Smallholding
Baby / Bronte / Rain / Chilli
Monday 25 September, 2023
Monday 18th September
Bloody cows got me up at 3am with incessant roaring. They have access to three paddocks. Blizz and Rora had got themselves “stuck” in one while the rest of the herd was in another; all they had to do was walk down the fence line to the gate but no, we’ll just stand and bawl. In jammies and Crocs, I showed them where to go and then witnessed a most joyous reunion. Back in bed, I couldn’t get to sleep, before falling deeply asleep about 5am and wakening to biblical rain at 7am. Dan did the morning round to let me sleep for another hour, but still wrecked.
Apples / Firewood / Sheepfold
Monday 18 September, 2023
Monday 11th September
Quite a lot of rain overnight and a couple of showers this morning, then sunny and warm But not as warm as it has been. Car said 18C, which is quite nice. Not that I got out in it much today. The next five weeks will be full on with Festival stuff, so I’m trying to get my feet cleared.
Popped out to visit Lorna, though, and have a delicious hot chocolate. A few messages to run then into the pharmacy for painkillers. Last Thursday, or thereabouts, I developed a pain in the neck. Since I’ve spent so / too much time at my desk, I assumed it was bad posture, but it hasn’t lifted even with three days away from my desk. Pharmacist thinks it’s probably a muscle spasm tweaking the nerve – I’ve got codeine (scared to death I’ll get addicted) and rub-on ibuprofen.
Squash / Sweat peas / Mist
Monday 11 September, 2023
Monday 4th September
How did it get to September already? Dan’s feeling better this morning, but he’s to have a half day. We’re visiting friends next weekend so I know there are jobs he’s anxious to get done before we go.
I finally started the mincemeat; it’s now mulching until tomorrow morning when I’ll cook it. The kitchen smells amazing.
Dan harvested most, but not all, of our butternut squash. Wow!
Our butternot squash crop.
Corn / Tatties / Mincemeat
Monday 4 September, 2023
Monday 28th August
Lovely day; warm (20C) and still and sunny. But the light has changed and it feels autumnal. Can’t believe we’ll be into September this week. It’s been a very good summer for us.
Today is office day, so head down and get on. I had to do some messages in town so I took the opportunity to purchase my 2024 diary. It’s so lovely. All those fresh pages.
Braw new diary.
Harvest / Apples / Orchids
Monday 28 August, 2023
Monday 21st August
Lovely day; warm (20C) and still and sunny. But today is office day, so head down and get on.
The hens had some corn cobs. Happy girls.
A treat of corn cobs.
Tuesday 22nd August
Much the same as yesterday except that Rebecca, Tara and I went to see “Barbie”.
Love / Sweet peas / Electric wire
Monday 21 August, 2023
Monday 14th August
Blizzard and Grey totally loved up today.
The happy couple.
Tuesday 15th August
Had a lovely couple here today to look at Baby and Bronte and their calves with a view to buy. I’d be very happy for this sale to take place.
Visited a local garden centre with our daughter for a cuppa and a scone; took more photos of plants I like, for inclusion in the new front garden.
Stumps / Sweetcorn / Grey
Monday 14 August, 2023
Monday 7th August
Having no sheep has made such a difference to our grass supply – and the weather this year has helped. I’m trying to move the cattle round the five paddocks on a weekly basis but because they have access to the shed during the day, we only have one electric fence and the layout of the paddocks, it’s not always possible to exclude them from Near Ditch. But we’re doing our best. The ponies will be in Near Ditch in the winter, so will hopefuly reduce any worms on the sward.
Genetsran / PCHS / Orkney
Monday 7 August, 2023
Monday 24th July
Today was blood sampling day for the cattle. Calves had samples taken for BVD testing and the cows and bull had samples taken for disease testing for the Premium Cattle Health Scheme. And *whispers* we tagged the three remaining calves. The four cows were jagged with Genestran to bring them back into season, then they were all turned out, along with Grey, who was very, very happy. Now he gets extra sex.
It all went fine; I get really anxious and overthink it, even though we’ve done it multiple times. Results won’t be back or two weeks; assuming they are OK, I can then advertise Baby and Bronte and their calves for sale.
Harvest / Grass / Pears
Monday 24 July, 2023
Tuesday 18th July
Blackcurrants and white currants. I didn’t even know we HAD white currants here.
Wednesday 19th July
We killed and cleaned this year’s meat birds today. We bought 12 day olds; lost one a couple of days in and one at maybe six weeks. So ten to kill; total cleaned weight 28.09kg, average 2.81kg, top weight 3.68kg, bottom weight 2.42kg. Sadly, I didn’t keep very good notes of inputs – feed mainly – but the price has rocketed. I reckon that each bird cost about £10 to raise.
Grey / Kirriemuir / Harvest
Tuesday 18 July, 2023
Wednesday 12th July
We shut Grey in his pen today. It’s quite big, with plenty hay and water, a salt lick; he gets fed twice a day, so he can be tied up for mucking out and replenishing hay and water. But he’s not a happy boy without his herd. But it’s only until the 24th July, when we’ll be doing our PCHS blood testing on the cows and Grey, BVD blood testing of the calves and jagging the cows to bring them back into season. The he gets out for extra sex. No gain without pain.
