Cattle movements; Xmas cakes & puddings; Smoking
Posted: Tuesday 8 November, 2016
Monday 31st October
Grey and miserable today and so was the weather.
I was bushed after all the travelling to the SCBA AGM. The event itself wasn’t riotous but the travelling was tiring. So chores done and off for a nap :-)
That done, I popped up to apply spray to the lamb with orf – it’s looking better - and marked a lamb that was a bit lame. I’ll see if it clears up in 24 hours – if not, I’ll get her in for a good look.
I moved the 2015 steers into a new field but not the one I planned, which adjoins the one they’re been in for two weeks. When I walked up to open the gate between the two, I spotted a fairly big hole in the boundary fence.
Planned steer escape route.
This lead into 400 acres of woodland – we had to retrieve cattle from there a few years ago and would rather not have to do it again.
So the steers are now removed from the field with the hole and we’ll get it repaired before they go back in.
Tuesday 1st November
Glorious day today – perfect autumn day with blue skies and sunshine, and cool but not cold.
Cleaned out the hen caravan and picked poo in the ponies field. It’s got a bit behind over the weekend, so took four barrowloads today and will expect the same tomorrow.
Our neighbours are taking it for their garden. Caught up with the routine paperwork that I didn’t do yesterday while the dismals were upon me.
Wednesday 2nd November
Another lovely day. Bryn enjoyed his breakfast egg in the sunshine.
Bryn having his breakfast egg.
The steer calves are none the worse for their little “procedure” so they and their mammies will be going to Astwood on Saturday.
Received my copy of “Home Farmer” – lovely article on our yarn in it. Hope it generates some sales.
Home Farmer yarn article.
Started to weed the fruit garden. What a disgrace it is.
The fruit garden, honestly.
We’re planning to put good weed suppressing fabric down over winter.
Started the Christmas puddings tonight. Dan started to learn to knit. I didn’t realize it involved so much swearing :-)
He’s ordered bigger needles and extra chunky yarn to practice with and to knit a scarf.
Thursday 3rd November
Cold, grey and raining. It’s 7C but it feels colder.
Checked the sheep – the ewe lamb looks better and the one that was lame is now sound.
Dan’s dad has been building the new smoke cabinet from an old wardrobe we bought off eBay. We've had a Bradley smoke generator for about 15 years so it will be fitted to the outside.
Steamed the Christmas puddings and made some Apricot and Orange Chutney, from Delia’s Christmas book. Started our traditional Christmas cake. Going to buy a few wee tins of baked beans, so that I can try making mini Christmas cakes in the washed out tins.
Friday 4th November
Thankfully back to blue skies and sunshine today.
John and Dan have got the smoker working so Dan’s looking to buy a wee vacuum packer.
Smoker wardrobe and Bradley smoke generator.
We have a bag of mackerel in the freezer, so it’s going to be cured and smoked, plus some of the spicy lamb sausages and the bacon that’s been curing in the fridge.
Baked a big Christmas cake and a mini one.
Little and large Christmas cakes.
Worked well so we’ll have to eat small tins of beans so that I can make more. I thought that, marzipan’d and iced, they’d make nice wee gifts.
Saturday 5th November
Another reasonable day, weatherwise. We got a bit distracted this morning and failed to move the cattle – so that’s tomorrow’s job.
We did manage to do a bit of end-of-season tidying around the place, built the two new compost bins then off to P&G’s for lunch, which was lovely.
P is heading off next week to Ashdown Forest to work with Ben Law, of “grand Designs” fame for a year. Then he’s going to do a talk about his experiences at the Festival next year.
Sunday 6th November
It’s rained overnight but the day started sunny and dry, if a bit breezy.
Dan was up early to get the smoker started - bacon, cheddar, salmon, mackerel and our own Merguez sausages are on the list for smoking.
Smoking started.
I’ve identified the raspberry varieties I’m going to buy – Malling Minerva, Glen Ample and Joan J. The latter two we have currently and they have done us well. This time round, we’re going to plant them in the orchard, contributing to our “forest garden” project.
We made the mistake last time of planting summer and autumn fruiting varieties next to each other; now they are mixed, which makes correct pruning very difficult.
While I was letting the hens out this morning, I did a quick survey of the apple trees, noting on the plan those that had been lost to fireblight and rodents. We have 84 trees left. Dan will probably replant the gaps but perhaps not with all apples – we’d like to add crab apples and maybe some other fruits and perhaps nuts as well.
Annie, Rosie and their two steer calves are now at Astwood. The loading went like a dream; lead a cow on, tied her up, run her calf in beside her; two trips and all done. Robbie and Fraser, the two 2015 steers, were very excited to have new companions.
Masses of grass at our rented grazing.
They can’t decide whether to play or eat the enormous amounts of grass in their new paddock.
Poor Blizz isn’t very happy to be left at home, with just Winnie for company. It’s not ideal but the best we can come up with. I’ve kept Blizz in as she’s a bit lame. We’ll see how she is in the morning.
After moving the cattle, I pressure washed the trailer; then I washed the shovels and poop scoops, then the wheelbarrows; Dan was feart to stand still in case he got done as well :-)
The lamb with the sore bit on her face seems to be making good progress – almost no sign of the lump now. And thankfully, no sign of anything similar on any of the other lambs.
Wormed the ponies with double dose Strongid P. They were remarkably good – it can’t be awfully pleasant for them :-(
Sorted out the seed order for next year. We’re using the the Real Seed Catalogue.
Smoking seems to have gone well and our new vacuum packer arrived today, so it looks like a handy bit of kit. So far, we have smoked cheddar and smoked salmon; there are spicy lamb sausages, bacon and mackerel still in the smoker.
Dalmore smoked salmon.
Dan’s using maple wood this time but will probably try something different next time.
Comments
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cloddopper
Thursday 15 December, 2016 at 12:18am
Beech dust makes for a sharp smoke taste , but if you do like I do and wrap the cheeses in tightly fitting 7 taped sealed greasproof paper , leave it inth fridge for five days the cheeses come out a very nice & slightly firmer than when they were smoked.
Putting smoked stuff in clingfilm can send it slightly sweaty but if the fridge is below 3oC it's usefull for mapled salmon steaks done with beach
I've purchased a 20 kg sack of beech dust , it will last me several years we smoke olive oil , salt & peppercorns as well as the more traditional cold smoked foods .