On Friday afternoon, Aurora seemed very quiet. We'd assumed she was broody as she has been spending lots of the day in her favourite secluded spot on the lawn. However, when I went to pick her up to put her back in the run, I realised she had lost weight and seemed somewhat unsteady on... Continue Reading →
Northern Lights over Crewe
Just as we were turning in late last night, I remembered that the geomagnetic storm, the biggest since 2005, would mean that the northern lights should be visible across the UK! I leapt out of bed, grabbed my phone and I dashed downstairs much to the bemusement of my long suffering husband. Outside in the garden,... Continue Reading →
Chickens, chickens everywhere
Yesterday, I ambled down the plot to catch up with everyone and feed the chickens. The sun was out, the sky was blue and there was more than a hint of spring in the air. It was lovely to see the site busy, with people appearing after their winter hibernation. Despite wind, rain and snow,... Continue Reading →
Goodbye Gertie
Over the past week, Gertie has become increasingly withdrawn and has lost weight. I've been trying to tempt her with a range of different treats including the failsafe, scrambled eggs. Yesterday she was so weak, I brought her inside and kept her company while I worked. At lunchtime, I took her into the kitchen and... Continue Reading →
Bailing out the Quail
This morning, when I walked out into the garden, I discovered that the quail were in rather dire straits. The deluge of rain and wind we have had over the last two days has been unbelievable. The garden and plot are absolutely saturated. A single drop more rain and both would turn into a lake.... Continue Reading →
Round and round the Garden
At lunchtime, I headed out into the garden to clean out Gertie and Quail Mansions. I started with Gertie. She has been spending lots of time on her perch and not eating much which is worrying. Pondering where to put her, I decided she might enjoy the sunshine for a bit, so I deposited her... Continue Reading →
Hunting Eggs
Over the last week, the Topknot Gang has been keeping me on my toes by laying stealth eggs. These can be laid anywhere. Under bushes, in the middle of the patio, next to the BBQ... The hiding places are endless! To date, I have found eggs under the bushes, next to the BBQ and even... Continue Reading →
Coop Cleaning Day
I walked down to the plot early today, determined to avoid the worst of the rain that was forecast to last most of the day. I dashed around the coops and fed everyone. Geoff's black rock came out into the run today which showed progress. She has been terrorising Geoff's other hens and blocking their... Continue Reading →
Gertie Surprises Us
Over the past couple of days Gertie has been busy exploring the garden with the rest of the Topknot Gang. Unfortunately, she hasn't been accepted by Coco or Trixie but the silkies don't seem to mind her walking near them. Initially, I opened up her coop expecting her to just enjoy the fresh air and... Continue Reading →
A Midnight Visitor
Just as I was about to go to bed this evening, I wandered down to the bottom of the garden to call the cats inside. At this time of year, they have zero interest in coming inside at any time after 11pm. Despite trying for an early night, I ended up having to stay up... Continue Reading →
A Day of Chickens and Potatoes
With the sun out and showers forecast for tomorrow, I decided when I woke up this morning that today I would finally clean out the chicken coops. It's incredibly difficult to clean the allotment chicken coops over the winter due to the water being off and having two large wooden nest boxes to clean. Plus... Continue Reading →
Here Comes the Rain
Why is it that whenever I go to feed the chickens, the heavens open? Even the merest thought of "I'll go and feed the chickens in a bit..." seems to send out some invisible signal to the clouds to ready themselves for a full monsoon. Usually this phenomena is limited to my leaving the house... Continue Reading →
A Garden Gatecrasher
Just as I was about to put Winnie back in her overnight carrier, my husband shouted from the back of the house. Clutching Winnie to my chest, I dashed out to see what was the matter. I found my husband on the patio with big smile on his face. "Look in the Omlet!" he said... Continue Reading →
The Fires of Hell
Level 4 Heatwave has finally arrived after days of fire warnings from the government, the Met Office and the British pessimism which declares every type of weather dreadful. If it's raining, where is the sunshine? If it's cold, where's the heat? For the next two days, every conversation about the weather will adhere to the... Continue Reading →
Coco Goes Walkabout
When I got home this evening, I went to check on Winnie and Coco. I have been hand feeding Winnie to try and make sure she is getting enough food. Happily, Winnie began to attack the food with gusto. As I held her, I could hear Coco clucking in the background. I thought nothing of... Continue Reading →
Way Hay and Up She Rises!
Finally today, the weather cooperated which meant we could put up the shed! Between us we spent a while shifting around the different sides of the shed to work out the best way to orientate it. After some discussion, we decided on having the window facing the house and the door facing down the street.... Continue Reading →
Victory for The Persuader
While I was attending a committee meeting this morning, I left my husband in charge of clearing out our garden shed and, if he had time, dismantle it. How the shed has survived eight years considering it had a rather drunken tilt to it when we moved in, is utterly beyond me. It has survived... Continue Reading →
The Good Life Crewe 
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