Monday 20 April 2015

Getting on.

The farm jobs are disappearing one by one.  Every year I worry that it will not all get done.   The farmer carries on in his easy-going way, never gets ruffled and says it will get done - and it does.

All the 'muck' has now been spread and harrowed in, although three fields have to be done again to break it all up a bit more.  Quite a lot of the wet spots have been drained - those being done this week could easily be left but the farmer is enjoying using his new digger and so is carrying on with them for the time being.

Two jobs left to do.   All the fields now need rolling.   I always think this is quite a boring job - just riding up and down the fields but it needs doing and what is more it needs doing before the ground-nesting birds begin laying.

Then there are fences to mend.   This year's stakes and rails were delivered last Friday so they will take several days to put in in the places where the sheep and lambs are soon due to arrive.   If there is a weak spot anywhere then a sheep will find it - and if Mum can't squeeze through then baby will (and then spend hours on the 'wrong' side of the fence calling out and trying to get back.)

Yesterday the farmer mowed all the front lawns - in the front garden, under the Scots pines and across the Lane.   Sometime this week he will go down to the vegetable garden and mow the lawns and paths down there too.

No more swallows yet - the weather is not all that warm, but it is dry and quite sunny.   My job today of washing, drying and ironing is almost finished (last lot in the drier) - I am a traditionalist and still do the major part of the laundry on a Monday - air it overnight  on my Sheila Maid - and put it away on a Tuesday morning.   I so hate to see it hanging around all week.

Pheasants are beginning to lay their eggs.   Each morning the hen pheasants and the (hopeful) cock pheasants congregate round the base of our bird table, waiting for the corn the farmer scatters for them.  Then once the hens are ready to mate they allow the cock near them then off they go to lay an egg somewhere.   Last year we had one rear a whole brood in our front garden.   This year a hen has laid one solitary egg under out sitting room window on the path - not sure what to make of that!

Three of my favourite Spring flowers are out in the garden - mysotis (forget-me-not - I shake the flowers when they go to seed so that I now have them all over the garden -) pulmonaria (lungwort) and grape hyacinths.  I have also photographed the egg - something has moved it since yesterday - still under the bay window, but round the other side.


17 comments:

Sue in Suffolk said...

Don't talk to me about pheasants, I'm being woken every morning by them doing that funny noise they make that sounds like a dog in the distance and then the cock doing his big stretch and squawk thing! I Shall be glad when they've hatched and moved somewhere else

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

Bet you will see swallows in the next day or two, weather good for them! No martins for me yet, and it is still early for swifts although plenty are being seen

Joanne Noragon said...

Perhaps Mrs. Pheasant stayed out too late last night; didn't make it home.

Linda Metcalf said...

we don't see many pheasants here. They are turned loose here but with the chiggers we have not many survive. I think they were meant to stay in Japan. Hubby just came in from mowing and is about 80% done. he is winded so will take a short break and then finish up. Lots to do with having land and animals to keep up with.

Mac n' Janet said...

I love Forget-Me-Nots, but don't have a lot of luck with them. I've started some in the greenhouse this year and will try to grow them in pots.
I mow the lawn here, we have a riding lawn mower and I love it.

Gwil W said...

I saw a pheasant yesterday. Sounded like a rusty machine. Today I saw two swans on a small piece of water, one preparing a nest and the other under the overhanging foliage not far way. B

The Weaver of Grass said...

We all seem to have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the poor pheasant. I don't care for them cooked, so as far as I am concerned they are pretty birds and that's all.

Heather said...

Careless pheasant! I love those spring flowers too. I have so many forget-me-nots around the garden now and they all came from a small clump given to me by a lovely neighbour who emigrated to New Zealand. They are so well named - she will never be forgotten. This weather is perfect for all those jobs around the farm and so pleasant to work in.

Elizabeth said...

Love your spring flowers.
How industrious your husband is!

Maureen @ Josephina Ballerina said...

Hi Pat!
It seems like such a long time since I have been able to post or read blogs. I've been adding back a few more and a few more. I'm almost back to where I was (blog-reading wise) before The Great Head Bash Adventure.
I was wondering if you hang all of your laundry to dry or just some? Probably a dumb question. Sorry.
:) m & jb

Terry and Linda said...

We don't have swallows here yet...way too cold. Neither do we have any Hummingbirds, but I have food out for them should they suddenly show up.

Today it is a tad sunny, I'm loving it.

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
https://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/sherlock-boomer

Midlife Roadtripper said...

I wonder if the farmer finds a rhythm when moving the tractor through the fields. Washing on Monday. Just seems the right day to do such a big job. Energy gained from Sunday's rest. And, we get it out of the way.

Flowers are beautiful and a welcome sight, I'm sure.

angryparsnip said...

I didn't see and grape hyacinths in the markets this year and the ones I have for a few years ago only send out greens.
I am growing a bag of forget-me- not and am so excited. It comes in a bag and you just add the water and good light. They are growing and I am so happy.
I would love a whole garden of them

cheers, parsnip

Cro Magnon said...

Can't you pop that egg into a slightly cosier looking nest somewhere?

MorningAJ said...

There were grape hyacinths all over in Somerset. They are very pretty but I don't really like the smell. I'm not sure why. I love 'real' hyacinths.

thelma said...

I suppose the egg has gone cold by now, can you eat pheasant eggs I wonder. The lanes round some parts of Yorkshire are absolutely full of pheasants, LS says they are suicidal as they stroll slowly across the lanes...

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thelma - the eggs always go cold - the hen just lays one each day and then leaves the nest. When she has laid at least a dozen, then she sits on them and warms them up.
Morning AJ - have just been out to smell the grape hyacinths - never thought to do that before - rather like it.
Cro - need to find another nest and have not done so yet.
Parsnip - I adore forget me nots too.

Thanks to everyone for calling in.