It's been mixed weather on our smallholding here in West Cork. The last weeks been like an Indian summer. I mowed the lawns, dug over some of the potato plot and spread half of the compost heap on top of the soil, strimmed, lots of weeding and trimmed the hedges for the fifth time this year.
The calves have been grazing in the field and we have even started renovating one of the tractors. The weather makes such a difference when it's nice.
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| Yesteday (Friday) was quite a contrast. We had a biblical like deluge. Puddles became lakes and streams became rivers. Tarmac floated down the roads and if it wasn't for living in between two bays (Bantry and Dunmanus) we would have been flooded out. |
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Hey Dave, it is like that here. I have lived here what? hmmm 4 months I have had my tracking on my car done 3 times. If anyone else tells me to buy a 4X4 I will cry. I can see why Cirencester is full of them now. they all live in the villages and cant get in any other way!
ReplyDeleteWe bought a 4x4 in 2010 when we were snowed in for a week. Rural roads need new surfaces and proper drains. I think there is no point having a new car if you live in the country.
DeleteHere in SW France: the same! But we need the rain to heal the damage done to the fields by the long hot summer we have just had, but not so much of it that the river floods! Glad you have had some good weather..... it will make the winter seem shorter.
ReplyDeleteHi Vera. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Us smallholders are never really happy with the weather. Last week was great like a week in June and April was wonderful. We even made hay in June. But the rest of the summer was a wash out. Thanks!
DeleteWe had a bit of rain overnight and sunshine and showers today, being on top of a mountain I would be concerned if I had 4 inches of water to paddle in :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Dawn. It's hilly here in West Cork. We get some terrible extremes of weather from time to time. The latest deluge must have come from the Atlantic because it's not been dry for weeks or months. Thanks!
DeleteI would love to take some of that rain off your hands! We are dry here and so could use some rain. But that is normal for Texas this time of year. Hope you don't have any damage from from the flooding....
ReplyDeleteHi Texan. Can't imagine what it's like to be short of water. I presume you are always struggling to water crops and give livestock drink and the fields will be brown and burnt up. We didn't have any damage. But I know people who did. Thanks!
DeleteWe were down your way a few weeks ago Dave, I waved to you from Bantry Bay. :-)
ReplyDeleteI've always wondered why we pay road taxes, if you find out please do let me know!
Hi Deb. Sorry I didn't see you waving from the bay. Was it a good journey?
DeleteWe get very few services in rural Ireland. No public transport, pavements, mains water, bins emptied, no bottle banks, no mobile library. Yet we are expected to pay property tax. Crazy. Thanks!
I thought Cork was supposed to be more civilised than the West. We could have mains water if we wanted it, we don't! We could have our bins emptied if we wanted, we don't, easier to go to the recycling centre and cheaper. Bottle banks clothing banks and aluminium banks all within four miles ( nearest town).
DeleteHi Anne. We could have our bins emptied if we take them a quarter of a mile for collection by a private company, not the council. They sold off their bin collection service. The recycling centre is five miles away, so you need a vehicle. Mains water doesn't reach us. Yet villages and towns have bottle banks, pavements, street lighting... We pay the same or similar property tax and get no council services. Even good road surfaces depend on where you live.
DeleteAm wondering, and thought I would ask. Do you think chickens will eat the yarrow in my garden? My Father says no. What are your thoughts
ReplyDeleteHens don't eat fresh yarrow but dried yarrow is of benefit to them if they have respiratory problems.
DeleteIt's been a little like that here today, Dave, minus the standing water :o)
ReplyDeleteHi CT. Yes it's been an horrible summer. Thanks!
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