Anniversary / Birthdays / Openings - The Accidental Smallholder

Posted: Sunday 18 May, 2025

by Rosemary at 10:25am in Smallholding No comments Add your own

Monday 12^th May

Cooler this morning, and overcast first thing, but the sun got out. It's warmth was somewhat tempered by the continuing easterly breeze.

It’s Smokey’s 28^th birthday, so he and Mickey shared three cans of Guinness. We don’t know when Mickey’s birthday is, although we guess he’s of similar vintage to Smokey, so they’re going to share May 12^th.

I didn’t get into the garden, except to water the new baby plants but Dan finished weeding the heather bed. The little conifer that came out of a pot after many years, has been destroyed by “something”.

Alistair delivered six ewes and ten lambs today, bringing us to eight and ten. They’re in Home this week. My plan is to move them weekly around five paddocks. I don’t think they’d get a week out of Near Ditch, where the ponies have been. Although I might move the ponies to Far Ditch, by making an electric fence corridor.

Tuesday 13^th May

Woke to a misty morning; by 8am, it had almost burned off. Then it was back and didn’t really lift all day. It was pleasant to work in, though. I had to take the car to Forfar for an MOT and it was 19C there, and full sun. Compensation for getting more snow than us, I guess.

I gave Smokey a part-bath – just the dirty bits, caused by rubbing. Poor neglected animals, my ponies.

Dan had to work most of the day, but I planted some more plants in Bed 4 and potted up more sprouted peas. There were more sprouted than I thought, so I think we’ll have enough if they all come.

Far Ditch, Far Top and the Stumpery.

Near Top, Near Ditch, the heather bed and the Stumpery, again.

Wednesday 14^th May

Today is the fifteenth anniversary of our buying Dalmore. It’s been a journey, right enough. Maybe this winter, we'll get all the photos sorted.

It’s been warm and sunny again – no rain forecast until the 23^rd. It always seems to be ten days away.

Lorna and I had a lovely walk along Arbroath sea front. Everyone is always so cheerywhen the sun is out. I lifted seven bags of dog shit. What are folk thinking?

Seafront, Arbroath.

Diesel nearly gave me a heart attack. I checked for breathing, but didn’t disturb him.

Diesel. Not dead, just sunbathing.

Thursday 15^th / Friday 16^th

No change in the weather; still a cool easterly breeze from time to time, but warm in the sunshine. It’s been all about the opening of the Carn Ustaidh hub, which is on Saturday. My anxiety levels are rising 

The sheep are loving the new beech leaves. Keeping it tidy.

Tasty beech.

Saturday 17^th May

The official opening of the Carn Ustaidh hub! The work paid off and it was a lovely day. The sun shone; we had a traditional fiddler and a Gaelic poet and song leader; a great speaker; nice food and lots of great camaraderie. Onwards and upwards!

And well done, the Eagles! Dan’s dad was a lifelong Crystal Palace supporter; he would have been absolutely made up at them lifting the FA Cup yesterday.

And Dan found why the egg harvest had gone down.

Hidden eggs.

Sunday 18^th May

I’m so tired. Dan let me have a lie-in this morning, but I’m still tired. I didn’t sleep well last night. Residual adrenalin, I think. So I’m doing my Monday desk jobs, including the diary, this morning before I head off to Comrie Croft at lunchtime, to contribute to an event being run by Land Workers Alliance and Scottish Crofting Federation.

It’s another glorious day; rain now forecast for 23^rd to 27^th. Hope they are right.

I have no meetings next week. Yay! Going to the Scottish Garden Show on Friday with Aileen & Karen, so really looking forward to that. Other than that, gardening, gardening, gardening.