Life is never dull here. Who needs the excitement of city life when you have the countryside and all it offers…
We took over the Gardien’s cottage in November 2013 and have been enjoying the dramas of its garden, and animals, ever since. Every day some new adventure comes our way, but with 8 animals initially, now up to 16, and that’s not including the wild critters who reside in and around, how could there ever be a dull moment?
The first thing you notice about nature here is the bird song. Who says the country side is quiet? Birds twitter, tweet, hoot, screech, and peep infinitum. Keep your doors open and the birds are quiet happy to come in. I had a lovely little bird join me the other day, coming in to check out the cottage and then decided to hang out on top of our kitchen cabinets and watch our life at work. A nice twist for the books.
We had a little red squirrel living in our attic for awhile. He was collecting nuts and just as we were going to bed he would start rolling the nuts he had collected down the eves into his hidden storage areas. Made a racket.
Unfortunately, one day we heard this big ‘wummpphh’ in our garden and saw a big bird taking off. That night we noticed that there was no more rolling of nuts down the eaves. A truly sad moment of nature’s realism.
The chickens often have a wander in as well, if we aren’t paying attention or leave the door open.They have curious souls and are always up for checking out new areas. There have been quite a few times I have been sitting and working only to hear an excited clucking from behind me if they find a crumb on the floor. (They are better than a hoover.) Chickens make this particular clucking sound when they find food. It’s a really happy sound. But what I find very funny is that the sound alerts the others to the possibility of food and there is a mad stampede. Have you ever seen a chicken run? It’s more of a lope, side to side, like a ship, but with short legs. You can’t help but smile.
And who can forget the waterfowl? Our ducks are the biggest gossips you have ever heard. Natter, natter, natter. Honestly, they remind me of the old fashioned image of women gossiping over the back garden fence. They have various different quacks and sounds they make, so they can really have a full conversation with you. They wander the garden and can be heard no matter where they are, whether happy, worried, or preparing to fly (which involves a very prolonged conversation amongst them all before they embark.)
Pumpjack & Piddlewick 
Sorry to hear about the squirrel. But I love how your chooks just wander around in the house. We only bring ours indoors when they are poorly, but they are such great little characters
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