A further update for fans of Darling the hen, who's becoming a big-chested beauty. She's getting all the best of the table scraps and provides endless entertainment just outside the kitchen door. Unlike our other bully-hens, she's also still laying, despite freezing temperatures and very short daylight hours.

 

The dogs are loving the underfloor central heating and spend entire days stretched out on the kitchen floor. 

 

The tree still has it's baubles as the cat's way too fat to consider knocking them off.

 

 

 

 

The entertainment season is well underway and this household is getting through industrial quantities of mince pies. The gammon arrived safely from the UK and is currently bubbling away in cider, along with leeks, carrots, peppercorns and celery before I roast it in a honey and cider glaze. I'm hoping it will be as delicious as yesterday's wonderful rib of beef.