Sunday 29 May 2011

29th May 2011...still no rain!

We have just got back from 5 wonderful days in the Lake District, staying (just for a change) on a sheep farm between the lakes of Brotherswater and Ullswater that does B&B and also has a fantastic self-catering property, converted from an old traditional cow byre. We first went there 8 years ago and came back with one of their collie puppies as a souvenir and have been going back ever since for a post-lambing sanity break. I am loathed to tell you where it is or you will all want to go but it really is too good to keep to myself so here it is, Deepdale Hall near Patterdale, run by Chris Brown and his family. http://www.deepdalehall.co.uk/

We had some incredible rain the first day we were there and seeing water being blown uphill along the Kirkstone Pass between Patterdale and Windermere was quite amazing. So was being stuck in a sudden hail storm 2500 feet up on Roman road called High Street that runs along the top of a section of mountain, ending up eventually at Troutbeck, but the sun came out between showers and the views were worth both the stiff climb and the buffeting from the weather.

Back at home, and despite a few drizzle showers, it is still so dry that the dogs kick up little puffs of dust as they run about in the fields and the cracks are deepening by the day. However, the forecast for tomorrow is for heavy rain I make no apologies for being glad of it, bank holiday or no bank holiday!

We had one lamb while we were away and are now down to just three to go but none of them look in much of a hurry. If it wasn't for the ravens that are constantly prowling the paddock, sneaking up on the lambs and calves and pulling their tails, we would let the ewes out to lamb in the field, but for as long as the ravens are there, the lambs would be in real danger so the ewes are stuck indoors for the duration.

The next event on the calender is Open Farm Sunday on June 12th. We have been incredibly lucky with the weather the last two years but I am starting to plan the events and with the way the weather keeps doing strange things, I will also sort out a wet weather contingency just in we can't run the farm walk and need to have the cream teas and plans stall indoors. Luckily, the barn is big but I hope the three ewes will have lambed by then or we will be sharing with them!

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