Florence has arthritis

 

Florence, our boss goat, has gone lame in her front left leg. The vet said it was very likely that she has arthritis. She is a fair age - 8 years - but the vet advised us to learn to live with the condition, just as humans do. We will continue to monitor her. See video above for more details.

Raddling the sheep

 

Raddle is a paint that is applied to the chest of a ram. When he services a ewe he leaves a smudge of the paint on the back end of the ewe. It means we know which ewes have been mated. This video explains more.

I need grouse recipes

 

I was given 4 grouse a few days ago. Although I've used lots of game in the past, I've never before cooked grouse. I think I will have to search through the game cookery books.

The potato crop is harvested

 

I am pleased to report that the potato crop is now harvested. Contrary to expectations, it is a goood crop and some of the potatoes are the size of rugby balls. This crop is key to us and should keep us in calories and carbohydrates well into next year.

A self-sufficient omelette

 

I'm rather proud of this meal. Everything in it is home produced: potatoes, eggs and tomatoes. We are yet to gather in the rest of the potato crop but the tomotoes have all been picked. We are using some old eggs up. The hens have now gone on a go-slow. We are getting typically one or two eggs a day as all the hens are moulting. Their energy therefore goes into growing new feathers rather than laying eggs.

Green tomatoes

 

We have lots of green tomatoes so we've put them on the kitchen windowsill in the hope they will ripen. If they don't, |I will be making green tomato chutney.

Florence has a limp

 

Florence, one of our nanny goats, has been limping for a couple of weeks. We have treated her for hoof rot but that has not improved the situation. So we thought she may have a problem with her front left elbow. We took her to the vet on Monday but she thought the problem was with her foot. For the past few days she has been on antibiotics but there is no recovery. I am beginning to fear she may have broken a bone in her foot. If there is still no improvement next week, she will have to go back to the vet.