Frosty Weather means Log Fires!

This is just the sort of weather which is perfect for those log fires.  Crisp and frosty!!  Even chopping and lugging logs has kept us warm. Nothing beats the sweet smell of wood smoke and a frost encrusted landscape!

Axemen of PTC!

Before....

...during...

After gallivanting around Switzerland, it was back down to earth!!  Chris had kindly dropped about 3 tons of wood on the drive.  We did make a good start splitting, lugging and stacking before our trip but there was more than half left to do on our return.  Before starting this major task, we transferred the seasoned logs out of the seasoner to the log store by the house  We removed the  pallets and gave it a good old spring clean before replacing them.  I do find that storing logs on pallets aids air circulation and speeds up the seasoning process.  It is of course a perfect use for redundant pallets! Yesterday, we were very spoilt  as we had extra help from Chris the elder and so both Chris's were busy swinging axes!  Of course, they kept much warmer then I did just lugging and stacking!  It was dark well before we finished but, the larger log seasoner is now completely full and the smaller one very nearly full.  All in all a most satisfying squirrel like job.  All these logs, most of which are Cedar will have at least a year to season and dry out before they are burnt. Of course, I should mention another bonus and that is, the scent of the Cedar which now hangs in the air! 

..and afterwards!

Christmas Break for Hens & Gardeners!

Sarah's Hen Hotel

Head gardener, Chief Blogger and Mistress of the Flock has been away in Switzerland spending Christmas with family. The girls packed their bags and went off to stay at Newland Grange Hen Hotel - a 5* Hen Hotel if ever there was one!! In our absence they laid 25 eggs so I figure they enjoyed their week's holiday as much as we did.  Of course they didn't have the snow that we encountered.  I did wonder given their confusion over Bamboo moves, whether they'd have any navigational hiccups on their return home!  Not a bit of it!  After a few handfuls of corn in the dusky evening light, it was straight up their ladder to roost!!  

This was one of the few trips we've made which was without any horticultural input although we did admire the snow covered conifers! All very Christmassy.  Oh well - it's back to the wind and rain now!

Chicken Confusion

           

The cause of all the confusion was moving this bamboo from in front of the House for Hens to alongside and to its right!  A distance of less than 2 metres. Who could have predicted that such a minor move would mean that for 3 nights 4 out of 5 chickens couldn't find their way in to roost?  I did of course place them inside myself for those nights.  All is now well again and they have been enjoying scratching around in their new woodchip.  They also had a day of added freedom as they had the run of the entire garden and went out on slug patrol.  I don't think it's such a bad idea to do that once a month.  After all, it only takes a few minutes to whiz round with the blower and tidy up after them.

Before the Bamboo move...

.. and afterwards.

Bamboozled Chickens!!!

Before removal

Golden Bamboo - Phyllostachys Aurea

Having improved rat defences, Chris (Genever) then replaced the post beneath the House for Hens - this time with oak so it should last a little longer than the last one.  It was all looking so splendid that, I looked at the golden Bamboo -  and thought what shame it totally obscured their house from our house.   When Chris (Pugh) arrived on Saturday, I showed him all our renovations and he agreed.  Now: digging out and replanting sizeable Bamboos is definitely not lightly undertaken.  It was a 'fairly' big job and the bamboo was monstrously heavy!  As if that wasn't bad enough, Chris then suggested that we dig out another scrubby and shorter bamboo thus revealing the much more elegant black bamboo in all its glory.  That was FAR worse!  It (eventually with the assistance of an iron bar) came out in 3 pieces, 2 of which were replanted and the 3rd discarded. As a result, it's all lookin' awfully smart down in the Hen Pen!!

NOW!  Here's a thing!!  As a result of this bamboo move around, the hens were utterly bamboozled (sorry!). Only one of them found their way into roost!  The remaining 4 were completely lost and were picked up and put back in their pole house - for 3 nights!!  Bear in mind: their house remained in exactly the same position. Just how amazing is that?  It certainly makes you wonder about their navigation systems!!

Operations well under way

Rather lost residents

Rat Wars

Rat excavations beneath the timbers

Rat proof flooring.

Despite all efforts, rats were winning battle after battle down in the Hennery.  They were digging under the earth floor, coming up through the mesh wire and eating the chickens food.  Despite the strategic placement of rat stations, we were getting nowhere and they were digging everywhere!  Initially we thought of concreting the Hennery floor and then Chris (G) came up with the idea of using some unwanted slabs (which he kindly gave us).  We bagged up all their deep litter then removed the wire mesh and levelled the earth. This revealed all the the full and vast extent of the rat excavations.  They were undermining the very structure of the building. This advance has now been halted as, having laid all the slabs and tucking them beneath the timber surrounds; there's no way they can excavate through concrete!  The deep litter of wood chip was placed back on the slabbed floor and they can scratch around to their hearts' content. As the Hennery serves as a breakfast room and winter quarters for our girls, they will no longer have to share a repast with vermin!

Rescued from Cruelty, Neglect & Abuse

 This little Garrya Elliptica (Silk Tassel Bush) has had the worst possible start in life.  Talk about abuse!  Two years ago, it was a Christmas present from Chris and began life in the lower border.  A Gunnera grew over the top of it and it sat there alone, neglected and forgotten in almost complete darkness.  Worse abuse was to follow.  As it was so obscured and when the Gunnera died back, several wheelbarrows of top soil were emptied right on top of it. It looked in such a sorry state with diseased leaves which were brown and curling.  I was consumed with guilt and embarrassment!  What a way to treat a Christmas present!   Earlier this year, its suffering was suddenly noticed.  Rescue was immediate and it was removed and brought up to the terrace path and re-planted against the house.  Now, in its  more sheltered more sheltered position, it has made the most remarkable recovery.  What a difference a little T.L.C. makes!