Peas, Berries, Gages and a Bunny Belly - The Accidental Smallholder

Posted: Thursday 22 August, 2024

by Rosemary at 6:01pm in Smallholding No comments Add your own

Monday 12^th August

Very oppressive and stormy first thing; the ponies were all spooky. Rain started in earnest maybe 9am and kept up until about noon, with some heavy peals of thunder. So we all had a relaxing morning. Well, the dogs weren’t THAT relaxed.

Cooper, Diesel and Gwenna, snoozing.

By 2pm, it was roasting. No visible sun, but so warm and humid. We did some housework – well, it needed doing – and some paperwork.

Tuesday 13^th August

This self-seeded mallow is gorgeous - like crushed purple velvet. I'm hoping to seed save.

Mallow.

Dan started to harrow the paddocks; he did Far Ditch and Near Top.

Near Top harrowed.

There was a lot of thatch came out of Near Top. He’ll get the other three done in the next week, he says.

Some of the thatch pulled out of Near Top.

Wednesday 14^th August

Lovely day, so Lorna and I walked along the front at Arbroath. We are so privileged to live in such a place.

Arbroath beach.

The garden is coming on, in this mix of sunshine and rain.

First bed.

Second bed.

Bee Bed.

Stumpery.

Thursday 15^th August

Dark this morning and rain, heavy at times, until mid-afternoon. And a cool wind.

I had family “stuff” to take care of but Murdo was here, so he and Dan dealt with the thatch in Near Top, put new gateposts in at our front gate and pulled ragwort, until rain stopped play. They were both soaked.

Friday 16^th August

Cool, this morning. Not sure if it rained overnight but the paths were wet.

All tied up with paperwork but clearing my feet for a whole day with NO computer tomorrow. I’m off to visit family Sunday until Tuesday

Saturday 17^th August

Rain overnight, and cool this morning but sun out by lunchtime. Lovely blackberries and blueberries this year.

Black and blue.

Cleaned the barn; cleared up hay. Got three dumpy bags and we can now get the tractor and the box trailer under cover.

Alistair took away the 24 ewes; some will be going off to market next week. And seventeen will be getting ready to go to the tup, to lamb in February. Eleven ewe lambs arrived, and will probably be here until mid-October, or perhaps longer if the weather holds.

Ewe lambs.

Dan pruned espalier pears plus the plum and gage trees. Some gages are ripe and delicious. And he cleared the pea bed.

End of the pea harvest.

Diesel was a bit lethergic. Dan found bunny fur between his toes. I think Diesel was having a meat sweat.

Bunny belly meat sweats.

Sunday 18th August

I’m off to visit family in Southport today, so that’s me finished this week’s blog.