Craighead Howf

How did it get to May!
We re-opened on March 29th and have already had lots of fabulous visitors from as far away as Dubai and as near as Falkirk – they have all loved it so far.  We have welcomed all ages from 16 to 70 plus.  We have had lots of surprise birthday treats and such lovely comments – one we really loved was a 65th birthday treat – a visit to Bagend, a delightful message left in the visitor book declared it her best ever birthday!

The Summer Howf got a make over and we are delighted with the results – a different colour outside, lovely tiles on the floor inside, painted throughout, new curtains, bits and pieces.  A blanket of forget me not is out in front of it and it looks great. 
The Wee Howf has been painted outside too and we love the new colour, sitting on its stilts by the pond, with so much wildlife to watch, it remains one of our favourite spots in the garden.  We have started keeping a note of when birds are seen and have a running list in the Wee Shop that we hope visitors will add too.  The swallows arrived back and got busy straight away building nests – it surprises us every year that they manage to fly all that way for winter and then find their way back to Craighead – amazing!

Our animals have been very busy – spring is definitely well under way!  So far our new arrivals include – quail chicks, Brahma hen chicks, two pygmy goat kids – Hannah had a boy and a girl two weeks ago, ‘Bit’ the little black and tiny bit of white cat has three kittens – still only 3 weeks old – one was born very tiny indeed and is only half the size of his brother and sister – know lovingly as tiny toots he is hanging on in there at the moment.  We have three Ryeland lambs all girls and doing really well. Very excitingly Hope the pygmy goat is due to give birth on Thursday – we are anticipating twins and think looking at her today they may arrive any time soon.
Our Quails have started to lay and their gorgeous speckled eggs are in the shop. Along with some Rhea eggs and our delicious hen eggs.

Our pygmy goats – Harris and Percy Jackson have decided it is great fun to escape and head for the hay shed – self service reached new limits!

Just as soon as the next kid goats are born we will post a photo.  The little white kid in the pictures with the black boots, we think is gorgeous – he decided to be born backwards and give us a run for our money encouraging him to breath – but within minutes he was proving he has plenty of attitude!!  No names as yet.