Mud, Glorious Mud

The weather changed a little today. The temperature dropped and the rain has started. After a brights start with sun and a light breeze for an hour, even the birds  tried to set a cheery theme, but the day was doomed to relentless drizzle.

To fit in with the watery weather I decided to start work on the drainage ditch and duck pond. No matter what anyone tells you this is not much fun. The mud creeps over your wellingtons, under your cuffs and under your hat. It also grips your ankles to stop you moving about and threatens to toss you forward into the pit. Each shovel full  that you manage to dig out dribbles back in a slow landslide back to its roots. A day's work looks around one percent of the job, so we may be ready by autumn.


The only bright spot in the work is that breaks can be taken by the ford. It is very relaxing to sit on the large slate bridge and listen to the stream flow by.


Because of the rain we let the chickens work indoors today. They enjoyed an afternoon in the greenhouse, hunting for bugs, in a dry, paraffin warmed, atmosphere.

Chickens happy to be working indoors.
(One chicken with a disgruntled expression has been cropped out)