Our day begins with hay, with the feeding of the sheep and the donkeys. Soon, they’ll be able to graze, they won’t need hay until October or November. Farms have a ritualistic feel to them, the day is bounded by chores and responsibilities.

The animals eat first, no matter the weather. We check each one each day, look at their eyes, their coats, their hooves. Maria usually gets the hay, I fill the water tank, we both shovel out the manure from the Pole Barn together.

The shearer is coming next month (Liz Lewis) the farrier is due to check on Lulu and Fanny. These rituals are the foundation of life here, and I always love this photograph of Maria filling up the feeders. Somehow, the world is right.

This is the first news of the day for us.