Category Archives: Uncategorized

I was walking the dog this morning when the Assassin sauntered across our path with a big mouse in her jaws. So I thought you might like to know more about vermin control on the farm. We have the Assassin and Tripod. Tripod lost her leg when she was younger in a trap laid inContinue reading “Spotlight on vermin control”

The Expert Beekeeper had a turkey in her freezer since March when she had decided to do a lovely Easter dinner for the Smallholder family. However, this plan was overtaken by events outwith human control, so she decided to take over the kitchen at the farm yesterday and prepare a glorious repast for us. WeContinue reading “Easter in July, or has Christmas come early?”

This week saw Expert Beekeeper decide to move her hives from further north where they had been lazy and unproductive to our smallholding. Despite the poor weather, they recovered really quickly from the trip in the back of the pick up (they didn’t like the banjo music though) and started foraging for pollen and makingContinue reading “Bee Movie”

Today we had a visit from GS’s Mother-in-law, MIL-lie. She had a shot in the tractor and pronounced it very comfy. We gave her the grand tour. It would have been very pleasant but for the rain, it was the sort that doesn’t seem so bad but gets you drenched in minutes. Below you canContinue reading “A Visit From Millie”

It was Expert Forester’s birthday this week, so we had a barbecue. Unusually, this was not a cue for the weather to turn. It was great till the midges came to partake of the feast, which was us. We had burgers, Pimms, sausages, Pimms, corn cobs, Pimms, salad, Pimms, chicken and Pimms. I had usedContinue reading “Birthday Barbecue”

Recently we have been invaded by our neighbours’ genius sheep. They come through some old fencing between our property early in the morning before NSF (neighbour sheep farmer), notices. They feast on our long grass, poo plenty, then tear up any electric fencing and shout at each other very loudly outside our house about 30Continue reading “Good Fences, Good Neighbours”

If you are a dog of middle years, make sure you train your owners really well so that if you want to bring your ball home, but are too tired to carry it, they will do the hard work for you. But make sure the ball is lovely and wet with slobber so they knowContinue reading “Dog Training Doofus Style”

The squirrels have been eating our strawberries before we get to them, but GSM got up early today and got there first. Who ate all the strawberries? It was Granny!!! The hens are doing well. And the sun came back out (momentarily). So we sat outside to provide sustenance for midges.

Yes, I dug out my wellies, scarf and gloves again today. The wind is coming straight down from the northwest. Thought it would be good to record how the rest of the farm is doing. Berries on the berberis bush, hope something eats them. Oh, Bee hive! Still vacant….. We thought this tree had diedContinue reading “Freezing June”

Here we are in June already and we have had all four seasons so far this month. I’ve just had to put my winter fleecy on over my sunburn (itchy and ouchy) to go put a rug on Tim-nice-but-dim, the overbred horse as he was wet and shivering. Cushy Butterfield, the other alleged steed isContinue reading “The Day of the Triffids  (and other updates)”