Nice but dim

On Thursday, we retrieved this lovely, but dim calf from a water tank.  After climbing out, he peed on me, demonstrating his Blue Flag-esque clean water credentials, and making me a pollution hazard in the catchment zone of a watercourse.

Which brings me to a request from @FarmerCharles on Twitter this week:  "What was that cake with apostles all over it that I was going to try?"  I had intended to start said cake with apostles all over it, a Simnel Cake, that night but, well, hygiene first.

Simnel Cake - as styled by Marguerite Patten

In the matter of the Taylor-Nicholson Simnel Cake, we use our Christmas cake recipe; a great excuse to eat Christmas cake more than once a year.  Choose your favourite fruit or Dundee cake recipe, and sandwich a layer of marzipan in the middle of the batter.  When cool, brush the top with jam and add a circle of marzipan and twelve balls to represent the apostles, minus Judas.  Brown the marzipan under the grill or using a blowtorch (perhaps not the one that lives on the farm, and no, the dehorner won't do).

The thing to remember, is that twelve balls are insufficient; '70s decorations are compulsory.  If it's good enough for Marguerite, then it's good enough for your Easter table.  And be warned: Don't melt the apostles (grilling in the Aga can be hit and miss)!  Marguerite will know.

"A furry mint humbug..."

I think this is a Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum).  Apparently, no other British bee looks anything like a Tree Bumblebee:  "If you have trouble remembering... just imagine a furry mint humbug"...Eureka!  We've found the unique, bumblebee equivalent of Humbug, the abbreviated collie!

And another one...

And here is our newest Aberdeen Angus cross calf - the giveaway being oversized Hereford ears.I wrongly accused No. 36 of another cow's calving antics in the last post.  She may be ornery, but not every cow can be as laid back as No. 100.Less than a week old and her calf is already showcasing the elite genetics; but then again, all that fight club training is tiring work.

Calf-fest

It wouldn't be right to get through the year of 'C', in the Stour Valley, without a Constable.....seen here on the left, or possibly the right, with his sister, Constance

Unfortunately, it has become clear that the twins spent a very long nine months together, and now avoid each other at all costs.  Sharing an udder is just about bearable, but whilst I was hoping for adorable curled up together photos, instead, we have anti-social siblings.Constable, seen here in a melodramatic, artistic funk.  And Constance, proving she is not your typical heifer, but something of a hard nut.This picture makes me want to name them 'Bianca and Ricky', but sadly we are in the year of 'C',  and the naming baton was set pretty high with previous twins called 'Mikhail and Raisa'.  A definite step up from our first, Daisy and Maisy, but Jo is still upset the Gorbachevs did not reply to the birth announcement sent to the Kremlin.

Fortunately, the twins have an ever-increasing pool of alternative playmates.  No 100's large bull calf can be seen here relaxing in the sunshine behind the lovely Clara.

This calf was one and a half weeks late and No. 100 is yet to regain her former barrel-slim figure.  Who knew she could get any wider?  It may be necessary to use a panorama setting for her next photo.

If No. 100's calf is not to the taste of our fussy twins, an Angus cross arrived yesterday to a very grumpy cow who does not want to share, let alone allow photos of her calf.  She was a nightmare for her first calf, good with the next, and is now verging on difficult; which begs the question, why are we breeding from her?  The twins won't be playing with this one for a while!  Photos soon when the hormones have died down a little.

You may be thinking, "..that sounds like an awful lot of calves!", and you would be right.  However, Dad is intent on proving his AI credentials, and we have another two due this week, and more on the way.

Helen and I believe this is Dad's subconscious telling him block calving is the way forward...listen to your inner voice Dad...and pray not too many double up!

Spring stampedes...

   The bullocks and heifers were first out to grass this year, and took the opportunity to race up and down the Long Meadow.  The key is to get to the gate before they've hit the end of the field and made it back again, otherwise they'll run straight back into the yard and out again because it's sooooo much fun!

(me jumping into hedge to get out of the way...) And off they go again!The cows are awaiting their turn, but with hail and lightning this weekend, they seem happy to stay in the shelter of the barn a little longer.Bring on spring!

Surprise!

Twin Hereford calves born this morning.  We think the cow - who was a little under the weather in the run up to this, will be feeling a lot better after giving birth to two full-size calves!

Misty mornings on the farm

Feed the Birds

 Here at the Lower Dairy Farm Gull Sanctuary, we've been busy feeding the birds.

But where do they come from?  And how do they know?  Are there gull scouts?  Here's my first furrow after lunch:

...and half an hour later:

According to the RSPB:

"Because winds are stronger at higher altitudes - so less energy-expending flapping is required - gulls are often thousands of feet in the air.  From such a vast height, and by using their keen eyesight, they have an excellent all-round view for many miles around. This allows them to exploit potential feeding opportunities very quickly."

Mystery solved.

Once upon a time, Farmer Humph very nearly ran over a gull; but that's a story I'm saving for another day.