Diary

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Thaw / Ring feeder / Hospital

Tuesday 27 December, 2022

by Rosemary at 3:26pm in Smallholding Comments closed

Monday 19th December

Temperature up to 11C and we have a total thaw. The water is back on everywhere, which is fab.

Tuesday 20th December

Lovely day. Took Gwenna to the vet for a check up; she disgraced us by peeing on the mat, but other than that the vet is very pleased with her progress. She wants to see her two weeks after her meds are finished. However, she has a wee ear infection (left ear) and had drops so her hydro session tomorrow has been rearranged.

Fox / Snow / Mince pies

Tuesday 20 December, 2022

by Rosemary at 12:57pm in Smallholding Comments closed

Monday 12th December

Minus 7C first thing this morning, but blue skies, sunshine and no wind, so pretty pleasant if you’re well wrapped up. The dogs are enjoying poopsicles.

poopsiclesPoopsicles.

We must have a dozen pheasants living in and around our garden. And there was a heron and a couple of dozen curlew in the fields today. And so many blackbirds, gorging on apples.

Ice / Tom / Santa

Monday 12 December, 2022

by Rosemary at 10:24am in Smallholding Comments closed

Monday 5th December

Winterfest preparations are underway. The decorations are going up in stages. There have been years when the last stage of going up has coincided with the first stages of coming down (which is generally just one stage). Lights are great but, jings, batteries are expensive!

Tuesday 6th December

Much colder today; wee bit of frost this morning but clear sky tonight and cold. Need to find gloves.

Out and about doing a pile of jobs, like posting the cards and dropping eggs into the food bank. Then scone and hot chocolate with my daughter then straight to my chum, Janet’s for a cuppa and a blether.

Freezers / Apples / Ice

Tuesday 6 December, 2022

by Rosemary at 5:25pm in Smallholding Comments closed

Monday 28th November

Beautiful day.

Bertie had a productive night in the feed store. We know this because there was a pile of cat sick with a dead mouse in it this morning.

Tom had his annual visit to the vet. His teeth aren’t fab, but they don’t need work this year. He had them scaled and polished just a year ago.

Tuesday 29th November

I moved the ponies’ electric fence. They do leave a tidy edge.
edgeA tidy edge.

Ponies / Polytunnel / Marmalade sponge

Monday 28 November, 2022

by Rosemary at 11:40am in Smallholding Comments closed

Monday 21st November

Three  of our four cats have their annual check ups in late November, reflecting when the Christmas spirit moves us and we rescue another one. Today was Penfold’s turn. He’s been with us ten years, so we estimate he’s probably mid-teens. Since he had a bit of a kidney issue a few years ago, and because he’s become a terrible mooch for food, we decided to have some bloods taken and his blood pressure checked. Results tomorrow.

Sprouts / Rain / And more rain

Monday 21 November, 2022

by Rosemary at 1:50pm in Smallholding Comments closed

Monday 14th November

Nothing quite went to plan today. Having started the Christmas puddings, I then discovered that we had no pudding basins – our old ones had become crazed and cracked and I decided it was time for new ones, except I discarded the old ones and forgot to buy new – so steaming is delayed again. I just keep adding a slosh of cherry brandy to the mix.

Picked tomatoes – there are still quite a lot left and they are delicious but I will have to clean out the polytunnel soon. There are a few pears left on the tree and plenty sprouts.

Raspberries / Buffet / Sewing

Sunday 13 November, 2022

by Rosemary at 7:00pm in Smallholding Comments closed

Monday 7th November

Farrier out to trim Smokey’s feet. He was a very good boy. I’m wondering if he’s staring to be a bit stiff in his hind legs.

Was supposed to take Diesel to the vet for his annual check up this afternoon. 2pm, no Diesel. New appointment made for Wednesday morning. He’s usually snoozing it up in the morning. Bloody cat.

Tuesday 8th November


Had my Covid and flu jags this afternoon. Can I swing a duvet day tomorrow?

Calves / Hens / Holidays

Sunday 6 November, 2022

by Rosemary at 6:43pm in Smallholding Comments closed

Monday 24th

So that’s the Scottish Smallholder Festival over for another year. It all went swimmingly – or maybe more like the swan analogy – all calm on the surface and paddling furiously under the surface. We now have a bigger team and a very good one. We’ve had much positive feedback on the Festival from visitors and stallholders – thankfully, it doesn’t make us complacent but makes us want to do better next year. I’m staying on for another year to do the rural skills but not the communications. Most of my stallholders want to come back next year, which is great – on, because they were very good but two, because it allows me to think about new things to do. The cookery theatre went well – I think that will be back next year. Tidying up now, copying over files and thanking everyone.

Pigs away / Apple pressing / Festival

Monday 24 October, 2022

by Rosemary at 2:05pm in Smallholding 2 comments Comments closed

Friday 14th October

Set up the trailer for Sunday and the pigs going to the abattoir. Hopefully the hurdles will stop them breaking anything – or at least anything crucial.

trailerTrailer.

TrailerProtected trailer.

Covid / Cucumbers / Tatties

Monday 3 October, 2022

by Rosemary at 3:05pm in Smallholding Comments closed

 

Saturday 24th September

So here we are, past Mabon, the autumn equinox. Still plenty grass in the fields to do the cattle until early November. I’m on the usual changing seasons tidy up, leading to an autumn clean. Started in the feed store – found six quiet wean things and three thermometers. When I want them, they will be invisible.

Spent most of the day in the veg garden, weeding and getting ready for manuring, REMIN-ing and covering with black plastic. Loads of raspberries coming ready and dozens of bees on the raspberry plants.

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