similar tool leans against the wall of the barn.

He never lets on that he's angry, but I've studied kinesics; so he can't hide.

A young, reddish-brown calf lying down in a pile of straw. The calf's fur is short and slightly shaggy, and its skin appears smooth. Its eyes are dark and appear calm or sleepy. The calf's head is turned slightly to the right of the frame, and its ears are pointed slightly forward. The straw is light brown and dry, forming a thick bed around the calf. A portion of the legs of a larger cow are visible in the upper right corner, suggesting the calf is in a barn or stable. The background shows a stone wall, adding to the impression of a rustic, farm environment. The overall atmosphere is peaceful and serene, conveying a sense of warmth and calm. The lighting is soft and natural, suggestive of daytime.

A dark brown calf standing in a straw-filled enclosure. The calf is young and appears healthy, with a bit of straw in its mouth. It's positioned against a weathered, light-grey stone wall. The overall impression is one of rural simplicity and the innocence of a newborn animal.

A close-up of a young, dark-brown calf lying down in a bed of straw. The calf's face is the main focus, showing its soft fur, large expressive eyes, and a slightly wet nose. The overall impression is one of gentleness and vulnerability.

Whilst he loaded hay bales, I took a few photographs of new born (2 days old) calves.

A flock of sheep resting inside a barn-like structure. The structure appears to be temporary, possibly a covered pen or shelter, with a tarp or plastic covering the top. The floor is covered with straw, and the sheep are lying down, seemingly asleep or resting. One sheep is predominantly black, others are white or light tan. A small, dark bird is visible near a black sheep in the lower-middle of the frame. The overall atmosphere is peaceful and rustic. The time stamp in the upper right suggests that the scene was captured by a security camera.

We're still waiting on the lambs arriving, ewes are huge so any day now. From last year we've halved the number of ewes in lamb.