Brownies / Cider / AGMs

Diary

Posted: Monday 17 September, 2018

by Rosemary at 6:36pm in Smallholding Comments closed

Monday 10 September

Windy with sunny showers, Still warm. Started to pickle shallots, process apples and roast tomatoes

The calves pushed through a poor bit of fence on to the ditch banks. It was between our land and Laing’s Field and if the gate was shut it was fine. The most surprising thing was that they hadn’t gone through it earlier. Shoo’ed them back and Dan installed some decent rails.

Tuesday 11 September

Very windy but dry and sunny. Went to see the physio about my sore neck. Got exercises to do.

Wednesday 12 September

Beautiful autumn day – wind has dropped and sun is out. Visit from local Brownie group; they seemed to enjoy it.

The calves are really growing - four months old now.

cow Annie and Ruaridh.

Thursday 13 September

Dan and John did the first apple pressing today – mainly Grenadier, with some Bloody Ploughman. It all seemed to go well – 25 litres extracted; 2 for drinking and 23 for Bloody Grenadier cider.

First apple pressing using the new equipment.

Had a good look at the fly struck lamb – or as good a look as I could have in the field. I need to get her in for a really good look. The ewes were skipping up the field – looking good.

Friday 14 September

Caught up the fly struck lamb and am very pleased with progress. One area is dry and scab free, the other is clean and dry but still scabbed, so I slapped some Sudacrem on her as a precaution.

Blizzard has a sore teat, so Sudacrem for her too.

Dan checked the bees and took supers off the two weaker hives and put feeders on; the two really good hives will probably yield another 24 frames of honey. The bees found the frame that he’d got out to show the Brownies on Wednesday – which was on the windowsill at the back door.

Picked up our first two bales of the new hay. Smells fantastic. So it bloody should.

Attended the first Smallholding Scotland AGM in Perth; thought it went well. New Board of ten trustees. First job when we get back from holiday is to do the follow-up.

Saturday 15 September

Off to the Lakes and Northumberland for a few days. Bit of a busman’s holiday as it encompasses the Shetland Cattle Breeders Association AGM and a visit to friends who are also smallholders, and bought Shetland cattle from us last year. But all the better for that!

However, nothing is ever straightforward – Blizzard wouldn’t let Tara milk tonight – so told Tara to turn her out and try again in the morning. Both parties fraught, so better to start again.

Sunday 16 September

Blizzard still playing up – Tara thinks one quarter is hot, so told her to get the vet out. Vet says she’s sore but doesn’t have mastitis, which is good news. Tara’s milking her in the “naughty corner” and that seems to be working fine. And Lucy’s leg seems to be a bit better – she’s had some swelling that’s been diagnosed as cellulitis but the antibiotics seem to be helping. Phew.

Attended the Shetland Cattle Breeders Association AGM at Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s offices in Kendal then off to see Ruth and Wal’s Whinpott herd. Dan impulse bought a blue heifer calf!! She is rather lovely. Second night at the Lyth Valley Country Inn – can highly recommend it for great food in beautiful surroundings.