Dogscome2 - Winter 2009 Blog

Thought I'd write this for our many regular visitors who might be interested in what's going on during the rest of the year and having now persuaded my computer that it really does have a modem and that the "modem fairies" haven't abducted it, I'll now be able to publish - that's technology for you!

Well, we've had the snow on the ground for about a week now (Feb '09), very unusual for us to to get snow and even more so for it to stay on the ground for this long, not so good on the lanes with the deep ruts and ditches but it looks beautiful nevertheless. The dogs have been loving it, I've been out with them accompanied by my camera nearly every day.

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Ali and Willow on the path alongside Dorridge Hill

The commoners have been busy their tractors loaded with huge round bales of  hay churning through the snow.  Life goes on as normal in the country, albeit a bit slower in these freezing conditions. The main problem for us has been getting water for the livestock, bucket after bucket from indoors, not surprising as we have had temperatures of -8 deg some nights.

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Amber & Indy waiting for more hay.

Whilst putting out the night-time hay at dusk I was surprised to hear a strange chittering noise - almost like a geiger counter, being a curious sort of person I headed for the source and what looked like two badgers went chasing up the field. If anyone reads this and can throw some light on it, please email me but use the link on the homepage to make it clear its not "spam".

It's been too slippery and hazardous to ride out so Indy (my young horse) has remained in the field with his mum. I'm looking forward to getting him out again.

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Pony eating gorse tips - a delicacy in the winter. Some ponies grow a "gorse mustache" to protect them from the tips.

The ponies know where the most sheltered spots are, as I think do the deer, we've seen less of them recently and there are large herds of fallow deer around here.

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bridleway in Furzehill (farm next door to us)

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cattle in the Forest

Thanks to Alan from Cornwall, one of our regular holidaymakers I have now identified the badger sounds, a snarl (can precede agression) followed by a series of yelps (can be male - male competition).  

With the current warmer weather (hope I haven't spoke too soon) and some sunshine we are now looking forward to Spring. It will then be a race to see the first foal and later to be the first to hear the cuckoo. More then ..........

 

Updated 14th December 2009

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