Sunday 2 July 2017

Again

The farming year rolls on - one of the things that I love about it (and shall miss) is the continuity of it all.

A forecast for fine and sunny weather for a couple of days at least means one
  thing - second silage cut.   And that is precisely what happened yesterday.   There are now three fields cut and lying and they smell lovely.

Another thing about them is that the grass lays in lines and between them is a 'path' of cut grass which is ideal for walking Tess, so that is what we did this morning.   The sun is out but there is a strong wind blowing so I find it quite cold.  (dare I tell you I put my thermals back on last week!)

Another thing which I found interesting is that there was not a single rabbit to be seen.   There were such a lot and suddenly they seem to have disappeared.   That suggests that maybe myxamatosis has struck.   It decimates the rabbits and they die a  slow and horrible death.   The farmer used to go round the fields looking for them and putting the out of their misery.

Out for Sunday lunch at 1.30 today.   What shall I have? (the menu is quite long but it is always the same).  At present I am torn between salmon florentine or one of the four vegetarian choices and as I cooked salmon for myself yesterday it may well be the vegetarian options.   But I may well change my mind when we get there.

I have packed one box today and shall pack another - probably books - on my return.   Where I am going to put it all is another matter.   There are going to be a lot of boxes in the garage for quite a while, that's a certainty.   But at least when that happens I shall be in!

22 comments:

Elizabeth said...

I remember various myxamatosis epidemics in my childhood.
You lunch options sound delightful.

Rachel Phillips said...

You must have an awful lot of stuff Weave!

The Broad said...

Such a let down when you have to give in to winter clothing in the middle of summer! We are suffering here in the south of France, too. Finally gave in and lit the fire last night! Yesterday morning, I saw my first rabbit scamper across the garden. There were lots of hem last year. Wondered what had happened to them all. Hope you have a super Sunday lunch. Pork chops for us...

donna baker said...

Is this a usual summer Pat? It seems to be awfully cold for summer. Of course, that sounds preferable to 100 degree days like we have. I just got up and am having my morning coffee and it is getting close to dinner there. Isn't that something? Driving to the farm for a few days and have to pack up my truck to take the dogs, meds, everything.

Mac n' Janet said...

Picking which books to move with me is always the hardest job and we always end up moving more of them than we should. Enjoy your lunch.

Derek Faulkner said...

Amazing how people that two weeks ago were saying it was too hot are now saying it's cold.
Here in Surrey today at my partner's place, it has been hot, sunny and breezy and we took a walk along a beautiful nearby river for a few miles and enjoyed the fish in the river and many butterflies in the sunshine. We ended it sitting in a lovely pub garden with some real ale and a basket meal.

Joanne Noragon said...

So hard to chose what to take and what to leave behind. I've purchased several items I deemed unnecessary a year ago. It seems you will have boxes and boxes to sort through, looking for drill bits.

Sue in Suffolk said...

Baggy shorts and t-shirt weather here in Suffolk! and I'm stuck indoors painting the living room.

busybusybeejay said...

For me here in North Wales the worry is the lack of butterflies.We have quite a few buddleias in the garden which would normally be full of butterflies .It is a sunny day today but no butterflies.

angryparsnip said...

Maybe after you move you can drive out into the farmland and sit with Tess in the beautiful air.
When I could walk I use to drive the three minutes to the national park down the road and take the tram up the mountain. the views the wonderful air and the sound of water.

cheers, parsnip and thehamish

The Weaver of Grass said...

Rachel - 'stuff' is the word for it. I have over fifty of my first husband's paintings as well as some from various colleagues of his. In addition I had over a thousand books and many pots potted by various artistic friends. And that is before I start on the normal things - I have visited the Charity Shop and the tip most days snf hsvr given a lot to friends too. I am sure I am taking too many things but shall just have to weed them out when I get there.

Several people ask about our weather. I am afraid it is a typical British summer, particularly here in the North of the country where we are somewhat higher sbove sea level too. I have resisted putting on the central heating as I have the Aga which warms the kitchen but I have resorted to the electric blanket at bedtime.

Living Alone in Your 60's said...

I am sitting here imagining that love smell. Everything so dry here again and temperatures are rising rapidly.

Heather said...

I have always been fascinated by the changing seasons and hope I can still observe them when I am installed in my little flat in the town. I have stopped packing owing to the hiccup with my buyers losing their purchasers, and to alleviate boredom have resorted to unpacking a couple of boxes to find a few books to browse and or read, and find some sewing to keep me busy.

Susan Heather said...

I can still remember coming across a sick rabbit when myxomatosis was released in the '50's. One of our group put it out of its misery but I have never forgotten it.

thelma said...

I suppose rabbits are also eaten by local foxes and poachers take their fair share. Do you know there are many new words for people who are not quite vegetarians. I think the middle road less meat, and now less fish, is perhaps the best course:)

Librarian said...

Hmm... I'll arrive in Yorkshire this Sunday evening, but I hope we won't need to bring our winter coats, as Ripon is not as high as where you are.
Still, sensible packing is in order, as it is always when we come to Ripon. One just never knows!
After a lovely hot summery week, last weekend here was chilly and grey and felt almost autumnal. Summer is forecast to come back this week, though, and it already is warmer today than yesterday.

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

That is too bad about the rabbits. I hope it is the case that you just didn't see any, or perhaps natural predators have been busy, rather than dying from an awful disease. Here in my part of Ontario, it has been ceaseless rain and cooler weather, but it seems we may be feeling a bit more heat this week. -Jenn

Anonymous said...

A lot of the fields have been cut here too. Well done on the packing front.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks everyone. There was a heavy shower here this morning but it has been sunny and windy all day and they are busy gathering in the silage as I write. Rain is forecast overnight I believe.

Gail, northern California said...

The farmers have a gift, don't they? Sunny and windy to dry their cut and they know precisely when to gather the silage, and its moisture content before placing it in the silos. Though you're anxious to move and start anew, I'm glad you're there to witness this year's harvest.

Sarah said...

My father's family lived in Cumbria, not too far from Kirby Lonsdale and we always packed our winter coats for summer visits. I think you are doing a wonderful thing by sorting through all your possessions now. It took me four months to empty my parents' house. I didn't keep much but the things I did I look at or use every day, that is apart from the thousands of photographs (my grandfather was a talented amateur photographer and continued taking photographs throughout his long life - he died in 1996 as old as the century) which my youngest brother painstakingly scanned to produce a digital archive. I love reading about life in the Yourkshire Dales. Here in Surrey our neighbouring fields were cut a couple of weeks ago, I'm wearing shorts and t-shirts most of the time and this weekend we've even been swimming in the very warm sea off the south coast.

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

It is indeed hard to part with things that are dear. Better, I say, to take too much and sort later than to be hasty and regret getting rid of something precious.