Smallholding
Election / Paths / Beds
Monday 8 July, 2024
W/e Sunday 7th July
Mixed weather; it would be warm for winter but it’s not warm for summer. Wednesday, downright cold in the morning, after overnight rain, but warming up and getting windy in the afternoon.
Dan’s been busy cutting grass, cutting down rogue trees (for path edging and pegs in the front garden). We bought twelve alpines last week, so they have been planted in the stumpery.
I’ve been busy with election stuff.
Thursday 4th July
Incredibly windy, cold in the morning. Incredibly windy, warm in the afternoon.
Double birthday / Weaning / Topping
Monday 1 July, 2024
W/e Sunday 30th June
Short entry this week; weather changeable, warm, cool, wet, windy
On Monday 24th, after the Highland Show, Alistair weaned the lambs and took them home, but added the gimmers to the ewes, leaving us 24 sheep. They’re in Home, browsing happily. Most, but not all of them will go to the tup later in the year.
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Ewes and gimmers.
Royal Highland Show
Monday 24 June, 2024
Monday 17th June
Found the tap in Sheepfold broken this morning; it wouldn’t turn off. Dan soon had it sorted though.
I’m taking part in a survey of omnivores for Nourish and I have to keep a food diary. Dan made his special lentil and bacon soup. Delicious. I could eat it every day.
We weighed the kittens, because I need to pick up their wormer / flea spot on tomorrow. Dot is 3.4kg and Cooper is 4.9kg.
Dan collected Mickey’s Prascend from the vet; I gave him it in a bit of wholemeal pitta with a smear of Marmite. Seemed to work and be enjoyed. Turned them out into Far Top tonight – long grass, so less sugar. They were very happy. It looks like prairie. With rushes.
Rain / Rose / Cushings
Monday 17 June, 2024
Monday 10th June
More of the same weatherwise; mixed sun, cloud and showers, breezy and about 13C.
Picked up my new glasses this morning; love ‘em. Thanks to my style consultant, Tara for that.
Dan went jogging at Crombie Country Park with some chums from football. I got my exercise putting the cushion covers for our Poang IKEA chairs back on. We’ve had them forever, but it’s the first time we’ve had the covers cleaned. My goodness, they’re wearing well.
Cattle away / Stumpery / Bowhouse
Monday 10 June, 2024
Monday 3rd June
Glorious day, sunny and warm with a brisk but warm breeze.
Farrier was here this morning; Mickey’s feet looked long, to me, but Scott said they were OK, they just grow differently to Smokey’s.
I brought the cows and calf in, with access to the wee paddocks, ready for tomorrow. I’ve got all the paperwork ready to go, along with all the bits and pieces we’ll no longer need.
Dan went off to play snooker at lunchtime, then we watched the Gibralter v Scotland game at the pub.Not the best performance but noone got injured.
Magpies / Stumpery / Dottie
Monday 3 June, 2024
Monday 27th May
Far better day weatherwise then forecast; mainly sunny and warm with a few showers.
We both had some desk work to do first, but then the rest of the day was spent outside in the garden. Dan carried on with riddling soil and topping up the new beds; I weeded the first bed and started to plant up the second bed. The first bed is growing away fine – nothing dead so far.
First bed is coming away nicely.
Tatties / Pasture Pen / Dead calf
Monday 27 May, 2024
Monday 20th May
Up at 1.30 am then 4.30am; come on, Blizzard lol. Cool at 4.30am but sun out by 9am, and shaping up for another warm day.
Dan finished the pasture pen for the meat chickens and we finally got them outside. Great to see them chooking about and pecking away at the grass.
Pasture pen.
Meat birds.
Bronte / Leeks / New pen
Monday 20 May, 2024
Monday 13th May
Jings, we had a fair bit of rain overnight but it turned into a lovely day.
I dug docks out of the vegetable garden paths and we had our first new potatoes out of the polytunnel. I don’t usually plant early potatoes – these just came up from some missed last year. So good, I think I’ll grow some next year.
Caledonian Rose as new potatoes.
Fairy doors / Birthday Smokey / Peas
Monday 13 May, 2024
Monday 6th May
Jings, we had a lot of rain overnight. I thought Dan was home this evening but it turns out it’s tomorrow evening. How did I miss that?
Baked a cake and made Tiramisu
Tuesday 7th May
Dan’s home! Yippee!
Cooper and Diesel have a new box
A new box.
Calves / Catmint / Tree rescues
Monday 6 May, 2024
Monday 29th April
It’s Sheriff Bryn’s ninth birthday. Can’t believe it. He had Ace Sirloin steak – Gwenna doesn’t like raw beef, but Bryn (and Cooper and Bertie) loves it. It’s a bit tough for us but Bryn tucked in.
Tuesday 30th April
Rosedean Aurora has a wee bull calf, born sometime between 1am and 5am. They're both a bit grubby because he was born in the shed but they'll soon clean up now they're out. Our 33rd calf.
