Use nature to your advantage. Find a frame. Work it. 
Blitzen
Father Christmas, worry not! Our latest Caribou calf, Blitzen, joins the elite LDF Sleigh Backup Team. 
He's brought his friend Donner along too, with amazing thunder clouds rolling across the valley today.
It promises to be a noisy evening. But worry not, good news for Humph's sartorial followers...the woolly hats and dungarees are BACK! Autumn is officially here!
Introducing Ballerina...
Rain and roses
A sprinkling of rain and the pasture is green again. The cows are happy, and we are enjoying the opportunity to hide indoors between showers. This week, Dad even managed to successfully dodge the showers in an early morning dash to the grain trader, clearing the bins in preparation for the return of the Mercator...watch this space.
And, horror of horrors, that was his second outing in a week! Farmer Humph's Day Release also included a little contracting next to Cants' Rose Fields.
Definitely trading up. I enjoyed the opportunity to visit and celebrate in colourful style the start of harvest support season, with trips to Colchester's finest at the Hythe: Ray at Does, and Industrial Bearings. Whilst others are sunning themselves on holiday, we spend time reconnecting with Colchester's bypasses. Interesting fact: the Industrial Bearings building was opened by the most famous bearing enthusiast of all, Sir Bobby Moore.
Fortunately for Dad, the mass of roses reminded him to order flowers to celebrate 35 years of wedded agricultural bliss. And so today, we travel down memory lane to prove that all farmers have agriculturally themed wedding cakes...
Congratulations Mum and Dad! We're very proud of you.
I'm Handsome and I Know It
Brendan and Brian
Such excitement at Lower Dairy Farm! Our hell-raising, marauding warrior queen, Bo-bo (the original Iceni nickname for Boudica), was not the only arrival this week. She joined the less regal Brendan and Brian, our herd accountants.
Brendan is a wing-nutted, Hereford calf.
Whereas Brian, does not like to be photographed...
...or to follow the herd.
Brian's mother is "affectionately" known as 'Kicker'.
Any volunteers for a spot of castrating?
To recap, so far this year, the calves Bathsheba, Blossom, Betsy, Bingo, Bo-jo (Boris), Brendan, Brian and Boudica have joined the herd. Cracking names so far, and given this is the year of the 'B', we're hoping our hive will soon be filled with Horkesley Honeybees.
One picky swarm decided not to settle in the lovely hive next to a field of clover and wildflowers (they must read the blog). Whilst my Queen Bee complex says "How very dare they leave me!", I am working through this by donning my bee suit to sweet talk/waggle dance nicer bees into coming to live with Brian.
Perhaps if I dressed up as a giant bee, I'd have more success?
If you hear of a swarm of honeybees, let us know! (shop@lowerdairyfarm.co.uk). If you see a nutter in a giant bee costume, report them to Animal Control.
Return of the Warrior Queen
Camulodunum!
Be very afeard! For born unto Thistle, Boudica has risen again...
And the Warrior Queen is already proving her rebellious credentials, seen here staging a sit-in. 
Terror reigns at Lower Dairy Farm. So, if the rattle of chariot wheels is heard on North Hill, run for your lives! (We'll keep her away from matches.)
Run Primrose Run!
For weeks, the cows stood at the gate bawling to go out to grass.
It's been noisy.
But finally, the cows have left the buildings.
This week, we waved them off into the distance for a long-earned gallop around the fields.
But this looks far too placid...here are the cows in action:
Run, Primrose..Run!
Come and see the real thing on 9th June at Open Farm Sunday!