http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/diary/ en-us 2010-07-18T13:31:45+00:00 http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/diary/archives/000726.html The potting shed now has shelves, so we decided that it should be formally identified. With no little ceremony, the slate name plaque was screwed into place. Linda spent a good bit of yesterday sorting through the pots, discarding the... Anything goes Rosemary 2010-07-18T13:31:45+00:00 http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/diary/archives/000725.html We now have electricity, running water and gas in the caravan! No hot water as the boiler's bust but the cooker and the gas fire now work; the boiler's being replaced in a couple of weeks but we've decided just... Anything goes Rosemary 2010-07-18T13:27:08+00:00 http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/diary/archives/000724.html After "finding" the lintel stone at Dalmore inscribed with JW1887ED, we were curious about the intials. We wondered if it was perhaps the original occupants - perhaps a marriage stone or the builder's initials. It turns out that JW ED... Anything goes Rosemary 2010-07-15T11:31:20+00:00 http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/diary/archives/000723.html We found some old maps in the house that are contributing to our research. The oldest one is from 1865, which we know from the carved stone above the door, is before the existing house was built. In the area... Anything goes Rosemary 2010-07-14T22:29:40+00:00 http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/diary/archives/000721.html It’s been a pretty quiet week. The joiners have finished removing the floors and external wall linings. They have managed to work around the staircase and the cornice in the hall, for which we are grateful. The upstairs is framed... Renovation Rosemary 2010-07-09T17:43:32+00:00 http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/diary/archives/000720.html Well, caravanners. Our new caravan was delivered today. It was wee bit nerve-racking, but it’s in place and the Nissan clutch will hopefully recover. As usual, things didn’t go quite as planned. The caravan is 12’ wide and 35’ long.... Anything goes Rosemary 2010-07-09T17:40:13+00:00 http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/diary/archives/000719.html I've been out picking gooseberries, raspberries and strawberries tonight. The raspberries are a little disappointing, but the strawbs are a great crop. The scent of the strawberries while I was picking was wonderful - really jammy. So I'm making some... Rosemary 2010-07-05T22:29:48+00:00 http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/diary/archives/000718.html Dan, Lorna and I shot up to Dalmore today with a trailer load of "stuff". The caravan is being delivered THIS Friday 9th July - definitely. The builders have finished for the moment - they're on holiday for two weeks,... Renovation Rosemary 2010-07-05T16:33:36+00:00 http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/diary/archives/000717.html It's absoutely bucketing rain here this morning. Bad news for the painters doing the outside of the house in preparation for the estate agent. The walls are done and probably half the windows. Hope it dries up for tomorrow.... Anything goes Rosemary 2010-07-01T07:44:21+00:00 http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/diary/archives/000716.html Well, the builders have been in this week. The old fireplaces have gone, except for the one in the living room; the subfloors are filled ready for the membrane and concrete screed; the old flue for the range has gone... Renovation Rosemary 2010-06-30T20:24:38+00:00 http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/diary/archives/000715.html Since our house won't be ready until October and it's a 3 hour round trip and I have no patience, we've bought a caravan. Hopefully it will be delivered on Friday, so we're staying there Friday night. We bought it... Anything goes Rosemary 2010-06-30T20:16:33+00:00 http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/diary/archives/000713.html I got the Ryeland Flock Book Society newletter today. It said that the registration letter for 2010 lambs is N. Last year, it was L. I queried it and have been assured that it is N - M, for some... Sheep Rosemary 2010-06-29T17:15:32+00:00 http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/diary/archives/000714.html We had heavy rain last night but this morning, there isn't a cloud in the sky. I picked a couple of handfuls of strawberries, wet with raindrops and warmed by the sun and my daughter and I ate them for... Smallholding Rosemary 2010-06-29T08:47:28+00:00 http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/diary/archives/000712.html Our White Leghorn, Snowy, has not quite grasped the concept of fences. All the other hens stay in the run, but Snowy gets out every morning and does her own thing. By afternoon, she's back at the run gate waiting... Poultry Rosemary 2010-06-28T17:04:43+00:00 http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/diary/archives/000711.html We decided to convert the now-redundant coal shed into a potting shed. The existing potting shed, while huge, is kind of, well, ugly. It also sits where John and Linda's cottage will go, so it will be demolished at some... Smallholding Rosemary 2010-06-28T16:58:43+00:00