Saturday, 31 October 2009
The Last Of The Apples.
T'is that time of year: the clocks are back, the harvest in. The last of the apples need using up as they won't keep being a bit blemished. I was given another bucket load by friends, so I decided to make wine this evening.
Do you like the pan, it's actually huge in reality? I rescued it from a skip about a decade ago. It's ideal for making jam, chutney - things that are in big quantities, and it sits on the stove a treat.
My back has eased a good bit, so it's been a few days gentle weeding & enjoying the mild weather. I got quite mucky, so that's good, but I do look a bit of a minger in the photo - I should change out of my playing out clothes for photies really & do something with the hair.
Today we needed to lift roof beams up onto the hay shed, but I'm still abit not able. But we got Jeff from down at Burnside & he helped, which is marvellous. He was telling me about jiggering his back & going to a 'cranial chappy' who fixed it pain free. He had to rush off & go to the beach before it got dark. I'll have to have a spear at him about this cranial stuff as it sounds like it could be beneficial.
It's such a clear night - looks a nigh full moon. It's nice sitting here listening to the logs crackling in the stove & the pan coming to the boil.
Do you like the pan, it's actually huge in reality? I rescued it from a skip about a decade ago. It's ideal for making jam, chutney - things that are in big quantities, and it sits on the stove a treat.
My back has eased a good bit, so it's been a few days gentle weeding & enjoying the mild weather. I got quite mucky, so that's good, but I do look a bit of a minger in the photo - I should change out of my playing out clothes for photies really & do something with the hair.
Today we needed to lift roof beams up onto the hay shed, but I'm still abit not able. But we got Jeff from down at Burnside & he helped, which is marvellous. He was telling me about jiggering his back & going to a 'cranial chappy' who fixed it pain free. He had to rush off & go to the beach before it got dark. I'll have to have a spear at him about this cranial stuff as it sounds like it could be beneficial.
It's such a clear night - looks a nigh full moon. It's nice sitting here listening to the logs crackling in the stove & the pan coming to the boil.
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Back-Ache Blues.
I have jiggered my back. I hobble about like a hunch-back, or a bandy legged cowboy. I'm not doing anything but whingeing and watching rubbish telly. There's plenty of paper work stuff I could be doing, but like a spoilt child I would rather be playing out getting mucky. I sit & sigh.
I don't like me when I'm in pain & useless - I'm ugly when confined in these metal walls.
I did however manage to write a tale for Micro-Horror’s Halloween competition. It's here:http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/caroline-robinson/samhain-2/
But apart from that I’ve not done much except watch rain lash against the windows.
I don't like me when I'm in pain & useless - I'm ugly when confined in these metal walls.
I did however manage to write a tale for Micro-Horror’s Halloween competition. It's here:http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/caroline-robinson/samhain-2/
But apart from that I’ve not done much except watch rain lash against the windows.
Saturday, 17 October 2009
Counting sheep.
Jim fed the sheep yesterday & couldn't find two of the lambs. In the afternoon I looked everywhere, but still no show. I wasn't overly worried as I know they are getting down into the bottom fields under a fence, but there are so many nasty bramble fronds that could tangle them up. The ground has dropped leaving escape routes under the fence, and although we've put boards along the bottom you always miss bits.
This morning I went down & after ages found them happily munching on willow scrub (Choille means willow scrub, or just scrub dependent on the area). They are still a little shy of me, but ate a handful of sugar beet.
By the time I went up to the apportionment to feed the ewes & Harriet & Gem the orphans, the morning had marched on. I fed the sheep, but no sign of Harriet. I shouted, but still no show, which was strange enough to be worrying. I walked over most of the bottom apportionment (about 3 acres) calling her name, but still nothing.
I went & got Jim from his hay shed construction. We walked and called. Walked and called, stopped and listened - straining to hear a weak bleat - nothing. I had a sinking feeling. Each time I ventured up a deep stream I dreaded rounding a corner, fearful I would find a heap of damp, life-less fleece. How must it feel if you are hunting for a human loved one - I can only imagine?
Jim found her wedged upright between a V of rocks. He managed to drag her out and up a steep drop to me, but she was off her legs. We checked her fearing she'd broken limbs, but she seemed fine apart from the lack of movement in her legs. She could have been stuck for hours, over night possibly, but I doubt that. The rain has been so incessant that the burn (stream) was roaring, she wouldn't have heard me call & I couldn't have heard her bleats over the noise of it. I rubbed her limbs, to warm her up, but also I was checking for jaggy breaks, odd lumps. She took a wee while to get walking, but the relief was immense. I had a bag of sugar beet pellets with me & she gobbled them hungryly, found her legs & strength very quickly.
Stress is a killer, and especially for sheep. I think another few hours and she may have been gone - but she's a wee toughy. How do big farms manage - probably they just have bigger losses as they can't possibly check all their stock twice a day as we do?
Well what a glorious day. Everything is blinding bright, the Loch mirrors the mountains and every crevice is picked out like an 'O' Level geography map. The deer are moaning in full rut and the bracken has turned ginger. Would I live anywhere else, would I swop the caravan for a luxurious apartment?
Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
This morning I went down & after ages found them happily munching on willow scrub (Choille means willow scrub, or just scrub dependent on the area). They are still a little shy of me, but ate a handful of sugar beet.
By the time I went up to the apportionment to feed the ewes & Harriet & Gem the orphans, the morning had marched on. I fed the sheep, but no sign of Harriet. I shouted, but still no show, which was strange enough to be worrying. I walked over most of the bottom apportionment (about 3 acres) calling her name, but still nothing.
I went & got Jim from his hay shed construction. We walked and called. Walked and called, stopped and listened - straining to hear a weak bleat - nothing. I had a sinking feeling. Each time I ventured up a deep stream I dreaded rounding a corner, fearful I would find a heap of damp, life-less fleece. How must it feel if you are hunting for a human loved one - I can only imagine?
Jim found her wedged upright between a V of rocks. He managed to drag her out and up a steep drop to me, but she was off her legs. We checked her fearing she'd broken limbs, but she seemed fine apart from the lack of movement in her legs. She could have been stuck for hours, over night possibly, but I doubt that. The rain has been so incessant that the burn (stream) was roaring, she wouldn't have heard me call & I couldn't have heard her bleats over the noise of it. I rubbed her limbs, to warm her up, but also I was checking for jaggy breaks, odd lumps. She took a wee while to get walking, but the relief was immense. I had a bag of sugar beet pellets with me & she gobbled them hungryly, found her legs & strength very quickly.
Stress is a killer, and especially for sheep. I think another few hours and she may have been gone - but she's a wee toughy. How do big farms manage - probably they just have bigger losses as they can't possibly check all their stock twice a day as we do?
Well what a glorious day. Everything is blinding bright, the Loch mirrors the mountains and every crevice is picked out like an 'O' Level geography map. The deer are moaning in full rut and the bracken has turned ginger. Would I live anywhere else, would I swop the caravan for a luxurious apartment?
Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
Saturday, 10 October 2009
Another freebie!
Another very cold & dreich day, but kept warm barrowing home a free door that was given to us. It will make a grand addition to the hay shed Jim's constructing, and there is something rather satisfying at keeping something alive, keeping something out of land fill. Plus it's free.
Friday, 9 October 2009
Winter Is Around The Corner.
The weather has gone cold, leaves are blowing about. The gales are back, shaking the caravan, making it creak and groan. The deer have started the rut. Their moans and bellows echo off the mountains.
Yesterday we had to go over to Dingwall and there was snow on the tops, but it was glorious over on the East coast. Tatties were being harvested and hay is all cut & baled. We've started collecting bales from a farmer over that way. Jim is building an extention to the big shed that will house all the hay the sheep will need over the Winter months. We were at the sawmill getting the wood on Monday for the frame. What a price wood is. We were given, scrounged, some old roofing material off our neighbours The McSporrans. They've had a new tin roof put on, and very smart it looks too. We will use their old roofing to clad & roof our hay shed. Not much goes to waste here, which is a good thing.
Today we ate home grown chicken with home grown veg. We had to cull a couple of Scot's Grey young cockerels. One is in the freezer for later. My carrots have been marvellous again. I'm going to leave them in the ground as I did last year & just harvest them as I need them. It's nearly two years since I had to buy a carrot and I use loads of them, even made carrot & parsley wine in the Spring. I fed a load to the sheep over last Winter too. We are still eating lettuce & courgettes from the garden. But the tatties were a bit disappointing this year - not the taste, just the size & amount. I'll have to start buying some soon. All the onions are hung in the shed & they're beauties. I've made wine, chutney & jam. Tonight we had the last of the apples in a crumble. They weren't too great this year, having been blown off the tree. They were all a bit bashed & many filled with a brown veins- tiny maggots? A virus? Must have a read up on it.
They wouldn't have stored, so I cut all the bad bits out & either jamed them or chutneyed them, some I also fed to the sheep. They seem to like them.
I have a good crop of leeks in & winter cabbage that I'm using all ready - just the odd leaves I nip off! I planted curly kale that is good in soup. I also give the sheep some of that too. It was slow to start & not as many plants have come through as I thought would, but it's coming on. The weather's been such a nasty devil lately that I have been down in the shelter of the wood snapping up dead twigs & attempting to drag dead limbs up to the saw bench. I'm struggling with a rotten tree down the gorge, but I'll fight on with it. I think I'll have to use a rope as I'm not making a lot of progress - but it keeps you warm even before Iit's been sawn up & burnt.The wood burning stove does well, heats this metal box & sometimes I cook on it. I always have a kettle on the trivet when it's on - the only means of hot water really. So our fuel is free. I like free things.
The little chicks are doing well & their Mum is really good keeping them fed & teaching them how to scratch. We have to move the run every few days - give them fresh ground to scratch. One chick that we thought may not make it, is fine, but seems half the size of (his?) siblings. He's a fiesty wee thing though & he'll be alright, I'm sure. It's so cold though, with really bad gales - again. What a windy year.
The other day we moved the ewes over onto the apportionment beside the new Hebredians. They appear to be ignoring each other. We managed to shift the orphans Gem & Harriet too. We still have four ewe lambs to move over. It's really to give the croft fields a rest. They are really wet & pretty well grazed off. We will have to put away some tup lambs to market next month. We'll keep four to grow on. Now sheep, and I presume cows need double ear tagging if you move them, so I ordered those in. Next year they are talking of electronic tagging. Everything seems designed to get rid off small farmers.
At the Scottish Crofter's Foundation annual gathering I was at the other week, I spoke with a group of Lewis crofters who were a great bunch of guys & interesting. They feed their sheep on seaweed - rather they let their sheep graze the shore. I need to go gather sea weed for the raised veg beds soon. It mkaes a brilliant compost. I think I'll give the sheep a try of it - The Hebredians will love it - that is in their blood no doubt.
I have three naughty lambs roaming the croft which I'll try & catch tomorrow. The ground has dropped and they seem to be like Houdinis, escaping from letter box sized slots. As soon as we put boards along a gap, they find another means of escape. They've scoffed my crysanthumums, made a mess of the Broom, but you can't blame them - the grass is greener and all that.
Yesterday we had to go over to Dingwall and there was snow on the tops, but it was glorious over on the East coast. Tatties were being harvested and hay is all cut & baled. We've started collecting bales from a farmer over that way. Jim is building an extention to the big shed that will house all the hay the sheep will need over the Winter months. We were at the sawmill getting the wood on Monday for the frame. What a price wood is. We were given, scrounged, some old roofing material off our neighbours The McSporrans. They've had a new tin roof put on, and very smart it looks too. We will use their old roofing to clad & roof our hay shed. Not much goes to waste here, which is a good thing.
Today we ate home grown chicken with home grown veg. We had to cull a couple of Scot's Grey young cockerels. One is in the freezer for later. My carrots have been marvellous again. I'm going to leave them in the ground as I did last year & just harvest them as I need them. It's nearly two years since I had to buy a carrot and I use loads of them, even made carrot & parsley wine in the Spring. I fed a load to the sheep over last Winter too. We are still eating lettuce & courgettes from the garden. But the tatties were a bit disappointing this year - not the taste, just the size & amount. I'll have to start buying some soon. All the onions are hung in the shed & they're beauties. I've made wine, chutney & jam. Tonight we had the last of the apples in a crumble. They weren't too great this year, having been blown off the tree. They were all a bit bashed & many filled with a brown veins- tiny maggots? A virus? Must have a read up on it.
They wouldn't have stored, so I cut all the bad bits out & either jamed them or chutneyed them, some I also fed to the sheep. They seem to like them.
I have a good crop of leeks in & winter cabbage that I'm using all ready - just the odd leaves I nip off! I planted curly kale that is good in soup. I also give the sheep some of that too. It was slow to start & not as many plants have come through as I thought would, but it's coming on. The weather's been such a nasty devil lately that I have been down in the shelter of the wood snapping up dead twigs & attempting to drag dead limbs up to the saw bench. I'm struggling with a rotten tree down the gorge, but I'll fight on with it. I think I'll have to use a rope as I'm not making a lot of progress - but it keeps you warm even before Iit's been sawn up & burnt.The wood burning stove does well, heats this metal box & sometimes I cook on it. I always have a kettle on the trivet when it's on - the only means of hot water really. So our fuel is free. I like free things.
The little chicks are doing well & their Mum is really good keeping them fed & teaching them how to scratch. We have to move the run every few days - give them fresh ground to scratch. One chick that we thought may not make it, is fine, but seems half the size of (his?) siblings. He's a fiesty wee thing though & he'll be alright, I'm sure. It's so cold though, with really bad gales - again. What a windy year.
The other day we moved the ewes over onto the apportionment beside the new Hebredians. They appear to be ignoring each other. We managed to shift the orphans Gem & Harriet too. We still have four ewe lambs to move over. It's really to give the croft fields a rest. They are really wet & pretty well grazed off. We will have to put away some tup lambs to market next month. We'll keep four to grow on. Now sheep, and I presume cows need double ear tagging if you move them, so I ordered those in. Next year they are talking of electronic tagging. Everything seems designed to get rid off small farmers.
At the Scottish Crofter's Foundation annual gathering I was at the other week, I spoke with a group of Lewis crofters who were a great bunch of guys & interesting. They feed their sheep on seaweed - rather they let their sheep graze the shore. I need to go gather sea weed for the raised veg beds soon. It mkaes a brilliant compost. I think I'll give the sheep a try of it - The Hebredians will love it - that is in their blood no doubt.
I have three naughty lambs roaming the croft which I'll try & catch tomorrow. The ground has dropped and they seem to be like Houdinis, escaping from letter box sized slots. As soon as we put boards along a gap, they find another means of escape. They've scoffed my crysanthumums, made a mess of the Broom, but you can't blame them - the grass is greener and all that.
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