Smallholding
Thomas / Squash / Weeding
Monday 13 November, 2023
Monday 6th November
Took Thomas to our vet this morning. Not good. She gave him steroids to try and get him eating and a long acting antibiotic; if the steroids are going to work, it will be immediately. If they don’t, we have to have him pts. Even if they do work, he has weeks. Gutted.
Bought lots of nice things to try and tempt his appetite. He’s been out roaming around and basking in the autumn sunshine.
And it’s all over. Thomas came in tonight and collapsed. We rushed him to the vet and he eased Tommy over the Bridge. We were with him at the last. I don’t know how much he was aware of, but I hope he knew we were there and loving him.
Holiday / Jaundice / Calves
Sunday 5 November, 2023
Saturday 28th October to Saturday 4th November
We had our annual holiday to Gardenstown; third time we’ve been to the village itself and the fourth time along that Banffshire coast. Not the best cottage or the best weather, but we had a couple of nice meals at The Garden Arms Hotel and a delicious lunch at Eli’s, the wee coffee shop and plenty relaxation time.
Gardenstown Harbour on the sunny day.
Wet / Plants / Aurora's birthday
Saturday 28 October, 2023
Monday 23rd October
Frosty this morning, but lovely and sunny. Cows boycotting the shed again – huffy girls.
Put the Christmas puddings on to steam first thing. Set fruit to soak for a Classic Christmas cake.
A huge box of plants delivered; these are wee plug plants to be grown on for the front garden. I’ve opened them up and watered them. Potting up tomorrow. There was a free gift of 40 daffodil bulbs. No idea where these are going to go.
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.
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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.
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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.
