Harvest / Apples / Orchids
Posted: Monday 28 August, 2023
Monday 21st August
Lovely day; warm (20C) and still and sunny. But today is office day, so head down and get on.
The hens had some corn cobs. Happy girls.
A treat of corn cobs.
Tuesday 22nd August
Much the same as yesterday except that Rebecca, Tara and I went to see “Barbie”.
Diesel has claimed the stumpery. Will he scare the fairies?
Diesel's stump.
Wednesday 23rd August
Bit cooler and cloudier today. Dan was out right after breakfast to top Far Top; cattle now making their way up there, via Far Ditch, and the ponies are now in Sheepfold. I'll rest Home for three weeks, to drop any worm burden. It also means that Andy and Dan can get into Home on Saturday and get the rest of the “soon-to-be” firewood out and maybe even get the brash burnt.
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Cattle in Far Ditch, on their way to Far Top. Allegedly.
I was planning to strip graze Sheepfold but I don’t have enough posts or electric tape. That I can find. I sold loads of electric fence posts not that long ago. Poor planning, that.
When I was turning the ponies out, Smokey went off (in the opposite direction, of course) with purpose. He was going for a good scratch on the trees by the ditch.
Smokey's scratching tree.
I listed the pig ark and one of the big hen houses free to good home and they were claimed almost instantly. We’d rather they went to be used, than lie rotting in our field (or us having to mainten them). And I know the folk who are taking the hen house and they’re good people and the pig ark is going to someone starting out – which couldn’t be better.
Thursday 24th August
I think Grey has finally done for the meat bird pen. Dan says he’ll rebuild it in Home; there, it’ll need protection for Smokey Destructo-arse though.
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Oh dear, Grey's been playing with the meat bird pen again!
It’s been sunny. Thomas is living his best life. And losing weight on his diet.
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Thomas, living his best life.
Friday 25th August
The apple harvest has begun.
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Grenadier (cooker).
Loads of cats ear this year. It’s moving with bees and other insects.
And this wee flower. I think it's a Northern Marsh Orchid.
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Northern March Orchid.
Saturday 26th August
Not a bad haul for this morning! Looks a bit like a "Masterchef" challenge!
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Today's harvest.
Then off to Murrayfield for the Scotland v Georgia rugby game. I don’t know what Gregor Townsend does to the players at half time but I wish he’d do it before the match starts. A first half like that against South Africa, and we’ll be 50 points down at the break.
Sunday 27th August
Rain overnight, but sunny this morning. Quick round of the chores this morning, then off to Perth for the SNP National Council, then back for the evening round. The cattle seem to be boycotting Far Top; the water’s in there so they must be going in but neither Dan nor I have seen them there. The grass in Far Ditch is probably tastier.
James and his team came to take away the henhouse this morning. Good to see it go to a good home, supporting a local business.
