Tuesday 28 April 2015

Bizzare weather

The weather here in the Yorkshire Dales has been, I suppose, very 'Aprilish' these last few days.   This afternoon I had several errands in the car and noticed that the temperature on the dashboard indicated that outside in was just nine degrees.   Last week at this time it was nineteen.

There is bright sunshine and the leaves are bursting forth on the trees - everywhere is greening up nicely - but there is an icy wind blowing.   And living, as we do, in a hilly area, we can see showers coming from a long way away - and today many of them have been of horizontal hail.   Many of the peaks on the Pennines in the distance are snow-covered.

Yesterday the farmer rotovated the whole vegetable garden and then planted peas, broad beans, shallots and red onions; luckily he didn't put in the broad bean plants but left them under cover for the night because this morning  there was a covering of hail stones.

Today was not really a day for doing a lot on the farm so it was tidying up the shed (always plenty to do in there) and then, after lunch a trip with the tractor and trailer to buy a load of stakes so that he can begin mending fences tomorrow.

It is our Poetry group tomorrow, so I am now going to sit in a sunny window (while the sunshine lasts) and choose what I am going to read.   Enjoy your evening.

11 comments:

Heather said...

You won't mind too much what the weather does tomorrow Pat, unless it prevents you from getting to your meeting! I don't think it will do that. I have sown seeds in the greenhouse and some outside too, and most of them are up, poor things. Last week it was perfect for them, but they seem to be coping with the cold nights.

Bovey Belle said...

We've had hailstones the past two days as well. My runner beans are desperate to get planted but will have to rough it in the Wyevale polytunnel a bit longer.

Midlife Roadtripper said...

What a way to spend the day. Sitting in a sunny window with a book of poetry. Strange weather here also. Last few days warm and humid. Then rain and storms. Today chilly and cool. Windows open for airing the house, but I grew cold. No sun.

Frances said...

Chilly here in Hertfordshire today too. I love learning about the farming year and hearing about your life.

Rachel Phillips said...

Arctic airstream over the country at the moment.

angryparsnip said...

We had a very small bit of cooler weather but tomorrow it will be back up to the 90's.
Pool open !

cheers, parsnip

Cro Magnon said...

Quite nice here. All the maize is sown and up, the sunflower crops are sown, the wheat's looking good, and the cherry trees are loaded. If anyone sends us hail; there'll be trouble!

MorningAJ said...

Oh to sit in a sunny window reading poetry. Lots of spring and summer stuff. Something flowery (meaning flowery subject, not flowery style!)

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

How do sheds get so untidy? I hardly venture into mine at all during the winter months but every Spring it's a tip! There should be a poem about that somewhere!

The Weaver of Grass said...

John - there probably is!
Thanks everyone - there is strength to be gained when we are all suffering the same freezing cold weather. (apart from lucky you, Parsnip)

thelma said...

English weather what would we do without it! April and May always hang in the balance for putting tender plants out, perhaps we are too eager....