Sue Woodcock: Rescue dogs Amber and Jet bring such joy

They are devoted to me, possibly because I have been gentle with them. They love to run, not too far, out on the field and have quickly learned not to investigate the turkeys or the goats.

I have called them Amber and Jet. They are beginning to get the house training bit and even reluctantly accept a lead and I got them into the car without much angst.

At the moment happiness is dog-shaped. Neither of them are very young but they are so grateful for a good quality of life, it makes this rescue job worthwhile.

I was feeding the sheep out in the yard and as usual they rushed at me but there seemed to be rather more than usual. I looked round to find that I had several White-faced Woodland sheep, including a handsome tup with massive horns, and two Hebridean sheep. I learned a long time ago that Hebridians regard high walls as a challenge not a boundary. Initially I thought they belonged to my lovely neighbours so I popped down to the village to check. All theirs were accounted for but they did know who they belonged to and gave me the number of the farmer nearby and I rang him.

He was very grateful. I explained that it wasn't a problem but I didn't want him thinking I had pinched them. He arrived later that evening to fetch them. We managed to collect them up (sort of), and used my rather dilapidated handling system to confine them while he went to fetch his trailer. So far, so good. His son and I kept watch while the two Hebrideans leapt with great agility out of the pens and stood mocking us on top of a quite high wall.

The farmer arrived with the trailer and we loaded the Whiteface Woodlands with comparative ease but the Hebrideans will be my guests for a while until we can catch them. We all have stock stray from time to time, as I well know, and it is easier to work together about it.

I went to pay a bill and pick up some feed from the merchants at Gargrave. I drove from Hetton to Eshton and I passed the parkland. I was struck by the beauty of the mature trees there. All around are the most delicate shades of green and red. What did make me most appreciative was the magnificent copper beech tree standing proud amid the greens. Its leaves were a lovely pinky, russet shade. As I drove on, the almost yellow of the conifers' early growth contrasted with the darker green of last year's foliage.

The grass is growing properly now, albeit a little slowly. The sheep are grazing happily and the lambs are growing fast. Little Edwin has almost doubled in size but is still very cute. He is venturing further afield now but comes running when I call and sometimes when his mother Edna calls. He is quick enough to find her when he is thirsty and wants a drink at the milk bar!

The new geese are now coming to be fed when I put the corn and feed out. They are still wary of me but no longer rush away honking in panic.

Despite the number of rabbits that died during the winter, there does not seem to be any shortage of them now. When I go out at night I can see them all over the fields. I shall have to ask my friends to come and cull some.

The wind added quite a chill and I had to resort to a fire in the front room. I have had a bit of a cold and that maybe is why I have felt so cold myself. I think there is a bug going round because several of my friends have been under the weather. It has given me some time to spin and knit and bond with the dogs.

Hopefully we are over the post-election fever and the volcanic cloud will die down. We might get back to normal, whatever that is. I tend to live from day to day and each one is full of chores and a thousand things to do. Such is life!