Smallholding
Brassicas / Annie / Rats
Monday 21 September, 2020
Monday 14th September
High cloud, some sunshine and the wind’s dropped, thankfully. Smokey was an absolute star this morning, so I think we’ll be OK now.
We’ve seen a hedgehog in the garden (either the same one several times of several hogs – they don’t have many distinguishing features!) so we put the hedgehog box (an upturned plastic crate with an entrance cut in it) in the vegetable garden. I put cat food in it last week but forgot to check it until yesterday and it was empty; put more out last night and it’s empty this morning. I hope it’s the hog(s) –be nice to do something good for them.
Puffer / Cabbages / Twitter
Monday 14 September, 2020
Monday 7th September
Heavy rain overnight but close and humid; stayed pretty grey all day but turned breezy. Spent most of the day in the office, being Monday, and I had a few SCBA things to do.
Tuesday 8th September
Beautiful morning; up and at ‘em this morning. Took the cabbages I pulled on Sunday round to the sheep; the plants were a bit tatty, but the girls don’t mind. The Shetland x tup lamb is much the same size as the pure Ryeland one. They’re both really tame.
Peestick / Mincemeat / Tatties
Monday 7 September, 2020
Monday 31st August
Lovely last day of August – cool and sunny, then warm and sunny. Did a bit of pottering in the house and office then had an early lunch, before going picking ragwort. There’s still a wee bit out there so will patrol again at the end of the week.
Blooming cats - Diesel and Thomas stopping the dogs going to bed. Naughty.
Cats on guard.
Rain / Byre / Egg
Monday 31 August, 2020
Monday 24th August
Cool, cloudy and there’s been a lot of rain overnight but the sun came out at lunchtime and the rest of the day was lovely. Busy brain so up at 5am. Managed to crack a few things off the list – finished tidying the pantry, ordered boots for Smokey, went to East PItkerro, the post office and to drop fabric off at the dressmaker.
Dan was busy in the office. I did a few bits and pieces than brought the ponies in. Tara, Rebecca and I rode this evening – Smokey was very good. Hopefully, his boots won’t take too long to come.
Harvest / Penfold / Byre
Monday 24 August, 2020
Monday 17th August
Grey and damp, bit of a breeze. But low pollen and that really helps Smokey’s breathing. Spent most of the day in the new, refurbished office but got out for a lovely hack with Rebecca and Tara in the evening. Smokey was very good and his breathing much better than it has been for a while.
Ian the Stone Mason called, so he’s coming to see the stone in the byre with a view to purchase. It will need to be removed before work starts on the fit out. Bit more progress.
Harebells / Apples / Desks
Tuesday 18 August, 2020
Monday 10th August
Cloudy and warm. Determined to get through all the office jobs this morning. I’ve been invited by a local breeder of Irish Moiled cattle to see their breed society’s system of cattle assessment and classification. Very pleased.
That was good – three hours with an assessor looking at Beef Shorthorn and Irish Moiled cattle. I now have a better understanding of how the system works.
Leeks / Araucana / Holiday
Monday 10 August, 2020
Monday 3rd August
My wee white Araucana is very lame. I caught her last night and sprayed her foot with blue spray. This morning, I bathed her foot in disinfectant and resprayed it. She's the last remaining of five i bought two years ago.
Tuesday 4th August
Heavy rain all day. The cats have been driving us mad – it’s like having four grumpy kids in the house. Did the outside essentials then retired to the office to do Shetland cattle stuff.
Onions / Omelette / Boots
Monday 3 August, 2020
Monday 27th July
Pretty heavy rain pretty much all day so did paperwork, went shopping, picked up Penfold’s antibiotics at the vet and went to the feed store for pig food and chick pellets. I’ve bought enough chick pellets to do them until we kill them.
A chum of ours came and took three of our old hens from the group we’ll be culling this autumn. They’ll live out their natural lives chooking around in her garden.
Ragwort / Dahlias / Pears
Monday 27 July, 2020
Monday 20th July
Strange day, weather-wise – sunny with very heavy showers. Still will help the grass grow. Finally got round to picking blackcurrants – put some out for sale and planning to do a bush a day for five days. Any that don’t sell, I’ll freeze. Plenty courgettes coming – and selling a few. Hope to get enough income to pay for this year’s seeds, new strawberries and raspberries.
Tuesday 21st July
Rebecca’s home so we rode this morning to Barry; Smokey was coughing a lot so I got off and walked for a bit, then remounted (with the help of some steps). I’m going to get the vet to have a look at him next week when she’s here anyway.
Picnics / Birthdays / Diesel
Monday 20 July, 2020
Monday 13th July
Showery today. Dan did his comfrey orders and I had an office day. I’m determined not to prevaricate about paperwork any more (I know the road to Hell is paved with good intentions). I took Penfold to vet; bloods taken, will get the results Wednesday. He’s gone form 5.1kg in October to 4.5kg now. That’s quite a lot.
Tuesday 14th July
Punnets for fruit finally arrived; I put some courgettes out for sale. Blackcurrants and gooseberries to follow. I took Smokey into the field in hand because I didn’t have much time. He was still spooky but started listening and thinking a bit better.
