Smokey / Brassicas / Weeds - The Accidental Smallholder

Posted: Sunday 1 June, 2025

by Rosemary at 7:21pm in Smallholding 18 comments Add your own

Monday 26^th May

Rain overnight again, sunny daytime but very, very windy.

Moved the sheep to Far Top; the ewes grazed and the lambs bolted off to explore the fence line. There’s still a lot of grass in Near Top (and Home), so the ponies can use Near Top for a week or so, while we harrow Near Ditch (then top and harrow Home and Near Top).

Smokey seems better today. He’s certainly moving fine and is much happier in himself. He ate his doctored food (which I topped with some black treacle), so fingers crossed for a full recovery.

Tuesday 27^th May

Smokey’s swelling seems to be receding. I called into Conchies for grower pellets, Happy Hoof and leather conditioner, to clean Smokey’s tack, before selling. The vet told me on Sunday about a place in Perth that buys second hand tack, so I’m going to take it all over there next week.

Thursday 29^th May

Vet’s been out to see Smokey; swelling is down but not gone completely, so he has a further five days antibiotics, but his bute is cut to one a day.

Friday 30^th May

The unsettled weather continues, but the rain is welcome. The strong breeze that accompanies it, less so.

Murdo was here today, and work on the sunken garden has resumed. I think once the first round of sleepers are in and level, the next two will be easier, and therefore quicker.

Progress in the sunken garden.

Gaelic Group tonight; ashamed I haven’t done any homework this week. Must do better.

Saturday 31^st May

Bumbles were out in force on the comfrey.

And in hundreds on this huge pyracantha, that is just coming into flower.

Hundreds of bumbles on the pyracantha.

After cleaning Smokey’s tack, I channelled my inner Suzie Fletcher (The Repair Shop) and cleaned and conditioned one pair of my Ariat working boots. I binned a third pair that was past redemption, which leaves me two pairs to lavish some TLC on. My “crocs” are leaking. I’m having real ones next time.

Finally managed to get some time in the garden, which was lovely. Dan has weeded for Scotland and has done an immense job in keeping on top of things while I’ve been otherwise occupied. I tidied up the wee planter at the end of the drive and pput in the last of the geraniums and bacopa.

 

Sunday 1^st June.

Flaming June – but not today. Well, in spells maybe, but it’s been showery and windy too. Alistair and Imogen were here with two more ewes and to take the lambs away to wean them. So we now have ten ewes grazing our paddocks.

Dan kept weeding. I planted out the brassicas – sprouts, calabrese, savoy cabbage and cauliflowers, and Dan netted them. I was going to sow carrots and swede, but it was too windy.

We filled in gaps in the front beds with cosmos and salvia. The wallflower is ready to be removed but I’ll have to wait until after the green bins are emptied on Wednesday

That’s all pots emptied apart from the 144 plug plants and a pyracantha. And the leeks. Which I was preparing to resow yesterday, but this morning, they have sprouted.

I tidied up the greenhouse and the potting shed – not completely, but made a start. Hopefully, get it finished this week. Nice to be doing it now, not in January.

 

 

Near Ditch.

Near Top.

Far Top.