27th April 2011

The piglets are very happy all together.   We did put in with them, Nell an older sow and she is acting as mother hen.

I gave them fresh lettuce and carrots which they loved!

The chicken had a treat of pineapple. 5 large pineapples disappeared in seconds.

John from the Fox and Hounds popped up for some eggs. We were completely sold out, so we both had to raid the chicken houses.

My sister is having the only girl in the litter and has named it Flower, I did promise to blog some photos of her . she is very sweet.

The puppies are just starting to walk so we are having to watch our step.
Tomorrow we are all day making sausages, bacon and chirizos. We will try and take some photos.

25th April 2011

Full on day . We had to move all the pigs around. The piglets are 8 weeks old and need to weaned which has been happening over the last 10 days. So today we split the piglets from their mothers. It is also the day we put the sow back to the boar as they are at their most fertile 5 day after weaning.

Basically we had pigs and piglets everywhere. we started at 12 o'clock and didn't finish until 6pm!  I know the photo shows me holding a piglet upside down, by it's back legs but I can assure you its the best way and causes the least amount of stress on the animals

Jeff Smith came to pick up his two piglets. Jeff is having a go at pig rearing. I did warn him its additive!

We also weeded the poly tunnel, planted lettuces and camomile. It been so dry that everything needed a good watering, so Huw Bennett came up and helped us water. He is also very good at pig whispering!

Happy Easter!

Toby who incubates all our eggs had a big surprise this morning when he discovered a unexpected hatched chick in the incubater, which was not due until the end of next week. What a lovely Easter suprise!

We had a lovely group of guests this weekend. The kids took part in a easter egg hunt. The Easter Bunny was very shrewd this year... almost certainly haven't seen the last of those eggs! Breakfast  was alfresco,complemented by the morning catch.

There was an amazing sunset tonight over the rape fields.

23th of April

It was such a lovely day we just couldn't resist take the puppies out on the lawn for a little play around and some fresh air! We have currently sold 3 puppies, 2 black and 1 tan, if anybody is interested of buying one of these delightful puppies please contact us for futher details.

Berty!

22nd April 2011

Another cracking day.  The Lazorchak family are staying at Sutton Mawr, they have recently moved from the USA . They are very willing helpers. First thing this morning they were collecting all the 210 eggs, cleaning , packing and stamping.  Brooke was very careful and Shane was very fast.  All in all the family made a good team.  Tomorrow, I am hoping they can  do it all on their own.

They learnt how to hold a chicken.....

they even feed the pigs

We then had to bring in all the cows, as Samson the bull was leaving us.  He didn't want to go as I think he fell in love with Poppy.  He is now with some ladies in Bridgend.  Our cows are missing him.

Antony Jarvis popped round to pick up some eggs, and show off his new toy a Sprite

We treated our guests tonight with a pavalova, made by Izzy which we hope they all enjoyed!

22nd April

The Duncan family arrived at Sutton Mawr after moving home from Germany back to St Athan.  After a very busy day they all came over for supper. Vicci cooked Crispy Slow Cooked Pork Belly followed by Berry Pavlova  . It was such a lovely evening all the guests came round the farm with me shutting up the animals for the night, and rounded the night off with puppy hugs!

The puppies have open all their eyes and are starting to chuffle about. Today they had their first trip outside on the lawn.

Polly took lots of photos and here are some of the best.

The weather has been fantastic and the garden has come into full bloom. All the tulips are out in the courtyard and the cherry trees up the drive look stunning.

The vet came over this morning for the results of the TB test all clear for Sandyman the bull to leave us.  The vet scanned all the cows and they are all in calf which is brillant news, especially for Poppy who has missed out for two years.

Sandyman is off to another farm tomorrow, we will miss him.

20th April 2011

For Alan Renwick's 22nd birthday,  the whole Andrews family went to Go Ape!  We arrived late, in  a hot sweat after  having to run 1km across Margam Park (uphill). The staff we very patient with us, going through the safety instruction.  As a family we are not the most attentive students, and after 40 minutes we were let loose.  It was terrifying, but brillant.  The ropes are very high and a fall would be fatal, so the use of the safety ropes and cables were essential. Vicci, was a trouper, doing all the section including the Tarzan swing.  She did however scream for the whole way round.

We then had a lovely picnic under a shaded tree , lots of laughter followed by a BBQ at Sutton Mawr. Great day.  Happy Birthday Alan!!

16th April 2011

What's occurring! We've had the Allcot family at Sutton Mawr to celebrate their daughters 18th Birthday today. They've had a cracking time going Gavin and Stacey mad... Barry Island followed by a Gavin and Stacey tour and finally a meal at the Glendale Hotel. Have a brill day!

Sally-Anne and Scarlet staying in Gyspy Rose with their dogs Dora and Bella.  Scarlet was a great helper round the farm. Her favourite thing was trying to catch the small chicks.


Fantastic weather. Vicci's family have come over to see the new puppies.  Poppy and Henry have been deciding which puppy to have, which is very tricky as they are all so cute.  All but 1 have opened their eyes.

13th april

Perfect guests, the four boys helped collect all the 250 eggs, feed all the animals and then pack and stamp the eggs for sale. They want to do it again tomorrow, which is brillant!

12th April 2011

Today we got a taste of our first asparagus of the season. There is something very exciting about this event as it is the first new green crop we  harvest after rhubarb from outside and a definite sign of activity within the vegetable patch.
We are still harvesting leeks, carrots, parsley and chervil  that have overwintered in the vegetable garden and are now enjoying delicous spinach, pak choy, lettuce and mixed leaves from the poly tunnel.

This is a one of our favourite recipes

Grilled Spring Asparagus Parmesan and Balsamic Dressing.
For the dressing mix 60ml good olive oil 30ml balsamic vinegar sea salt and pepper and a tablespoon of chopped chives
Coat washed and trimmed  asparagus about 750grms  in 2/3 tablespoons of olive oil heat a griddle pan until hot and sear asparagus all over.
Alteratively roast on baking tray in the top of an aga or hot oven 200c for 5 to 8 minutes.

Put the asparagus on a serving plate drizzle with the dressing, sprinkle grated parmesan,  chopped chives, sea salt and ground black pepper over. Enjoy -Yummy!

11 th april 2011

We have just finished dry curing our bacon, which will be sliced tomorrow. We are nearly out of bacon and sausages so we are not going to be able sell any this month, apologies in advance!

The puppies eyes are still closed, bets are on for the weekend! All very much looking forward to observing their first glimpses of the world, special moments to be had.

We have a lovely family staying with us at the moment from Belgium. They are helping us collect the eggs and feed all the animals. Through collective efforts we managed to catch a small chick that made a chance escape, in the words of Borat- Great Success!

The flower and blossom are all out, love time of year. Lets hope this is not the only good weather we get!!!!

9th april 2011- puppy update!

Puppies, getting cuter and cuter every day! We have 6 in total, 3 black and 3 light brown.Eyes still closed, but going to open any day now!

9th april 2011

What a beautiful day, guests enjoying breakfast out side in the courtyard. All the animals sunbathing! Egg production record high. Over 220 eggs collected today must be the sunshine. Found  that scattering grass cuttings around the chicken huts is making the eggs yolk yellow orange .

Good luck to all the girls including Andy and Antony who are cycling from Windsor to Cardiff this weekend in aid of Alzheimers.  Keep going!

3rd April 2011

We had a weekend in the garden. Vicci asked the girls that instead of going out to lunch, she would prefer we all worked in the garden. We weeded, planted sweet peas, seeded lettuces.

The cows love their new barn.  The sheep are happy as they have claimed the old cow shed!  The piglets enjoyed the sun shine, they were either fast asleep or chasing round the field.

Tiger lily puppies are all well and growing at the rate of knots!  Aunt Dora and Aunt Rosie are still waiting to be allowed in to see the new arrivals!

Chicks arriving tomorrow.. photos to follow

1st April 2011

We woke this morning to find no puppies, we were really concerned as she was 3 days late and the puppies had stopped moving. we rang the vets for advise and they told us to take her in.. We had to wait till surgery opened at 8.30...It was now 7.30 by 8 o'clock she began to get very restless, and then the contractions started.. It was her first litter so the 1st puppy caused her alot of pain! The first puppy was a very large black boy and we thought there can only be 2 or 3 puppies, but she went on to have 6! (3brown and 3 black).  5 boys and the last one was a girl.  It took 5 and a half a hours in all.. they are now all resting