April 2024

Diary

Pot Tetris / First paths / Rhubarb

Monday 1 April, 2024

by Rosemary at 9:25am in Smallholding Comments closed

Monday 25^th March

Spring seems to be on hold. It’s cool and cloudy – but dry. Riley’s been really scooty overnight; she pooped in a clean litter tray and there was blood in it, so I phoned the vet at 9am and she’s to have a week of antibiotics. If you have cats, you will know how relieved I was to find the antibiotic was in liquid, not pill, form. TBH, I don’t think they will make any difference – we think it’s some kind of IBS but the vets want to rule out other possibilities before prescribing steroids longterm.

Paths / Mickey / Shallots and leeks

Monday 8 April, 2024

by Rosemary at 1:00pm in Smallholding Comments closed

Monday 1^st April

April Fool - joke’s on us. Spring has once again retreated and it’s pretty cold outside with a brisk wind and the threat of precipitation – not sure if it’s rain or snow this morning.

The antibiotics have made no difference to Riley’s problem, so I’ve made a vet appointment for next Monday. I specifically want to see Fiona, but she’s on holiday this week – I don’t think a week is going to make any odds. Riley’s not unwell. In fact, she’s bouncing. They had their first routine spot-on for worms and external parasites today – well, first for Cooper; Riley’s been done before.

Paths / Boxes / Peas

Sunday 14 April, 2024

by Rosemary at 6:25pm in Smallholding Comments closed

Monday 8^th April

Unsurprisingly, more rain. That said, I’ve made the returns to our accountant for our personal tax and the business year end – never happened this quickly before.

I’d ordered 120 tiny petunia plants; they were delivered today. I unwrapped them and left the tissue paper on the bunker in the kitchen. It’s been Dot’s spot all afternoon.

Dot Dot's tissue nest.

Petunias / Paths / Supercorgis

Sunday 21 April, 2024

by Rosemary at 2:54pm in Smallholding Comments closed

Monday 15^th April

Sunny but cold breeze this morning. Gary here just after 8am so hoping for good progress today.

paths Work progressing.

Starting to get a bit antsy about calving. The cows were jagged on 24^th July last year, if they were served on 25^th (which they weren’t) they’d be due on 3^rd May, based on 283 day gestation period. I noted Bronte with Grey on 27^th July and Rora on the 29^th then we were in Orkney from 30th July, so couldn’t watch them. Both Blizzard and Rora calved earlier than 283 days last year. The reason I’m so antsy is that Dan is going off to Portugal for six days from 1^st May. Although he’s never really been involved with calving, he’s my support and I’m a bit anxious that he won’t be here. I’m kind of hoping they get a shift on and calve before he goes, but I doubt I’ll be that lucky.

Planting plants and tatties / Kittens / Pizza

Sunday 28 April, 2024

by Rosemary at 7:50pm in Smallholding Comments closed

Monday 22^nd April

It’s Bertie Bobcat’s 15^th birthday. I woke at 5am, suddenly conscious of the fact that I hadn’t seen him yesterday evening. Popped out in my jammies and heard him complaining loud and long in the workshop – I had shouted on him last night before I locked up, because he does like to sleep up in the roof space, but maybe he’s a bit mutton jeff. Anyway, not the most auspicious start to his big day but he managed to scarf down a packet of prawns with a side of milk and then come for a snuffle at bedtime. I couldn’t get him to pose for a photo.