I have not totally
forgotten my blog, although it had to be admitted that it has not
been updated for quite a while. That is partly due to the amount of
decorating I have been doing. I thought it may be of limited interest
the amount of floorboard sanding, wallpaper stripping, light
removals, painting, radiator issues that I have been dealing with
recently. I was actually quite proud of myself today as I had to
drain the central heating system to change a few valves. What was
most exciting was the fact that I managed to get the heating working
afterwards. Previously this has always involved trapping air in all
sorts of inconvenient places (in the heating system) and then having
to call a plumber to come and sort it out for me. This time I cracked
it and the heating is back up and fully operational.
There has been some
comings and goings on the smallholding. We now have the loan of a ram
who is supposed to be busy servicing the Ewe's . I have to admit
apart from a quick try when he first arrived in the field I haven't
seen him make much effort in this department. When he first arrived
he chased them around the field and tried his best but they just ran
away. I hope this initial encounter didn't put him off for good. The
other sheep have gone for a little trip to another field down the
road where the owner needs the grass trimming. This is perfect as we
are quite low on grass over winter (although the fact it is still
growing helps in this matter!).
Winter vegetables
are not greatly abundant. We have loads of Beetroot sat in the ground
and a little spinach. We did have some really good parsnips but we
have eaten those now. Any veg for growing in winter got well and
truly destroyed by the slugs back in the spring. We'll try again this
year. I think we'll plant a little less so we can really concentrate
on what we have. I think last year we tried far to much in one go.
The CSA pigs have
left us since my last blog. We had a half a pig and then other
members have half or quarter pigs to enjoy. Some members also tried
our hams. We are planning to get some more piglets in the spring. I
am glad we don't have any pigs at the moment. The field is muddy
enough as it is without pigs digging it up and stomping on it all day
long with their trotters. They really would be belly deep in it by
now.
We had quite a quiet
Christmas. We went to my parents. We of course took some pork with us
to go with the Turkey on Christmas day. The cat was supposed to be at
home and stay in the barn, but that didn't quite work out. I spent
ages setting up the barn (warm as that is where the biomass boiler
is) with a window, cat-flap and bed on a nice shelf off the floor.
However that cat liked to get up high and every night we put her in
there she climbed up to the tin sheeting in the roof and got stuck up
there! I think maybe it was an excuse not to be put to bed in a barn.
The decorating is
taking shape and I can see and end in sight (although certainly not
by tomorrow morning). It will be nice to get out and spend a little
more time with the animals and a little less with the paintbrush!
