Sodden

This hill paddock has been absolutely ruined by a combination of 42mm of rain over 48 hours, and a large flock of sheep. When the rain was at its heaviest it was apparently running in sheets down the hill, where it filled an ephemeral creek and flooded the lower area of grass. 

Farmer Ross shifted the sheep onto the paddock immediately above this one, which has kale feed in it for the flock. Unfortunately he used his side by side to round them up, and in so doing he dug deep tracks all over the place, further damaging the grass, as you can see in the main. It's just as well he's the boss. If any staff had done that, I suspect there would have been words exchanged.

There has been not one single cloud in the sky today. What a wonderful turnaround from the last few days. Indeed there are sunny days forecast for at least the next 10 days. About time too.

The washing dried in just a few hours. Bean and I have been catching up on sitting in naturally-created warmth. See the extra of a super-content dog sharing the sofa with me.

Our walk was wet underfoot (gumboots were essential) but oh, so delightful in the sun.

Of course clear sky means frosty nights, so while the world was warming up this morning I got down to a review of what crops I'll grow next season, both in relation to varieties and quantities. 

I have only five packets of seeds to buy - having done a big re-stock last winter. And I will grow fewer of 10 crops, so as not to overwhelm myself in summer and autumn with the excesses I experienced this year. And yes, chillies are off the agenda altogether next year!