Hello All
It's starting to look and feel Autumnal here in Derbyshire. It has been warm and sunny today while this morning there was a decided nip in the air and an early fog covered the valley
Here is the view from our paddock up the valley.
There is still much to gather in the garden meaning that autumn has rather crept up on me! My kitchen is littered with buckets and bowls of apples, tomatoes, beans and damsons. The spinach, kale and Romanesco caulis need picking and processing. I guess that as the weather is cooling now the maize and the butter beans are unlikely to ripen properly. I suppose I will use the maize as animal fodder and the beans as a large flagolet.
I shall be jam and jelly making in earnest this week, having also put many pounds of fruit into the freezer to make into wine when I have more time later in the year.
A couple of years ago I wrote a few posts on getting ready for winter. I intend to do something similar this year. I hope you will join in and add your own spin on "Getting Ready for Winter"
A few weeks ago we were at the Ashover Agricultural show. This is a great old-fashioned show which we visit most years. The weather was scorching and we were sat outside the beer tent (really? surely not!) with our friend, our daughter and her son and their rescue lab, Sammie. A gentleman was fussing Sammie and saying how he missed his old lab that had had to be put down a couple of weeks before. My grandson told him that his mother worked for a Labrador Rescue society and the guy showed some interest. Our daughter, realising how raw this guy was, gave him her phone number and told him that if he ever felt like having another Lab give her a ring.
This weekend he rang her to say that he was missing having a dog- the daily walks and the company, and could she help him to find an older dog that needed adopting?
She arranged an assessment visit and was pleased with the home that this man could offer. He had a good size secure garden and he wasn't bothered if he took on a dog or a bitch, but felt he couldn't take on a young dog.
This sounds like a really positive chance for one old dog. I'll keep you posted.
A Warm welcome to Pioneer Prepper (much to learn from him I'm sure) on the follower bar and Elaine Baron on Bloglovin.
Back Soon
Gillx
We miss our Lab' Monty, and were playing with a Black Lab' yesterday. But I think we'll put off getting another dog for the moment; one is enough.
ReplyDeleteI've never tried growing Butter Beans, but the idea appeals to me. Where did you get your seed; I've never seen them on sale.
Re. the beans I have been growing D.T.Browns Spagna Bianco as a butter bean. There are about 3 beans to a pod. I start the plants off in the cold frame and put them out as soon as the risk of frost has gone. They grow up poles just like runners, which means that you get quite a big crop. I pick them as soon as the "string" of the bean starts to yellow and ripen them inside or in the greenhouse.
DeleteI have also used the ripe beans of "Emergo" and Moonlight" as a butter bean, though they are not quite as flat in shape
Having recently adopted a lab - I can certainly recommend it. Ours is so lovely natured and has been a great help to me in terms of comfort and company. I really hope it works out for both lab and the man :)
ReplyDeleteIt is no surprise that Labs are the most popular of dogs is it?
DeleteMy daughter reckons that there should be no problem finding an older dog who is looking for a home, it is just a matter of finding the right "fit". Her dog, Sammie was 11 when she first fostered and then adopted him. He has quite a few problems which get less and less as he has settled in.
Its lovely that some-one wants to adopt an older dog I hope it goes well :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks
DeleteFingers crossed all round. I will keep you posted
I would love a dog when we retire and we don't travel as much. I am asthmatic so small dogs with less hair are better. It lovely to her that old dogs get a second chance.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter has placed several older dogs over the past year, which is so heartening.
DeleteGood luck in your search. I hope you can give a rescue dog a chance.
I used to write a bit for the Suffolk Smallholders Newsletter every Autumn about getting ready for winter in the country, just in case there were new members who had just moved.
ReplyDeleteGot Cols pairs of big boots and wellies out of the cupboard yesterday ready for when he wears thicker socks - he gets really cold feet in winter. Then I'll find all the gloves hats and scarves although we are actually having warmer weather here over the last few days than we've had all September!
Good point about the wellies. I have winter and summer working shoes too.
DeleteI am hoping to update my previous post, which looks a bit "preachy" looking back!
It is always lovely to hear of a dog being rehomed. Their sad eyes in Animal Rescue places always haunt me, although I know they do wonderful work.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about rescue centres. I would struggle too.
DeleteI love hearing about the gentleman wanting a dog. Such a heartwarming story.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting ready to do a getting ready for winter post soon. Hard to believe how quickly the summer has flown by.
I know! The guy is in his early seventies and knows that a pup might outlive him and an older dog will be such good company for him.
DeleteAutumn has raced towards me this year too.
Ashover is my favourite show too, I try to get there every summer!
ReplyDeleteAnd we always adopt older rescue dogs: it is more upsetting because naturally one has them for a shorter time and there are more euthanazing episodes than if one adopts young dogs, but to give an oldie a safe, loving and comfortable home for his/her last years is a real privilege.
Great isn't it?
DeleteYou are so right about it being a privilege.
x
Oh Frugal , we were not as rude as you. In Lincolnshire our version was
ReplyDeleteRoses are red, vioilets are blue, sugar is sweet and so are you!!!
It was here too until we were in our teens and then our version was considered a little racy!
DeleteFeeling a bit nippy here in the mornings ... and so dark when we are out and off to work ... I'm afraid I've been 'winter ready' for a couple of weeks now. Bought extra logs and knitted new warm fingerless mittens for working in. Still working on all the apples .. just how many apples can a girl use!
ReplyDeletex
Hi Vicky!
DeleteIt has been a bumper year for apples here too. They are having an apple day in Belper (5 miles from here) this weekend. I might take a few bucketfuls to press.
Gx
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis is highly informatics, crisp and clear. I think that everything has been described in systematic manner so that reader could get maximum information and learn many things. best site about Mastiffs
ReplyDelete