Daydream fund challenge part 4

DaftyDuck

I've always wanted to sell some plants by the gate... and then I realise that, rather like alfie-&-pups, I'd want to vet each applicant, and do a "garden check" for suitability, give them a questionnaire to fill in, before finally deciding they couldn't have any of my babies, and telling them to be on their way, waving a big stick at them, or throwing lumps of soil in their general direction. I'm definitely not cut out for a career in retailing plants! Mine! All of them!

{I do give friends plants - that just seems different somehow, and it's always useful if I kill something I've given away as a cutting, easy restock!}

I'm back in the land of the living, albeit still asthmatic, damnit. Oh well, I'm nearly ancient. Had quite a catch-up on the farm, but nearly back on top of it. I think we are winning with the weeds in the two five-acre paddocks closest to the house. It's a draw (this year) on the larger field that mad-horse-woman has been using - as we've done less than we wanted, and she's done less than that - but we are catching stuff before it seeds.

The water meadow is another matter, and I've pretty much abandoned most of that. Partly that's 'cos I need to learn more about it, what is meant to grow there, and what I want to get rid of (docks, docks, more docks...), and partly it's just laziness/lack of time. I'd rather "do no harm" as well. Next year, maybe.

Noticed a huge willow had fallen over, taking a fence with it. When did that happen? Didn't hear it, didn't notice a wind, just... splat, there's a tree in the field ... It's going to be a biggie to chainsaw, might need to pass it on to someone better equipped and better muscled.

Tomorrow and the weekend, I'm building (planning to build, at least) a dovecote to rehouse some of the 30 doves that live in one of the barns. then I can shut them out, and clean up the guano. Inches thick, in some places. Not good for barn use! Anyone got dovecote plans? I've looked on the interwebz and found some, but not good ones, so I may just get creative, and see what happens!

Just been offered a cuppa by wife... and I neeeed it to replace all the sweat I shed this am... TMI :D

Fay

choille wrote: »

Friends did paths with stone and it cost £16 a square metre which I thought was expensive, but they thought was cheap. The stone comes from India, so not very environmentally friendly.

We are also looking at Indian sandstone, the garden is North facing and Indian sandstone is the least porous of the natural stones so it's the best surface for North facing. I don't want concrete pavers, not sure they are any more or less environmentally friendly than stone imported from India. And I don't fancy block paving lol can't have decking (not that I would want it). £16 a meter is about the cheapest you can get it if it's ethically sourced and fair trade, we are looking at some that is £30 a square meter but I don't think I can come to spend that lol

Davesnave

Gate sales are hit & miss and occasionally annoying. We don't have money stolen, but people take the printed labels and sometimes have the photos too! I just roll with it, remembering the days when we did thermal labelling on a set-up that cost as much as the van.

Glad to hear the worst of your health issues are behind you, Dafty. I can't offer any dove advice, as we only have sparrow cotes on our barn. I've kept the swallows out this past two years, but they're hardly short of space with the thatcher's huge open barn just next door and Horse Woman's stable just up the lane.

Speaking of HW, she has a stair lift now, but lacks the energy to use her greater mobility. It'll be a long haul. A couple of us have been pushing her sons to arrange a home help and the medics are now doing the same. Only one of her kids has visited....:mad:

I've undercut the fairly massive existing foundations of the old conservatory, so we're ready to go with shuttering tomorrow. Then it's just mix, mix, mix....

Changed our minds over the bricks we ordered, so trying to buy others, considerably more pricey, but apparently there's a brick shortage..... :huh: Hope they have enough. Don't want another trip to Brick Mountain...Still have neck ache! :eek:

alfie_1

MORNING ALL


drizzle here this morning... just when im working on the railway all day !!


lucielle.... ive sent you an email.

Davesnave

alfie_1 wrote: »

drizzle here this morning... just when im working on the railway all day !!

Never mind.

Have a good one and don't speak to any shifty shunters!

choille

Spent a while catching a sheep who seems quite rashed about the ears & eyes - I think it's the midgies - seems to get some that way. Biggest sheep I've got - A Powder puff who is so heavy I sort of did my back in, but manged to get some jollop on & some cream for the rash - she's rubbed herself raw. I've left the hurdles up so I'll have another good look tomorrow - I cox her in the pen with feed.

Pouring down, so looked a right drowned rat when I went over to the little shop & smelt of wet sheep &....worse ...no doubt.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

afternoon all.

hope the cream does the trick re- sheep rash.

drizzling here too.

planned do a load of batch cooking here at the ranch, to try and get used to my kitchen etc.. as up until a few days ago, our youngest girlfriend has been staying here, and has insisted on doing the cooking as a way of saying thank you for staying lol..

I have got nowhere fast. as we seem to get a lot more friends visiting us here lol... everyone sorts of makes themselves at home as soon as they walk through the door.. they even cwtch up on the old sofa lol... so it looks as though I will be batch cooking tomorrow too...

choille

Sounds like folks like your set up CTC, but make time for you and not just doing stuff for others.

I'm just idling today as I varnished until 10 pm last night = door facings etc. I'm nearly up to date, but OH has some to finish off. I painted a filter tank, well a plastic box that will act as a filter for thetank that will go up the hill. I was prowling about yesterday looking for stuff to paint/varnish. It's the rain & miserable weather that makes you want to do something, anything to keep busy!

alfie_1

dave.... if I looked half as glam as those two, id be a happy bunny !!:rotfl:


actually got out really hot today [23]
got all the clearing vegetation, hovering tracks!, cleaning tracks done and will pop back tomorrow to do an hours test run with owner before the train anorak brigade turn up clutching their prize "engines"...;)


got ANOTHER person coming to see pup no4 tonight... well I hope they turn up... im sat in a airfreshnered sprayed room ... choking !
people are hesitant in taking on pups/dogs now which is good in one respect cos they don't end up getting rid later on ....

Davesnave

alfie_1 wrote: »

dave.... if I looked half as glam as those two, id be a happy bunny !!:rotfl:

people are hesitant in taking on pups/dogs now which is good in one respect cos they don't end up getting rid later on ....

I'm sure you are every bit as glam, alfie. It's all in the eye of the beholder, you know.

Some people might be more sensible about pups, but since we've been here, a couple of my barn-dwelling neighbours have had, and then disposed of, two dogs....and a pony. They've also had umpteen cars, motorbikes, motor caravans etc, but nothing is ever quite right. They don't recycle either. Both teachers, I'm ashamed to say.....:o

The weather here's been fab all day, so it was a pity we had to do shopping, but I got some footings finished off this afternoon. Our builder had to sort an elderly person's house after an attempted burglary in Exeter yesterday, so he was unable to come here and do the setting-out for the foundations, but I found one part I could do myself.

A sudden mad flurry with gate sales and eBay means we took loadsamoney without going anywhere this week. After sitting there on the Bay for about 6 weeks, all the spare roof tiles are spoken for. Bit of a cheek selling them, considering we got them free , but if you don't ask......:)