Lambing is well and truly underway. I’ve delivered my first lamb of the season. My pal, Dot Dot, is back. She remembered me. We’ve been chatting. Lots of new lambs have arrived. I’m back in my lambing routine.

First sighting of snowdrops at the farm, in the orchard.

Snow today - not too much. Very grey and overcast but rain expected so should wash away the snow. Counting down to the start of lambing. Literally any day now!

Day 1 of a brand new year. My word for this year is magic. This morning was Phil’s annual breakfast. 🍳 He had a good turnout. Other farmers, some people we knew. We feel very blessed to be part of this community.

This was a tile created by a street artist called Bentoghoul. I loved it. I chatted to some of the artists in comments and DMs. He said, if it ever came loose, I could take it. But it never did and I checked every time I walked by!

I’ve decided to resurrect my grunge photography in 2025. And my street art, if I can find some. It’s the only thing I miss about Manchester and I want to get back into it. Here’s one I took a few years ago before we moved.

Yesterday, I went to a poultry auction. An annual event just before Christmas where any surplus to requirement ducks, geese or turkeys are sold by auction. I came home with three geese. I also managed to spend some time in the auction ring watching a variety of cows being sold. It was fun trying to spot who was bidding - they were very subtle!

I’ve been spending some time getting my ducks in a row. Setting up a new blog. Purging some old online accounts. Streamlining. I’ve decided to use public.me as my public daily log space. It’s easy to use (SMS) and I can add photos, audio, links etc. Welcome to the Daily Log!

We’re busy this week at the Christmas market. The day starts at 06:00. I go to get the hens up, feed and water them, although it’s far too early for them. I’ve not seen the lambs since Wednesday as it’s still dark when I’m at the farm, and I don’t want to disturb all the sheep in the shed. I get home, have some breakfast, make our lunch, and then we’re off by 07:30, getting to Haddon for 08:15. We take down the tarp covering the front of the chalet, switch on the lights, get set up and then we’re open for business until 17:00. Back at the farm around 17:45 to put the hens to bed and collect any eggs (not so many right now as it’s cold). Home for a meal and then an early night. We’ve got into a rhythm now. We’re sleeping well, which is an added bonus.

At Haddon Hall Mercatum this week, and next.

Sheep wrangling this morning. I helped! Also, freed the same ewe that had wrapped herself in brambles last week. I took secateurs and trimmed off the excess foliage before I eased her head and horns through the stock fence.

Twice in the past week, my husband’s Guide Dog, Bamber has been put in a corner, metaphorically and literally. It’s not the first time. Eating out with a Guide Dog can be a battlefield. And, what are your expectations of people who are blind/disabled? Should they be able to dance or woodturn, or is that not possible? I’d love to know your thoughts.

Tinkles, this morning. Illuminated.

A snowy start to the day. About 6” of snow. ⛄️

We moved sheep from the paddock to the shed, and sheep from another field to the paddock yesterday. Musical sheep! My 3 trotted across the yard from the paddock back into the shed - this is where they were born and lived for their first few weeks. This morning I went to give them a handful of corn as I always do and Tinkles was the wrong side of the hurdle. I have no idea how she got out! I put her back in with the others and gave them all some cuddles.