Curing Sheep Skins

Tiny rug made from one of our lambs. From one of last year’s that I have finally got round to finishing as this year’s have just gone to the abattoir. The rose I used for scale is quite small too...

We now have enough to use usefully in the La Mongie flat on stools and chairs. Still several waiting to be done though! It takes quite a while although with practice the process is getting slicker. Sheep skins are so easy compared with the cow skins, smaller and thinner and more flexible makes all the processes much easier.

Owl in the chimney!

We heard some strange noises for hours and hours. It took us ages to realise they were coming from the chimney of the wood burner out the back of the house. An unfortunate owl had fallen down!
We rescued him and called him (or her!) Sooty.
To be honest we didn't think he would survive the night after the shoc, but we left him in one of the stables with some water and meat just in case. And HURRAH, in the morning he was gone - having apparently bathed in the water as it was black, eaten the meat and flown off.
Now every time we here an owl was say it is Sooty thanking us...

 Not looking very happy or clean in the chimney

Doug fishing him out

His head really can rotate right round!

Looking confused in the barn

Lunch with friends

Pot luck - our shepherds pie is on the right there. Made with home grown mutton (from Raasey who got too butty and had to be sent to the abattoir after breaking my thumb!)

Beautiful place

Swimming in the pool in October!

Sunrise

As seen from bed...

Cow Migration

Memories

This was Lorna’s special curry making casserole.  It has been in a box for many years. We are making a big effort to rationalise what is in boxes, so that we have less stuff in the way of the next ‘doing the house’ push. It makes me both happy and sad to use it for the same thing.

Beef Massaman.

Oatmeal Stout

Creamy!