Mission Marmalade

It's a noisy time of year with the cows queuing up at the gate waiting to go out with every sunbeam that appears.  Whilst they're bellowing their indignation at every human, car, bird or dog that passes, Hannah is on a marmalade mission in the kitchen.  Batch two of this year's marmalade - and she's still going!

With a house filled with the delicious smell of Seville oranges, we've entered the annual "no adopting of Peruvian bears found at railway stations" season.  A sad time for Colchester station's orphan bear population.

But we don't need a bear!  They might be quieter than the cows, but we've got our own little Paddington here on the farm (albeit from Dorset not Peru, wearing a sou'wester and willing to eat anything from clothes pegs to ancient rabbit).  Fearless cattle dog Humbug is prepared to work in any weather (but not mud - really useful on a farm) and was found yesterday with his head inside a cow's mouth.  Who needs a dentist?

Whilst buying him a sou'wester may have jinxed rain for the spring, he has at least stopped shivering in the farmyard.  Off now to feed (guaranteed to quieten down the cows) and test Dad's photography skills with a picture of me and a cow.  It's day two and we're yet to get a picture in which I'm not standing gormlessly in a barn with my eyes closed, the cow and I are both still, I'm not being attacked by a cow - forgotten dog treats in pockets lead to mass attack, or worse still, a picture in which I look like I actually like cows.  But it's all part of the celebration of ...

This year's Great British Beef Week runs from 23rd - 20th April and this year butchers, supermarkets and retailers taking part will be raising money for Help for Heroes.

So bring on St Georges Day and a celebration of Great British Beef!  For more information, and the chance to win £500, head to www.greatbritishbeef.co.uk

For the love of...

baler twine!

Happy Valentine's Day!

from Team Taylor c. 1978.

(If I don't blog again, I've been killed for posting this, the younger Taylors' favourite farm photo.  Check out that hair!  Farm news from the present day and full of baler twine, next week...)

I, Snowman

This week, whilst Humbug gets lost in a snowdrift and Dad and I argue over the only watering can to thaw water troughs, here on the warm and peaceful blog, we're heading back to 1963 and a real "Deep Freeze".

During this harsh winter, the horseshoe weir on the Stour at Wiston froze completely.  People actually cycled up the river from Nayland to see the spectacle.  In the words of Mr. T. (not Humphrey), "Crazy fools!".

We may not have had much rain, but the weir is in fine roaring form so no cycling this year, not even any skating on the frozen marsh.

Thanks to Celia Westbrook for some awesome photos of the weir this weekend, including this one taken in the same spot as our vintage 1963 photo by Grandad.  This allows me to demonstrate the distinct lack of ice without Humbug dragging me down to the water to roll in rotting fish abandoned by evil fishermen.

But it's actually quite a beautiful spot, perfectly captured below.  Celia, I hope you don't mind me sharing these.  We think you should definitely enter the Nayland Village Calendar Competition (details here and in the Nayland and Wissington Community Times).  I believe it's how Annie Leibowitz got her first big break...!

Props away!

Back on the farm and props (doors and calves) away!

First up, the mill house is supporting itself without the magical Acro props!

[Don't cry Stuart]

 AND...we've got a door!!!

A proper dairy door with a frame AND a window, on hinges and everything!   (I nearly cried when I saw the door).  And all of this progress is thanks to the incredible work of Richard Green - hiding in the top photo.  The barn looks AWESOME!

What's more, whilst I spent last week on self-imposed PhD lockdown (with a little cow shampooing thrown in for good measure), Dad's even installed new hi-tech lighting in the Pole Barn.

The gift of sight for night-time calvings?  Priceless (once you've climbed over, then up a gate and found the light switch in the dark).

My jungle gym skills are yet to be tested, however, I am proud to announce No. 100's first calf. Easy calving, seriously milky udder, slightly dim and she's my favourite...perfect for an Ayrshire cross!  She is the Chosen One.

The countdown begins...

17th June 2012 is Open Farm Sunday!

So mark the date in your diaries and join us and all the animals to celebrate            Lower Dairy Farm's third OFS.

For more information, to see a man apparently helping to harvest potatoes with a fork (who needs the machinery in the background?) and find farms across the country, visit the Open Farm Sunday website.

More details coming soon...

Wake up!

It's 6:05 and it's breakfast time!  Why?  Well, a)  because it's Farmhouse Breakfast Week! and b) because without breakfast, life is very grim indeed.

And so to make sure you "shake up your wake up", our shelves are stocked with jams, jellys and marmalades, and the hens are powering through and laying eggs for you in these cold, dark days.  To mark the occasion, I've also expanded my flock with some lovely Columbian Blacktails to make sure you can go to work on an egg.

This week, I'm lucky enough to be in Dorset and I'm shaking up my wake up with fresh unpasteurised milk on my cereal.  My favourite!  I'm the last one up - Stuart is milking and Helen has just arrived at the Stanley's for a routine (vet, not dance - even with breakfast, it's far too early to bust a move), so before I tuck in to breakfast (and drink the bulk tank dry) all that remains is to wish you an equally happy week of breakfasting.

For inspiration, scrumptious recipes and to take the Breakfast Week Challenge with Melinda Messenger, head to the Shake Up Your Wake Up website.

The Last Jar

It's my birthday!  And whilst we enjoy copious quantities of cake, it is time to remember those that are lonely.  The mincemeat languishing at the back of the fridge?  Or slowly fermenting away in the cupboard to be found next year distilled to a fine homebrew?  We plan to end this cruelty (and avoid the homebrew) by giving you the gift of Hannah's recommended recipe.

Belgian Fruit Cake      

                          - from the Cranks Recipe Book ( a kitchen essential)

4 oz (100g) butter or marg, 3oz (75g) Demerara sugar, 2 eggs, 5oz (150g) self-raising flour, 8oz (225g) mincemeat, Water 1tbsp

  Cream butter and sugar together. Beat in eggs. Fold in flour, then mincemeat and water.

 Place the mixture into a greased and base-lined 8" (20cm square cake tin. Level the surface.

Bake at 170.C (325.F/G.M.3) for about 30 minutes, until well risen and golden.

Cool in the tin.

 Trust me.  It's nothing like a mince pie, so no excuses if you ODed over Christmas. Plus, the recipe recommends wholemeal flour, so if you're still on a New Year health kick, go for the fibre.  Happy baking!

The Chicken and the Pig

Happy New Year!

 Firstly, a belated thank you to the Stoke-by-Nayland Middle School Eco Club for collecting apples for two very happy pigs. Our second delivery arrived today and as you can see, they are enjoying them greatly!

Here's hoping the apples distract them from breaking into their Eldorado, the hen run - clearly not that desirous of freedom.  The heavy rain made this far removed from a city of gold and the hens have been whisked away in a professional manner (walked along the road) to higher ground and a deluxe new pen.

And GREAT news!  We've got a new worker on the farm, pictured here during his JCB training.

Lesson 2: It's all about visibility

 Such skills!  Totally makes up for the slightly bizarre Christmas present of Jesus, the baby muntjac, who joined the Lower Dairy Farm nativity courtesy of this talented hound.  Surprise!