Smallholding
Pigs away / Apple pressing / Festival
Monday 24 October, 2022
Friday 14th October
Set up the trailer for Sunday and the pigs going to the abattoir. Hopefully the hurdles will stop them breaking anything – or at least anything crucial.
Trailer.
Protected trailer.
Covid / Cucumbers / Tatties
Monday 3 October, 2022
Saturday 24th September
So here we are, past Mabon, the autumn equinox. Still plenty grass in the fields to do the cattle until early November. I’m on the usual changing seasons tidy up, leading to an autumn clean. Started in the feed store – found six quiet wean things and three thermometers. When I want them, they will be invisible.
Spent most of the day in the veg garden, weeding and getting ready for manuring, REMIN-ing and covering with black plastic. Loads of raspberries coming ready and dozens of bees on the raspberry plants.
Exercises / Cucumbers / Stove
Sunday 25 September, 2022
Monday 12th September
Had Gwenna at the physio today. No hydrotherapy yet, but we have land based exercises to do. We go back in two weeks.
Tuesday 13th September
Cool this morning, but warming up. Set up Gwenna’s exercises.
Gwenna's exercises.
Wednesday 14th September
More lovely autumn weather. Only 4C this morning but warm and sunny in the afternoon.
Apples / Tatties / Leeks
Monday 12 September, 2022
Monday 5th September
Dan lifted the first ¼ of the potatoes. They look really good – had two baked for dinner and they were delicious.
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Caledonian Rose.
I did nothing productive apart from my routine chores. Truly depressed at the prospect of Liz Truss as Prime Minister. The weather reflected that, being dismal with thunder and heavy rain.
Cats / Toad / Greengages
Monday 5 September, 2022
Monday 29th August
Dan’s been experimenting with growing comfrey crown cuttings in boxes.
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Comfrey growing
We’ve been walking Gwenna round Home; I hope Grey had fun dispersing the brash around. It smells very piney.
Grey's play area.
Gwenna / Geraniums / Lintel
Monday 29 August, 2022
Monday 22nd August
Busy morning; down to Downfield to pick up some Shetland beef from Paul Sanderson. Three of my old customers had bought beef too, so I picked that up as well.
Light rain this morning, with some heavier showers, dropping to drizzle – not forecast but welcome, nevertheless.
Visit this afternoon from Alan and Dianne Yarker, who we met through the Shetland Cattle Breeders Association. Great to catch up with them; lovely folk. Managed to avoid talking about the state of the current breed society.
Fox / Rain / Bus pass
Monday 22 August, 2022
Monday 15th August
Thunder, lightning and rain overnight and into morning. Biblical rain about 7am. I was in the polytunnel, watering, and it was thrashing down. More forecast for tonight and tomorrow. Hens left the hen house, and most turned around and went back in. Others sheltering under the nest boxes.
It's raining.
Farrier due to come at 10.30am. I’m slopping about in trousers but bedtime T shirt and no underwear when he arrives early. Ponies no even in. Arrgh. What a sight! Still done now and I am properly shored up. Dogs exhausted this morning – maybe the thunder kept them awake. Today is the day I’m going to sort out my bus pass. Maybe.
Gwenna / Sunflowers / Dahlias
Monday 15 August, 2022
Monday 8th August
I love dahlias. These are from Sarah Raven; the Venetian Collection. Just hope I can manage to keep them for next year. I have a poor record so far.
Dahlias.
Tuesday 9th August
It’s like autumn here – I guess the lack of water is making the trees drop leaves early.
Gwenna / Health tests / Bannockyarn
Monday 8 August, 2022
Monday 1st August Lammas
Dan collected Gwenna this afternoon. She’s bright in herself, and her back legs move but she can’t take any weight on them. Between feeding, medication and physio (5 times daily), Dan’s made a spreadsheet to keep us right. The drugs should be finished in two weeks, fingers crossed but the physio will be six weeks at least. I was a bit upset at the vet report – her prognosis is given as fair to good but we’ll give her the best chance we can.
Gwenna / Potatoes / Poppy
Monday 1 August, 2022
Monday 25th July
Nicely wet today.
I had to take Gwenna to the vet this morning. Not sure what’s wrong but she was in a lot of pain. The vet couldn’t even examine her, because she was rigid. She’s had two painkiller injections, has had a pee (allowed out on the lead only) and two scrambled eggs. She’s now asleep. She goes back to the vet tomorrow morning.
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Poorly Gwenna.
