The Rangers Page for January
The birds are gone, the ground is white. The winds are wild, they chill and bite
The ground is thick with slush and sleet, and I barely feel my frozen feet”
Estate Update.
The main topic has been the weather. What a winter so far. Thankfully all the animals seem to be coping well. Our cows and sheep have invented a new game it’s called ‘chase the big guy with the bucket of food each morning’. I let them win of course.
Apart from breaking the ice each morning on the water troughs we have managed to improve our animal facilities we now have a new hay and straw barn, a warm and dry stable for the goats and three new paddocks with day shelters.
Boris and Doris Our Large black pigs seem quite happy to stay in their arcs dreaming of sunny days and their wallows. The piglets, however, I am sure have been having snow ball fights!
What is out and about?
The pheasant and partridge population is growing by the week down on the wet meadows. This in part is due to some of the neighbouring houses feeding them and partly due to some of the lucky ones escaping the shoots from the farm land over the road. Either way it is nice to see them and they are all welcome.
Apart from the usual birds on the estate we have seen the return of a pair egrets and a heron on the river alongside the ever stunning kingfishers. What could be better, standing on the river bank surrounded by snow and the only noise is a woodpecker at work, echoing through the trees. What a job.
Each month I intend to share a seasonal recipe, a food, a drink or a remedy.
This was told to me by a visitor to the museum a few years ago. It’s tried and tested and he swore by it.
| Homemade Cough Medicine
Thinly slice 1 large onion. Take a jam Jar and cover the base with the onion. Then cover with a good layer of brown sugar. Repeat this process until the onion is used up finishing with a layer of sugar. Fit the lid and stand for three to four days Strain the liquid into another container. Honey was sometimes added at this stage to taste. The syrup is now ready and taken like any other mixture. |
It might not sound great but it seemed to work, I have tasted worse and at least this one is definitely none drowsy!.
