Bridge / Equinox / Fires - The Accidental Smallholder

Posted: Monday 23 September, 2024

by Rosemary at 9:36am in Smallholding 1 comment Add your own

Monday 16^th September

Beautiful start to the day and the week, with a good forecast for the week that will end with the Autumn Equinox.

Apart from tidying the garden, the next five weeks will be about the Scottish Smallholder Festival. My last one. Hope to make it a good one.

Dottie found a box to sit it. To watch Dan weeding. It’s perfectly Dottie-sized.

Dottie's box.

Tuesday 17^th September

This day in 2014 was probably one of the happiest, most hopeful day of my life. My country, my folk were on the eve of something potentially great. And we bottled it. Fear triumphed over hope. I can remember the high hopes and great expectations for a new dawn for my beloved country and I still have them and the dream lives on.

In a few short hours, dreams were shattered and in the intervening years, our country has suffered blow after blow at the hands of a Westminster elite that sees us as a cash cow and a playground.

Tattered but not torn.

But we keep on. We’ve secured a premises on the High Street for an Indy Hub. It’s on a month by month basis, but we’ll make the best of it while we can.

Wednesday 18^th September

Some chums and I did a Bridges for Indy. Very positive -  lots of toots and waves.

Our bridge.

Picked some rosehips while out with the dogs; along with some carrot tops, the ponies had a special breakfast.

Special breakfast.

Thursday 19^th September

Keeping busy to avoid my usual PTSD on this anniversary. I’ll never forget the sinking feeling as the first result came in from Clackmannanshire and we lost. How could we have bottled it? What country has EVER passed up the chance to become independent – without a fight. Just put an X in the Yes box. It was very hard.

Anyway, Dan had a fire to clear the area for the sitooterie. And he put up a new Saltire – symboli

Branch AGM tonight. I’m still Convener and Oganiser.

Friday 20^th September

Murdo was here. He had a burn in the Spinney and sunk the new strainer. After Dan finished work, they got the bottom wire on. Dan’s ordered tree guards and canes.

Kate, Mike and Astrid came for tea. Fair enjoyed it.

Saturday 21^st September

Weather getting cooler, but still lovely during the day. I cut some flowers for the house for the first time this year. Better late than never.

Wee work party at the Hub. We bundled leaflets, vacuumed, cleaned the kitchen, moved furniture, cleared out more rubbish. Need a staff rota now.

Sunday 22^nd September

Autum equinox, officially the end of summer. Didn’t sleep well last night. Anxiety dreams. I’m over committed between the Festival and the Hub. Be glad when it’s the 20^th October.

If I have a good Festival week next week, I’ll be far happier.

Cleaned up the barn, brushed the ponies and slapped a pile of anti-itch cream on Smokey. He’s really suffering. This seems to be the worst time of year.

Did some weeding – so good for the soul. Dan has made a spectacularly good job of clearing the beds before they were planted. Very few weeds coming through

Lorna and Linda came for dinner. Roast mutton, carrots & swede, peas and potatoes. All home produced. The best.