Ladybird, Sheep and Muddy Piglets

Posted by Rosie

The world's smallest ladybird, a scraggy sheep, muddy piglets and a new washing machine.  That's the story of our week-end here at Eco-Gites of Lenault.

FINALLY!!! Finally I have seen a ladybird this year!  Lots of friends have seen them and bloggers across both France and the UK  have reported sightings whilst I had seen none.  Until Saturday that was when, sat outside enjoying lunch in the sun, Tom and I saw a teeny tiny ladybird land on the table.  To be honest I was surprised we saw it as it was so small but we did, and it stayed around long enough for me to get this shot.  So, do you think I am right - is this the world's smallest ladybird?

 The world's smallest ladybird?

Maybe this ladybird had thought that, with the arrival of of some summer sun, it was warm enough to make an appearance.  I don't know but what the sun did however mean was that it was time to shear Betty Boo, our sheep.  Well shear may possibly not be quite the right word.  There are people around who shear sheep for a few euros each but only if you have enough to make it worth their while.  A lone sheep (with 2 lambs who don't need shearing) would cost us a fortune to get in some-one professional so it meant we had to do the job ourselves.  Sorry Betty Boo.  I am sure your wool will grow out fine come the Autumn and you could find yourself starting a new fashion - Shabby Sheep!!

Shabby Sheep - the new look for 2014

Just before shearing making a mess of Betty Boo's wool with a pair of kitchen scissors, we had been over to see Boris Johnson's babies.  Piglets that is!  Boris Johnson is our boar and a couple of months ago he had an amorous encounter with Porky, a  local sow. Friends were having 2 of the piglets and we went over at the weekend to collect them. When we arrived they were all dozing in the sun but after a quick tour of the other animals we found that every single piglet had decided it was too hot in the sun and all had dived into the mud.  Catching dry piglets is hard enough but catching muddy ones is even harder!

Nothing as happy as a pig in ....

We got there in the end and all I can say is that I am very pleased we took had taken possession of a new washing machine this weekend.  All very dirty, splattered with mud thanks to catching piglets in the mud or "shearing" sheep clothes will end up in the old one leaving gite bedding and non muddy clothes for the other.  Such is the joys of living on a smallholding! 

Why not pop over to Snowing Indoors and see what other people have been up to this weekend or at PODcast see what stories are behind the photos people have taken recently.  I hope it was all cleaner than here at Eco-Gites of Lenault!