91. Surrogate motherhood...

I have had a very worrying morning. One of the chickens disappeared. I spent all morning trying to remember whether I had locked her up last night, or whether I let her out this morning. I thought I did but I was not 100%. To my knowledge the chickens had not ventured more than about five metres from their house. I must have looked inside, behind and underneath the house a dozen times.
One of our first eggs...
I then worried all morning - the joys of surrogacy!

But, after lunch I looked out of the window and she was back. I'll be asking her later where she has been, and in future could she at least leave a note or send me a text. Youngsters these days...

Otherwise, it is the normal funny farm here. Sheep suddenly appeared on the bottom paddock; I have been out carefully checking the walnut buds. Not sure whether they have been nibbled or not.

About 4cm of snow lies on the ground, and the temperature is about 1C during the day and -1C at night. It means that digging the footings for the foraging hedge is actually a much less muddy affair, and of course very warming.

I see I have a new follower! No 7, so I have not quite gone viral yet. Her name is Helen, and no, it's not my Mum. Possibly an old girlfriend? Anyway, you are very welcome.

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