The well-known quote from the Greek philosoper Heraclitus to the effect that no person steps into the same river twice for it is not the same river nor the same person, and that everything is in flux, is (as I understand it) not exactly what he said, nor that the usual interpretation attributed to it is what he intended. Rather, that things change but also remain the same. The river continuously flows but it remains a river. Life still has its constants despite the swirl of events.
Its been a bit like that here on the smallholding. The Summer has in part been characterised by disablement, surgeries and recovery, and their concomitant need for close attendance. But at the same time we have problem-solved our way through and managed to maintain the regular cycle of smallholding activities: sowing, growing, harvesting and preserving; farrowing, lambing, hatching and general livestock husbandry; fencing, pruning, weeding, building and repairing. These have been among our constants amidst the general flux, and for us a source of stability.
Where are we now? Our ewes have been with the ram and seem content enough. They are now on hay as there is not much by way of grass at this time of the year. Hay, of course, is relatively scarce and more expensive after the Summer drought. All of this year's lambs we sold in one lot. Our ram is currently out on hire to someome we regularly supply a ram to.
We also sold our June-born piglets from a litter of twelve, except for two which we are growing on for ourselves.
We are currently experiencing another visitation of the pestilential avian flu. As there was an outbreak not too far from us we are within a 'Surveillance Zone' which requires additional biosecurity measures for poultry keepers. The whole of the England and Wales is subject to a housing order now. Fortunately, because of past experience and some prior precautionary measures, it has been relatively easy to implement and manage this. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (part of DEFRA) have been in telephone contact and appear to be more closely monitoring poultry keepers (or at least those with fifty birds plus) this time around.
We have fruit and vegetables stored up but there is not much left in the plots, except some good-looking leeks. Alas, the brussel sprouts did not make it through the Summer.
