5th blog for the competition.

There are callers every day at Applefield. We have helpers that come for Alexandra and Lizzie, then there are all the usual deliveries that come to our gate – as well as the postman, we’re lucky to also have a milkman, newspaper man, helpful dustmen, oxygen deliveries for Alexandra and our prescriptions delivered when needed. The animals’ food gets delivered and there are often visits from friends in the village. None of this happens on Good Friday which makes the whole day feel different. After a morning service at church, and coffee with my sister’s family under their huge white blossom tree we have had time to relax in our own garden, our pace matching the animals who sit, stroll, nibble and doze each day while we go about our busy lives. It is amazing to hear how the birds sing when Applefield goes still, and entertaining to sit and watch the geese having their daily wash in the old bath. One of them has detached herself from the gaggle and is looking thoughtful about life. This evening the ducks were alarmed to find her sitting in their hut on their eggs. She had to be turfed out back to the goose house.

The 8 hoggetts borrowing our field need dagging; their dirty backsides have all dried in the sun, so when they ran about in the field today they all rattled like maracas much to Jennah’s laughter! She and Kory have been busy spring cleaning the Wendy house, while Sheryl (their mother and our girls’ helper) and Lizzie painted eggs for Easter. We have been outside until after dark, the temperature being a warm 16 degrees.