Sunday : Late afternoon evening, it feels like that time is all over the place today, first the time goes quick then it seemed to slow down to almost a stop lol, one thing is for sure the evenings in will be longer 😝 roll on December 21st when the nights will draw out again.Monday: Bit of a shocker to the system, must have gone down to around -2/3 last night judging by the frost and ice this morning. I always find it quite exhilarating though, the first real cold snap of the Autumn. The leaves will fall from the trees rapidly as the sun gets on them today, it’s quite a phenomenon if you get to see it, anything tender in the garden will wither away and hibernate until next year, and we will dig out all the warm clothes we need including my isotherm wellies which keep my feet warm down to at least -10 shouldn’t need them to go lower than that! First job after feeding and watering (and coffee) is cleaning the ducks out, John did the hen huts at the back yesterday and the front hens get done each morning as part of the routine. Then I cleaned out the rabbit hut, I thought there was a dead baby in there this morning but it was all the fur that the mums pulled out to line the nest, it has now gone a bit soggy, time to clean it out and put in new bedding, although the babies are nowhere to be seen again, eventually they will get to big to get behind the wood. As it is such a lovely day I did a bit in the veg garden, clearing some dead foliage from the other asparagus bed and the banana squash then onto clearing the beans, note to self don’t tie the canes up so tight next time they are a bugger to get undone once the vegetation has grown all around it! I did save some of the beans and I will dry them to use for planting next year, there were a few more butter beans to be had as well. I put double layers of fleece round the peppers in the big poly tunnel, we will see if they survive or not, nothing to lose by trying.
It was a pleasant morning, the ducks kept me company rooting about where I had dug up weeds or plants, there were three cock pheasants strutting their stuff in the paddock, brave of them I thought, obviously no one has told them it’s hunting season 😜
In the afternoon Sam and Mia came over and we had Josh as well for a pumpkin carving session, while the adults wielded the knives the kids got their hands in pulling out the pumpkin guts, pretty sure Mia will be a large animal vet when she is older judging by the way she went in up to her elbows without a care lol.
Tuesday: All Hallows Eve, The Feast of the Dead, Samhain, the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the dark months, celebrated with feasts, bonfires and when the livestock are bought in for winter.
It was raining first thing but brightened up now, whizzed round and did the morning chores, only one dog with me this morning as Mia dog is hobbling on 3 legs so is on bed rest for a few days, it’s no wonder the way they charge around the farm all day long. I put a basket of sweets in the egg shed, well we can’t let the children have all the fun, hopefully it will give the egg customers a cheeky smile or two. I had Mia in the afternoon and now the clocks have changed John has to come home just before dark to put the birds away on the days she is here as it clashes with her dinner time and a toddler and their dinner won’t wait lol.
Wednesday: Went round and did the morning feeding etc all is well, it was a lovely sunny day so I set about cutting back and tidying the flower bed (lose term 😝) next to the back door. All the elder I cut down I have left in a pile for bugs to use as Winter quarters and I haven’t raked the ground over as I want it left to decompose naturally and add benefit to the soil. There are tons of leaves around too but any gardener worth their salt will either put them into a leaf mulch bin or pile them onto any available beds because they are full of nutrients and gathering them up for the green waste bin would be sacrilege, they will eventually replace any leached nutrients when the worms have done their job. I have used a bit of old stock fence to put round the bed as the dogs seem to use any space that is useful for a toilet! I have also done one of the few bits of weed killing that has to be done which is the ménage and the back driveway, I did wonder what it would be like if I just left the driveway to grass over but I think, slippy, is the answer to that.
While Sam was here this morning we managed to get all the baby rabbits out of the hidding place and block it up so they can’t get back in (fingers crossed)……update on that, had to unblock it as I realised after looking at photos there are seven and we only got five out!
Thursday: Cold morning but the sun should come out, got the morning jobs done then went straight into the veg garden to do some more weeding and cutting back. I took the before and after photos this time 😀 I still have plenty of weeding and digging up to do so am hoping the weather stays fair 😜 Shelley, Josh and Charlie came over and made chocolate crispie cakes, by the time they left it was time to do the afternoon feeding, light the fire and put the bins out. Somewhere in between I ordered some new pocket torches, the ones we had have given up the ghost and the on,y other one is a great big rechargeable one, which is, as I type, charging ready for the dark nights. Tonight I have set the wildlife camera up in the front drive, I want to see what is munching on the windfall apples, probably only rabbits but you never know, might be something interesting.
Friday: Foggy this morning and I don’t think it’s going to burn off any time soon, it doesn’t really inspire me to work outside today lol. Did the feeding then checked on the baby rabbits as they appear to be getting out, I’m thinking they will probably eventually leave or breed close by 😩 not what I want to happen but I can’t get them altogether, maybe have to try catching them one at a time and locking them up till I have them all. Going for a foggy walk with Shelley and Josh this morning, hopefully get some nice atmospheric photos.
Lit the Rayburn at lunchtime as it’s still foggy and not lifting, it seeps into your bones urgh.
Saturday: I don’t feel too well today, nothing specific but a few aches and pains and no energy to do anything, John did the morning rounds while I sorted out the horse who has been coming in because of the fireworks and then I didn’t do anything all day except lay on the sofa! John had to go to work and he did the animals when he came home, I did managed to sew the seam on my winter farm coat and get the dinner but that was about it. Huge full moon tonight. 
Sunday: Guy Fawkes 🔥 Feeling better today although still sluggish but capable 😝 John did the animals and I did the horse again then I got myself ready as I am spending the day on a workshop learning something new 😀 hopefully you will see the results in a photo providing I can do it lol.
Might be a bit later posting this as after the workshop we are off to watch some fireworks and bonfire, I do love Guy Fawkes night 🎆
So I am back from the workshop, had a very lovely relaxing day being taught how to use Powertex and we made little fairy houses with it but the possibilities are endless.
If you want to know more get in touch with Mo Lafford email molafford@hotmail.co.uk find her Facebook or call on 07837173708.
frieslandfarm (flowers) 