You can not believe it ..... It has finally stopped raining!!!
Our broadband has been playing up so sorry for the lack of blogs.. I am going to put lots of animal photos on this week, so look out.
Friday, 23 September 2011
22nd September 2011
Our broadband has been playing up so sorry for the lack of blogs.. I am going to put lots of animal photos on this week, so look out.
Thursday, 15 September 2011
Autumn is definitely here
Not only are the leaves falling, but the blackberries are looking a bit shrivelled - never a good idea to collect them after 15th September which is when the devil spits on them and makes them bitter, according to legend!
The bees are still working when they can. Of course, clover and balsam are still evident in fields and hedgerows but the surprise of the season to most people is IVY. The beautiful flowers are now very evident and are attractive to all sorts of pollinating insects.
Ivy is everywhere - on trees, walls, fences. It's fabulous for insects now that food is beginning to get scarce and with its shiny green leaves and beautiful flowers it is a real plant of Autumn.
It was difficult to get the leaves, bees and flowers to pose for this photograph so it's slightly out of focus but have a look at the worker bee on the right. You can just make out the pollen baskets on its back legs with pollen the same colour as the ivy flowers. This is where the pollen is raked into hairs on the back legs to form the distinctive kidney-shaped pellet that is taken back to the hive and used to feed the young brood. There is a central hair that 'spears' the pellet and holds it securely so that it doesn't fall off. When the worker bee transfers the pellet to a cell in the wax comb back at the hive, there is a little hole in the pellet where it was held on by this hair. Isn't nature wonderful and efficient!
The bees are still working when they can. Of course, clover and balsam are still evident in fields and hedgerows but the surprise of the season to most people is IVY. The beautiful flowers are now very evident and are attractive to all sorts of pollinating insects.
Ivy is everywhere - on trees, walls, fences. It's fabulous for insects now that food is beginning to get scarce and with its shiny green leaves and beautiful flowers it is a real plant of Autumn.
It was difficult to get the leaves, bees and flowers to pose for this photograph so it's slightly out of focus but have a look at the worker bee on the right. You can just make out the pollen baskets on its back legs with pollen the same colour as the ivy flowers. This is where the pollen is raked into hairs on the back legs to form the distinctive kidney-shaped pellet that is taken back to the hive and used to feed the young brood. There is a central hair that 'spears' the pellet and holds it securely so that it doesn't fall off. When the worker bee transfers the pellet to a cell in the wax comb back at the hive, there is a little hole in the pellet where it was held on by this hair. Isn't nature wonderful and efficient!
Thursday, 8 September 2011
Very exciting news??? Rosy had a sleepover with Ralph last night he is a very dashing jack russell of our pig friends Terry and Jude so we are hoping for great things around the 10th November.
Extra thick togs put back on all our duvets today for guests to snuggle up in this wintry weather.
Have a small but special wedding party this weekend, whom we send our many congratulations.
Rubys piglets are beautiful she is a wonderful mum they are not keen to leave her side in this blustery weather dont blame them so its cuddles in the shed when it stops raining I will take some pictures.
Extra thick togs put back on all our duvets today for guests to snuggle up in this wintry weather.
Have a small but special wedding party this weekend, whom we send our many congratulations.
Rubys piglets are beautiful she is a wonderful mum they are not keen to leave her side in this blustery weather dont blame them so its cuddles in the shed when it stops raining I will take some pictures.
Sunday, 28 August 2011
28th August 2011
Wallter has found a lovely home in Gloucestershire. We moved him last night into the holding pen.. He is such a fantastic pig. He wandered in with no trouble at all.
So when Camilla arrived at 9.30am to pick him up, I was waxing lyrical about Walter's easy going nature. What I had forgotten was Walter has never been in a trailor before, and had decided he didn't want to!
We tried food , apple first, then nuts then double cream and egg (his favourite), but nothing would tempt him. We lay carpet on the metal ramp to stop the noise. Meanwhile the B and B quests were waiting for directions, their bill and some eggs!
Luckly Alan came to our rescue with his camera, so the whole event was captured. We tried to push him, not a good plan, we tried to talk him in, with encouraging pats and rubs, completely useless.
2 hours later, Walter decides he was really bored, and wandered in. No not really. I had to get in the trailor, and stick Walter's head in a bucket while Camilla and Alan pushed from behind.
The quests were really patient and understood the dilemma..Good luck Walter hope you love your new home. He has gone to Bay Tree Rarebreeds n Berkeley.
So when Camilla arrived at 9.30am to pick him up, I was waxing lyrical about Walter's easy going nature. What I had forgotten was Walter has never been in a trailor before, and had decided he didn't want to!
We tried food , apple first, then nuts then double cream and egg (his favourite), but nothing would tempt him. We lay carpet on the metal ramp to stop the noise. Meanwhile the B and B quests were waiting for directions, their bill and some eggs!
Luckly Alan came to our rescue with his camera, so the whole event was captured. We tried to push him, not a good plan, we tried to talk him in, with encouraging pats and rubs, completely useless.
2 hours later, Walter decides he was really bored, and wandered in. No not really. I had to get in the trailor, and stick Walter's head in a bucket while Camilla and Alan pushed from behind.
Thursday, 25 August 2011
25th August 2011
Let me introduce myself. I'm Eloise and I've just done a week here at Sutton Mawr Farm and was asked by Mark to do the blog... so here I am typing with hands which have been well worked for this past week.
This is me. As you can see smiley face after just doing breakfast, up since 7am and walking up and down the stairs of the village hall, having a good old chat with some guests and interviewing Bert for my work experience booklet.
And this is me in the kitchen.... where I've spent most of my time making 5 loafs of dense chocolate cake, 3 Victoria sponges, 4 batches of welsh cakes, 3 batches of chocolate brownies, a batch of meringues and a Maple Syrup and Parsnip cake. It's also where I've been doing the washing up and cooking meals as well. It's also the home of the Sutton Mawr Farm B&B full breakfast.
So that's a few of the things I have done here. I've also been on exciting shopping trips to Costco and Cash and Carry (its a bit sad really getting excited about supermarket shopping but hey I like it!) I've also done a big online Tesco shop which was delivered the next day (I was so excited when it arrived I managed to spill a pot of tea down my leg!) I've also done the breakfast each morning as well as setting up for afternoon tea.
I got to greet guests most turning up between 2pm and 6pm and some arriving at 11.30pm. I've practised my language skills (Russian), tried my hand at chamber maiding (not very successful) and been a professional dog stroker. It is safe to say Dora, Rosie and Tiger Lily will miss me giving them 5 minutes worth of belly rubs every two hours!
So today I leave Sutton Mawr Farm. I'm glad to say I leave here alive! Only 12 burns on my hands, a few blisters on my feet, some scrapes on my legs, some skin missing from grating and only one serious cut. I'm blaming all on this on the fact I'm blonde and clumsy.
I have to say if you are looking at a place to stay, Sutton Mawr Farm B&B is the place to come.
Thanks and I'm outta here!
P.S.
Here are the piglets! Sweet aren't they! Six of them. Unfortunately the runt of the litter has gone but the others are all healthy.
So that's a few of the things I have done here. I've also been on exciting shopping trips to Costco and Cash and Carry (its a bit sad really getting excited about supermarket shopping but hey I like it!) I've also done a big online Tesco shop which was delivered the next day (I was so excited when it arrived I managed to spill a pot of tea down my leg!) I've also done the breakfast each morning as well as setting up for afternoon tea.
I got to greet guests most turning up between 2pm and 6pm and some arriving at 11.30pm. I've practised my language skills (Russian), tried my hand at chamber maiding (not very successful) and been a professional dog stroker. It is safe to say Dora, Rosie and Tiger Lily will miss me giving them 5 minutes worth of belly rubs every two hours!
So today I leave Sutton Mawr Farm. I'm glad to say I leave here alive! Only 12 burns on my hands, a few blisters on my feet, some scrapes on my legs, some skin missing from grating and only one serious cut. I'm blaming all on this on the fact I'm blonde and clumsy.
I have to say if you are looking at a place to stay, Sutton Mawr Farm B&B is the place to come.
Thanks and I'm outta here!
P.S.
Here are the piglets! Sweet aren't they! Six of them. Unfortunately the runt of the litter has gone but the others are all healthy.
Just thought I'd update the blog. Here at Sutton Mawr we are in the middle of brilliant sunshine on one side and a terrible thunder storm!
I thought I's just nip out and take a dramatic picture!
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
24th August 2011
Yet another busy day at Sutton Mawr Farm. So much going on with guests coming and going, pigs having piglets and baking for afternoon tea/ welcome. So today I thought I would share with new cake on the platter.
The Maple Syrup and Parsnip cake
This is the mother of all cakes. If you like carrot cake you will love this! It is the NEW Carrot cake! Here to take the cake industry by storm. Happen to be an avid baker? Your classic Victoria sponges with droop at the sight of this cake. It shows skill (not grating your own hand off) and sophistication (the complex flavours) all while looking home baked and yummy (the mascarpone frosting running down the edge).
Here at Sutton Mawr we decided we liked it warm and with a runny frosting (Its called Eloise (here on work experience) being too impatient to wait for the cake to cool) but if you want the recipe here's the link
Maple Syrup and Parsnip Cake
More from us later!
The Maple Syrup and Parsnip cake
Here at Sutton Mawr we decided we liked it warm and with a runny frosting (Its called Eloise (here on work experience) being too impatient to wait for the cake to cool) but if you want the recipe here's the link
Maple Syrup and Parsnip Cake
More from us later!
Thursday, 18 August 2011
20th August 2011
I have just moved all the rare breed chicken in with the free range. I had to lock them in for 3 days, so they know where they are.
Now they are like a big happy family and my life is alot easier as only have one place to feed them and collect the eggs,
Now they are like a big happy family and my life is alot easier as only have one place to feed them and collect the eggs,
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)