Monday 4 December 2017

A month in sunny Suffolk - Oct 2017

The Leaping Hare

We returned to Suffolk to one of our regular sits at Coney Weston.   We love everything about this sit .... the owners,  the house, the area and especially the furries. It was autumn and the trees were looking especially splendiferous.

Our buddy Sammy at Knettishall Heath


Maximillian

Clementine , unusually a female ginger 
Apart from our walks on Knettishall,  we also like to walk Sammy on the estate on which the house is situated. There is always lots of wildlife to spot.

Muntjac 

Red deer
Dartmoor wild ponies at the heath, surprisingly friendly

Being autumn there were lots of wild mushrooms around, especially parasols, so we were able to make and enjoy some wonderful soups.

Parasols picked from the garden 

James and Sammy found our first Beefsteak
... long past picking unfortunately

Shaggy inkcap

Next we were off to hang out with two gorgeous boys, labs Barney and Milo, at a sit not too far away.  It was just a short sit but we enjoyed the boy's company so much that we really wished we could have stayed longer.

Milo
Barney






We ingratiated ourselves quite quickly, enjoying lots of cuddles and playtime.  With the number of houses we get to live in we do often come across some great features  in either design or product.  This house had the most comfortable bed we have ever slept in along with a really well designed modern kitchen

We even had time, in between sits, to celebrate James''s Mum's birthday at another local estate, The Leaping Hare at Wyken Vineyards which produces a lot of it's own ingredients.  The food, wine and service were outstanding.


Next we moved on to another rural sit in Hepworth hanging out with two cute Cockerpoo's,  Mia and Tula, and a really hardcase British Blue, Olive.

Tula left; Mia right

The lovely Olive

Someone's artist impression of Olive on the kitchen wall
Rug or dog!?!?!
Walking these two bundles of energy was tons of fun.


A huge field mushroom we found
Tres amigos

Cockerpoo cuddles


We were delighted to have a couple of rows of raspberries on the property which made a scrumptious crumble.


Then there was always our favourite fall backs .... wine and mushies!


The last of this rash of sits was just around the corner in
Market Weston. Here we were to be looked after by Zeta, the flat coated black retriever and Maisey,  the short haired border collie. Two more different characters you could not pick but they had a lovely way of complementing each other.  Maisy was intense and extremely active, as only a border can be.  Zeta just wanted to be loved and cuddled ... oh, and to ruin Maisy''s ball games! We walked the girls round Knettishall Heath twice a day which was fun for all of us. 




Cuddle rug 


Choccy and Nelson

Nelson really does only have one eye 

 All of a sudden it was time to get ready to head to New Zealand for the summer ....

Saturday 7 October 2017

At home .... down on the farm - Aug/Sep 2017

Ulswater
When we are 'loitering with intent' up norf, between housesits, we have the pleasure of hanging out with Stephen and Louise (James's sister) at their small holding in Drybeck, Cumbria.  And what a joy it always is.

They usually take the opportunity to have some time away if we are around for long enough to take care of the farm and animals. We love helping out around the farm.  This time we went to buy some sheep that Louise had found on FB as well as trotting out to the livestock market at Carlise.



Poppy ... sheep dog extraordinaire

Getting the sheep in for feet checking and injections

Carrie, the gorgeous house cow (also see epilogue)

We even found time to take the kayak out for a jaunt at Ulswater.


And of course, we always find time for delicious food .....

James discovers the delights of homemade pasta


Home grown beef

Sea bass caught by James, home grown and homemade
chips and mushy peas
....... a rest here and there

All the girls in once pic


 Our little ewok

Nelly and her best mate

Happy families
...... a wash



.... a bit of play

Barn cats ...Wooster and Jeeves

Helping wind the wool!

The perfect Poppy Pod

.... and bed ....


Jee Jee
EPILOGUE ...

Shortly after we left, Carrie gave birth to Agnes.  Awww, isn't she beautiful?!?!