Polytunnel cleaned / Tree down / Willow - The Accidental Smallholder

Posted: Sunday 2 March, 2025

by Rosemary at 2:00pm in Smallholding No comments Add your own

Monday 24^th February

Lovely morning, but a cool wind. Despite trying to clear my feet yesterday to let me get in the garden today, I had three appointments to keep that kind of screwed that up. Tomorrow isn’t much better and I have Cooper at the vet for his annual checkup on Wednesday. Thereafter, my diary is clear and I will strive to protect it.

Tuesday 25^th February

Another lovely spring day, again taken up with various appointments. Yes Carnoustie committee meeting in the evening. Good progress being made.

I twisted my knee yesterday and it’s giving me gip. Up at 5am taking painkillers so feeling a bit knackered.

Wednesday 26^th February

Hard frost this morning. Another broken night’s sleep with this bloody knee. Tonight I’ll put paracetamol and water on my bedside.

Cooper had a vet appointment at 8.30am for his annual booster – well, his first booster in fact. He’s 5.7kg and is all good. He was quite anxious – sweaty paws – but was ok in the car.

First time for ages, I turned my Merlin app on this afternoon when I was doing the evening round. The rain had gone off and although there was a cool breeze, it was beautifully sunny. There was lots of wonderful birdsong – Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Robin, House Sparrow, Song Thrush, Goldfinch. So lovely.

Tomorrow I have no appointments. Noone to see and no one to take anywhere. I do not intend to leave the property or turn on my laptop.

Thursday 27^th February

Lovely spring day, but frosty first thing. The cats have the right idea.

Cooper and Diesel, sunbathing.

 

Finally washed the inside of the polytunnel on the south side. There were loads of wee flies – I tried to minimise the death rate.

Switched Merlin on this evening – the Robins and Wrens were most prolific, along with a Song Thrush, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Dunnock and Reed Bunting !!! And a cock Pheasant, who I could see, and Carrion Crows. Don’t think I’ve recorded a Reed Bunting before, so that was nice.

Friday 28^th February

Another lovely day; frosty then clear and sunny. I managed to sneak in a trip the nursery but only bought four bags of compost, some twine and plastic labels. I’ve tried wooden ones but they just rot; they’re fine in the tunnel or greenhouse, though so I’ll still use them there. I have a fine selection of plants in the vegetable garden that I have no idea what they are.

Dan made oxtail soup. It's taken four days. It's lovely, but a stew in four hours woudl have been fine. Dogs loved the bones.

Oxtail.

Saturday 1^st March

St David’s Day, and sunny again. Not so cold this morning – maybe a wee touch of frost, but much less than earlier in the week.

Dan took himself off to Arbroath to do our big monthly shop. He enjoys it, and at 8am, it wasn’t busy. He did buy four plants; three herbs for the soon-to-be-dug-out bed in front of the greenhouse and a saxifrage to go in the stumpery.

After morning tea, Dan planted more trees in the Spinney, which is clearing the formal beds at the front of the house, where they were heeled in. We had a wander up the orchard and found a pine tree down on top of an apple tree. 

All or part of a tree down.

It’s a terrible mess up there, which is a real shame given all the hours of work Dan put in. It was just so wet last spring. We have our fingers crossed that the drier weather this year will give the trees a chance to come back. Hard to know what to do with it.

I finished washing the polytunnel cover, pulled out the old strawberries (which didn’t crop well last year) and gave it a good water. I’ll water it every day now, even though there’s nothing planted. The weeds will sprout and we’ll get them out before we do plant. I raked up the paths and started to put cardboard down on the paths.

Sunday 2nd March

Windy today, frost this morning clearing to sunshine. I'm quite tired (so are the dogs) so having a bit of a lazy day and doing paper chores, so I don't have to do them later in the week.

The willow is looking marvellous.

Love the colours of the willow..