Highest Waterfall.

MY PENNINE WAY PICTURE FOR TODAY
Approaching the market town of Hawes. This is a nice place to stop and look around, there is also a good fish and chip shop. Unfortunately rain was once again threatening so I wanted to get to my camp and get the tent up so didn't stop on this time.

The highest waterfall in England - not very impressive by world standards but had to see it. My camp was close by the waterfall and even closer by was the pub where I spent a really enjoyable night sampling cider with a Dutch couple.

TODAYS WEATHER READINGS
Temp Low: -1C
Temp High: 4C
Feels Like: -3 to -2C
Precipitation: 3 mm
Wind Speed: 32 mph
Wind Direction: NW
UV Index: Low
Weather: Mostly sunny.

MY WORK BOOK

Seeing to the sheep
Field
Misc
Tue 10/02/2009 08:00
Tue 10/02/2009 09:15
1.25 hours
Entry No.447
1) Helped the farmer take away some of the sheep.
2) Took across some hay.
3) Checked and counted the sheep.
4) Put out some minerals.
5) Check the water trough.

Seeing to the greenhouses.
Greenhouse & Conservatory
Indoors
Tue 10/02/2009 09:15
Tue 10/02/2009 10:30
1.25 hours
Entry No.448
1) Checked round.
2) Repotted a plant.
3) Took some Busy Lizzie cuttings.

Break for tea
Home
Misc
Tue 10/02/2009 10:30
Tue 10/02/2009 10:50
20 minutes
Entry No.449

Pruning
North front rock garden
Public Gardens
Tue 10/02/2009 10:50
Tue 10/02/2009 12:45
115 minutes
Entry No.450
Pruned a climbing rose and tied it in to the wall after putting up new wires.

Break for lunch
Home
Misc
Tue 10/02/2009 12:45
Tue 10/02/2009 13:30
45 minutes
Entry No.451

Tidying up
North front rock garden
Public Gardens
Tue 10/02/2009 13:30
Tue 10/02/2009 17:00
3.5 hours
Entry No.452
1) Raked up and carted away rubbish from the rock garden
2) Wired the wall, pruned and trained another climbing rose.
3) Clean soil from the four lots of steps.
4) Washed and brushed down the steps.
There is still another load of rubbish to cart away.

Cleaned and put away the tools
Potting Shed
Indoors
Tue 10/02/2009 17:00
Tue 10/02/2009 17:15
15 minutes
Entry No.453

NOTE

1) As you will see from above I started work early this morning so as to assist the farmer with the sheep.

COMMENTS FROM THE POTTING SHED

Sara We have our fair share of mud here too at the moment as my poor boots will testify to. never mind, spring is getting closer by the day.

Jeanette Well lets hope they get the people who did set some of the fires. If I had my way they would get paraded in front of all the people who lost everything but I guess thats not PC - ha! You also have to remember all the animals that died too.

The Weaver of Grass I notice there have been rabbits in the garden, you can see their prints in the snow but they don't usually do any damage. The veg plot is in a walled garden so its not so easy for the rabbits to get in provided people keep the gates closed. The birds are the worst pests.

Quince Tree.

MY PENNINE WAY PICTURE FOR TODAY

The Pennine Way out of Horton In Ribblesdale.

Looking across to Penyghent.

MY WORK BOOK

See to the sheep
Field
Misc
Thu 05/02/2009 08:30
Thu 05/02/2009 08:50
20 minutes
Entry No.411
1) Took across some hay.
2) Checked and counted the sheep.

Checking round
Greenhouse & Conservatory
Indoors Thu 05/02/2009 08:50
Thu 05/02/2009 09:05
15 minutes
Entry No.412
Had a quick look around to make sure everything was as it should be.

Shopping
Home
Misc
Thu 05/02/2009 09:05
Thu 05/02/2009 10:00
55 minutes
Entry No.413
Ordered a Quince tree from Blackmoor Nurseries at a cost for the tree of £15

Break for tea
Home
Misc
Thu 05/02/2009 10:00
Thu 05/02/2009 10:30
30 minutes
Entry No.414

Spraying
Greenhouse
Indoors
Thu 05/02/2009 10:30
Thu 05/02/2009 11:00
30 minutes
Entry No.415
Sprayed against Whitefly.

Potting up
Potting Shed
Indoors
Thu 05/02/2009 11:00
Thu 05/02/2009 12:00
1 hour
Entry No.416
Potted up some plants that I fetched from Pumpend the other day.

Clearing snow
Front Passage
Public Gardens
Thu 05/02/2009 12:00
Thu 05/02/2009 12:20
20 minutes
Entry No.417
Moved the latest fall of snow.

Clearing snow
Office Steps
Public Gardens
Thu 05/02/2009 12:20
Thu 05/02/2009 12:35
15 minutes
Entry No.418

Break for lunch
Home
Misc
Thu 05/02/2009 12:32
Thu 05/02/2009 13:35
63 minutes
Entry No.419

Tidying up
Potting Shed
Indoors
Thu 05/02/2009 13:30
Thu 05/02/2009 16:30
3 hours
Entry No.420
Sorting out and tidying up the potting shed.

See to the bins
Hall
Misc
Thu 05/02/2009 16:30
Thu 05/02/2009 16:45
15 minutes
Entry No.421
Put out the recycle tub.

See to the sheep
Field
Misc
Thu 05/02/2009 16:45
Thu 05/02/2009 17:00
15 minutes
Entry No.422
Took across some hay.

COMMENTS FROM THE POTTING SHED
Merle I try and clean and oil my tools every night before going home that way they stay shinny and are easier to use. I was only thinking yesterday how we must get used to cold because I don't really notice that much.

The Weaver of Grass They have been very slack at colleting the bins of late, they never even showed up for either the green bins or the recycle tubs this week. A few weeks ago everyone put out their black bins and they never came so the bins stood out for a whole week. Just another example of backwards progress.

Jeanette The garden that never was is just a small corner on the North front, once the snow has gone it won't take me long to tidy it up.

Snow Brains

MY PENNINE WAY PICTURE FOR TODAY
A July day on Fountains Fell.

Approaching Penyghent, there was no view to be had from the top of there either that day, at least it had stopped raining by the time I reached the top of Penyghent.

TODAYS WEATHER READINGS
Temp Low: -3.5C
Temp High: 3C
Feels Like: -4 to -3C
Precipitation: 0 mm
Wind Speed: 32 mph
Wind Direction: SE
UV Index: Low
Weather: Cloud and Sun.

MY WORK BOOK
Clear snow/ice
Front passage
Public Gardens
Tue 03/02/2009 08:30
Tue 03/02/2009 08:45
15 minutes
Entry No.387
Moved the snow and put down grit/salt

Removed snow/ice
Office steps
Public Gardens
Tue 03/02/2009 08:45
Tue 03/02/2009 09:00
15 minutes
Entry No.388
Moved the snow and put down grit/salt


See to the sheep
Field
Misc
Tue 03/02/2009 09:00
Tue 03/02/2009 09:30
30 minutes
Entry No.389
1) Took across some hay.
2) Checked and counted the sheep.
3) Put out some minerals.
4) Broke the ice on the water trough.


Filled the log baskets
Hall
Tue 03/02/2009 09:30
Tue 03/02/2009 09:45
15 minutes
Entry No.390
Took in 2 baskets of logs.

Clearing snow
Roof of the Hall
Hall
Tue 03/02/2009 09:45
Tue 03/02/2009 11:15
1.5 hours
Entry No.391
Water was leaking through the roof in to the hall so they asked me to clear some snow off a flat roof for them.


Break for tea
Hall
Misc
Tue 03/02/2009 11:15
Tue 03/02/2009 11:30
15 minutes
Entry No.392

Sorting out
Greenhouse
Indoors
Tue 03/02/2009 11:30
Tue 03/02/2009 12:45
1.25 hours
Entry No.393
Making room for the young Wallflower plants in the warm greenhouse in a bid to bring them on a bit faster.

Break for lunch
Home
Misc
Tue 03/02/2009 12:45
Tue 03/02/2009 13:30
45 minutes
Entry No.394

Sorting out
Greenhouse
Indoors
Tue 03/02/2009 13:30
Tue 03/02/2009 14:20
50 minutes
Entry No.395
Continued to sort out the plants in the greenhouse.

Tending to plants
Greenhouse
Indoors
Tue 03/02/2009 14:20
Tue 03/02/2009 14:40
20 minutes
Entry No.396
Had to wipe down a few plant leaves that had been made sticky by the whitefly.

Replacing glass
Conservatory
Misc
Tue 03/02/2009 14:40
Tue 03/02/2009 15:40
1 hour
Entry No.397
One pane of glass had slipped and there were a couple of pieces that were broken so replaced them as the weather is set to turn cold.

Went shopping
Garden centre
Misc
Tue 03/02/2009 15:40
Tue 03/02/2009 16:10
30 minutes
Entry No. 398
I was not very happy because when I got there I found they were closed. Their opening times used to be 8:30 till 5 but now they changed it to 9 till 4 I can see that place closing before much longer because when they are open they don’t hav

Shopping
Home
Misc
Tue 03/02/2009 16:00
Tue 03/02/2009 16:30
30 minutes
Entry No.398
Looked through some catalogues for Quince trees as the boss said they would like me to grow one for them.

Seeing to the sheep
Field
Misc
Tue 03/02/2009 16:30
Tue 03/02/2009 16:50
20 minutes
Entry No.399
Took across some more hay.

NOTES
1) I was woken this morning at 5 by what I thought was someone continually revving a car engine so I reluctantly got out of bed to find that it was the milk man skidding up one of the lawns in the courtyard! For some unknown reason he had decided to drive across the lawn and had then sunk in and got stuck. Admittedly it was covered in snow but he comes everyday so should know there is a lawn there, it seems like he was another one suffering from snow brains.



2) Looking back I don’t think I made it clear yesterday that the sowing I was doing was indoors, meaning that the plants if they come up will be grown indoors until the weather picks up. I wasn’t out there sowing peas in the snow or anything, I’m sure you know that.

COMMENTS FROM THE POTTING SHED
Sara I should think people the world over were laughing their socks off.

Red Clover There is no such thing as a dump question, its only dumb if you have a question and don't ask it. I will do a post about taking a dahlia cutting when/if I get any shoots up. There is a bit more too it than just sticking a leaf in water but they're easy enough to root from a cutting. Anyway in a few weeks when I take some cuttings I will show you how to do it. There are lots of nice Dahlia's to choose from, the hard part for me is knowing which ones to leave out - I want them all!

Jeanette I did fish out the ice with my hand actually, the worst bit is afterwards when the wind gets to it. It was all for nothing as the sheep have never left the hay feeder but I like to do it just in case.

The Weaver of Grass The soil here is over limestone so it free draining and with a few nice days is starting to dry out also the veg plot is in he walled garden so very sheltered. Things like the Cauliflower and Lettuce can be kept quite a while in pots and the beans hard hardy enough so as soon as the soil is anything like and they're big enough they can go out. I would have sown them straight in the ground now if it hadn't been for the snow. The Peas can go out in March sometime if the weather is okay. Things don't always get timed right and I end up throwing them but if you have them growing there is always a chance you can catch an early window if you get a warm spell. If they're still in the packet you have no chance.

Matron I sowed more than 6 lettuce seeds, I sowed them in a 6 pack module tray and I made a dent in the compost with my finger and but 3 or 4 seed in each hole and when they come up I will pull out the weakest so leaving 6 plants to grow. I will sow some more in a few weeks.

Another Grey Day In Paradise.

MY PENNINE WAY PICTURE FOR TODAY

Looking back to Malham from the top of Malham Cove. Those rocks were wet and it was like walking on ice, I was glad when I was able to get off them.

The dry valley beyond Malham Cove. Once water ran down here and over the Cove as a waterfall, now the water soaks in to the ground higher up the valley and then emerges at the base of the cliff. The people you can see are fellow Pennine Way walkers. The lad in the red trousers was from Holland and the three were father and two sons. We met very often along the way as far as the Tan Hill Inn then we lost touch.

TODAYS WEATHER READINGS
Temp Low: 1C
Temp High: 8C
Feels Like: -1 to 9C
Percipitation: 2 mm
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind Direction: NE
UV Index: Low
Weather: Some brightness in the morning but basically it was another grey day in paradise.

MY WORK BOOK

See to the sheep
Field
Misc
Wed 28/01/2009 08:30
Wed 28/01/2009 08:50
20 minutes
Entry No.336
1) Took across some hay.
2) Checked and counted the sheep.

Checked around the greenhouses
Greenhouse & Conservatory
Wed 28/01/2009 08:50
Wed 28/01/2009 09:15
25 minutes
Entry No.337
Checked round and made sure everything was okay, a fastener on one of the windows had come out so I had to sort that out with another rusty nail.

Sweeping up
Pumpend
Wed 28/01/2009 09:15
Wed 28/01/2009 10:30
1.25 hours
Entry No.338
Gave the two yards a sweep out and put down disinfectant. (Note 1)

Break for tea
Home
Misc
Wed 28/01/2009 10:30
Wed 28/01/2009 10:50
20 minutes
Entry No.339


Washing out
Pumpend
Wed 28/01/2009 10:50
Wed 28/01/2009 11:20
30 minutes
Entry No.340
Washing down where I applied the disinfectant earlier.

Washing down the staging
Conservatory
Greenhouses
Wed 28/01/2009 11:20
Wed 28/01/2009 12:45
85 minutes
Entry No.341
I carried on from where I left off the other day scrubbing and disinfecting the staging.

Break for lunch
Home
Misc
Wed 28/01/2009 12:45
Wed 28/01/2009 13:30
45 minutes
Entry No.342

Contined to scrub the staging.
Conservatory
Greenhouses
Wed 28/01/2009 13:30
Wed 28/01/2009 15:00
1.5 hours
Entry No.343
Also scrubbed the tiles under the staging while I had it lifted and out of the way.

Made a start on putting back the plants
Conservatory
Greenhouses
Wed 28/01/2009 15:00
Wed 28/01/2009 16:35
95 minutes
Entry No.344
Tidied up the plants before returning them to the staging. I’m also throwing some of the worst ones away.

See to the bins
Hall
Wed 28/01/2009 16:35
Wed 28/01/2009 16:50
15 minutes
Entry No.345
Put out 5 black bins, 1 was from Pumpend and there was the one from Franks that I usually put out.

Clean and put away the tools
Potting Shed
Wed 28/01/2009 16:50
Wed 28/01/2009 17:00
10 minutes
Entry No.346

NOTES
1)The former lady to the big house asked me to tidy up her two yards as she is having visitors at the weekend. She also asked if I had anything I could put in her pots that she has by the front door. I don’t really have anything and I don’t feel like rising to the challenge as it’s their own fault there is nothing because that’s what happens when the captain stokes the boilers.
2)Today I got my order of seed potatoes from Marshalls Seeds, this year I’m growing Picasso, Charlotte, Swift and Maris Peer.

COMMENTS FROM THE POTTING SHED

The Weaver of Grass Yes I can imagine what it must be like on a weekend.I will try and keep on posting from my work book.
Jeanette Thanks for the award Jeanette, thats very kind of you to think of me. We had a lot of rain last summer so that helped to keep things so green and fresh.
Jim No I don't think they will be allowed in to your house unless invited, I think its more of an educational thing than anything else. Also apart from telling you what is good to eat they also advise on sell by dates on the food and food wastage in general and how to avoid being wasteful. I think a better way would be to bring back world war two food rationing for a while then people will educate themselves or starve. I guess with my ideas I will never make it to Prime Minister hey!! Hopefully one day you will get to visit again Jim.

Malham

MY PENNINE WAY PICTURE FOR TODAY

Malham Village. It was here that I met three girls doing the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, they pulled me over to enquiry as to where the campsite was. They were gutted to hear that it was somewhere up the road from where they had just come.

This is looking back to the campsite and was taken the next morning on the way to Malham Cove. The site is in the centre of the picture next to the farm.

TODAY'S WEATHER READINGS
Temp Low: 4C
Temp High: 8C
Feels Like: 3 to 6C
Precipitation: 1 mm
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind Direction: S
UV Index: Low
Weather: Overcast a very grey day.

MY WORK BOOK

Subject: See to the sheep
Location: Field
Start: Tue 27/01/2009 08:30
End: Tue 27/01/2009 09:00
Duration: 30 minutes
Message: Entry No.328
1) Took across some hay.
2) Put out some minerals.
3) Checked and counted the sheep.

Check round
Greenhouse & Conservatory
Greenhouses
Tue 27/01/2009 09:00
Tue 27/01/2009 09:10
10 minutes
Entry No.329
Had a quick look around to make sure everything was in order.

Tidying up
Apple tree shrub border
Walled Garden
Tue 27/01/2009 09:10
Tue 27/01/2009 10:30
80 minutes
Entry No.330
1) Edged the grass.
2) Cleared off any weeds and rubbish.
3) Forked over the soil.

Break for tea
Home
Misc
Tue 27/01/2009 10:30
Tue 27/01/2009 10:50
20 minutes
Entry No.331

Tidying up
Apple tree shrub border
Walled Garden
Tue 27/01/2009 10:50
Tue 27/01/2009 12:45
115 minutes
Entry No.332
See entry No. 330 for details.

Break for lunch
Home
Misc
Tue 27/01/2009 12:45
Tue 27/01/2009 13:45
1 hour Entry No.333

Tidying up
Apple tree shrub border
Walled Garden
Tue 27/01/2009 13:45
Tue 27/01/2009 16:40
175 minutes
Entry No.334
See Entry No.330 for details.

Clean and put away the tools
Potting Shed
Tue 27/01/2009 16:40
Tue 27/01/2009 17:00
20 minutes
Entry No.335

NOTES
I really can't think of anything noteworthy to write here so I will press on to your comments.
COMMENTS FROM THE POTTING SHED

Sara I could write a book on what I think about these people and the way they act but it just winds me up so I will say no more.

Jeanette Ha ha - I'm sure they thought about taxing people for breathing, they just haven't thought of a way to implement it yet. Did you know they're looking to put a higher tax on cell phones that have GPS, decent cameras or any other gadget that makes the phones worth having? So you see a breath tax might not be so far fetched after all.

Merle Thanks for the award and of course I will both enjoy it and appreciate the thought behind it - its very kind of you.

Dick What you say about the car makers is so true. We used to have several car manufactures here in the UK but now I don't think there are any worth talking about, apart from the foriegn car makers that have factories here. We were making cars that didn't work properly or last very long so that was it, people went elsewhere.

Food For Thought.

MY PENNINE WAY PICTURE FOR TODAY

First sighting of Malham Cove.

The path in to Malham Village.

TODAYS WEATHER READINGS
Temp Low: 2C
Temp High: 7C
Feels Like: -2 to 8C
Percipitation: 1 mm
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind Direction: SW
UV Index: Low
Weather: Overcast and very still all day.

MY WORK BOOK

Subject: See to the sheep
Location: Field
Categories: Misc
Start: Mon 26/01/2009 08:30
End: Mon 26/01/2009 09:00
Duration: 30 minutes
Message: Entry No.317
1) Took across some hay.
2) Checked and counted the sheep.
3) Put out some minerals.

See to the greenhouses
Greenhouse & Con
Greenhouses
Mon 26/01/2009 09:00
Mon 26/01/2009 10:15
1.25 hours
Entry No.318
Did some watering.

Break for tea
Home
Misc
Mon 26/01/2009 10:15
Mon 26/01/2009 10:35
20 minutes
Entry No.319
Had 1 mug of tea.

Pruning
Mulberry tree lawn
Walled Garden
Mon 26/01/2009 10:35
Mon 26/01/2009 12:35
2 hours
Entry No.320
Finished pruning the apple trees. (Note 1)

Break for lunch
Home
Misc
Mon 26/01/2009 12:30
Mon 26/01/2009 13:30
1 hour
Entry No.321
Had 1 mug of tea, 4 cheese sandwiches and 3 jam tarts.

Pruning
The East Wall
Walled Garden
Mon 26/01/2009 13:30
Mon 26/01/2009 14:00
30 minutes
Entry No.322
Finished off pruning the pear trees.

Cutting back
The East Wall
Walled Garden
Mon 26/01/2009 14:00
Mon 26/01/2009 14:30
30 minutes
Entry No.323
Trimmed the ivy on the east wall by the white gate.

Cutting back
Mulberry tree lawn
Walled Garden
Mon 26/01/2009 14:30
Mon 26/01/2009 15:50
80 minutes
Entry No.324
Cutting back the two Laurels in the shrub border.

Carting away.
Mulberry tree lawn
Walled Garden
Mon 26/01/2009 15:50
Mon 26/01/2009 16:30
40 minutes
Entry No.325
Carted to the burn pile some of the days rubbish.

Clean and put away the tools
Potting Shed
Mon 26/01/2009 16:30
Mon 26/01/2009 16:45
15 minutes
Entry No.326

Seeing to the sheep
Field
Misc
Mon 26/01/2009 16:45
Mon 26/01/2009 17:00
15 minutes
Entry No.327
Took across some hay.

NOTES
1) It seems I saved the worst until last as this particular tree was more difficult than all the others put together as there was not much pruning I could do with the secateurs and had to rely on the long arm pruner to do most of the work. It’s a handy tool to have and okay for a bit of pruning but it gets very tiring when it comes to doing a whole big tree.

Tools of the trade, step ladders and long arm pruner.

The business end.

2) Below is a sample of a news paper article I saw yesterday. As some of you will know I long ago adopted the head in the sand approach to the news regarding it as nothing more than brainwashing by both media and government but there are times like when visiting my parents that one can't avoid being subjected too it. Its not a bad thing though because after watching several news broadcasts and what have you I realise how blessed I am to have escaped the craving to be bombarded by so called news stories. The article below being one example of why I can't be bothered with it. You may be able to read some of it but just to give you an idea of what its about I will tell you the basics of it. Apparently the government are going to employ food police to go knocking on peoples doors at meal times to see what they're having to eat and if it doesn't meet with their approval you will be in for a lecture. The best part about it is, these people stand to earn up to £8 an hour which is more than either me or Vicki get for doing an honest days work. No doubt in time the government will introduce a tax on burger and chips to cover the cost of these wages.
To go with the article above here is an extract taken from 'Mail Online':

In a trial in six local authorities across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, the officials have been recruited on full-time contracts to visit an estimated 24,500 homes dispensing dietary advice and tips on how best to reduce the estimated one-third of all food bought which is thrown away.
They will call at homes throughout the day, including lunchtimes and in the early evening, when many people will be busy preparing dinner.
If successful, the eight week trial could be rolled out to other authorities around the country.
Each official, dispatched to the streets after one day of training, will be paid between £7.43 and £8.49 per hour, with a bonus for working on a Saturday.
If all 25 million households in the UK were visited in the same way, 8,000 officials would be required at a cost of tens of millions of pounds. to read the rest of the article go to http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1127371/Food-police-come-knocking-kitchen-door--tell-leftovers.html
COMMENTS FROM THE POTTING SHED
Jeanette If the Hyacinth bulbs you're trying to safe and grow another year are what have been grown in pots then I wouldn't bother to try because most likely they've been force and if so most likely won't ever come to much after that. What you need to do if you want Hyacinth in your garden is to buy the ordinary Hyacinth bulbs at planting time and put them straight in to the garden. When I grow them in pots I throw the bulbs away afterwards.

Sara No, the picture at the top of my blog is a place called Lanhydrock House in Cornwall http://www.cornwall-calling.co.uk/national-trust/lanhydrock.htm I no longer post pictures of the gardens where I work out of respect for my employer if you did want to see a few pics though email me your address and I will forward a few for your private viewing.

The Weaver of Grass The summer house fire is inside the summer house. On a shoot day the beaters use the summer house to have their lunch so if its cold and I'm not doing much I light them a fire. 1 slice of malt bread! Thats no good!! Well I need the energy. I don't know if I have a sweet tooth or not, I just have it because its something from the garden that I can put on bed to make a sandwich. Come the summer I will be eating Tomatoes and Lettuce or beans and stuff so really its more to do with whats handy and whats home made rather than a taste for sweet things. Below is a picture from a post I did in the summer showing what I was having for lunch one particular day. I lived for a long time on what I could pick from the garden.
Katie I don't think there are any white Hyacinth growing this time. The ones that you see are being grown in a heated greenhouse so are well in advance of anything that would be growing outside. Of course with them being in a confined space the scent is very nice when you walk in to the greenhouse.

Mistletoe.

MY PENNINE WAY PICTURE FOR TODAY

The Leeds Liverpool canal near East Marton.

Canal locks at Gargrave.

TODAYS WEATHER READINGS
Temp Low: 4C
Temp High: 9C
Feels Like: -1 to 6C
Percipitation: 5 mm
Wind Speed: 30 mph
Wind Direction: N
UV Index: Low
Weather: Rain at first becoming brighter.

MY WORK BOOK

SUBJECT: See to the sheep
LOCATION: Field
CATEGORY: Misc
START: Thu 22/01/2009 08:30
FINISH: Thu 22/01/2009 09:00
DURATION: 30 minutes
NOTES: Entry No.295
1) Took across some hay.
2)Checked and counted the sheep.


Making out the flower seed order
Home
Misc
Thu 22/01/2009 09:00
Thu 22/01/2009 11:30
2.5 hours
Entry No.296
Ordered the same as last year except I deleted a packet of Impatiens and order a packet of bedding Dahlias in its place. (Note 1)

Break for tea
Home
Misc
Thu 22/01/2009 11:30
Thu 22/01/2009 11:45
15 minutes
Entry No.297
1 mug of tea and 3 short bread biscuits.

Pruning
Long Walk Steps
Walled Garden
Thu 22/01/2009 11:45
Thu 22/01/2009 12:45
1 hour Entry
No298
Pruning the apple tree.

Break for lunch Home
Misc
Thu 22/01/2009 12:45
Thu 22/01/2009 13:30
45 minutes
Entry No.299
1 mug of tea, 4 Mulberry jam sandwiches and 3 mince pies.

Pruning
Long Walk Steps
Walled Garden
Thu 22/01/2009 13:30
Thu 22/01/2009 15:00
1.5 hours
Entry No.300
Finished pruning the apple tree.

Pruning
Mulberry tree lawn
Walled Garden
Thu 22/01/2009 15:00
Thu 22/01/2009 16:30
1.5 hours
Entry No.301
Made a start on pruning the apple trees by the Mulberry tree lawn.

Clean and put away the tools
Potting Shed
Thu 22/01/2009 16:30
Thu 22/01/2009 16:45
15 minutes
Entry No.302

Seeing to the sheep
Field
Misc
Thu 22/01/2009 16:45
Thu 22/01/2009 17:00
15 minutes
Entry No.303
Took some more hay to the sheep.

NOTES
1) The guy at the garden centre said that if we have another summer like the last it could cause serious problems with Impatiens which suffered from a virus last year so I thought I would try some dwarf Dahlia's instead.
2) Whilst pruning the apple tree by the steps I noticed growing from a branch some Mistletoe. The boss said he put some seeds on the apple trees a couple of years ago but no one has seen anything of it until now so I am quite pleased about that.


COMMENTS FROM THE POTTING SHED
Jeanette Yes I do have plenty more, I'm not even half way to Scotland yet! When the pics were taken that I put on the last post it was thundering and lightening all around so I had to put a spurt on to try and get to Lothersdale before I got another soaking, thankfully I was lucky and just managed to get my tent up in time.

The Weaver of Grass This is the time of year to get all these kind of jobs done because the last thing I want to be doing is playing catch up in Spring. Yes the Pennine Way is a great walk even though it was very wet when I did it last July.

Red Clover I'm glad what I said about the Dahlia's was a help to you. Now I've said all that they will probably turn out rubbish this year LOL!

A Few Flakes In The Wind.

MY PENNINE WAY PICTURE FOR TODAY

This is looking down on Ponden Reservoir, near by is Ponden Hall which too has associations with the Bronte's. Ponden Hall is considered to be Thrushcross Grange of 'Wuthering Heights'.

TODAYS WEATHER READINGS
Temp Low: 1C
Temp High: 6C
Feels Like: -7 to 4C
Percipitation: 0 mm
Wind Speed: 30 mph
Wind Direction: SW
UV Index: Low
Weather: Periods of cloud and sunshine.

MY WORK BOOK
Seeing to the sheep
Field
Misc
Tue 20/01/2009 08:30
Tue 20/01/2009 09:00
30 minutes
Job No.276
1) Took across some hay.
2) Put out some minerals.
3) Checked and counted the sheep.
4) Check the water trough for ice.

Checked around the greenhouses
Glass Houses
Tue 20/01/2009 09:00
Tue 20/01/2009 09:30
30 minutes
Job No.277
Did a bit of watering.

Digging Veg Garden
Walled Garden
Tue 20/01/2009 09:30
Tue 20/01/2009 10:30
1 hour
Job No.278

Break for tea
Home
Home
Tue 20/01/2009 10:30
Tue 20/01/2009 11:00
30 minutes
Job No.279
1 mug of tea.

Digging
Veg Garden
Walled Garden
Tue 20/01/2009 10:45
Tue 20/01/2009 12:45
2 hours
Job No.280

Break for lunch
Home
Home
Tue 20/01/2009 12:45
Tue 20/01/2009 13:30
45 minutes
Job No.281
1 mug of tea, 2 Mulberry jam and 2 golden syrup sandwiches and 4 pieces of malt loaf.

Digging
Veg Garden
Walled Garden
Tue 20/01/2009 13:30
Tue 20/01/2009 15:00
1.5 hours
Job No.282
Finished off digging another piece of the veg garden.

Pruning
Veg Garden
Walled Garden
Tue 20/01/2009 15:00
Tue 20/01/2009 16:00
1 hour
Job No.283
Made a start on pruning the apple trees.

Digging
Conifer hedge shrub border
Walled Garden
Tue 20/01/2009 16:00
Tue 20/01/2009 16:40
40 minutes
Job No.284

Clean and put away the tools
Potting Shed
Tue 20/01/2009 16:40
Tue 20/01/2009 17:00
20 minutes
Job No.285
NOTES
1) I had a phone call from my mate Jo today, she was asking if I would mind taking her dad with me when I went walking one time as its something he likes to do but no longer has anyone to go with, I said I wouldn't mind as long as we could fit it in okay.
COMMENTS FROM THE POTTING SHED
Sara You're welcoem to the pictures. The moors are just wilderness places really.

Jeanette Sorry I forgot to mention what I had for lunch, due to firstly my PDA playing up and then my computer I'm having to use some different software to record my jobs so I'm still getting to grips with the new way of doing things. The snow didn't amount to anything, it was just a few flakes in the wind.

Top Withens

MY PENNINE WAY PICTURE FOR TODAY

Across the moors to Top Withens.

Top Withens

TODAYS WEATHER READINGS
Temp Low: 2C
Temp High: 6C
Feels Like: -4 to 0C
Percipitation: 8 mm
Wind Speed: 38 mph
Wind Direction: SW
UV Index: Low
Weather: Breezy with snow and rain.

MY WORK BOOK

See to the sheep
Field
Mon 19/01/2009 08:30 -Mon 19/01/2009 09:10
Misc
Job 267
1) Took across some hay.
2) Checked and counted the sheep.
-
Tidying up
Conservatory
Mon 19/01/2009 09:10 -Mon 19/01/2009 10:30
Greenhouses
Job No. 268
Took off the staging boards down one side of the conservatory and cleaned them off and then disinfected them also while they were off I had a good sweep up under the staging. (Note 1)
-
Break for tea
Home
Mon 19/01/2009 10:30 -Mon 19/01/2009 10:45
Job No. 267
1 Mug of tea and 3 shortbread biscuits.
-
Check if logs are needed.
Hall
Mon 19/01/2009 10:45 -Mon 19/01/2009 11:30
Job No.268
Took 3 baskets of logs.
Had a chat with cleaners.
-
Cut down dead plants in courtyard
Courtyard
Mon 19/01/2009 11:30 -Mon 19/01/2009 12:30
Public Gardens
Job No. 269
Cut down some Chrysanths, Sedoms and anything else that looked like it needed a trim.
-
Break for lunch
Home
Mon 19/01/2009 12:30 -Mon 19/01/2009 13:30
Job No.270
-
Fetch some hay.
Farm
Mon 19/01/2009 13:30 -Mon 19/01/2009 15:00
Misc
Job No. 271
Fetched 11 bales of hay.
-
Clear out the tubs
Courtyard
Mon 19/01/2009 15:00 -Mon 19/01/2009 15:35
Public Gardens
Job No. 272
There were a few old Osteospurmums left in the half barrels in the courtyard so as they were no longer looking like they were worth keeping I took them out.
-
Clip the shrub by the office steps
Office steps
Mon 19/01/2009 15:35 -Mon 19/01/2009 16:00
Public Gardens
Job No.273
-
Tidy up the fuel tank passage
fuel tank passage
Mon 19/01/2009 16:00 -Mon 19/01/2009 16:30
Public Gardens
Job No.274
-
Clean and put away the tools.
Potting Shed
Mon 19/01/2009 16:30 -Mon 19/01/2009 17:00
Potting Shed
Job No.275

NOTES
1) A couple of pictures to show what I was doing with the staging.

After its been washed, scrubbed and disinfected.


COMMENTS FROM THE POTTING SHED
The Weaver of Grass I'm not sure what variety the Tomatoes are, they are actually rooted sideshoots from the ones I grew last summer and as I grew a few different kinds I can't really say. I remember when I first started gardening they had the solid fuel boiler to heat the greenhouses. In some ways I wish it was a solid fuel boiler here as it used to be in the potting shed so would have been nice and warm in there back in the old days. I don't think I would miss looking after the boiler though because as you say it was a bit of a chore.

Jeanette I'm guessing now that Coldies are beer or lager?

Mad Bush Farm Crew I find that grass cuttings from the lawn make a good mulch provided you haven't treated the lawn with weedkiller. I use a lot of grass cutting around the bottoms of the Raspberries and they seem to love it.

Merle Thats okay, just pop in when you have a minute. Its a shame your beans died but as you say its better for them to suffer than yourself. I often wondered why they have the V8 Supercar season in your Winter because most of the motor sport here is done during the summer months but I guess if you have that sort of heat it wouldn't be possible to race a car in it so I reckon that answers my question.

Signs Of The Pennine Way.

MY PENNINE WAY PICTURE FOR TODAY

Very tempting.

Off licence, camping AND first aid, what more could one ask for?

(Note 3)

My tent pitched at May's Aladdin's Cave

TODAY'S WEATHER READINGS
Temp Low: 5C
Temp High: 6C
Feels Like: -3 to -1C
Precipitation: 4mm
Wind Speed: 51 mph
Wind Direction: S
UV Index: Low
Weather: Cloudy with a little rain and breezy.


MY WORK BOOK
247
15/01/2009 08:30
15/01/2009 08:55
00:25
Misc
Attending to the sheep
1) Took across some hay. 2) checked and counted the sheep. 3) Put out some minerals.
-
248
15/01/2009 08:55
15/01/2009 10:35
01:40
Walled Garden
Pruning
Made a start on pruning the pear trees on the east wall.
-
249
15/01/2009 10:35
15/01/2009 11:00
00:25
Home
Break for tea.
1 mug of tea.
-
250
15/01/2009 11:00
15/01/2009 12:45
01:45
Walled Garden
Pruning
Continued to prune the pear trees.
-
251
15/01/2009 12:45
15/01/2009 13:30
00:45
Home
Break for lunch
1 mug of tea, 2 tomato sandwiches, 2 Mulberry jam sandwiches and 3 mince pies. (Note 1).
-
252
15/01/2009 13:30
15/01/2009 14:30
01:00
Walled Garden
Clearing up
Clearing up the prunings from the pear trees.
-
253
15/01/2009 14:30
15/01/2009 15:50
01:20
Main Garden
Tidying up
The dogs had ripped 8 holes in the lawn whilst trying to kill a hedgehog so I had to try and patch them up a bit.
-
254
15/01/2009 15:50
15/01/2009 16:30
00:40
Walled Garden
Edging
Put a new edge on one of the pieces of grass by the rose garden.
-
255
15/01/2009 16:30
15/01/2009 16:45
00:15
Potting Shed
Clean and put away the tools
-
256
15/01/2009 16:45
15/01/2009 17:00
00:15
Hall
See to the bins
Put back the black bins, after standing in the courtyard for a week they finally came to empty them today.

NOTES

1) The Tomatoes were home grown from the greenhouse.
2) I think I'm getting on top of my computer problems so hopefully I will be back to normal soon.
3) For those that don't know I will just explain that an 'Off Licence' is a shop that has a licence to sell alcohol

COMMENTS FROM THE POTTING SHED
Sara I'm glad you keep on coming back Sara, its always nice to see my friends and if none of you ever came to look there would be no point in putting any pics on at all so please visit as often as you like.

Jeanette Don't worry about the bridge, its been there hundreds of years and will probably be there hundreds more, its very solid. When it gets that hot here Tom is in for a hard time cos we don't have fans so he would have to got to school to learn how to stand by me and fan me with his big bushy tail so it would be a long night for Tom!

Mad Bush Farm Crew Animals can drink a lot of water when the weather is hot. When I was on the farm I also ended up carting water around in very cold weather because all the outside troughs were frozen solid so I had to cart water to the troughs with the water tanker.

Cellar Work

MY PENNINE WAY PICTURE FOR TODAY

The way down in to the Calder Valley.

The way out of the calder valley.

TODAYS WEATHER READINGS
Temp Low: 4C
Temp High: 9C
Feels Like: -1 to 7C
Percipitation: 7mm
Wind Speed: 43 mph
Wind Direction: SW
UV Index: Low
Weather: Rain at times.


MY WORK BOOK
220
12/01/2009 08:30
12/01/2009 08:55
00:25
Misc
Attending to the sheep
1) Took across some hay.
2) Checked and counted the sheep.
3) Put out some minerals.
4) Checked water trough for leaks. (Note 1)
-
221
12/01/2009 08:55
12/01/2009 09:10
00:15
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
Had a walk round, there wasn't much to do that couldn't wait.
-
222
12/01/2009 09:10
12/01/2009 09:25
00:15
Hall
Take in logs.
Took in 3 baskets of logs.
-
223
12/01/2009 09:25
12/01/2009 10:35
01:10
Hall
Stacking logs
Stacking the logs that arrived on Friday.
-
224
12/01/2009 10:35
12/01/2009 11:05
00:30
Home
Break for tea.
-
225
12/01/2009 11:05
12/01/2009 12:15
01:10
Hall
Sweeping up in the cellar
Swept up in the cellar.
-
226
12/01/2009 12:15
12/01/2009 12:55
00:40
Walled Garden
Digging
Did some digging in the veg garden.
-
227
12/01/2009 12:55
12/01/2009 13:55
01:00
Home
Break for lunch
-
228
12/01/2009 13:55
12/01/2009 16:35
02:40
Walled Garden
Cutting back
Pruned back some of the shrubs in the shrub border behind the Conifer hedge. Also took away to the burn pile most of the rubbish.
-
229
12/01/2009 16:35
12/01/2009 17:00
00:25
Potting Shed
Clean and put away the tools

NOTES
After a prolonged spell of freezing weather its best to check water troughs and outdoor pipes for bursts, the trough looked to be fine.

COMMENTS FROM THE POTTING SHED
The Weaver of Grass There is a control for Vine Weevil, I can't think what its called off hand though. In this case the plant was a succulent type plant so I'm hoping it will put out new roots now its re potted in clean compost. I do prefer the cold weather in winter because as you say it does a good job controling the busg and what have you.

Jeanette You get used to the cold Jeanette, there was one day when it was painful to put my hand in the trough to fish out the ice. The thing is the sheep probably never once drank from the trough but I always think that if I was in a field and I fancied a drink I would be able to get one so thats why I do it.

Sara Thats just what I thought when I saw the road, I guess its fair to say that it doesn't get the traffic on it that the modern roads do though. It is interesting to see though. The Hyacinths were bought by the former lady to the big house, I think she thought they would open out for Christmas but they didn't so she gave them to me to bring on in the greenhouse for her. I didn't bother to force any this year as no one has bothered with them in the past.

Sara The Pennine way is 160 miles long and runs over the Pennine Hills and the Cheviot Hills which are in the centre of northern England. The way isn't to far away from where I live.

Jeanette Yes the digging and everything kept me very warm, I never have much trouble keeping warm. Glad you like the history lessons!

salina Thanks Salina. We don't get much snow here in the UK and when we do it last no time at all. The worst thing about the UK in winter is the grey gloom and dampness.

We Had The Air Con Running Too.

MY PICTURE FROM THE PENNINE WAY

The foot bridge over the M62 motorway.

TODAYS WEATHER READINGS
Temp Low: -2C
Temp High: 0C
Feels Like: -6 to +1C
Percipitation: 0mm
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind Direction: NW

UV Index: Low
Weather: Cold with some sun.

MY WORK BOOK
175
06/01/2009 08:25
06/01/2009 08:55
00:30
Misc
Attending to the sheep
1) Took across some hay.
2) Checked and counted the sheep.
3) Put out some minerals. 4) Broke the ice one the water trough. (Note 1).
-
176
06/01/2009 08:55
06/01/2009 09:10
00:15
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
Checked round.
-
177
06/01/2009 09:10
06/01/2009 09:35
00:25
Potting Shed
Potting up
Potted up the Monterey Pine, this is a special favourite of the bosses so he keeps having me repot it even though it doens't always need it, I think he is going to plant it out somewhere soon.
-
178
06/01/2009 09:35
06/01/2009 10:15
00:40
Main Garden
Cutting back
Removing a branch that was rubbing on summer house roof.
-
179
06/01/2009 10:15
06/01/2009 10:50
00:35
Misc
Have a bonefire
Burning boxes from the hall.
-
180
06/01/2009 10:50
06/01/2009 11:35
00:45
Public Gardens
Sweeping
Sweeping the back passages.
-
181
06/01/2009 11:35
06/01/2009 12:45
01:10
Walled Garden
Pruning
Pruning the Wisteria on the summer house wall.
-
182
06/01/2009 12:45
06/01/2009 13:40
00:55
Home
Break for lunch
1 mug of tea, 4 honey sandwiches, and 4 pieces of malt loaf.
-
183
06/01/2009 13:40
06/01/2009 16:40
03:00
Walled Garden
Cutting back
Cutting back some ivy on the wall between the summer house and the iron gates,
-
184
06/01/2009 16:40
06/01/2009 16:55
00:15
Potting Shed
Clean and put away the tools


NOTES

1) The water trough where I break the ice.

COMMENTS FROM THE POTTING SHED
Sara Tippy is a girl actually Sara. I have made out my order for veg seed, I like to get stuff ordered in plenty of time.

Jeanette Happy New Year to you too. I took a picture of the water trough for you this morning just in case you needed a quick dip to cool you off! The plants are for a trough in front of the house but not the two by the front door, I already have them planted. Ha ha - we had the air con running all day here too Jeanette!!