30th May 2011

Happy birthday Rachel!  Who has been been staying at Sutton Mawr for 3 days. They travelled all the way from Kent. They went on their own Gavin and Stacey tour.   Their first experience of Cardiff's night life which they all agreed was wicked.
They are hoping to come back again, next time with the whole of their local ladies football team.




The Jenkins family were down visiting family. This was the first time to Sutton Mawr. They loved the farm .  Dan was roped in to moving hay bales and feeding the pigs.  The kids Sam and Ellie  enjoyed picking the eggs' even though it was pouring with rain.

The Hillan family were also down visiting family. They went to the Cardiff Bay and the St Fagans  museum of Welsh Culture. They relaxed last night with the Jenkins family in the Village Hall where they all enjoyed Free Range Roast Chicken Stuffed with homemade pesto stuffing with homemade Sutton Mawr Parma Ham. with Spring vegetables and then by request Summer Berry Pavlova.

This morning Adam Hillan also braved the weather to collect some eggs.

29th May 2011

Emily was up early to collect the eggs today. It was a real family affair, even the grand parents turned up. The chickens loved Emily and followed her everywhere.

Lisa had her 30th birthday party at Sutton Mawr, she went on the Gavin and Stacey tour followed by a knees up in the village hall. They looked like they were having a great time.

28th May 2011

First thing this morning little Emily braved the weather to collect the eggs.  Loved the pigs and had big hugs with the chicks and the puppies.

The three cream puppies are going today, so Victoria took them for a long walk, they had great fun in the polytunnel. Don't think the plants enjoyed seeing them!

We have a new recruit. Freddy Harris started working for us today. He started work at 7.15 and quickly got into the swing of things. Tomorrow will be the real test as we are choca so will let you know how he gets on.

Jackie Barrett was the first to collect Bingo.  They have rabbits so Bingo should have a lot of fun.
Her son didn't know they were getting a dog, so I hope it was a great surprise.

Then Porsche arrived from Oxford to pick up Stud. She has just had a son who is the nearly the same age as Stud and I know they are going to be best mates. The little chap was fast asleep.

Finally, Danielle arrived for Chuck. They have travelled down from Birmingham. It is going to be a companion for her mum, who has had  Dashunds before and is really looking forward to having Chuck.

They all promised to let us know how they get on, so will keep you posted.

26th May 2011

All the puppies have been sold. They all had a trip to the vets  today for their first vaccination.  They didn't enjoy that very much. since then they have been crashed out on the sofa.

The lambs have been very funny the last few nights . Their new game is king of the castle.. we have a large muck heap which has dried out. They all get to the top and then try and push each other off.  Dennis the Ram sometimes joins in!

The weather hasn't been great the last few days , I decided to bring the cows in.  They were spoilt this evening with a lovely bale of hay.  Even Teddy tucked in!

Little Katie is going really well.  Her mum is very attentative. She loves all the other lambs too.

I haven't been very clever with the incubator this month. Toby needs to give me a few lessons.  I put 50 eggs in last week and  only half have taken.

You can tell if its incubated successifully, by placing a very strong light to the egg if its clear like the one above then it is not fertilized. If it has a dark spot then it its . shown below. This can only be done at 7 days. This process is known as candling.

However the Walkers have just rung to say they had 4 chicks born today we gave them to go under their broody hen last time they came for sausages and parma ham.  Good luck Andrew!

23rd May 2011

We have had a rush on the puppies. We only have one cream boy left. We have called him Chuck, he is the laziest and fattest of all the puppies, a real character. 

All the puppies are in top form. We take them for a few strolls every day and they are getting very good at doing their business outside.

They are fully weaned. They are off to the vets on Thursday for their first injection and final health check.


The first puppies are leaving on Saturday, we will miss them, especially Polly who has been great with them.

22nd May 2011

Fantastic game of rugby, all our guest can back very happy, after seeing a classic final.  Cardiff was hopping with jubulent rugby supports.

In the night we had a storm.  Poor Kate and Ricardo had to abandon the bell tent to take refuse in their car.. They were in amazingly good humoured in the morning.  We were hit by 60 mph winds!

Then the power supply went down, just as people were getting up.. Luckily everybody teamed together and it was seen as a bit of fun.  Western power came out straight away and sorted it out. Just as well we had Allan and Emily Renwick helping us out for breakfast

Some of our guests had a late night so by the time they rose, everything was back to normal..

We had a really good crowd, that loved the rugby and Cardiff.

21th May 2011

Our waiter Allan wasn't feeling at his party best this morning!  He was out till 3.30 this morning in Cardiff. 

Wakey wakey  Allan. you have 16 people for breakfast!

It is the Heinekien Cup Final in Cardiff today. We have people from all over staying.  We have Albert Sune and his family from France.

Anita and David Hashtrudi from Scotland.

Padraic Delaney and his family from Ireland

We have been so busy that we have erected our bell tent for Kate,  who has travelled over to see her brother play in the final.  She stayed in the Gyspy Rose last night and loved it.

Jeannie the Bee Keeper, came over today to sort out her hives.  She was there for two hours moving them around..  She is going to write on the blog each week letting people know what she is up to as I haven't got a clue.

In preparation for this buzy weekend we have erected a new sign at the bottom of the drive as visitors were getting lost.   So i think this should do the job!

We also we did the driveway, as it was getting a bit bumpy!

This required me to go to the local quarry  Sleth Hill and collect some stone dust.

18th May 2011

Did my egg round to Penarth today. Delivered to Foxy's Deli, which was very buzy,  but managed to get a photo...

Then went on to North meets South in the windsor arcade which Tony owns and runs with Anna his wife.

Back to Sutton Mawr where the sheep were waiting to be sheared.. Poor thing I only managed to do 5, and they looked terrible!

The others will have to wait till the weekend, as my back is killing.  How, they do 200 sheep in a day I don't know!

The wool is beginning collected and will be sent up to Pat in Hull who makes wonderful thing with it..We hope to have some of them for sale by September.

I promised a lady who is interested in the last two puppies, to upload some more photos of Bingo and Spud.

T

We have been asked what the progress on the ill piglet, and we are pleased to tell everyone he is much better and will be returning to Nell and the gang tomorrow.

15th May 2011

Chickens were a nightmare!  It might be 150 yards but when you have 75 chickens to pick up and place in their sheds, it took hours.

We have had a poorly piglet which I had seperated from the litter.  It really wasn't well but this morning it was eating and up on its feet . So hopefully, will be fully recovered in a few days and can return back to Aunt Nell and her gang..

The Hall family stayed last night.  This morning, they collected the egg and came across the puppies, which they loved.

14th May 2011

Manic morning , all the rooms needed to be cleaned and turned around for the new guests.  Managed to complete everything by 11.30am.

Last night we sold the last black and tan puppy and this morning we sold a cream one, all to great homes locally so really pleased.

Job for to day was to move the two free range  chicken sheds down the field.

Its quite a tricky process as the shed are heavy and difficult to move, also the water needs to be disconnected and re-fitted.

Think of me tonight as the chickens will all stand around the area where the sheds where and we will have to redirect 200 chickens to their new move some 150 metres away!  It may takes hours....

13th May 2011

Friday the 13th.....Always a little bit worried what might happen today...

We had the Maxwell golf group here, who have been playing golf the last two days at Royal Porthcawl. They have picked up a nice sun tan. The photo below is to prove that they were actually here and not sunning themselves on the Costa Del Sol!

Also staying are the Zarfarty family, who are staying in the Gypsy Rose and Glamorgan.  Tomorrow they are keen to collect eggs which is alway good news!

12th May 2011

Puppies went to West Farm vet clinic in Cowbridge, where they had their health check. Tom gave them all a clean bill of health



Mark and Margaret Burden from Canada arrived with their 3 daughters.  They helped me lock up all the animals and collect the 250 eggs! They are currently on a tour of the UK.

Katie has been out for 2 days and is doing really well.  She is still tiny.

11th may 2011

Egg delivery day in Penarth.  First stop was Windsor Fruit Shop in Penarth, they were a little camera shy, but we managed to take a photo of most of them even if we had to take two photos!

They are a lovely bunch!  Fantastic grocers everything is very fresh, I should know the rejects are given to our pigs!  Lucky pigs!

Next stop Something Tasty... Justin the owner and head chef was cooking some delicious bread puddings.