You don't bring me flowers..........

Well actually, 'im indoors may not but some of our guests do and last Friday got off to a great start with the arrival of guests bearing flowers - not just any flowers but a balloon bunch. Fabulous. Rich and his family and friends were returning to Great Gutton for their first weekend  "Gathering" as part of City Life Church Exeter. It was all go as they and our other guests settled in with the promise of sunshine for at least part of the weekend. Now' I'm not saying the BBQ's all came out and folk were sunbathing but I did spot some bare feet in flip flops and there was the odd shiny red nose on Sunday morning. The group marked their gathering with the planting of a tree and so first off they dug up the old tree that 'im indoors had mistakenly slaughtered with some over enthusiastic strimming and replaced it with a Sorbus Commixta Embley to be precise, but to you and me, a Rowan Tree. I now feel the weight of responsibility in getting it to flourish and grow amidst attack from errant strimmers, run away sheep and general neglect. I accept the mission.......

Jumping For Joy........

Our two orphan pet lambs have finally been let out to play with the big kids - Lamby Whammy and Jeremy Nom Nom loving the warm sunshine and opportunity to join the other lambs in the Orchard field. Spent the afternoon running and skipping around the paddock and came crashing into us when we took their afternoon bottle out to them. Headed back into the warmth of the stables at night time for a much needed sleep.

The sun has got its hat on....

and what's more it has truly come out to play. After the cold and wet, we are seeing sunshine and what a difference those rays make. Grass has been cut to within an inch of its life, washing is on the line, guests are arriving, Great Gutton is glowing and I just heard a cork pop. It's that Friday feeling BIG TIME!

Toowit Toowoo.....

It was sad to hear on the radio today that the Barn Owl silently flying in the Orchard and Yurt field during day ight hours is actually desperately hunting for something to eat. The recent cold spell is likely to have killed much of its natural prey, usually abundant in Spring time and so times are hard and food is scarce for this beautiful and rarely spotted bird. The picture is not our owl but gives you an idea of what we are lucky enough to see most afternoons.

Hitting the Bottle..................

One single healthy lamb born today - Bella, who managed to walk with her Mum to the orchard, stopping only to pose beautifully in front of the house. Sadly one of the ewes who gave birth to twins on Saturday, suffered complications and despite the vet calling round, didn't make it. This means we are now bottle feeding two orphan ram lambs - time consuming but oh so very gorgeous. We have just given them their night feed and put them to bed in the stable. I'm now on watch to make sure Ed and Peggy don't try and sneak them into the house................

Great Gutton or Great Gluttons?

So as well as chocolate and new born lambs, this Easter we have also been  treated to some glorious sunshine that just makes the whole world a better place and lets Great Gutton glow in perfect Spring weather. No more lambs today but instead our time was spent with a fabulous Easter Egg hunt around the garden in which guests and friends were able to fill baskets with all things chocolatey. Whilst we then sat back and filled our faces, the new lambs were able to bask in the sunshine with their mums.
A lovely lovely day, but I need to lie down..............and perhaps just one more chocolate?

Just like a Number 7 Bus.....

You wait ages for one to come along and then 3 of them appear at once. First Great Gutton lambs of 2013 arrived today, two sets of twins and one single. Mothers and babies all doing well and have been moved to the orchard maternity unit where there is shelter, grass and since it's just behind the back door, we can keep an eye on them. Even spotted the beautiful white Barn Owl flying through the apple trees - we first saw it a couple of days ago and it seems to be hanging around, so who knows what will be arriving next!

 Here's a picture of our first arrivals - one ewe and one ram lamb. The boy is called Harvey (a promise we made to some guests last year whose son Harvey helped us with apple juice and cider making) and we have yet to decide (or agree!) on the ewe lambs name.............................