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.

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.

Water Sinks.

MY PENNINE WAY PICTURE FOR TODAY

Looking back down the dry valley which thanks to the rain was actually quite wet that particular morning.

The water sink. This is where the river sinks in to the ground and re appears again at Aire Head Springs south of Malham.

TODAYS WEATHER READINGS
Temp Low: 1C
Temp High: 6C
Feels Like: -7 to 4C
Percipitation: 1 mm
Wind Speed: 32 mph
Wind Direction: SE
UV Index: Low
Weather: Overcast and damp with a cold wind - GREY.

MY WORK BOOK
See to the bins
Hall
Thu 29/01/2009 08:30
Thu 29/01/2009 08:45
15 minutes
Entry No.347
Took the empty black bins back and put out two recycle tubs for collection tomorrow.

See to the sheep
Field
Misc
Thu 29/01/2009 08:45
Thu 29/01/2009 09:15
30 minutes
Entry No.348
1) Took across some hay.
2) Checked and counted the sheep.
3) Put out some minerals.

Tidying up
Conservatory
Greenhouses
Thu 29/01/2009 09:15
Thu 29/01/2009 10:30
1.25 hours
Entry No.349
Continued from where I left off yesterday. Moved all the plants from the floor so I could disinfect and scrub it clean.

Break for tea
Home
Misc
Thu 29/01/2009 10:30
Thu 29/01/2009 10:50
20 minutes
Entry No.350

Tidying up
Conservatory
Greenhouses
Thu 29/01/2009 10:50
Thu 29/01/2009 12:45
115 minutes
Entry No.351
Continued sorting out the conservatory. Scrubbing the floor and tidying up the border by the back wall.

Break for lunch
Home
Misc
Thu 29/01/2009 12:45
Thu 29/01/2009 13:30
45 minutes
Entry No.352

Tidying up
Conservatory
Greenhouses
Thu 29/01/2009 13:30
Thu 29/01/2009 16:35
185 minutes
Entry No.353
1) Finished off the floor.
2) Cleared out the wall border.
3) Tied in any lose ends on the Apricot tree.
4) Repotted a few needy plants.
5) Pruned the grape vines.
6) Pruned the Plumbago.
7) Put all the plants back.
8) Trained a few lose Jasmine shoots.

Cleaned and put away the tools
Potting Shed
Thu 29/01/2009 16:35
Thu 29/01/2009 16:50
15 minutes
Entry No.354
Seeing to the sheep
Field
Misc
Thu 29/01/2009 16:50
Thu 29/01/2009 17:10
20 minutes
Entry No.355
Took across some hay.

COMMENTS FROM THE POTTING SHED
Sara I agree, Picasso potatoes do sound interesting and I was actually wondering yesterday when I unpacked them how many people will pick a variety of Potato, or any other kind of veg for that matter based on the name of it?

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.

Racing The Storm Clouds.

MY PENNINE WAY PICTURE FOR TODAY

Racing the storm clouds to Lothersdale

Looking down on Lothersdale, almost the end of another days walking.

TODAYS WEATHER READINGS
Temp Low: 2C
Temp High: 3C
Feels Like: -6 to 3C
Percipitation: 0 mm
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind Direction: S
UV Index: Low
Weather: Sun at first cloudy later.

MY WORK BOOK
See to the sheep
Field
Misc
Wed 21/01/2009 08:30
Wed 21/01/2009 08:50
20 minutes
Job No.286
1) Took across some hay.
2) Checked and counted the sheep.
3) Put out some minerals.

See to the greenhouses
Greenhouses
Wed 21/01/2009 08:50
Wed 21/01/2009 10:15
85 minutes
Job No.287
Did some watering and removed some dead leaves and flowers.

Break for tea
Home
Misc
Wed 21/01/2009 10:15
Wed 21/01/2009 10:30
15 minutes
Job No.288
1 mug of tea.

Finished digging shrub border
Conifer Hedge Border
Walled Garden
Wed 21/01/2009 10:30
Wed 21/01/2009 12:45
2.25 hours
Job No.289

Break for lunch
Home
Misc
Wed 21/01/2009 12:45
Wed 21/01/2009 13:45
1 hour
Job No.290
1 Mug of tea, 4 cheese sandwiches, 3 homemade jam tarts and a mince pie.

Prune the fruit trees
Various Places
Walled Garden
Wed 21/01/2009 13:45
Wed 21/01/2009 16:30
2.75 hours
Job No.291
Pruned the three apple trees in the veg garden and part of the one near to the memorial gardens.

Clean and put away the tools
Potting Shed
Wed 21/01/2009 16:30
Wed 21/01/2009 16:45
15 minutes
Job No.292

Seeing to the sheep.
Field
Misc
Wed 21/01/2009 16:45
Wed 21/01/2009 17:00
15 minutes
Job No.293
Took across a bit more hay as I think they need a bit more than I’m able to carry across in one journey.

See to the bins
Hall
Wed 21/01/2009 17:00
Wed 21/01/2009 17:15
15 minutes
Job No.294
Put out 2 green bins from the hall.

NOTES
COMMENTS FROM THE POTTING SHED
Sara You're welcome to the pictures, I was originally going to put them on my other blog but because I don't write to that one anymore they never got posted until now. No the ground isn't frozen at all. Sometimes the ground gets hard but it only lasts a few days at most.

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.

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.

Aiggin Stone.

MY PICTURE FROM THE PENNINE WAY

This is the Aiggin Stone and marks the summit of the old road which I will show you tomorrow.

TODAYS WEATHER READINGS
Temp Low: -1C
Temp High: +4C
Feels Like: -1 to +4C
Percipitation: 1 mm
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind Direction: W
UV Index: Low
Weather: Cloudy and a bit warmer than yesterday.

MY WORK BOOK
185
07/01/2009 08:30
07/01/2009 08:55
00:25
Misc
Attending to the sheep
1) Took across some hay.
2) Broke the ice on the water trough.
3) checked and counted the sheep.
-
186
07/01/2009 08:55
07/01/2009 09:25
00:30
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
Did some watering and potted up a plant that had fallen prey to vine weevil.
-
187
07/01/2009 09:25
07/01/2009 10:15
00:50
Main Garden
Cutting back
Cutting back some more ivy from the low wall by the summer house.
-
188
07/01/2009 10:15
07/01/2009 10:30
00:15
Home
Ordering seeds
Checked over the order before handing in to the office.
-
189
07/01/2009 10:30
07/01/2009 11:00
00:30
Home
Break for tea.
1 mug of tea.
-
190
07/01/2009 11:00
07/01/2009 12:50
01:50
Main Garden
Clearing up
Clearing up and carting away all the ivy that was trimmed from the walls
-
191
07/01/2009 12:50
07/01/2009 13:35
00:45
Home
Break for lunch
1 mug of tea, 4 cheese sandwiches and 4 pieces of Malt loaf.
-
192
07/01/2009 13:35
07/01/2009 14:40
01:05
Misc
Fetch some hay
Fetched 5 bales of hay and 1 propane cylinder for the greenhouse heater.
-
193
07/01/2009 14:40
07/01/2009 16:05
01:25
Walled Garden
Clearing up
Clearing up and carting away the rubbish cut from the walls by the summer house.
-
194
07/01/2009 16:05
07/01/2009 16:25
00:20
Potting Shed
Clean and put away the tools
-
195
07/01/2009 16:25
07/01/2009 16:50
00:25
Hall
See to the bins
Put out 3 black bins from the hall, 1 from Franks and 1 from Pumpend.

COMMENTS FROM THE POTTING SHED
Sara Ha ha - don't worry, Tippy is very forgiving. The motorway that the bridge spans was created in the late 1960s after the route of the Pennine Way was approved so the bridge had to be build especially to accommodate the trail.

The Weaver of Grass You're right about the sun, the picture was taken yesterday which was a nice sunny day unlike today which has been grey, damp and cold. Yes I did have a sweet lunch didnt I, I needed the energy to keep me warm!

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!!

Back To Work

MY PICTURE OF THE DAY
Tippy watching lambs.

TODAYS WEATHER READINGS
Temp Low: -6C
Temp High: +1C
Feels Like: -7 to -6C
Wind Speed: 38 mph
Percipitation: 1 mm
Wind Direction: NE
UV Index: Low
Weather: Snow flurries, clouds and sun.


MY WORK BOOK
151
01/01/2009 10:00
01/01/2009 10:30
00:30
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
-
152
01/01/2009 10:30
01/01/2009 10:55
00:25
Misc
Attending to the sheep
1) Took across some hay. 2) Checked and counted the sheep. 3) Broke the ice on the water trough.
-
153
01/01/2009 16:00
01/01/2009 16:15
00:15
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
Checking the heaters
-
154
02/01/2009 10:00
04/01/2009 10:45
48:45
Hall
Take in logs.
-
155
02/01/2009 10:45
02/01/2009 11:10
00:25
Misc
Attending to the sheep
1) Take across some hay.
2) Broke the ice on the water trough.
-
156
02/01/2009 16:15
02/01/2009 16:30
00:15
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
Checking the heaters.
-
157
03/01/2009 10:05
03/01/2009 10:25
00:20
Misc
Attending to the sheep
1) Took across some hay.
2) Checked and counted the sheep.
3) Broke the ice on the water trough.
-
158
03/01/2009 10:25
03/01/2009 10:45
00:20
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
-
159
03/01/2009 16:45
03/01/2009 16:55
00:10
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
Checking the heaters.
-
160
04/01/2009 10:15
04/01/2009 10:40
00:25
Misc
Attending to the sheep
1) Took across some hay.
2) Checked and counted the sheep.
3) Broke the ice on the water trough.
4) Put out some minerals.
-
161
04/01/2009 10:40
04/01/2009 11:00
00:20
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
-
162
04/01/2009 16:00
04/01/2009 16:10
00:10
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
Checking the heaters.
-
163
05/01/2009 08:20
05/01/2009 08:30
00:10
Home
Calendar
Organizing some work.
-
164
05/01/2009 08:30
05/01/2009 08:55
00:25
Misc
Attending to the sheep
1) Took across some hay.
2) Checked and counted the sheep.
3) Broke the ice on the water trough.
-
165
05/01/2009 08:55
05/01/2009 09:45
00:50
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
1) Did some watering.
2) Took off some dead leaves.
-
166
05/01/2009 09:45
05/01/2009 10:50
01:05
Hall
Take in logs.
Took in 9 baskets of logs and 1 bucket of coal.
-
167
05/01/2009 10:50
05/01/2009 10:55
00:05
Hall
Take out the Christmas tree
Took out the tree and put the log down the cellar.
-
168
05/01/2009 10:55
05/01/2009 11:10
00:15
Home
Break for tea.
1 mug of tea.
-
169
05/01/2009 11:10
05/01/2009 12:15
01:05
Misc
Go to the garden centre
Bought a big plant pot 30 pansy plants.
-
170
05/01/2009 12:15
05/01/2009 13:00
00:45
Home
Break for lunch
1 mug of tea, 3 cheese and pickle sandwiches and 3 pancakes.
-
171
05/01/2009 13:00
05/01/2009 16:10
03:10
Main Garden
Cutting back
Removed a Hebe from the Japanese garden and cut back Cotoneaster from the rock garden path.
-
172
05/01/2009 16:10
05/01/2009 16:30
00:20
Potting Shed
Clean and put away the tools
-
173
05/01/2009 16:30
05/01/2009 16:40
00:10
Greenhouses
Attending to greenhouse duties
Checking the heaters.
-
174
05/01/2009 18:06
05/01/2009 18:53
00:47
Home
Ordering seeds
Finished off the veg seed order.


NOTES
1) I've included some work from the beginning of the new year in my work book. Even though I was on holiday from Christmas Eve I still looked after the sheep and greenhouses every day and filled the log baskets when needed so in all I worked over 10 hours during my holidays which seems a bit stupid when its all added up.

COMMENTS FROM THE POTTING SHED
The Weaver of Grass Thanks for your New Year wishes, I will be happy if all my seeds grow even just a little bit.

salina Little seems the same anymore, I think people just forgot how to be nice and have a good time without spending loads of money.

Sara You're right there, he knows exactly what to do to get what he wants and he knows just whats going down which I'm sure your dogs do most of the time, they haven't lived with humans all these years without learning a thing or two.

Lois I don't think its so unhealthy to have blogging friends, I just see it as another way to have friends that you wouldn't have otherwise. Its not like you have blogging friends instead of other friends. In some neighbourhoods people just aren't friendly or at least they aren't the sort of people suit your personality. Its a bit like that here which is why we travelled 50 miles to the party we attended, they're our kind of people.

Jim I'm not really sure why as I've never really made a special effort training him not to take things that don't belong him but he just doesn't do it. Even if one of the other dogs leaves its food it will sit there on the floor all day and Tom won't touch it unless someone says he can have it.

Red Clover Happy New Year to you too. I don't know if you can see from the picture but the red stars on my mum's hat light up.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I hope you all enjoyed your New Years Eve celebrations if any were had. I know for some people it passes just as any other night does and there is nothing wrong with that because basically thats really all that happens other than the year changes as well.

We had a good night with some friends from back home. We traveled down after Vicki finished work and returned after the party. It was my kind of party, the food was good, the drink plentiful and the entertainment was in the old style where of if you had a talent you got up and used it to entertain. Unfortunately my talents are not such that I'm able to play or sing or tell jokes, I think the talent God gave me was a tolerance to listen to older people talk about their flu jabs and the last ten years weather stastics etc. and in that respect I was put to quite often. It was good to meet old friend and make some new ones. Below is a picture I took of three of the guys partaking in one of the many musical interludes.

I just have a couple more pics to show you from Christmas, Christmas Eve to be precise. This next picture is of Tom, you've all seen him with his happy smiling face well I show you this picture because its a different face, his serious face, this is Tommy's 'back off' face, his ears are down, his mouth close and has a staring eyes. This is the look he saves for you when he doesn't want to get off the bed or be left behind when you're going on a trip etc.

...and this is what he is telling everyone to keep away from.

In the blue bag nearest to him are all the doggy presents and as every dog owner knows you can't fool a dog by wrapping a present in paper. They know exactly which ones are chocs, biscuits or doggy treats. Well we brought this bag down and place it next to the tree before going to bed on Christmas Eve and Tom immediately went in to guard dog mode and wouldn't let anyone near it which I thought was quite funny and pretty smart too.