Time For Change!

So with the autumnal equinox having occurred on the 22nd September, it's that time of year when the countryside begins to change as we prepare for Harvest! The golden leaves are simply a sign of things to come... Change is a recurrent theme in my day to day life at the moment and something I've not always been comfortable with, but as the seasons change I think it's time we embrace our changes (good or bad) too! 

  

Just under a month ago, my family lost one of it's kindest, most caring and compassionate members when we had to have Coco put to sleep. Having had Coco from birth and when I was only six, we'd grown up together having a stronger bond than most humans! For my mum and myself she was our heart dog, the animal we truly connected with. She had been through everything with us, an abusive home life to endless fields for her to bound through; she even starred in a published story (written by yours truly!). It was a wrench loosing her, but from the day we left our previous situation, she had it all! Coco spent her days pottering between my Grandparent's house and our annex, making sure she had ample food at both residences and a chance each day to run through the fields smiling from ear to ear! I blame Coco for my love of animals and passion for caring for them as she's definitely one of the contributing factors to my interest in veterinary work... 

Loosing her is a change, a big one, but one that must be embraced. As we embark on a big locational move and change ourselves, I feel I must learn slightly from Coco, the old, wise lady she was and take everyday as it comes and look for the beauty in it. Right now? It's the sun, sitting over the fields and showing every single shade of green there is. I think farming and working on the land highlights change, making you realise that in fact it's a very natural happening; it's not scary, it's exciting and productive. Thank you Coco, we love you always.

I know it's often easier for other people to tell you to look for the positive in each day, even if it's only you got through it! Something as simple as finishing work, making a bloody good brew, having the realisation that at the end of the day it doesn't really matter what people think as long as you are the best you can be or coming across someones status on Facebook that really made you chuckle (probably for all the wrong reasons!), are little things to help you through big changes. 

As the countryside around us changes, grasp it with both hands!

Keep an eye out for the next blog post, all about bringing the autumnal outside in!

Bye for now,

     

May We Remember Them Always

I know, I know... I promised to blog more and have so far failed *smacks back of wrist*. A hectic few weeks seems to have turned into a hectic few months following what seems to be a hectic few years! 

Now a fitting blog topic... I was having a stroll through the fields thinking about what to write about next and really there was only one option. It's not cheerful, but it's important and I just couldn't bypass the subject. I've pushed other things back to focus on the events 100 years ago. 

Fear, rippled through the ranks.
Through men's limbs. Into our flanks.
But, steady, courageous, facing battle again.
An awesome silence enveloped them then.

We stamped our hooves. We felt it too.
We spoke as only horses do.
With chinking harness, snort and wicker,
With frightened eyes, and ears a-flicker.

Then "Forward! Forward!" Into battle,
To canon boom and machine gun rattle.
With thundering hooves and shouts and screams
Through blinding smoke to nightmare scenes.

And still we galloped on and on
And still the battle wasn't won.
Through shrapnel, shell holes, rifle fire,
In mindless panic to barbed wire.

Now riderless, I mustered strength
And stretched my jump to its full length
To clear the wire of no-man's lands
And reach the woods in enemy hands.

Stricken with terror, I blundered on
Till the noise of the shelling was long gone.
Past ruined homes and fields of mud.
Past trenches with the stench of blood.

Now alone, I reach a river
And halt beside it, all a-shiver.
I drink its coolness, shake my mane.
Will anything ever be the same?

Where are the bundles of fresh sweet hay?
Where is the straw where I once lay?
Where is the farm where I lived and grew?
Where are the people I loved and knew?

© to Brenda Williams

This poem struck a cord with me as I'm sure it did with any other equestrian or come to mention it, human being. Two days ago, we plunged our farm into darkness with only two candles burning. That night we remembered them, one candle inside for those who gave their lives and one in front of Milo's stable, for the horses and animals that were so pivotal to the war effort. 

Learning how to mount before battle

WW1 saw aviation, tanks and poison gas used in combat for the first time, but our true and most vital weapon was the humble horse. More than a million horses were taken with thousands more being shipped every week, it's scary isn't it? If so many horses were needed to replace those that had perished, think about the men needed to replace those that had fallen, over 15% of the equine army perished every year. The men were brave, but the horses even more so, they had one man to trust, one man telling them to fight their natural instincts and run and one man to comfort them when they fell. 

I'm proud of my family and their part in the war. My Great Great Uncle was the vet to 'the' War Horse whilst my Great Grandfather fought. Every one should be proud. Our pride means we can never forget what people and animals did for us and in order for our lives to continue as they do today. It's easy to say Lest We Forget, but take a moment to think what your lives would be like if you lived 100 years ago. My Milo would be an enlisted equine, my partner would be fighting and I'd be working on the land helping feed the nation. 

We remember those who toiled in the Battlefields 100 years ago to Save a nation.

So do we remember those who toiled in the Fields 100 years ago to Feed a nation.

Once you've thought what you'd or your relatives have been doing 100 years ago, think what you're doing now. Let it allow you to be grateful, to be proud and to remember, remember them always. 

A True English Country Garden

So the last week saw us scouting out areas for our up coming house move and boy did we find some beautiful places... we'll ignore the not so pretty ones!

Staying at my Auntie's allowed us three days surrounded by the stunning Somerset countryside in the village of Pitney. With it's winding roads, apple orchards and village culture, it just had to feature in this blog. Every garden seemed to epitomise an English Country Garden right down to the climbing roses encasing the fronts of houses. With my farming roots, it was heaven, tractors sitting in the fields, horses hacking (safely!) on the road... did I mention 'The Half Way House'. An Inn screaming with country character! Award winning Ale says it all! So after a few days of waking up to singing birds and horse hooves on the road it was time to embark on our mission... MI6 styley! 

True Country Garden in Pitney, Somerset

On our journey we came across Clovelly, a cobbled village that's too steep for cars so every house has a sledge for groceries... cute! In times past, donkeys were used to take things down (literally!) the village, but now the clovelly donkeys only come out when it's not raining! The gallery is definitely worth a visit, affordable pieces that are so unique and pretty, it allows you to take the seaside home with you! And the sea food shop! Yum... so much yum! 

Personally, I think we completed our job pretty well! We have found the area that we will eventually relocate to! It's stunning, fields around, and around a quarter of an hour from golden sand and surf beaches! Beautiful.

Cobbled Streets of Clovelly

No one would think, it's taken me over three hours to write this... whoops, maybe ladies... we can't multi task after all. I definitely can't learn song words for a cabaret with Melodia on Wednesday, (this sentence alone took a while... I got side tracked watching Jonathan Pryce's American Dream), sort out a farrier visit, and make dinner! 

Common Sight in the Fields of Somerset

Anyway, I better go and do one job at a time... I've disappointed myself with my inability to not get distracted...

Speak soon my country lovers!

With 

Summer's On It's Way

Well with Uni work put to one side, it's time to use this sunshine as inspiration for another blog post! 

Beautiful weather over the last bank holiday weekend could really only mean one thing, an impromptu trip to the sea side. It was a lovely day. I don't know what it was, the weather maybe,  but people seemed to be enjoying the simply things; long walks along the beach, puppet shows and each other's company. Some people were even in the sea... At Easter... Is it wrong to say I was tempted myself? But after careful consideration I only dipped my toes in (and ran out screaming due to the onset of frostbite).

After our sea side escapade, Monday was spent soaking up the sun with a cider in Buxton, a beautiful peak district town with local culture oozing from every corner. Brass bands playing, food and craft fairs... Safe to say I purchased and ate a traditional Buxton pudding within two days! They're just so yummy! We came home to find that we've had our first few lambs, just in time for Easter, who were up and playing within hours. Milo wasn't quite sure what to make of the mini sheep...    

Lamb's First Peak Of The World

It's definitely safe to say that summer is on it's way, finally! Milo's enjoying saying good bye to his New Zealand and hello to green shoots and sunbathing, one of the many past times we enjoy together! However us equestrian's know what summer really means... flies, swarms of the buggers. I managed to get through a whole bottle of fly spray within three weeks and at £13 a bottle, it soon adds up. So here is...

A Kiss From The Country's Homemade Fly Spray

You will need:

1/2 Garlic Clove

300ml Tea

100ml Cold Water

1 tsp Tea Tree Oil

A Few Drops of Lavender

1 tsp Citronella Oil

Millie Bee's Tea Tree Oil

Firstly, in a plastic jug, brew the tea allowing it to stew for a minute or two, then remove the tea bag and add the cold water. Finely chop and crush the garlic adding it to the tea (this bit doesn't smell to great but stick with me). Then add in all your oils, giving the mixture a good stir.

Home-made Fly Spray

Now, a good tip so you don't waste anything, place the hot mixture in your horse's stable while he's turned out, as the scented steam that is given off helps rid the flies from your horse's bedroom as well. Once the mixture has cooled completely, remove it from your horse's stable, mix once more and then place in a spray bottle. Once you've added the citronella your horsey will smell beautiful so stick through the garlic stage, trust me this is an effective and cheap method of keeping those flies away. 

I also tend to feed my horse a tiny bit of garlic through the hot weather as well, this also helps rid those flies as the horse sweats. Since Milo eats anything, I don't have a problem feeding this to him, but you can always hid the garlic in feed or hay should it prove more challenging. 

We Do Love Sunbathing Together!

Well, I hope everyone had a lovely Easter and enjoyed hearing about my countryfied time. Equally I hope the above recipe will prove useful for those horsey folk out there.

Bye for now, blog soon, with 

You're Not A Horse Man or Woman Until...

Right, I've got an hour before I'm off to school my boy in this beautiful (note the sarcasm) british weather. So firstly I much apologise for my lack of posts, it's all been a little hectic recently, lots of work and very little play! But anyway, we're back so let's get to it. 

Since I'm having a horsey day in terms of working Milo, I thought I'd use this as a theme for today's blog. Many people consider themselves horse riders but I think it takes a lot more to become a horseman or woman than first thought, it goes without saying you've got to have fallen off numerous times and gained many weird and wacky injuries. So this is A Kiss From The Country's Alternative Horse Person Checklist. 

1. You're not horsey until you've spent a prolonged time (my record's 45 minutes) trying to catch you beasty... tit bits and everything. 
2. You're not horsey until you seem to secrete the smell of the stables even after three showers and a can of body spray... 
3. You're not horsey until you've shared most of your lunch with your horse because his pleading eyes seemed to long of a bit of your sandwich and you'd consider yourself cruel if you ignored him... 
4. Number four, you consider borrowing some of your horse's clothes because he has more than you, a sad but true fact. 
5. You're not horsey until you spend over an hour grooming and pampering your horse for him to immediately find the muddiest spot, roll, stand and give you that look of 'that's better'.
6. You're not horsey until you've considered that the world would be a better place if horses took over... I swear my boy's planning it, he's in cahoots with the horses in the opposite field. 
7. You're not horsey until you consider 'smart clothes' to be beige jodhpurs.
8. You're not horsey until you've looked into your horses eye's and seen the heart and soul of him, understood him, and allowed him to do the same. A bond between rider and horse is incredible, something me and Milo are working on four months into our relationship. 
9. Number nine, you're not horsey until you go to the yard clean and come home unexplainably covered in God knows what... and I mean covered, in your hair, down your socks, ladies, even down your bra... covered. 
10. Finally, you're not horsey until the thought of being without your companion brings you to tears, you treasure him and let him understand parts of you that no one else ever will. 

In four months, Milo's been through a lot with me, had me cry on his shoulder, laugh at him eating my hat and being told off more times than I can count, the worst weather we could have hoped for and ground like the WW1 trenches. But we'll get there, building up our relationship slow and steady at a pace suitable for him. 

He Does Love His Kisses!

Even now, I truly adore him, the bond between rider and horse is something that unless you have had it, or are lucky enough to have it now no one really understands. But I think this bond is what makes a horse person, the ability to let something so big and powerful be responsible for us, not only that, but being able to return the favour caring for that animal until the end. 

Right, coat on, boot's on, out to the field's we go... someone have the kettle on for me after? 

Keep checking out the blog as I promise it will be regularly updated, 

blog soon with 

A Days Dog Sitting

Phew... What a busy couple of weeks. It's safe to say that making time for blogging over the past few weeks has been hard but here we are... Finally! With the mud up to Milo's eyeballs and many of the sheep suffering with foot rot I've been playing vet, please can we have some sun now?

Anyway, readers will know that with three of our own, my family and I are quite doggy people. So when I was asked to look after two more (my Auntie's) I didn't hesitate. 

Meet Smurf, a nine year old miniature schnauzer... what a character! I've always loved Smurf but spending two days looking after her I'm smitten! In her mind she is clearly at least a Doberman if not a Great Dane, she'll stand up on her back legs and strut past anyone she passes, taking on dogs twice her size. What tickled me, when she shakes her whole back end comes of the floor, she shakes with such gusto it takes her a second to regain her balance. CUTE! 

Due to her... short nature (don't tell her I said that)... we developed a 'scoop and go' technique in order to save her from the worst of the mud. I'd scoop her up as we reached a mud patch and casually place her down after it, she'd hardly break stride sitting in my arms surveying her surroundings. Got a small dog? I recommend the 'scoop and go' technique! I don't think I'd be in best favour if I hid her in my wardrobe and refused to give her back, do you?

One Scoop of Smurf or Two?

Continuing the cuteness... Meet Indie, a rescue dog who completely loves her new life with my Auntie. She has the most beautiful temperament you could wish for. On their long daily walk, we ran them between us, Indie makes it look effortless, darting between my mum and I stopping in between us to chase her tail in excitement, while Smurf tries to catch up, her little legs going ten to the dozen! 

They are two lovely animals and I'm lucky enough to be dog sitting them again next week! YAY! 

Time to get my gravy bone treats at the ready. 

And find some more blogging inspiration! Don't forget to follow us on Pinterest and like our Facebook Page! 

Bye for now, with 

A Phoenix from the Flames

My Grandfather is the typical country man, going gooey eyed over a tractor, but to say he likes vintage is an understatement. His tractors must be older than him... he's 76! 

Four years ago we had one of the worst things happen that could to a farm, our barn went up in smoke luckily it was stopped before it spread to stables and the house. What was the cause? The oldest of his bloody tractors, sparking from the engine. 

Now my poor Grandmother hadn't seen my Grandfather for a few hours when she saw the smoke from the barn, if you know Bompa, you'll know he often goes for a wander and as you can imagine she panicked and went out to search for him. 

With fire engines on the way, J.K was getting increasing worried. What she saw next didn't help the situation, my Grandfather... riding out on his oldest tractor... which was itself on fire. 

Apparently he just didn't have the heart to let it burn! I swear living with him gives me heart palpitations... It was quite a picture I must say. Like a phoenix from the flames! 

Until this day he still insists on using it, 'it's fine' he yells as he's half way down the field with the door hanging off. I quite often look out of the window for a break from blog writing to see it on it's side in a ditch with him dangling out of the doorless contraption because he simply 'tried to pull that broken bloody tree down and all I did was slide in with it!' Only for his friend to come and pull Phoenix out of the ditch with a nice shiny new tractor... 'wouldn't you like one of those Bompa?' Oh well, at least the birds who have made their home in the corner of the tractor roof still have a house... 

Anyway... Must go and get Milo in, or Moose as he's often called. 

Bye for now, with