With the blessing of horses

by | Sep 16, 2012 | smallholding

Horses always seem to be fascinated by small people, and Sherafey is no exception. I presented Lyra to her, and she very carefully blew warm breaths over her, and had a good old sniff, whiffling around her very gently. I can’t imagine anything better to see a...
Say hello to Lyra

Say hello to Lyra

by | Sep 15, 2012 | smallholding

Well, what a night (and a day). This time yesterday bump was just that, a bump; and we’d got quite happily used to him or her being around. Anyhow, in the middle of the night she decided it might be time to get outa there, and so this morning, here she is,...

What comes down, must go up

by | Sep 14, 2012 | buildings

Ever since the horses arrived here, and through all the terrible weather, the lack of stables has really bothered me, and Sherafey, who dashed into hers as soon as it was finished. It also means poor Mel here can eat his dinner in peace without being monstered by the...
Taming a bit of wilderness

Taming a bit of wilderness

by | Sep 10, 2012 | smallholding

Having once been entirely bog, we’ve got a fair amount of rushes growing. In fact the wood field had so many this year that it was more than half covered. The horses have dealt with the majority of the rushes in their bit of the field, but the far end is fenced...

Inside things

by | Sep 8, 2012 | buildings

We’ve only been here five minutes and the place is already looking rather ‘lived in’. Mum has been beavering away making curtains for us using organic cotton (we got it here), and they are very fine. In the kitchen – and here…in the...

Outside things..

by | Sep 8, 2012 | buildings

It’s a sign of how little sun we’ve seen this ‘summer’ that come autumn, and a little sun, I just wandered about the place, marvelling at how magical it is. As I took this picture I could hear the sound of birds of prey calling, and little...

Demolition time

by | Sep 5, 2012 | buildings

Yesterday I began my assault on the horrible 50’s concrete extension on the south side of the house, by punching a hole through the wall in front of the previously hidden bathroom window. Today we went a bit further -Here’s the extension first thing this...

Woodland wanderings

by | Sep 4, 2012 | woodlands

This is a really beautiful time of year in the woods, and I’m in the process of clearing fallen timber and storing it to dry. Here’s the entrance into the woodland, which opens into a great clearing, in which is growing one of the few Rowan trees we have....

More maps, and a date

by | Sep 2, 2012 | buildings

Last night Mr Truesdale, from along the road, brought round his extensive collection of locally historic documents, and we learned much. It will take a visit to the public records office in Belfast to unearth the detail we need, but now we do know what we are looking...

The Turnip House

by | Sep 1, 2012 | crafts

We do like visitors, and it was great to see John and Elaine from the Turnip House, who very kindly brought us housewarming (and headwarming) hats. If you are coming to the area, make sure you visit their tea house – the cake is fabulous. They make knitwear and...

September

by | Sep 1, 2012 | smallholding

Thresh seed, and to fanning, September doth cry,get plough to the field, and be sowing of rye;To harrow the ridges, ere ye strike, is one piece of husbandry Suffolk doth like.Sow timely thy white wheat, sow rye in the dust,let seed have his longing, let soil have her...

Time travelling update part 2

by | Aug 31, 2012 | buildings

So…after a bit of research, it looks like we have identified  at least some of the people in this picture. We had the photograph looked at by Jayne Shrimpton, a dress historian and picture specialist, who confirmed that the picture was probably taken between...