Going Gently

Its twenty to eleven and I have just taken my quiche and apple pie out of the oven in readiness for the show. It has been a busy day
The kitchen resembles Kew Gardens as a dozen entries from people unable to set up their own exhibits cover every surface
Apologies for not catching up with blogs (a wonderful relaxing Friday night habit)... I need a gin and tonic

Flower Show Build Up

Every year I worry about the number of entries to the Flower Show, and every year I needn't have done so.
This year our entries ( including the Childrens' art from the school) number around the 400 mark which was a real boost to the committee, who have worked all morning preparing the hall and the refreshments for tomorrow's show

Auntie Gladys with some of her 100 scones all freshly baked today

"Cleavage" Evans collating the entries

Terry sorting out signage

Irene (acting show Treasurer) Bric-a-brac

Heulwen and Ochan sorting the raffle

Tablecloths all ironed with a vase of garden flowers on each!

Off to pick my veg......

Pecked in the eye

I can blame Christina Perri's mournful song "Jar Of Hearts" on the "agricultural" accident I have just suffered at the hands of a frightened turkey and a considerable lack of concentration.

During a dreadful rainstorm at dusk I was locking up the animals, whilst listening to some popular tunes on my digital radio.

This rather sad song came on , and I was immediately struck by it and by the voice of Christina Perri...so much so that I was not looking at what I was doing and I lowered Boris into his house for the night without noticing that the other stag turkey Bingley was already inside sheltering from the rain.

Poor Boris, he was not expecting to be plonked right next door to his Nemesis and he panicked, lashing out at me with his sharp beak, as he did so.

He caught me a good one right in the corner of my right eye, and did so with so much force, he knocked me back onto my arse.

God I was lucky, apart from a nasty pain in my eye and a large bloodshot bruise on my eyeball, there was no more damage!.....I could have easily lost my eye.

Its very easy to forget just how powerful these domesticated animals can be....

Whatever next?

only a month or so ago, I was literally goosed in the goolies by Winnie....

Perhaps next week I will be poked up the rear end by a bolshie guinea fowl?

Show Preparation

Villager Stan reviewing the flowers in our 2009 show

Tomorrow the flower show committee meet early doors to set the Memorial Hall up for Saturday's Show and to collect and collate the entries.
There is a phenomenal amount to do, but traditionally as we are all under the mindful supervision of Show Secretary Sylvia "The Cleavage" Evans, who documents every step, most "i's" will be dotted and most "T's" crossed.
Today I need to drive to Mold to collect notice boards on which we will display the school's junior entries (Mold ! What an unfortunate name for a town, I always thought)
I need to wash and iron all the Show's tablecloths for the tea tables (I used them all for my open day.)
I have to bake three cakes to be eaten by Show Visitors as well as collecting several of the entries from people that cannot get to the show "set up" on Saturday.
and I have not forgotten that it is my responsibility to sort out the cut flowers for the tables, pick up the milk for the teas and finally sort my own entries out .

Yes there is a great deal to do.....
Thursday is usually a day I look after my brother. This week he has been admitted to our local hospice for a week's respite care,so I have the morning free to catch up with the necessary flower show jobs. This afternoon William and I will call in to see him to drop off some dvds.
I was going to take Constance but I dont think his hospital issue ripple mattress is quite up to a 25 kilo bulldog's need for comfort and joy.
William with his gentle nature is much more suited for hospital visiting.

One more hen down with a bad chest....The rest seem ok for the moment

Bullied Girls

Jane,the little Araucana with Phyllis hiding away inside the broodybox

Animals can be incredible bullies

The victims of sustained and at time violent attacks react just like people can do when confronted with bigger and more aggressive individuals, they become shy, introverted and understandably depressed.creatures that hide away on the sidelines.
Two of my hens have had a hard time recently. Phylis Diller , the odd looking frizzle poland bantam, with her nervy nature and odd looks has been battered to an inch of her life by a whole collection of different hens over the past few days. The attacks have reduced her to a bloody wreck
and it was heartbreaking to see this little pathetic scrap of a bird cowering underneath one of the hen house yesterday.
I caught her with my T shirt and cleaned her wounds with witchhazel and warm water, a procedure she sat through with rather moving stillness and then I placed her into her own run with another gentle little soul, a new araucana gray called Jane who arrived without tail feathers only a few days ago.
Immediately the two hens hid away inside their tiny coop, but did so calmly, sitting together side by side watching the field beyond their netting like two old ladies resting on a couple of beachfront deckchairs..
Just like people, all these little scraps of birds needed was to feel safe and secure.
Its not much to ask is it?
Even if you look like Phyllis Diller on crack

Why I love New York

This photo from a Manhattan dog park sums up New York so well
Its been three years since we last went and its been too long!!!!
Chris and I have visited the Big Apple more times than I care to remember
and I miss it so