Smallholding
Sweet peas / Embroidery / Pullets
Monday 9 June, 2025
Saturday 7th June
Oops, I did it again and forgot to write up my diary daily.
Not a very busy week Dalmore-wise. The leeks have finally sprouted. The runners, sweetcorn and the remaining courgette look poor. I made muck tea, so am feeding them.
Move the sheep to Far Ditch on Monday after Alistair came and weaned the lambs and took them home; he brought another two ewes, making ten. Not a squeak out of them. I guess the joys of motherhood had palled.
Lorna and I took our usual constitutional along Arbroath seafront on Tuesday. The wind was strong and the sea grey and choppy, but it wasn’t cold.
Smokey / Brassicas / Weeds
Sunday 1 June, 2025
Monday 26th May
Rain overnight again, sunny daytime but very, very windy.
Moved the sheep to Far Top; the ewes grazed and the lambs bolted off to explore the fence line. There’s still a lot of grass in Near Top (and Home), so the ponies can use Near Top for a week or so, while we harrow Near Ditch (then top and harrow Home and Near Top).
Smokey seems better today. He’s certainly moving fine and is much happier in himself. He ate his doctored food (which I topped with some black treacle), so fingers crossed for a full recovery.
Shearing / Show / Smokey
Monday 26 May, 2025
Monday 19th May
Cool this morning, and overcast; the sun got out by lunchtime but a very brisk breeze kept the temperature down.
The polytunnel strawberries are doing well but will need repotted in the autumn.
Polytunnel strawberries.
I moved the sheep into Near Top; my plan is to move them every Monday. Didn’t do much outside, but got beds changed and washed.
Anniversary / Birthdays / Openings
Sunday 18 May, 2025
Monday 12th 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 28th 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 12th.
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”.
Sunshine / Vegetables / Cooper
Monday 12 May, 2025
Monday 5th May to Sunday 11th May
Can’t do a daily diary unless I do it daily, so this is a weekly one. The weather has remained warm, sunny and dry. Mainly warm, definitely dry; we’ve been putting the sprinklers on in the vegetable garden and front garden alternate nights. The lawn grass is crispy, but the fields look well.
Sprinkler on.
Peas / Lavender / Sheep
Monday 5 May, 2025
Phew, how did it get to be “Star Wars Day”? May the fourth be with you!
Last diary entry was 20th April; from 28th April to 1st May, my daughter and I were taking a short break, but what happened in the preceding week is anyone’s guess.
So let’s focus on the first weekend in May. The last fortnight has been mostly dry, mostly sunny and sometimes warm. And sometimes not. The main feature has been the lack of rain; we’ve been using the sprinklers in both front and back gardens.
Seeds / Sheep / A hole
Sunday 20 April, 2025
Monday 14th April
Fatality in the cheeps this morning. Nothing obvious, just dead; I noticed one wasn’t moving well yesterday, so hopefully that’s the one. The rest all look grand but they’re so vulnerable at that age and size.
Dan was off harrowing before breakfast, as planned. At 8am, it felt warmer than the forecast 6C. 70% chance of rain. Fingers crossed. And we have rain; it’s been falling lightly most of the day. We can almost see plants growing.
Blackthorn / Pears / Moss
Monday 14 April, 2025
Monday 7th April
Frosty start this morning, but the sun warmed things up pretty quickly.
I finally cleared one bed in front of the West Range and started the second, then got diverted by the bed along the side of the house. Ended up completing neither.
Dan weeded the fruit garden and put the sprinkler on for a wee while. So dry, and no rain forecast. You should see the dust blowing off the fields around here.
Tuesday 8th April
No frost this morning – I don’t think, but I had a lie in.
Pavilion / Pears / Leeks
Monday 7 April, 2025
Monday 31st March
Glorious day – proper spring. Temperature got up to (according to the car) 16C. We arrived home about 10.30am – no hanging about for us in the morning. I had to take L to Ninewells for a noon appointment, but I managed to get out to do some weeding in the afternoon.
Dan carried on with filling, sanding and painting the pavilion. Finally, the contrast between the cream paint and the green paint can be seen.
Painted pavilion.
Birthday / Bamff / Beaver
Monday 31 March, 2025
Monday 24th March
Beautiful morning and a lovely day. Only did routine chores outside today, but was at the hub and at my desk. We did get outside to a cuppa, though. Love our wee pavilion. The lights for round the outside were delivered today and Dan’s bought a wee radio.
Sunrise at 6.38am.
Tuesday 25th March
Another lovely day, after rain overnight. This should get the grass growing.
