Snow, snow and more snow....

Unfortunately until today, it hasn't stopped snowing since Tuesday night, so I never got to see the Berkshire pigs......don't think I've ever seen so much snow in the five years we've lived in Scotland.
Luckily I took the little car back to the garage on Wednesday and got my Land Rover back, even though it wasn't ready, it needs a bit of work before they'll give me my MOT certificate.
So fearing the worst, I got loads of food and coal for the fire and the Aga, with four kids in tow......as our local primary school had closed at lunch time as the blizzards were getting severe and the roads deteriating. That was the last time we have been able to get out.
The snow has got to waist height in places and the track is so exposed that leads up to the house, that it has a lot of drifted snow and has been impossible to drive on since Thursday, the only chance of seeing life on the outside now is a nice farmer with a tractor and a plough.... or tropical temperatures and lots of sunshine... :0)


Hens are not happy ladies, back to not wanting to get their toes wet and cold, so are mostly perching all day or hanging around the door looking out, poor things, I just keep checking on them, making sure they've got food and water and their bedding is as dry as it can be.



The sun has been out very briefly this morning, so I got the girls outside to play and get some fresh air while I dug out snow paths, with the help of my nine year old, who did an absolutely fab job, obviously had a lot of energy from being stuck in the house these last few days. I on the other hand am feeling exhausted from trying to keep them entertained with drawing, painting, playdoh, puzzles and baking to name but a few and homework from school, that has been given out in a nice red folder especially for snow days.

One of those days again....

Had a busy day, I've got the use of a courtesy car because the Discovery has gone into the workshop for MOT and repair work, but the little car can't make it up the track, so I've had to walk up & down all day, pulling Lola on the sledge because she can't walk on it very well because of the snow & ice.
It's just been one of those days, there's snow forecast again tonight and tomorrow, if thats the case I won't be going anywhere and I am meeting with someone who has Berkshire pigs in the morning, really looking forward to speaking to someone who is really serious about his breed and knows what its all about, rather than reading loads of books about them. Finally I might get to see the real thing..... Please don't snow tonight!!

Yummy chicken soup :0)

I have discovered a gorgeous chicken soup....kids love it & it's very yummy, a bit of homemade bread on the side and it's a great winter warmer.

3 pints of chicken stock. (made with chicken bones, onions, carrots etc in a big stock pot)
3 free range chicken breasts
5 Carrots, grated
2 Onions grated
1/2 mug of pudding rice

Put your stock in a large heavy based soup pot.
Heat gently on a medium heat.
Add pudding rice, grated carrot & onion
Add chopped chicken breast & stir well
Cover & cook on low/medium heat for about 60 mins stirring occasionally. Or pop in the simmering oven for a couple of hours!
Add salt & pepper to taste

Still snowing.....

I haven't posted for a while, it's still snowing heavily, we've only had about a week with nothing but now the sun's getting stronger when its out and theres the hope of spring just around the corner.

The Aga was installed finally a few weeks ago, the warmth is lovely and the food is fantastic, everything that comes out is cooked beautifully, cakes are soft and moist and meat is so tender. The clothes all dry above it and then folded on to the simmering lid and they all look freshly ironed. The dogs and cats sleep all around it and I have to fight to get near it just to make a cup of tea!

I've spent a few evenings choosing seeds to order, although some of the glass fell in on the greenhouse due to the weight of snow on top, I should have pushed it off when it got to high, but I didn't think it would break the glass.

I will be doing fencing for the piglets once I can see the grass and then put them on the area that will eventually be vegtable patch this year, which is rather a large area and will save us the back ache of digging it all over. I don't think the ground has ever been turned over there, it just looks like thick meadow with humpy bits. Luckily the warmer weather comes later here than in the south of England and the frosts still come at night untill the end of April, so theres lots of time to get organised. Just need the seeds planted by the end of March in the warm.


Hens are now laying everyday! Which is so wonderful, I thought they'd never lay again.....

Compassion in world farming