The one that (didn't) got away

Awaking to yet more heavy snow this morning and no prospect of driving to planned appointments, we declared an Unbank Holiday and holed up at home.
Chickens hate snow. So they all stayed indoors. Ducks love snow so they spent all day turning it to slush and then washing themselves in the pond. Our Curly Coats don't care either way - just a day like any other. Horses are not good in snow: it balls up in their hooves and can end up giving them the effect of walking on stilletoes ... potential leg strain if they topple off.... so they usually stay in their cosy stables - unless it's sunny enough to go out and have a quick roll in the white stuff. Which it was definitely not today.

Cats? Stupid to question: they hate snow, except to watch it tumble down from the security of a warm bed or fireside......

But Spaniels? They love snow......

Nothing for it then but to take them out for a bit of a jaunt.

Lancer wasted no time in wriggling furiously and frequently on his back - snow's possibly the best of all possible ways of refreshing an itchy coat!

We caught a glimpse of Pilot in the distance from time to time and more than a few hares and rabbits who seemed as surprised to find us out and about as we were to see them.

And then on our way up to the village to collect the daily Newspaper Gunner expressed undue interest in a large strawbale parked against a hedge beside the bridleway. Knowing his nose, and recognising the set of his back, I knew there was "something interesting" there. I called him off and then asked him to 'fetch' it for me.

Next thing I know he brings me a still warm, though very much dead, rabbit. From the bite on the back of its neck I surmise that he must have surprised a stoat or polecat in the act.

Well, I'd been wondering what to cook for dinner tomorrow evening.

Problem solved.

"Thanks Gunner!"

Not that I've ever 'pouched' a rabbit! But then I've never had a freshly dead one in my hands before. And it would be disrespectful not to use it in the best possible way.

So, home with newspaper in one hand and rabbit in the other..... consult very old and indispensible cook book..... enlist help of The Boss to read the method whilst I carry out the deed and....

....Hey Presto, next thing you know we have a delicious stew for Friday evening....... Well, actually, that photo's a bit misleading.... that's how it looked when it came out of the top Aga oven.... now it needs to cook slowly for several hours in the cooler oven, wild rabbit needing a lot longer than farmed rabbit before it's tender and tasty.

Ah well.. we live and learn. And the things we learn through our animals are frequently the most intriguing.....

There really is no such thing as a dull day in the country!