Anatevka


The Ukrainian Village looks somewhat deserted.
I think it resembles the forlorn  Anatevka at the end of " Fiddler On The Roof"
The once busy " roads" and " avenues" are quiet and empty.

The problem with buying in batches of hens is that they tend to stop laying and will die away more or less at the same time. A couple of years ago I took in forty chickens from a guy in nearby Llanasa, whose wife told him " It's either me or the hens" ..he chose his wife....(but only after an afternoons self debate), and the Ukrainian Village was suddenly bursting at the seams.
Over the last twelve months all these older hens have gently died away, as did old Bingley the turkey

And so there are only twelve animals on the field to face the winter.
Four hens. Four geese and Irene and Sylvia.
Of course, this hiatus will now allow me to dismantle and burn the flimsier hen houses and repair the good. Over the winter these all will be fumigated and cleaned in readiness for the new hens which will come in the spring.
" Bosoms" will need clearing too, with getting married in the spring, the allotment had been over looked this year.

I'm picking up Liv and Eve from school today and briefly thought that I would get them painting the first of the hen houses this afternoon but the weather isn't quite up to it.
I will teach them to prepare a curry for the Prof's tea instead...after they give Mary her first bath.
It should be an interesting bun fight

25 comments:

  1. Well I`m going to be nosey ! Forgive me....now you mentioned before that you may move away what with the Prof`s flourishing career so does this mean you are staying put for the foreseeable future or are you planning on moving somewhere that you can take all the animals ? If I was a hen down on her luck then you would be my rescuer of choice ! X

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    1. I totally agree, if I was a hen down on her luck, your house would be the one I would look for.

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  2. Anonymous10:47 am

    Have you got black bin bags? Cut holes for the girl's arms and heads to go through, should help keep them dry whilst little Mary 'enjoys' her first bath! Good luck!!!

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  3. An ending and a beginning, I guess!

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  4. I like how you don't beat yourself up about the allotment being neglected John.

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  5. Before making Eve and Liv work for you you should check out current child labour legislation. Do they do chimneys?

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  6. Best do the curry first, John. I visualize two very wet little girls soon.

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  7. Oh the stories those little girls will tell in school, about the time spent with John and the hens :)

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  8. Making memories for the little ones!

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  9. Thanks for the update on the farm. I am sure you look forward to chicks when the time is right. Good luck on the bath.

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  10. "Where else could Sabbath be so sweet?"

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  11. Oh it really does look like Anatevka - nothing like a few rainy days and some muddy grass to make everything look truly peasant like - or is that picturesque?

    Those girls are lucky to have such an interesting and talented baby sitter, they are going to be learning a lot of skills.

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  12. Wish I could be there to see the fun. Legals bin bag idea is spot on! X

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  14. Please take a video of the girls giving Mary her bath. It will be an event for all.

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  15. I once saw a German production of 'Fiddler on the Roof'' in Munich, only it was called 'Anatevka'. Can't see what's wrong with 'Der Geiger auf dem Dach' myself, but there you are.

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  16. Liv and Eve are so lucky. Great memories you're making for them... and yourself :)

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  17. Was wondering how 'village life' was going.

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  18. Our chicken shelters are looking very shabby. We need to burn a few things ourself.
    Have fun with those little girls. They must love coming to your house.

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  19. The song "Anatevka" at the end of Fiddler is one of my favourites. So sad and melancholic, capturing the pain of being uprooted and displaced, the longing for Home.

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  20. Agree with Cheryl, don't forget to take a video of Mary's first bath. We wonder what faces poor Winnie will pull. The bin bags are a brilliant idea - you'll probably all need one!

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  21. Would love to see a vid of the girls giving Mary her first bath - AFTER the curry has been made. Good luck!

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  22. Anonymous9:35 pm

    Bathing a puppy...that does sound like fun.

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  23. I once gave up my dog to move in with a woman. I would have had a much longer and happier relationship with the dog. Lesson learned.

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