POLKADoT Farm

A walk up the Glen

Tonight after work we decided to have a walk up the glen on the farm. To you, the glen probably sounds like some mountainous landscape that you would find on a shortbread tin. In reality, it is not this...it is something far more magical and beautiful. The glen is a wooded area that runs through the middle of the farm,with a small shallow burn (stream) running through it. Once you have entered the glen you have to walk through the burn, as the walls are like cliffs made up of trees and shrubbery. It is lovely at this time of year as all the new shoots and leaves are bursting out, and displaying a beautiful array of colour. The walk can be pretty challenging at times, especially when fallen trees lie over the burn, and climbing through them feels like walking through knitting!

After falling into the water on some slippy stones at the beginning, we soldiered onwards and upwards, with our Jack Russel Jock, and Collie Bill. After walking for about half an hour, the sound of trickling water from the burn, was soon replaced by the sound of powerful water hitting off rocks.  We turned the corner, and suddenly , right in front of us, was the magical sight of a beautiful waterfall. It reminded me very much of the Timotei Shampoo advert! The only way to reach higher ground, and continue our walk was to climb up the waterfall. Luckily there were steps up it, that nature had very cleverly carved out. So we lifted the dogs up first, then heaved ourselves up. It felt like such an achievement to reach the top.

Once we had passed the waterfall, it was luckily not too long till we reached the fence that would  lead us back into familiar territory, as by this stage the light was slowly starting to fade, and the water below me was starting to look like treacle. We climbed out of the glen, and over the fence into the field, it felt like we had just been on a mini adventure! Its hard to believe that this is all on our doorstep!

I'm now back home, enjoying the heat from my stove, and the taste of freshly baked  pancakes. We'll sleep well tonight!

A lovely weekend in Galloway

I'm just back from spending a super weekend down in Galloway at my Mums. I was born and bred in Galloway, and I miss it dearly. Luckily its close enough to Stirlingshire (2 and a bit hours) that I can pop back every few weeks. One of the main thing that I miss about Galloway, is the sea. There is something so welcoming and refreshing about the sea air, smell, and sound. So a walk on the beach is always a must!

This weekend, we went to our local restaurant 'The Steam Packet', in the beautiful little fishing port, the Isle of Whithorn. The Isle of Whithorn (in the top pic) is a working harbour. I have many memories of fishing boats coming in to the port with their catch of the day, including the hermit crabs that they caught amongst the fish. These crabs would try to escape from the nets by crawling along the ground slowly, trying not to be seen, and slip back into the sea!

Another thing that I love about going home, is our family farm , the hens, ducks, dogs, and Mr Darcy the cat! I inherited my love for hens, and all things poultry from my mum. As well as her hens and ducks, my Mum has 4 guinea Fowl, that I absolutely love. Not only are they polka-dotty...but they are very friendly and inquisitive birds. They mix among the hens and ducks happily, and even lay their eggs in the hens egg boxes. When it comes to bed time, they sleep in the branches of the highest trees in the farm steading. The funniest thing is, they road tested these branches in 80mph winds last winter..and we were surprised to wake up the next morning and see that they had stayed on! At times, they may not seem like the cleverest birds... but they're very wise with their sleeping arrangements, as they are well out of the way of Mr Fox! 

Just add water...

After having a couple of weeks of glorious weather....(and here's hoping for many more of it... )the fields were pleased to see a splash of rain today. It has freshened up the landscape, and helped all the seeds jump into action, and start their life above the soil!! I have especially noticed a difference in our wheat field. Last week it was a sea of soil, and suddenly, the field has rows of new seedlings peeking through the soil. This year we put in a special canadian variety of wheat called AC Barrie for Hovis bread. It is the first year we have supplied Hovis. The reason being, is that Hovis are looking to source all their wheat from UK farms this year. I think this is a great move from them, as not only are they supporting British farmers, but they are cutting down on air miles, which in the grand scale of things, is another way to help the enviroment.

Tractor Dining

With all the gorgeous sunny dry nights, the fields are a hive of activity again. We're just about to finish the sowing of all the spring crops, ready for harvest in August. Tonight we had our salmon stir fry on the edge of the seed drill overlooking the Carse of Stirling in the beautiful sunshine. Very random, but just perfect!

Lots of painting in the sun

At long last I sat down and painted some glassware this weekend. It has been such a gorgeous couple of days, I relocated myself and my glasses into the garden. The sun beamed down with so much warmth, it was just bliss. I was also able to try out a few new designs,as well as a new addition to my glassware collection, the hurricane lamp. Hopefully this will be a good seller over the summer months, as they are great for picnics and barbeques in the garden. 

 

 

They also look pretty at night, and the candles won't blow out in the wind... I'm thinking of selling them with citronella candles.

 

I also managed to finish my hen house... I eventually went with F&Ball Blue Gray....next plan is to paint the big hen house nextdoor... I'm thinking of using sabbathday blue.

Polkadot Lambs....and the blue mummy!

Tonight on the farm we had two lambs born with polka dots! I have never seen such individual markings on a lamb before. To my delight, they are both females, so I am trying to persuade my husband to keep them for mummys next year. We can only dream!....They are so cute!

 

 

Now you are probablly wondering what a blue Mummy is!!! I'll explain... Gone are the days of feeding pet lambs with milk bottles in both hands and a couple between your legs!

This is their 'new' mummy! She's a self mixing, whisking, milk machine, which feeds them 24hrs a day, just like a real wooly mummy!

Decisions decisions

I am in the middle of a little project in my garden at the moment. I am painting my hen houses, and I just can't decide what colours to choose! I have given it an undercoat in light grey...which I really like.

I love Jonathan Avery colours, especially Sabbathday Blue, so it is between that, and Farrow and Balls 'French Grey' or 'Blue Grey'

 

Fingers crossed for a dry and sunny weekend so I can get painting...once I have decided on my colours!!

An update on the quintuplets.....

Just a wee note on the quintuplets. We have left the sheep with four lambs to feed at the moment, and the fifth one is being bottle fed under the heat lamp, as it has become a wee bit weaker. We will eventually have to take another two off her, and bottle feed them. This is because sheep usually only have enough milk to keep two lambs fit and strong. Before she goes outside to the field , we will have to decide on what two lambs to take off her! This will be a hard choice, as the four remaining are all so strong! Tonight they were just happily relaxing on their Mums back!

 

Only 142 sheep left to lamb! Less and less mouths to feed....

 

Great Excitement

In the early hours of this morning we had our first set of quintuplets. I don't think we have ever had any before on the farm!! Sheep usually have singles twins or triplets, and very occasionally quads! So you can imagine the surprise we had when the sheep kept producing more lambs!!! And she was only scanned for triplets!! All lambs are strong and healthy...and pretty big! The sheep will definitely be feeling a bit lighter now!

 

 

Happy Easter everyone, and thank you to my lovely husband for my gorgeous flowers...x

Decorative Eggs

I came across this gorgeous image in a magazine I had, and I thought I would share it! The eggs are so ornate and pretty. I wish I had time at the moment to make and paint things for Easter! Hopefully in a couple of weeks, I will have more free time, and I can start to make things again, as well as fill up my Etsy Shop!