Warm down

Yesterday Angie had bumped in to Farmer Andreas and asked him if he had a round bale of 2016 hay which he indeed had and brought it over in the morning, despite it being a public holiday in Bavaria - Assumption of Mary. In fact it isn't a holiday in all of Bavaria, just in those parishes with a majority of Catholics, which is about 1700 of 2000 parishes. Can cause problems in buildings/businesses built on two different parishes. There are also protestant holidays that the Catholics don't get. Andreas told me that not that long ago (he could remember it) farmers not having their religions holiday, would spread slurry on these days.

Regardless of parish, it does mean a ban on lorries throughout Bavaria. All very complicated.

Today, is also the day to check your mullein flowers. If the spikes are full of flowers, then get down to your local DIY and buy a snow shovel. Look at the entire spike and divide it by about 7, starting at the bottom read off from the flowers the approx seven winter months. The more flowers the more snow. Last year this method was totally wrong and I suspect it will be the same this year. Our mullein have virtually no flowers and now after a failed winter, spring and summer, we must be in for a hard winter.

So will be collecting the goose down spread all over the field and start making a duvet.