Snow and Samhain

Today is Samhain Eve - the day before the Celtic New Year. Of course it's also Halloween, so today we've been celebrating the Celtic and Christian festivals in our own way. Karl and Ella carved a pumpkin together last night - it's an owl's face.

This evening, Ella and Nan got dressed up and went reverse trick or treating. We gave treats out to our neighbours - chocolate brownies and toffee apples. All the people we visited very generously and considerately respected Ella's food limitations and she came home with a bag full of fruit, marshmallows and dairy free chococolate. Harry, Connie and Ed came over to show us their halloween outfits too.

We have been feeling the change in the weather this week - snow on Tuesday and bitter winds yesterday and today. Ella was delighted with the snow and went around the garden collecting it in a bucket to put in the freezer.

Uncle Steve, Auntie Caroline and Melissa came to visit on Wednesday, along with Caroline's sister and her little boy, Christopher. They all enjoyed meeting the chickens, collecting apples and zooming about on Ella's trunki.

Nanna is recovering from her knee operation and Ella is looking forward to her visiting so we can put her to bed and read stories to her.

This week I've been making christmas presents and cards. Ella has been desperate to help, but the thought of her with a tube of glitter has prevented me from involving her so far !

Tom is still struggling with an upset tummy and a cold, but he's still in good form. He's developed a new dance to "dingle dangle scarecrow" in which he looks like a startled chicken about to take off. I think he may achieve independent flight one of these days.

The hens are settling in well.. Their favourite food appears to be toast and marmite.

Each morning we play "chicken bingo" which basically involves guessing which chicken will be first down the ladder when the door is opened. They took a few days to master the ladder, but Clarabel still waits until last then launches herself down on top of the other chickens with lots of flapping and fussing. She has earned herself the name Clarabel Clatterbucket as a result.
They are placid, gentle little creatures and we are enjoying watching their funny little characters developing. We look forward to posting the first egg picture soon too.