Sheep

I asked Charlie when we last rested during a weekend; he could not remember, were planning a weekend away, without deprivation from "strangers" who enjoy ruining me. It's warming to see him out and about on his tractor again.

Maybe our last rose at Woodburn this year.

Dead nettles are sitting pretty.

This rose hedging did not leaf until two years after I lopped it.

In the Scottish Borders I enjoy the birds flying about freely, especially when I open the farmhouse back door, what a greeting they are.

Charlie has made a dent in the poly tunnel muck, the muck is much deeper towards the entrance; were hoping to have the job done in several loads.

Our sixty year old tractor is running on three cylinders, what a blessing considering the big end smashed a con rod out of this tractors engine casing.

Spreading poly tunnel muck over the farmhouse paddock.

We've been snubbed by many people here in the Scottish borders, they have successful lives, and are probably worried we'll taint them with bad luck!

Its no consequence to us that we have a small herd, and ancient farming equipment; reward we reap from our effort is enough for us and others; so I'm proud.

Those who cultivate failures for others, are doomed.

The tractor engine casing is still leaking oil so Charlie had to nip into Hawick to fetch additional sealant from Screw Fix.

The sheep come down from the paddock when I call them, we've been feeding them on the drive recently, as we are drenching against tapeworm, trimming both dags and feet.

Penning sheep so they have no room to jump out, but are not squashed in either.

This afternoon we are transporting lambs under one year old as we don't want them getting in lamb until next season.

Ready to go.

Arriving at grass keep Charlie herded five tups with a bag of pellets.

With the tups penned we unloaded our ewe lambs.

The grass here is long, they'll be happier here for the time being.

We treated one lamb for maggots with permthrin.

And drenched wormed her.

After loading the five tups we arrived at our other grass keep, and unloaded.

And alas two ewe lambs had to return with us back to Woodburn, they did not want to wean from their mother ewes, despite the tups arriving. We arrived back at the farmhouse, and after enjoying a roast dinner retired to bed at 8:30pm!