Smallholding

Diary

Summer, Sweet corn, Seedlings

Sunday 28 July, 2024

by Rosemary at 8:11pm in Smallholding Comments closed

Monday 22^nd July

Bit drizzly this morning. Dan went off for a run (Why?) with some of the blokes he plays football with.

Alistair took a second blood sample from Mickey yesterday, to see if the Prascend is working at the current dose. Mix is a terrible tenderfoot, so I’m going to get him some boots – slippers – for when he’s in on the track. It is a rough surface, right enough.

Favourite flowers? I love the catanache with the candytuft. And the salvia. Not loving the penstemon, but it's in the wrong place.

Roses, raspberries, and redcurrants

Monday 22 July, 2024

by Rosemary at 7:46am in Smallholding Comments closed

Monday 15^th July

I was dreaming that Dan had given me a big choux bun filled with chocolate mousse; I was just about to take a bite and my alarm went off. Happy birthday to me lol

Today is St Swithin’s Day; whatever the weather shall be today, so it shall remain for 40 days. Mild; close and a bit muggy.

Cooper was “playing” with the hens again today. Maybe we need a big, feisty cockerel. He also helped me to hang out the washing.

Cooper Cooper, helping.

Good living and sleepy pups

Monday 15 July, 2024

by Rosemary at 8:53am in Smallholding Comments closed

Monday 8^th July

Cool but sunny start to the week. As the day progressed, it got pretty warm. Hot, even. Better enjoy it as rain is forecast for the rest of the week.

Planned to spend as much time outside as possible before things really get away from me. I have a Zoom call every evening this week, on a variety of topics and I do need to do some Festival work.

I thought I’d start this week’s diary with an update on the vegetable garden. As always, some things are doing well. Some not so well.

Election / Paths / Beds

Monday 8 July, 2024

by Rosemary at 6:02am in Smallholding Comments closed

W/e Sunday 7^th July

Mixed weather; it would be warm for winter but it’s not warm for summer. Wednesday, downright cold in the morning, after overnight rain, but warming up and getting windy in the afternoon.

Dan’s been busy cutting grass, cutting down rogue trees (for path edging and pegs in the front garden). We bought twelve alpines last week, so they have been planted in the stumpery.

I’ve been busy with election stuff.

Thursday 4^th July

Incredibly windy, cold in the morning. Incredibly windy, warm in the afternoon.

Double birthday / Weaning / Topping

Monday 1 July, 2024

by Rosemary at 9:47am in Smallholding Comments closed

W/e Sunday 30^th June

Short entry this week; weather changeable, warm, cool, wet, windy

On Monday 24^th, after the Highland Show, Alistair weaned the lambs and took them home, but added the gimmers to the ewes, leaving us 24 sheep. They’re in Home, browsing happily. Most, but not all of them will go to the tup later in the year.

sheep Ewes and gimmers.

Royal Highland Show

Monday 24 June, 2024

by Rosemary at 8:42am in Smallholding 2 comments Comments closed

Monday 17^th June

Found the tap in Sheepfold broken this morning; it wouldn’t turn off. Dan soon had it sorted though.

I’m taking part in a survey of omnivores for Nourish and I have to keep a food diary. Dan made his special lentil and bacon soup. Delicious. I could eat it every day.

We weighed the kittens, because I need to pick up their wormer / flea spot on tomorrow. Dot is 3.4kg and Cooper is 4.9kg.

Dan collected Mickey’s Prascend from the vet; I gave him it in a bit of wholemeal pitta with a smear of Marmite. Seemed to work and be enjoyed. Turned them out into Far Top tonight – long grass, so less sugar. They were very happy. It looks like prairie. With rushes.

Rain / Rose / Cushings

Monday 17 June, 2024

by Rosemary at 6:41am in Smallholding 1 comment Comments closed

Monday 10^th June

More of the same weatherwise; mixed sun, cloud and showers, breezy and about 13C.

Picked up my new glasses this morning; love ‘em. Thanks to my style consultant, Tara for that.

Dan went jogging at Crombie Country Park with some chums from football. I got my exercise putting the cushion covers for our Poang IKEA chairs back on. We’ve had them forever, but it’s the first time we’ve had the covers cleaned. My goodness, they’re wearing well.

Cattle away / Stumpery / Bowhouse

Monday 10 June, 2024

by Rosemary at 2:52pm in Smallholding 2 comments Comments closed

Monday 3^rd June

Glorious day, sunny and warm with a brisk but warm breeze.

Farrier was here this morning; Mickey’s feet looked long, to me, but Scott said they were OK, they just grow differently to Smokey’s.

I brought the cows and calf in, with access to the wee paddocks, ready for tomorrow. I’ve got all the paperwork ready to go, along with all the bits and pieces we’ll no longer need.

Dan went off to play snooker at lunchtime, then we watched the Gibralter v Scotland game at the pub.Not the best performance but noone got injured.

Magpies / Stumpery / Dottie

Monday 3 June, 2024

by Rosemary at 8:43am in Smallholding 2 comments Comments closed

Monday 27^th May

Far better day weatherwise then forecast; mainly sunny and warm with a few showers.

We both had some desk work to do first, but then the rest of the day was spent outside in the garden. Dan carried on with riddling soil and topping up the new beds; I weeded the first bed and started to plant up the second bed. The first bed is growing away fine – nothing dead so far.

first-bed First bed is coming away nicely.