Don't forget the birds...

We spent a couple of hours at the weekend making some seed cakes for the birds and they have not gone unappreciated. They are full of fat, nuts and seeds and have so far been the cause of quite a lot of activity and a few fights too!

Recipe:

1kg lard
1kg peanuts
1kg wild bird seed

some yoghurt pots or similar containers and / or half coconut shells
String for hanging

Melt the lard, stir in the seeds and peanuts until there is still quite a lot of the fat in liquid form as this will ensure the cakes set hard.

Cut the string into 6" lengths and tie the two ends to a match stick or small twig, this will help to make sure the string doesn't pull out of the cake when it is hanging up.

Dangle the string and twigs into the pots and containers and then fill with the seed mixture.

Allow to set solid and then remove from the pots and hang out for your garden birds.

If like us you couldn't bear to stick the christmas tree onto the compost heap just yet or the council haven't been able to collect it yet put it to good use and turn it into a fantastic feeder for the birds, to add to the decorations we also hung up some pieces of apple which have gone down a storm

Caterpillar culprits

There are a lot of these little guys in the tunnel. If you can identify any please let us know!

This one was in the strawberries ...









think this is a cabbage white ... enjoying the nasturtiums










This dude has been spotted munching the lettuces and in with the beans and strawberries ...

Poor baby ...

sad news the other baby jackdaw died. We think the parents stopped coming down to feed him although they were always around and calling to him. Its such a shame - he was almost there... nature is so harsh.

Puffintastic!

Monday I had a fantstic day (even though it was "work") and went out to Skomer. Its not often we will use this space for tales of the W word but this is definitely worth it!

After the short boat trip from Martin's Haven we landed on Skomer - the jewel in pembrokeshire's island crown - and home to simply loads and loads of puffins (as well as lots of other interesting birds, and seals and porpoise in its surrounding waters).

Despite appearances they are remarkably fast little birds, so trying to take photos of them landing - the funniest bit - is a bit tricky!! Despite that they have no interest in humans, they are simply not bothered, and go about their business delivering sand eels to their chicks completely oblivious to you - unless you are in their way, in which case they just look at you until you move! Cute, very very cute...




The weather held for us despite the forecasts of thundery showers - only once did it let rip and most of us were busy having lunch by that point.

If you live in or visit pembrokeshire you simply have to visit the island. And if you live in South and West Wales you simply have to join the wildlife trust (join here) to make sure the wildlife on our patch is protected for the future. Go on ... it really will make a difference! And while you're at it why not get membership as a present for someone else - you can find out their local trust here

Field trouble

2 days of slogging away at the grass in the field and Rhys has done a great job of cutting it down so you can at least make out rows of fruit bushes now! Thing is we now have to shift all the cut grass, and there's lots... Any suggestions?!

We did find a very cute thing in one of the red currants... not this year's we think if you know who lives in a house like this let us know.

Can't fly, won't fly

Despite the feathers, our little jackdaws quite clearly would prefer to snuggle up! This was them this morning. I'm not too impressed with mum and dad's housekeeping though, they look as though they are keeping themselves busy, but the picture suggests otherwise - its getting pretty messy on the floor... Can anyone tell me whether I should I put some more newspaper or straw down?

Polytunnel update

I expect you're wondering how the crops are doing, well we're pleased to report we are regularly eating our own salad, have picked 1 courgette and lots of delicous strawberries! The runner beans are 8ft tall and flowering, and the tomatoes and peppers are starting to flower...

Our voracious predators, haven't kept the greenfly at bay, so we've resorted to soapy water to try and get the numbers down - we have spotted a couple of these chaps though, so hopefully we might get some more larvae for free soon!!!

Then there were two ...

OK so the floor of the barn is obviously much nicer than the nest, as baby 1 has been joined by his baby brother. We put the video camera in just to check she is coming in regularly unfortunately for the camera they are tucked behind the boxes so not easy to get a shot of mum feeding but we have seen her going down to them. They really make a racket at food time.

The barn is cat proof so we'll just have to see how they fare. Hopefully it won't be long until they can actually give flying a proper go.

We don't think there are anymore in the nest but you never know! Maybe tomorrow it'll be three...

Its not easy learning to fly ...

Oh dear one of the Jackdaw chicks has fallen out of the nest. Its ok for now, having decided it wants to be the first to stay in the barn, rather than heading out the other way and landing on the big pile of rocks below the nest on the outside wall. Mum knows where it is and has visited it to feed it so fingers crossed it will be ok and figure out how to fly pretty quickly!

If we can get any pictures we will post them but I'm leaving him quiet for now to make sure mum keeps coming in.

Voracious predators ...

Yesterday we welcomed a delivery of Adalia bipunctata (or 2 spot ladybird larvae to us!) to come and ravage the aphids that have appeared as if from nowhere on the strawberries and bean plants in the polytunnel.

Funny little things - not what we expected at all, didn't pay enough attention to insect lifestages at school I suppose!



We are hoping they will do their job admirably and eat up to 100 aphids a day each, that should keep everything in check! - hopefully they'll grow into lots of lovely ladybirds too that will like the polytunel and decide to stay there...

Fox trotting in the rain...

Yeah its raining and we are going to walk for half a day up Fox Glacier. Brilliant!

Apparently one of only two glaciers in the world that you walk through rainforest to get to (yeah even more rain!). We got absolutely soaked, but it was good. Rhys absolutely loved it - especially getting wet. I liked the glacier but not the getting wet!

Anyway it was spectacular, would definitely recommend, and apparently if you go up when its raining its even better cos you see all the waterfalls etc. I think they just say that to make you feel better, as in all fairness you are probably going to go up there in the rain!

Whales in Kaikoura

What a wonderful day. During the night the van was getting buffetted by the wind and we thought we wouldn't be able to get out the following morning. When we woke, it was to a beautiful calm day, perfect for Whale spotting.

We went out with Whale Watch. Boat was amazing and they had all the kit to give you the best chance of finding the elusive whales. Because of the continental shelf, there is a resident pod of Sperm Whales, which makes life a little easier when no others are passing through.

Spotted ....

Wandering Albatross
Cape Petrols
Sperm Whale
Dusky Dolphins - loads of fun!




Yeah the tail shot! ....

The van, the road and the hidden valley

Picked up the Basejumper van from Wilderness Motorhomes - awesome bit of kit, a place for everything and everything in its place!

Headed south to Waitomo Caves to say Kia Ora to the Gloworms - really good! We just did the one cave and it was brilliant. Would have liked a go at the black water rafting version through the other caves, but the road was calling so we pressed on towards Rotorua

Then had our first night wilderness camping by a lake just west of Rotorua - cool!

The next morning we headed on to Sulphur city and took a dip in the thermal pools at the Polynesian Spa before going for a jet boat ride at the Huka Falls, near Lake Taupo.

The day was a bit showery at times and they said they didn't go out if it was raining - we didn't understand why until we were on the water and it started to shower, it really hurt!!!! You go so fast the rain was like stones. Thankfully the shower only lasted a couple of minutes, and when you are doing 360 degree turns and getting wet from the spins you don't mind to much! The view of the falls was amazing the water is bright bright blue ...

After that we headed slightly north again to the Hidden Valley to explore the geothermal reserve. Awesome ...

Spent the night camping by the side of Lake Taupo

Sydney

Yeah we're in Sydney! We got here... sadly we'll be off again soon but we have enjoyed our stay despite still feeling like we are continually swaying from the plane movement and being totally messed up with our sleep!! Flights were fine, had an hour stop in Bangkok airport which was nice just to get out and stretch. Sleeping on the plane was virtually impossible. But we did get some amazing views on the first leg, especially of the Himalayas - once we get home we'll figure out if we managed to get a pic of Everest.

We have covered a lot of the city though.  First off we went to the opera house amd strolled around the city and yesterday  the compulsory harbour cruise, stopping off at Watsons Bay and Darling Harbour, and finished the day with a wander (very tired) through the Rocks market. This morning we headed off to the botanical gardens which were amazing - we thought we had a lot of bats at home, this takes things to a whole new level with flying foxes everywhere. just a couple of pics to whet your appetite ....

Anyway, later today we are off to see Jo and John in Auckland. Can't wait to see you guys ....

Spring has sprung at Clun Farm

Well the last week has truly been a blast of beautiful spring. I heard the first cuckoo a couple of days ago, as I remember last year he sang his heart out for weeks on end, and quickly became quite irritating! Given that we moved in in May means we could be in for the long haul this year...

All sorts of interesting and lovely flowers are bursting open, and with the sun going down later and later we are managing to get some jobs done in the evenings and beginning to retackle the field. The weeding has started ... as has the accompanying backache!

There is just so much to get done, and not enough time to do it. Still you have to marvel at the lovely things that despite being neglected for year are popping up all over the place...

The story so far...

I really couldn't say where the last 10 months have gone - other than in a blur! So to bring you up to speed here is a quick resume of our life at Clun so far:

In May we moved in and quickly got to work ripping out the kitchen - what we hadn't thought about is how hard it is to live without one, even in the short term! By August we had laid a new slate floor and installed all the units, for a fully functioning and lovely kitchen!

Needless to say with a project of this magnitude, we couldn't just focus on one thing so at the same time we juggled work in the garden; copious amounts of weeding, our first attempts at growing our own veg and enormous amounts of grass cutting! Dad's moving in present to us was a number of tomato and runner bean plants and grow bags which quickly made progress in the poly tunnel - keeping us stocked rights through the summer.

Rhys made a start on the compost bays, and we began harvesting the currants and raspberries from the field, and stocking the freezer. Delicious!

Then we got visited by a barn owl with a bust wing, after several hours trying to catch it our very helpful neighbour got a hand to him and the next day he went off to a local bird of prey sanctuary to try an fix his dislocated elbow joint.

Back in the house for Autumn, the bedrooms got a full remodel with new walls, wiring, plastering, decorating and carpets. We just have a few little finishing bits to do up there before we get drawn outside once more, hopefully to enjoy a glorious summer! And that's where we are now, written down it doesn't look like we've got very far but for those of you in the know its been eventful...