Saturday 1 March 2014

Sorry Froogs!

Hello All!
Firstly. a grovelling apology to Frugal Queen.
 In my last post I was talking about  viewing numbers and said that FQ had between 1000 and 2000 views a day to her blog. Obviously this isn't correct (der!) and she actually has between 10,000 and 12,000 views a day to her blog. ! Sorry Froogs, didn't translate my notes correctly.
Phew! Glad that's out of the way. it has been bothering me.

Welcome to new followers Jane and Lance at Hattatt and to Lottie of Blog lovin. Nice to have you along.

 Linda at Greenhaven asks me to expand on the use of mesh floors in the bee hives. We stand out hives on stands about 8 inches off the ground or concrete blocks of similar height. The mesh floor is open to the ground at this height. Mesh floors allow any varroa mite that falls from a bee to fall through the floor and out of the hive. A moveable floor, with white sticky paper can be placed below the mesh floor to enable some sort of count of the mites, thus giving an indicator of the degree of infestation.. Some people also claim that a mesh floor decreases the risk of condensation. in winter. As with all beekeeping, as the saying goes "If you have a beekeeper in the room you already have two opinions" (or some such) so this view will set some beekeepers hopping up and down with ire, while others will nod sagely and say "true true"

D. finished cutting and chopping the trunks he has saved for the rest of this winter and well into the next. He feels justifiably pleased with himself. In case he thinks feels he can now rest on his laurels, and talking of wood, here is another stash of pallets that arrived at our place. Lots of burning and several fences, chicken coops and other such projects. I know there will be some of you that will be green with envy at the sight and others who think "Thank goodness I  don't have to deal with that lot!"

Project-wise, I have finished ALL my mending, made another peg bag, sewn a new cover for a sofa and have finished the Egyptian costume for YGD. I will take a picture of her in it when I see her next. I believe she is staying overnight next friday, so I will try to remember then.

I am very busy with the Civic Society stuff at the moment, with some planning issue we wish to comment on, getting ready for the AGM next month, more work on the oral history book we are writing, collecting more information  for our next exhibition and making preparations for a special commemoration of the war memorial,  with the 100 yr anniversary of the first world  war being this year. It is going to be a busy year!

I often talk about Hugh our Buff Orpington Cockerel and comment on what a sweet lad he is. Here he is last autumn helping to look after chicks with Mummy Buff. Have you spotted something? mmmmm don't think he is the biological father of that black chick do you?!

Off to rustle some tea together now. D. has gone to fetch Adam for an overnight stay, so I will probably sit down with him to watch "The Voice" as he likes that sort of programme. Later on it is his all-time favourite "Casualty" though he is pretty dischuffed that Josh isn't in it anymore and always asks me if he will be in in it this time?
I still haven't written about our experience in the foot and mouth epidemic. I will put something in my next post.
Until next time dear bloggy friends, thanks ever so much for reading.
Gillx

PS It has been pointed out to me in the comments below, that I had written second world war instead of first. I have now corrected this, as it was getting on my nerves once I knew ! Thanks Kev and Cro for spotting it.x

16 comments:

  1. Pallets delivered - it's all right for some! we have to fetch them ourselves or rather himself.

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    1. We collected the last lot from a local firm. I think our trailer is used more for pallets than anything!
      Gill

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  2. We love Casualty here too. Enjoy x

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    1. See there is some fresh blood (!) in Casualty this week with Lee something. Adam still asked were Josh was even when I told him that Lee used to be Joseph. I thought this would impress him as he knows the song "Any Dream will do". He just saked if Josh could sing? No pleasing some people!

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  3. Loving hearing about your chickens and bees and I am in the 'that looks like a lot of work' camp for the pallets! Poor cuckolded daddy buff tho'

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    1. Hugh is a big-hearted sort of chap and doesn't seem to mind. There are enough Hugh look-a-likes around to show he's still the man!
      Gill

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  4. That's a lot of hits!
    I know its just a typo but its the hundredth anniversary of the first world war not the second!
    I've got a small section of fencing and a gate here made from pallets. All good stuff!

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    1. Thanks for pointing that out, I have now changed it.
      I don't know what we would do without pallets and baling twine. The smallholders building bricks! I think I could do a whole post on the uses of pallets around our place.
      Gill

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  5. I'd love those free pallets, even if I had to bring them home on my back. Yes, I was a bit worried about the anniversary too, but we all make typing mistakes.

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    1. There is quite a long haul with them from where they are dropped off. Though I don't suppose you feel sorry for us about that!
      I've edited the mistake, as once you and Kev had pointed it out I couldn't leave it.
      Gill

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  6. Typing mistakes, tell me about them - how often I make them and don't realise until it is too late.
    Free pallets, I agree with Cro, are hard to resist.
    I shall be interested to hear about your experiences during the Foot and Mouth epidemic as we had it ourselves here on what was at the time a Dairy Farm - alas no longer.

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    1. Can't turn away a pallet can you?
      The foot and mouth epidemic touched so many lives for ever didn't it?
      Gill

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  7. Hello Gill,

    Well, we are definitely in the camp of coming over faint at the thought of having to deal with all those pallets. Funny how the same thing can bring joy to one and be a nightmare to another. Still, so good that here is variety in life!

    In our gardening days we kept chicken and the little black chick reminds us of our small foray into chicken breeding. The variety we had were Black Rock and they did look very stylish when parading through the orchard where they were kept. However, we had not reckoned on how difficult it is to keep chicken. Sorting out fights, dealing with the broody hens, safeguarding against the foxes.......etc.etc. such work! Still, the fresh eggs are fabulous aren't they?

    Thank you for your welcome. We look forward to welcoming you at Hattatt soon.

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    1. Black Rocks are very good looking birds aren't they? As for the work, I spent most of Saturday mucking out chicken houses, scraping perches and barrowing to the compost heap! I know how to live.
      Gill

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  8. Cor! wish I could get my hands on about 10 of those good pallets! With no transport I can't take up the offers on Freegle and such sites and no-one is inclined to part with them around here! I need some for a 2 or 3 bin compost system........I dream!
    I also dream of being able to have a fox/predator proof chicken coop and run, not got the chickens yet because of this. I just hope that when I can afford/obtain these items, that I still have enough of my 'marbles' about me to use them!

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  9. Not the easiest things to carry around, few people have a car large enough or a trailer to fill. Good Luck with your search.
    You are so right to worry about foxes. They are out there everyday waiting for you to make a mistake, leaving the hens vulnerable.
    I know what you mean about doing things while able. Some days I feel very mortal and then the next day I am ready to take on the world! A dear, sweet, friend of mine, who has a smallholding has developed dementia, which was never in the plan for retirement. I feel for the family.
    Gill
    PS You were going to email me?

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