Moving Home

I love summer, the long days seem to stretch on forever, and being able to do stuff outside without adding layers, and battling the rain is glorious. Somehow though the days still aren't long enough, and the list of things I want to do takes over. I got back from Woolfest a week ago and gave myself the week off, I've been doing things around the house (more of that later), and generally giving myself a break from so much screen time. In my average working 6 day week I spend at least 2 of them on my laptop and it's nice to be free from editing photos, wading through emails, posting on social media, and other stuff that's required to make everything about Hilltop Cloud "work".

However, that means there is some catching up to do. I've not posted on the blog in a while and lots has happened. 

First update is about the chickens. They've got new digs! This was my 30th birthday present to myself, the old small chicken house was starting to fall to bits and despite my best efforts I couldn't get on top of the red mite that had taken up permanent residence. 

It's an Eglu Go Up! from Omlet, made from plastic so it will be easy to clean, and should last a long time. 

After a bit of a strop about how they'd arranged the old house just how they liked it, and the new one didn't smell right, the gang have decided it will do nicely. It's currently home to Froome, Millar, and the grey ladies, together with Penny.  The Dark Side currently sleep in the large shed, Dusty, Big Bird and the Supremes are all black so when they rampage around the garden they're collectively known as the Dark Side, given Big Bird's bullying streak it seems a bit apt.

Miss Penny has decided the new house is just what she wanted, and she's been trying to brood some imaginary eggs for the past couple of weeks.

Wiggo and Penny are now sporting some very smart maroon coats. Wiggo in particular was in a bit of a state, when chickens mate the cockerel stands on the back of the hen, and Wiggo's frizzly feathers are very brittle and over time she's been left with no feathers on her back. It means she gets chilly in the colder weather, and is also exposed to full power of the sun. The fleece is nice and light and after a bit of a strop she now doesn't even notice it's there.

You might have noticed that there was no mention of Boyo in the housing arrangements. Boyo is now living in the great chicken house in the sky, with unlimited supplied of tasty worms and as many snacks and ladies as he would want.

The grey chickens are 4 years old now, and for little chickens that's quite a good age. Recently he'd become a gentle old man, who quite liked a cuddle, and a snooze in the sunshine. He fell asleep in the vegetable garden one sunny afternoon and didn't wake up.

I do have something to remember him by though, my fiend Katharine bought me this tea towel and mug , which is uncannily like Boyo in his prime surrounded by his flock of ladies. 

It's not just the chickens getting a new look house, behind the scenes I'm busy working on a new website for Hilltop Cloud, it's looking great so I'm hoping to get it up and running by the end of the week.