Hurdies / Apiary hedge / Cattle shenanigans / First sock
Posted: Tuesday 30 January, 2018
Monday 22nd January
Nice and warm today – up to 5C, but damp and that made it feel raw.
The cows must have had a party last night and invited the neighbours – what a mess in the shed this morning.
Caught up on paperwork including the minutes of the last Smallholding Scotland meeting.
Saw Ian the “back man” about my achy back.
Tuesday 23rd January
Windy, grey and damp. Pretty much finished the potting shed – just a few things to identify before deciding on their fate. I need to buy labels and seed compost – other than that, I think I’m good to go!
Wednesday 24th January
Heavy rain showers overnight and very windy today, but dry and sunny now.
Went out this morning to find the cattle had escaped – but all gates were closed so they were only on the track. They couldn’t have been out long as there were no droppings piles. They were happy to go back inside for breakfast.
Had a visit today from a couple of folk from the ScotGov Ag Holdings team – took them to see another two smallholdings and had a good chat about the issues facing smallholders.
Went round tonight to fill the cattle’s water trough to find Ace and Panda doing an “Andrex puppy” routine with the blue paper dispenser. At least she was only pulling it out, Doofus was eating it!
Thursday 25th January
Happy Burns Night! Lovely day.
I was reading some Burns’ poetry today – so many great Scottish words. Like “hurdies”. Words that my Gran used and that I used as a child but was discouraged from using because they weren’t “proper English”. Sad.
Cleaned out the hens. Dan took a load of manure to the allotments The calves knocked over the wheelbarrow, just as I was finishing mucking out. Wee devils. Those are the words I used.
I’ve been invited to take part in the “Meet the Shepherd/ess” event at the Edinburgh Yarn Festival – thrilled to bits.
Dan supervised me making bread today – first time, other than soda bread, that I’ve made it. And it was good.
Friday 26th January
Dan and I had lunch at Pig Halle in Perth – it was excellent, as usual. Then, to Dan’s barely controlled delight, we had a wee trip to Lakeland. I bought two new loose bottomed sponge tins, a new milk pan, some food colouring and a Russian icing set. And some petal and leaf cutters. Cannae wait to get started.
Dan ordered the hedging plants for round the apiary, it's going to be mostly blackthorn and hazel, with hornbeam in front of the hives, and a scattering of crab apple, guelder rose and wile privet, about 50m in total.
Saturday 27th January
Another nice day.
Dan was busy in the apiary digging the trench for the hedging plants; I barrowed round some manure to put in it. It’ll get leaf mold as well, prior to planting.
Trench for apiary hedge.
More trenching.
Used one of my new tins to bake a Raspberry Buttermilk Sponge.
Sunday 28th January
Miserable day – raw and drizzly.
Feeling tired after Paul and Gemma’s going away party last night so sorted through my card making stuff and cleaned out the airing cupboard, where I found a barely started more of our wool that John hand spun years ago, including an unfinished slipper.
So I got out the peg loom, unraveled the sample piece I did ages ago, while Dan unraveled the slipper – plan is to peg loom a wool cushion cover. But I need to consult YouTube first.
I also found a barely started sampler – so that’s been pulled out as well.
And Dan completed his first sock!
Dan's first sock, knitted in our wool.
It’s for me and knitted in our Rosedean Ryelands 4-ply – fits like the proverbial and isn’t scratchy!
