Lazing on a sunny afternoon - I wish!

It was freezing today, and I was going stir crazy indoors so spent a few hours hard labour in the garden.  I decided to clean out the chicken run - I like to do it once a month to keep it clean and fresh

Freckles and Willow ventured into what used to be the chicken run, but is now the fruit cage.

All the others were already in there up this end and behind me, keeping out of my way whilst I was busy sweeping out their home

I left them tucking into strawberry leaves whilst I finished their run.

I leave them to scratch about their bedding, and it doesn't take them long to cover all the slabs

These are tucking in quickly before the 'mob' arrive.

I found an egg under the big flower pot, so I have moved that pot up the top end so whoever laid it can get some peace and privacy if they fancy laying another for me.

At last the turf arrived and was laid on Friday whilst we were out.

It came from a different supplier to doesn't match - but it'll all blend in next year

I spent a backbreaking hour scarifying (some of) the lawn and sweeping up leaves, but had to give up after a while

It'll be covered in leaves again in a day or so.

The wire mesh is to enable me to walk on the grass without doing it any damage, and the black line is where I have filled the gaps with compost.

It looks a lot better than the bare earth.

Autumnal Tidy Up - with my feathered friends

I made the most of a damp day by mowing the lawns

In the back garden

Delighting the bantams - as they had lots of insects to eat

I spent a lot if time taking down the climbing bean poles

We were let down  by the turf company yet again - so still no lawn laid here!

It looks so much better now that I have 'mowed  up' the leaves too - but only for a day or so!

Patio table and umbrella wrapped up for the winter

Raised veggie beds have had the climbing beans and courgette plants removed

And of course my feathery 'groupies' were always under my feet

But they are so entertaining, I don't mind a bit

I doubt there is a worm left in these beds!

They went over every inch - and afterwards had dust baths

Here's Dolly who 'bagged' the area on the raised bed where the climbing beans had been.

She rolled around ecstatically for an hour!

It's hard to see in the photo - but she spent about 10 minutes admiring her reflection in the potting shed window - she is so funny