Friday 26 January 2024

A Cold Front Passes Over - Week 2 on the smallholding

The week of the 8th of January was a cold one.  Most nights saw temperatures drop between -2 and -5 Celsius.  Despite that, there were a few rays of sunshine to be had and no rain!


 
It has been a while since the dogs felt the sun on their faces through the window.
To stay warm, we had hot milk and hot chocolate heated on the aga in my lovely milk pan from Beamish.


The shed is back open for business after a quiet time over Christmas.  It was lovely to be working back in there again.  The day was kind to us too, cold but good working weather.  Steven worked in the "new" orchard area which is now part of the veg plot.

 

Rodney is back out in the shed with me after having a dental in December and since then has been in the house as he had to restart his vaccinations that had lapsed.


The work Steven is doing really opens up the space.  The veg patch looks dreary at this time of the year but my mind is already thinking of how bountiful it will be later in the year.


Below is where the gate is we put in some time back.  The gate hasn't moved but you can see here how the trellis now runs down to the perimeter fence to open up the plot whereas it was 90 degrees in the other direction earlier that day (right photo below).

 

It was all getting too much so Steven choose to hide in the hedge.  Just kidding - the hedge has grow around the trellis he was trying to remove and causing him headaches!


This is the first harvest of 2024 - very pleased I am with it too.


We took some time out to warm up around the bonfire.  Still without a glass of wine though!  Dry January, February and March for me.


Looking back up at the house from the field.


Lydia can't wait to get back out in to the field I am sure.


Finally, we were invited to celebrate our neighbours birthday so we scrubbed up and headed out for a little party.






1 comment:

  1. I hope you enjoyed your night out, any work you do now, will give you a great head start on the season, I do like things sorted before the growing starts.

    ReplyDelete

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