Proddy / Hooky Handiwork

I am really enjoying my new hobby of recycling material into pictures etc using  treaditional rug making techniques; proddy and hooky.  The big piece at the back was made into a draught excluder for my son James for his front door. 

Happy Christmas from Pry House

The tree is lit, the hall is decked with holly (the real thing, berries and all!), presents wrapped, cards delivered, mince pies made and cake iced.  Wow, how I love Christmas!

For me,  its not Christmas until  Muker Silver Band arrive on Christmas Eve to play carols outside the house.

 

We wish you a Happy Christmas and a peaceful, healthy and harmonious New Year

Beautiful but Bitterly Cold

This morning we woke up to a winter wonderland.  Yesterday afternoon the wind got up and brought with it snow.  By half past seven we were without electricity and after a couple of hours of candlelight the novelty wore off and it was off to bed with hot water bottles!  This house gets pretty cold with no central heating.

The best way to appreciate the view is from behind this glass!

The roads, even down the dale, have been treacherous however it doesn't stop motorists trying to drive to Kirkby Stephen via the moors.  Chris has had two cars to pull out with the tractor already!

Tupping on Pry House Home Field

First of all Chris gathers the sheep and tup together and gives the tup his feed ration.  The tup, after all, needs to keep his strength up!

Then Chris applies more tup rud to the tup's underbelly to be sure it leaves a clear mark on the female's back.  We use yellow rud for the first two weeks of tupping.  Every two weeks the colour of the rud is changed to coincide with the sheep's fortnightly cycle.    This colour system tells Chris which tup the sheep is in lamb to and which week during lambing time it will be born.    

When the colour has been applied the tup is let loose to seek out females in season.

This is Tess, Carrie's mother

Here Tess is holding the sheep together, while Chris is busy with the tup

Foddering. 
During tupping time when the sheep are in the pastures they get hay every day.

A yellow bottom.  Job well done!

More Cutie Photographs of Carrie

Becoming inquisitive

 

Loves to play

 

All gone!

Wanting to be a working sheepdog already!

Carrie comes face to face with some sheep for the first time!

Meet the new flock!  Aren't they fab?  A heft of eight, all joined together, to make the most fantastic draught excluder.  A birthday present (late, I know, but worth waiting for) from my sister. The perfect gift for Pry House!