Smallholding
Frost / Bean / Wood
Monday 10 January, 2022
Monday 3rd January
Bit grey and overcast, but the strong overnight winds have dropped. Back in the office this morning – and discovered that most places are closed. Hey ho – items transferred to Wednesday’s to do list.
Did a bit more tidying in the barn and pulled some netting of the brassica beds. Gwenna thought it would make a nice bed. I think she was channeling her inner street dog!!!
Street dog Gwenna, roughing it.
Hogmanay 2021
Monday 3 January, 2022
Monday 27th December
Had a bit of a relaxing day, indulging my Lego habit.
Tuesday 28th December
Nicer this morning than forecast – broken cloud and a hint of sun. Planted out some narcissi bulbs (Jack Snipe and Tete a tete) in front of Meg’s patio, to naturalise there. I also found a tray of miscellaneous bulbs, so I’ve put them in the raised bed beside Meg’s patio. If they come, good and well; if not, well, they had a chance.
Christmas 2021
Monday 3 January, 2022
Monday 20th December
Cold and dry. Calves a bit loud this morning – I think they just realised there’s no milk for breakfast. On the plus side, Bronte discovered beet pulp and both she and Baby got halters on. Baby has now joined the “line” with Blizzard in her usual place, Rora moved up next to her mum, then Baby. Bronte will join the line shortly. Buster thought he might have some of Bronte’s beet pulp but she was having none of it.
Last day in the office until 3rd January. Yay!
Niamh / Annie and Rosie / Gotcha Days
Monday 20 December, 2021
Monday 13th December
Oh, my goodness, I had lovely day out – in a dress with perfume on – having afternoon tea at Inglewood House Hotel. It’s a glorious building, built as family home early in the 20th century by the Paton family – it used to be a business centre and Dan had an office there (in the servants quarters, I think). I took the train, which was relaxing. I don’t like driving in the dark much.
Dan bought me a new brush for doing the cow shed floor – the old one finally gave up the ghost and broke in two this morning. The new one is FAB! How easy pleased am I?
Murray / Niamh / RPID inspection
Wednesday 15 December, 2021
Monday 6th December
Raw weather today – cold and damp. Now that all the leaves are off the trees, Dan went off to start clearing the ditch. He got about half done, so he’ll do the rest this week.
I had a wee tidy up, did some paperwork, put up the Christmas tree and some of the decorations. Then I made a start on the hen houses. I’ve taken out the perches and will pressure wash them; I managed to get the nest boxes cleaned out in both and the brown house shovelled out. I’ll finish them tomorrow -
Amaretti biscuits / Snowy Rocky Road / Thomas the Tank
Monday 6 December, 2021
Monday 29th November
Brrr, cold this morning but clear and still. Clouded over midday.
The cows are now in. There’s no grass and they’ll just start to make a mess. Grey will be happy to have 24/7 company; maybe his lessons will progress better now.
Great customer service isn’t always the norm with online sales so I’d like to share a good one. Dan ordered 500ml bottle of Closamectin from Farmvetsupplies. My phone rang about noon with an Enniskillen number; it was a person at the company to tell me the only 500ml bottles they had was dated January 2022 and was that OK. I said no, I wouldn’t be using it until February – so she asked if she could swap it for two 250ml bottles dated June 2022, if she could do it at the same price. I said “yes, please”. I think that’s pretty impressive.
Read more on Amaretti biscuits / Snowy Rocky Road / Thomas the Tank
Arwen / Avian Flu / Niamh
Monday 29 November, 2021
Monday 22nd November
At 7am, it was clear and sunny; by 9amit was cold and overcast. Still, it’s dry.
Had a bit of a tidy up in the byre; advertised the broken freezer on social media and a chap came to pick it up tonight. Yay! Dan and I are going to try and get half an hour this week just moving things around; there’s stuff to come in from the barn, where I want to clear more space so we can store more hay in winter, just in case the roads are bad.
Grey / Astrid / Apples
Tuesday 23 November, 2021
Monday 15th November
Our neighbours won’t love us this morning – Grey has been exercising his lungs all night. I didn’t sleep well either, if that’s any comfort to them. Sun’s out mid-morning – looking lovely.
.jpg)
Hartons Grey.
Blizzard and Buster enjoying the sunshine.
Tups / Cakes / Grey
Monday 15 November, 2021
Monday 8th November
No body part dreams so slept until 6.30am. Cows were in then, so shut them in, checked Blizzard (fine) and gave them some beep pulp, while I brought in the ponies. Managed to give Bronte a scratch, which was a first. Then I opened the gates so they can loaf outside. It’s a nice day – cool, but dry and still.
Puddings steaming and cake in the oven by 10am, then into the office until lunchtime.
Wednesday 10th November
Beautiful morning! Long may it continue.
Pennan / Saddle / Yule
Monday 8 November, 2021
Monday 1st November to 5th November
Oh, we had a lovely break at Mill of Nethermill Cottages, near Pennan. Wild weather, but that just let us appreciate our cosy cottage even more.
Our cottage even had special corgi windows.
Corgiwatch.
Mill of Nethermill cottages.
