Well I had a very positive meeting with the Planning Officer from East Herts Council on Monday. I was really pleased , as well as quite surprised, at how it went. We've still got a long way to go, but so far so good. There are a couple of issues we need to address and we also need to consult the highways agency, the environmental agency and also rural England.
The field is really coming into its own in this gorgeous weather, the kids and the dog have spent so much time just running around out there. I'm going to leave a couple of acres just by the bridge for them to run around in. I'm still worrying about the grass, the agronomist recommended headland spray which we are putting on it but it now also looks patchy and straggly. Not sure whether to have it cut or wait for the sheep to graze it . . .
The Field - A Beginning
Sunday, 25 March 2012
Sunday, 18 March 2012
Happiness
"Attaining lasting happiness requires that we enjoy the journey on our way toward a destination we deem valuable. Happiness is not about making it to the peak of the mountain; happiness is the experience of climbing toward the peak". Tal Ben-Shahar, PhD
"Expressing Gratitude. In research done by Robert Emmons and Michael McCullogh, those who kept a daily gratitude journal - writing down at least five things for which they were grateful - enjoyed higher levels of emotional and physical well-being.
Each night before going to sleep, write down at least five things that made or make you happy - things for which you are grateful. these can be little or big, from a meal you enjoyed to a project at work. If you do this exercise regularly you will naturally repeat yourself, which is fine. The key is to keep the emotions fresh, imagine the experience and what it means to you as you write it down. Doing this can help you to appreciate the positives in your life rather than take it for granted."Tal Ben-Shahar, PhD
I'm afraid I had a lie in for mothers day this morning and had chance to read some self help happiness book, which I loved and felt compelled to share on here. For me this links to the whole self sufficiency lifestyle we are building and I may well find self help motivation techniques helpful when struggling to cover costs and getting v dirty and tired on the field!
xx
"Expressing Gratitude. In research done by Robert Emmons and Michael McCullogh, those who kept a daily gratitude journal - writing down at least five things for which they were grateful - enjoyed higher levels of emotional and physical well-being.
Each night before going to sleep, write down at least five things that made or make you happy - things for which you are grateful. these can be little or big, from a meal you enjoyed to a project at work. If you do this exercise regularly you will naturally repeat yourself, which is fine. The key is to keep the emotions fresh, imagine the experience and what it means to you as you write it down. Doing this can help you to appreciate the positives in your life rather than take it for granted."Tal Ben-Shahar, PhD
I'm afraid I had a lie in for mothers day this morning and had chance to read some self help happiness book, which I loved and felt compelled to share on here. For me this links to the whole self sufficiency lifestyle we are building and I may well find self help motivation techniques helpful when struggling to cover costs and getting v dirty and tired on the field!
xx
Saturday, 17 March 2012
Spring
My chitting potatoes and onions seem to be doing OK, I must get them in the ground on the field asap./ I will really try to get round to this today or tomorrow. I dug a small area on the field for them on Wednesday this week, completely back breaking, I had no idea it was quite so much hard work :-) I must invest in some proper tools, otherwise my market garden will do my back in! I have also planted sweetcorn and chili seeds in the "propagators". As I haven't got a greenhouse yet, they are also in the garage, along with the chicks. Who would have thought a double garage would be so useful! I don't really know what I am doing with the veg, so have just tried to follow the instructions on the packets.
I have a meeting with the council on Monday regarding our planning application, so wish me luck. I am a bit nervous about it, but also pleased that they want to see me. I am hoping it means that it isn't a straight no and that I can head off at the pass any concerns they have.I have completed a marketing assignment and also ordered 4 (or maybe 6) ewe lambs, I will post more about them separately.
Over and out
xx
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Monday, 27 February 2012
Riding and more riding
This is Drummer, a horse I ride for a lady over in Wydial. I have booked onto my next lot of BHS exams; the Riding & Road safety in April and the Stage 2 Riding & Stable management in June. I have also started looking at adverts for ponies for the kids, I've seen a gorgeous show pony for Luke (at a mere £2,500!) and a perfect little 11.2 hh lead rein pony for Claudia (at a more reasonably priced £650). I must "hold my horses" though as we can't graze ponies or horses on the paddock until the summer really. Plus I'm not really sure we should, or can, pay over £1000 for ponies for the kids at this stage. It may take a while to find suitable ponies, that are safe but yet also nice for the kids to ride. I also ride my friend Laura's horse, the Diplomat - although as he is an old gent this is really more of a plod than a ride :-)
I am still having a lecture and then an advanced riding lesson at Hallingbury Hall each Wednesday - they have some amazing Dutch bred dressage horses. I have a little dream that I buy a dressage horse from Sally Hardwick & qualify for the regionals next Feb on it.. . . . . then I remember I have 3 young kids and that sort of thing will have to wait. It does feel now like I haven't stopped riding, which is great. It used to be such a huge part of my life and then for over 10 years I must have only ridden a handful of times but I am now well and truly back in the saddle!xx xx xx
Sunday, 26 February 2012
New Chicks
Here are the new chicks, they are 1 day old Light Sussex and Red Island:
They are really cute. The kids love holding them, its a bit worrying though because Jack is always lurking around when the kids are holding them - presumably just on the off chance that Cassia will drop one! As they have no mummy they need the heat lamp on to survive. I did hold my breath going into the garage this morning in case the bulb had blown in the night and I'd find 6 cold little chicks. They were fine :-) When they are older, at around 5 weeks, I will move them to the field where they have a fabulous hen house (bought second hand from Marie Martin) and a lovely large area to roam about in. I just need to get the electric fence put up to keep Mr Fox away.
It seems so cruel, but the plan is to eat these chickens, although I'll keep a boy and 2 girls so that we can breed from them . I won't do the deed myself of course, I'll have to take them down to Hare Street where a farmer will do it for me and then get them oven ready. I am at a cross roads with eating meat, and have decided that if I can I will be happier eating meat that I have raised myself, so that I know it has had a good life.
Chickens that are sold commercially are white Cornish or Cob breeds and they have been bred to pile on weight as quickly as possible. A supermarket bought chicken will have been slaughtered at around 6 weeks, and often the breeding is so bad that the birds legs give way before 6 weeks as the bird has got too heavy too quickly. Supermarket free range birds are better, but we can produce our own for around the same sort of price and can guarantee how free range they are.
I don't mean to knock commercial producers in anyway, the animals are kept in very clean conditions and we need affordable meat, but we have the space and time to raise our own. Plus I love having baby animals - lets hope I can actually take them off to the farm to be "you know what" when the time comes!
xx
They are really cute. The kids love holding them, its a bit worrying though because Jack is always lurking around when the kids are holding them - presumably just on the off chance that Cassia will drop one! As they have no mummy they need the heat lamp on to survive. I did hold my breath going into the garage this morning in case the bulb had blown in the night and I'd find 6 cold little chicks. They were fine :-) When they are older, at around 5 weeks, I will move them to the field where they have a fabulous hen house (bought second hand from Marie Martin) and a lovely large area to roam about in. I just need to get the electric fence put up to keep Mr Fox away.
It seems so cruel, but the plan is to eat these chickens, although I'll keep a boy and 2 girls so that we can breed from them . I won't do the deed myself of course, I'll have to take them down to Hare Street where a farmer will do it for me and then get them oven ready. I am at a cross roads with eating meat, and have decided that if I can I will be happier eating meat that I have raised myself, so that I know it has had a good life.
Chickens that are sold commercially are white Cornish or Cob breeds and they have been bred to pile on weight as quickly as possible. A supermarket bought chicken will have been slaughtered at around 6 weeks, and often the breeding is so bad that the birds legs give way before 6 weeks as the bird has got too heavy too quickly. Supermarket free range birds are better, but we can produce our own for around the same sort of price and can guarantee how free range they are.
I don't mean to knock commercial producers in anyway, the animals are kept in very clean conditions and we need affordable meat, but we have the space and time to raise our own. Plus I love having baby animals - lets hope I can actually take them off to the farm to be "you know what" when the time comes!
xx
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