This year was the Chinese Year of the Pig, so it was ‘meat’ and right for Applefield to continue rearing piglets!  We love having the little pigs, but then have to think about other things when they go away and     return in freezer bags a few days later.  Sorry any vegetarians!  We also said goodbye this year to 19 year old cats Ginger and Mittens, who both fell asleep comfortably by the Aga.  In the spring, our last year’s lambs became mummies!  One ewe took a whole afternoon and evening to produce twins.  Watched by the cats and dogs, we all helped her in the windy orchard and were so relieved to see the lambs were still tucked up in the straw the next morning.  Now all 6 sheep act as Applefield mowers, moving around the farm.  Meanwhile, the ponies having had too much grass, are on rations and have to be taken down the lane for walking exercise!  During the summer ‘the birds’ hatched 3 chicks, 3 ducklings and a gosling.  The foxes kept us on alert, until we put our life-sized stuffed sheepdog on guard which worked!