Mating season!

Well its well and truly started!

Sunny is not looking his best..........He is however spraying like mad, mainly over himself which he seems to love...but also mainly over his beard and face, so he can rub the scent on the girls!

He did mate with Rita last Monday(21st)....in fact the poor girl got it 8 times before 12pm (men take note), but she wont let him near her now....one of the twins came into season today, she has not been quite so obliging as Rita was last Monday, he is really having to work his socks off!
He also make the most strange noise at the moment, not heard a billy make it before....its almost like he is whispering in their ears...and a pleading looking on his face with it(oh go on, you know you want to, don't worry about the kid, I'll take care of her), but they are not falling for it!
Although saying that, he managed to mount Penny, think it must of been her first time, as she wont let him again!! hahah
We have stopped milking Rita, so she will be nice and dry when it comes to giving birth next year(assuming that she took ok)

He is being a bit of a bully to Alice though! Alice and Sunny usually cuddle up together, but today he wont even let her near the food, i may have to take her out of there!.

Ducks have go off lay and chickens are not laying as many as before either, but still getting 5 eggs a day, enough for us!
We did hatch six duckings for the pot, they will be dealt with very soon, so more meat for the freezer!

Pigs are fattening up nicely! We have decided to take them to the abattoir in November, they will be just over 6 months then and it means Christmas dinner will be sorted!
Mouth is watering at the thought of all that ham! We have decided to do the butchering at home, making four large hams....one palma style, two in brine and one cold smoked....we also will do various cuts and joints, and possibly making pork pies out of the head meat....along with all that we will make out own lard as well....think me may need a bigger freezer!

other news: my partner sold his house! that's great news, means we can move on with our lives and pay some of our bills and pay for our wedding next year!
My walking is improving more and more, I have been trying to walk 2 miles twice a week...will try and up that very soon...really need to loose this weight before the wedding!
I am also trying to set up my own website, need to get some money in, and i have always wanted my own business, especially after i have run businesses for others in the past.

Nights are a lot darker here now, usually dark by 6.45 ish hard to see your way to the poly tunnel sometimes, talking of which, we had some lovely melons(behave please, no sniggering) and some wonderful cucumbers out of it, we are still getting chilli's, tomatoes and peppers.
Onions are all drying nicely in the barn, will have to plait them soon! And we have Marrows coming out of our ears(not literally). will have to dice some and freeze it, like we did with the Kale.

Well better go...animals to feed, veg to collect.....etc
Will try not to be too long next time....but i did have a lot to say this time Hahaha