Smallholding
Storm Babet
Monday 23 October, 2023
Monday 16th October
Saw the cows and my pony for the first time in four days. The cows are loving the windfall pears.
I finally picked the outdoor squashes. A wee tiny one in Tesco is £1.60. We’re sitting on a fortune. Dan made spiced squash and lentil soup yesterday and leek and potato today; he’s on a roll but running out of tubs for the freezer. Soon he will start demanndong that my Lego storage tubs be retirned to the kitchen.
.jpg)
Butternut squash.
Puddles / Eggs / Festival
Monday 16 October, 2023
Monday 9th October
Final run in to the Scottish Smallholder Festival 2023. Awake at 3am, up at 5am. Notes made and back to bed for a bit.
Let the cows out; it’s been mostly dry today, although the fields are still very wet, but it’s been warm and sunny, so best to make the most of it.
.jpg)
It's a bit wet.
The hens, now in their winter quarters, have found the nest box Dan made for them last year – in which they laid exactly zero eggs. Doing better this year.
Rain / Mango / Festival
Monday 9 October, 2023
Monday 2nd October
Cooler than yesterday, with a brisker breeze. Cloudy start but sun got out late morning. I saw it through the window.
I did have help though. To distract Diesel, I removed my fleecy shirt. Cold now, but at lest I can get on.
Distracting Diesel.
Then Thomas stopped by.
Thomas, helping.
BFL fleece / Squash / Grey away
Monday 2 October, 2023
Monday 25th September
Sunny and breezy. MP, who is buying Grey, called to ask in the haulier had been in touch. He hasn’t.
And that’s kind of it until Friday 29th September, because it’s been all desk and meetings.
Friday teatime, I get a call from the haulier. He’ll be staying in Perth overnight, can we get Grey to him by 8.30am tomorrow. It’s about an hour from here to Perth. Yes, says I. Well, he has to go sometime.
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.
