Beds / Bedding plants / Hedging - The Accidental Smallholder

Posted: Monday 11 November, 2024

by Rosemary at 6:30am in Smallholding No comments Add your own

Sunday 3^rd November

So we got home on yesterday after a lovely week in Gardenstown. The weather was kind – the only rain was on the Friday. It’s just a great wee place – made even better by the advent of a fish and chip van on a Thursday teatime. That was the only time our car turned a wheel between arriving and setting off for home.

Sadly, the pub was closed – it’s changing hands and there was some legal hold up – but Eli’s, the café, was open and just as good as we remembered. Next year, we’ll book a later week so we don’t have the dogs mixed up by the changing of the clocks and so we can go to the village bonfire – which, this year, was the day we left. Although, by the size of it, we thought we might be able to see it from Carnoustie. Apparently, it’s the time for the village annual clear-out of anything that will burn.

Harbour.

Beach and Bryn's tail.

There were no disasters while we were away, other than Bertie peeing on stuff. We’ll see how he settles down this week, but if it continues, a wee trip to the vet will be in order. There was no sign of Diesel yesterday at all but turned out he was shut in the workshop – despite me shouting for him before I locked up last night.

A few piles of washing done and a bit of a reorganisation – seems to happen when we move things around for a holiday.

When I corned the hens and lifted eggs last night – I found eleven in the spare nestbox! Obviously not been checked all week – so now the glut is even bigger. Thankfully, a friend of ours bakes a lot for various local voluntary groups so she’s taken a dozen and a half for that.

Lots of eggs.

And even MORE eggs.

I think Bertie missed us.

Bertie, glad we're home.

It’s been a lovely autumn day – sunny and cool, but little wind. I was awake early, so just got up, put on another load of washing. Then another – and that’s it up to date. Yay!

After breakfast, I put on waterproofs and cleaned the barn and the wee paddock; moved the sheep to Sheepfold, and let the ponies out again. They’re changing over to being out in the daytime and in at night today.

There’s plenty grass for a couple of week, I think, for the lambs then they’ll be off home for the winter. They’ve been a pleasure and we’ll look forward to having them back in the spring.

The waterproofs had to come off – it was like “boil in the bag”

Next job was cleaning out the hens – both their current house and the one they were in over summer.

Dan started to clear the “bee mix” beds. By lunchtime, he’d done about half of the first one and was wondering about whether to cover it with plastic for the winter. I think I can plant it up now. It’s a good forecast for the next ten days. The shrubby honeysuckle should be here soon too, so that would suit fine.

Clearing the bee mix.

Six eggs from six hens tonight. In November. Just wow!

Tuesday 5^th November

Farrier was here this morning to trim Mickey; he’s being trimmed every six weeks and Smokey every twelve. We’ll see how it goes.

Wednesday 6^th November

Dan has quite a lot of work on just now but tries to get out for a couple of hours every day. I noticed some sheep hurdles had gone from the barn – found the leaf mulch bay today.

New leaf mould bay.

The weather’s a bit variable, but dry so I got out to weed a couple of the unplanted beds and plant the vinca. I want to get the bulbs planted but am fraught with indecision.

Thursday 7^th November

Murdo was here today for the first time in a month, maybe. He and Dan trimmed the hedge on the road, so that folk can walk on the pavement again. It was trimmed pretty hard in January, but the pavement is very narrow in places.

After lunch, they finished clearing the first of the two beds that had a bee mix in them. Dan had done probably 75% of it over the course of the week, so Murdo finished that while Dan started on the second one. The shrubby honeysuckle for the hedge is being delivered tomorrow, so while they worked on those beds, I weeded the areas round the perimeters of the two planted beds, ready for the hedging.

First bed cleared of bee mix..

I started to weed the strawberry bed; finished in twilight. Two of the remaining five beds have been covered for winter so I plan to do one of the remaining three tomorrow, but I do have quite a busy day in prospect. Might be weeding in the dark again.

Strawberry bed weeded.

Friday 8^th November

We finally have our car back. Yay! That means the pile of car stuff can be removed from the boot room. And the Lonicera nitida has been delivered. 

One hundred and forty Lonicera nitida.

And Bertie Bob Cat – well Dan said he’d been sick, but I think it was diarrhoea. If that came out his mouth, he’s in trouble. At 5.30pm, he left the dog’s bed, ate half a tin of tuna, scratched the carpet, had a huge stretch and sauntered outside. All positive signs – it’s hard not to worry when they’re older. He’s got a vet appointment on Monday, just in case. UPDATE: it’s not Bertie, it’s Diesel. Going to take him to the vet in the morning.

Dan’s been working; I walked along the front at Arbroath with Lorna, had lunch then had my hair cut. Just as I got home, Alistair arrived with the mighty petrol log splitter for Dan and Andy to play, sorry, work with tomorrow. By the time I’d walked the dogs it was dark.

Took Diesel to the emergency vet about 10pm. He’s had an anti-vomiting injection;  heart, temperature, colour of mucus membranes normal; no sign of discomfort when the vet pummelled (and I mean pummelled) his abdomen. His bladder is empty, so no blockage there. He’s shut in the dining room and kitchen with all amenities. Dogs delighted to be allowed upstairs.

 

Saturday 9^th November

Diesel’s still not right. He wasn’t sick overnight but he’s not eating and is very lethargic, so back to the vet this morning. Same view from the vet; all vital signs good. Just need to give him a bit of time. He may have AOS – anxious owner syndrome.

Dan and Andy set up the mighty log splitter. They’re so excited.

I cleaned out the hens, poo picked the pony paddock and started to clean out the field shelter. I could do the front part, but the poop at the back is like concrete, so I’ll dowse it with water and loosen it up. I was able to weed the bed under the living room window and plant some bulbs there.

Bed under the living room window.

And I put some bulbs (tulips) and wallflower (I hope. The markers weren't very good) in the newly cleared front bed. I think some of the wee lavender have been killed by being overshadowed by the bee mix.

First bienniels.

Brian brought his truck round and took me and the trailer to Harbro to pick up a feed order that hopefully will do us until the end of February, if my calculations are correct. I’m still haunted by our first winter here 2010/11. I’ll be doing a mahoosive shop on 1^st December for the same reason.

Sunday 10^th November

Diesel seems to be back to normal this morning, mooching for food and yelling. Very happy.

I attended the REVIVE conference in Perth today. Titled “The Big Land Question” it was, of course, about land reform. It was much the same as all are; the Scottish Government has the powers but chooses not to use them. Very subdued response to the CabSec’s address.