Smallholding
Tupping underway / Bug improving / Florentines / Forfar FM
Tuesday 28 November, 2017
Monday 6th November
Frosty start – really enjoying this good, dry spell though. Caught up with paperwork this morning then up to Astwood to check the sheep.
Found one ewe couped – could see the legs waving in the air when I arrived. She obviously hadn’t been over long and was fine once I turned her the right way up.
Four yellow bums – including the two that he “surprised” yesterday, so I’m not sure if they are genuine yellow bums or pretendy ones.
Read more on Tupping underway / Bug improving / Florentines / Forfar FM
Barn floor laid / Cattle winter quarters / Tup out
Wednesday 22 November, 2017
Monday 30th October
Ooh, big frost this morning, freezing the water to the fields but it clouded over by lunchtime. Still nice and dry though.
Dan shoveled even more Type 1 into the barn floor.
Bug was a bit lame this morning.
Much sheep flirting going on at Astwood, which is good.
Tup teasing.
Read more on Barn floor laid / Cattle winter quarters / Tup out
New field for cattle / Barn progress / Tup moved
Monday 20 November, 2017
Monday 23rd October
Utterly miserable here today – as dreich as it gets, but at least not cold or windy.
Fed the steers in the catching pen, ready for Wednesday.
Blizzard is behaving like she’s in season – or at least, Ace is behaving like Blizzard is in season. Had an email exchange with the vet – and the manipulation of the uterus during the ultrasound could have caused a release of prostaglandin, which brings cows into season.
Apparently, palpation of the uterus is sometimes used on organic dairy farms to bring cows into season – but the palpation associated with an ultrasound would be much less than in those circumstances. Prostaglandin is also the hormone that’s used to stop unwanted pregnancies L
Read more on New field for cattle / Barn progress / Tup moved
Cows in calf / Barn prep / Baking / Tupping prep
Monday 30 October, 2017
Monday 16th October
Wet and miserable here today. Jane was out to trim Bug’s feet so he’s looking better all the time. He seems to quite like his boots.
I was up early this morning so made spiced iced buns – they were pretty random in shape, but tasted lovely, with cinnamon icing.
Tuesday 17th October
Very windy today but grateful that we’re not being hammered like Ireland and other parts of Scotland.
Alistair, our vet, was out today to scan the four cows and all are in calf, so that’s good news. Especially for ACE!
Read more on Cows in calf / Barn prep / Baking / Tupping prep
To Bute / Pork / Apple pressing / Tree survey
Monday 23 October, 2017
Monday 2nd October
Wet and windy today. Spent the day in the office with routine paperwork but also had the foreword for a new book on smallholding to write.
Met with Martin and Dan to discuss future plans for the Festival.
Started feeding some straw to the cattle.
With the wind, we’ve a lot of windfall apples and pears so Dan juiced some of the apples. It’s lovely juice.
Dan, Paul and I had a look at the barn and firmed up on the plans for that. It will be top priority after we get back from holiday. Time wears on and I really want the cattle in by 1st November.
Bugs feet / Home cooking / Apple harvest / To-do list
Friday 6 October, 2017
Monday 25th September
Pretty dismal here today. The roofers arrived to repoint the chimney and do some minor roof repairs but were rained off; they came back when it cleared up in the afternoon, and the work is now complete.
Vet came to X-ray Bug’s sore feet this morning and to take a blood sample to check for Cushing’s and Equine Metabolic Syndrome. He was tested two years ago and was fine, but Robert wants to check again. The X-rays will help Jane, the trimmer.
Read more on Bugs feet / Home cooking / Apple harvest / To-do list
Apiary / Barn / Wood store / Gwenna's ear / Bug lame
Monday 25 September, 2017
Monday 11th September
Not as nice as forecast – and we need to cut the front lawn so that the pup can negotiate it safely – and visibly. The vegetable garden needs cut too. Hopefully, tomorrow.
Spent an oddly satisfying couple of hours cleaning the ponies’ field and digging ragwort.
Gwenna is proving to be a bin raker and scatterer of paper!
Processed more apples and roasted more tomatoes.
Roasted tomatoes for freezing.
Read more on Apiary / Barn / Wood store / Gwenna's ear / Bug lame
Bertie's stump / Gwenna / Rosie's neck / Wood store
Monday 11 September, 2017
Monday 28th August
Dry, overcast and windy – but warm. Feels a bit stormy.
If you read last week’s diary post, you’ll know that Bertie Cat had part of his tail amputated this morning.
Bertie and his stump, confined to barracks.
He’s home and seems fine but is confined to barracks at least until Thursday – and he doesn’t like it.
Read more on Bertie's stump / Gwenna / Rosie's neck / Wood store
Meet Gwenna / Wood store / Apiary / Bertie's tail
Wednesday 30 August, 2017
Monday 21st August
Dry today. Paul collected the timber for the wood store and is cracking on with that.
Wood store site ready for construction.
Limpy Pig is less limpy but not yet sound.
Popped to Forfar to pick up some feed – I’m having a few days “off” after we pick up the puppy on Friday, so need to be sure that there are sufficient stores in.
Read more on Meet Gwenna / Wood store / Apiary / Bertie's tail
Limpy pig / Carnoustie Show / P&K / A2 results
Thursday 24 August, 2017
Monday 14th August
More heavy rain showers but thankfully, they aren’t prolonged enough to cause any standing water in the fields. In fact the fields are pretty good.
The contractor arrived today to spread P&K on five of the six paddocks. He had a wee problem with low branches at one of the access gates – his GPS was on the tractor roof.
Spreading P & K.
