Finally, some photos of all our hard work in the garden

The Williams boys enjoying a sunny weekend

The new greenhouse

The scarecrow in the veg plot

Log store on the newly tidied patio

Pots of bulbs just starting to emerge

And more pots of bulbs

It hasn't all been hard work!

Out with the old ...

Got the old shed down this weekend - and the patio was only an accident waiting to happen (glass, splinters and nails all over the place) for about 24 hours. By 6pm last night everything was tidied, burnt or skipped. Dogs and child can roam free again. We are feeling pretty pleased with ourselves! Still got to get out with the camera though so we can share our achievements.

Great progress in the garden

Well, despite lurgy, wind and a dog who keeps sneaking inside to steal and maim Fred's toys, Tony has nearly finished building the greenhouse. And, the patio is looking very presentable (or it will be when all the bulbs that Fred and I planted start to grow) and the veg bed is growing too, under the watchful eye of our new scarecrow. Now, bring on the sun so we can enjoy our lovely garden.

Photos will follow at some point.

Windy days

I meant to post this ages ago ... it was a windy January!

Three becomes two, and then four!

After a busy day and considerable lapse of concentration on Friday Lovejoy and chickens both ended up free ranging in the garden at the same time with the consequence that three quickly became two! Poor Boat is no more.

So, now we have two new hens: Boatie and Chip (named by Fred of course!). Two Bovan Goldlines. No eggs from them yet but also no fighting with Egg and Duck. The older girls seem pretty cross (strutting about, clucking indignantly) but no violence which we had been warned about. The only problem is that we cannot tell Boatie and Chip apart. So far, so good (if you don't dwell too long on the reason for getting them)! 

Hedgey - by Fred

We were driving the car and mummy had to stop the car because there was something in the way. It was a hedgehog. And we had to get out of the car because we had to take it up to the garage so we didn't run it over. It's name is Hedgey. We gave it some food and water and left it somewhere safe under the holly bush.

By Fred Williams

Hedgey

Hedgey eating the hedgehog food

Hedgey in his safe place

Boys toys and a new dog

Our first Christmas in Alnwick seems like a long time ago now but it was lovely to spend Christmas Day in our new home (although it doesn't seem so new now). Our house is now full of all the boys toys that a four year old could ever want (dinosaurs, lego, transformers, castles, pirates ... and Cap the failed sheepdog).

Yes, we have a new member of the family. Full of Christmas spirit we found ourselves looking up dog rescue websites and before we knew it we had arranged to visit Cap about 30 minutes drive away. He is a lovely dog, 4 years old, really well trained, very friendly and keen to please but lacking the essential sheep-herding instinct. We all loved him (even Lovejoy) and he moved in on New Year's Eve Eve. And, so far so good ... watch this space! Pictures to follow.