It has been so cold these last few days. We’ve had water frozen in various different places and snow and rain blowing in to sheds and yards. We feel like we are in the grips of winter, because we are. January is definitely winter in Northumberland. Yesterday the sky was the most beautiful blue and […]
I have to admit to being in 2 minds about this time of year. I feel the dark days closing in, you can’t really do much in the garden that doesn’t entail getting wet, cold and muddy. There’s far too much washing to get washed and dried, plus after over eating at Christmas, puddings and […]
We are at the shortest day, the winter solstice. It’s the darkest time of year here on the farm and the stars have been amazing. I do try to stop for a moment to enjoy them. I don’t look up as often as I should. In summer I am in awe of the beautiful blue […]
Now this sort of dry cold is the sort of winter I can really enjoy. It’s the wet and mud and grey skies that I dislike. These last few days, albeit finger stingingly cold, have been bright and clear. It is really beautiful with a thick layer of frost on the ground and the sun […]
It’s snowing, the fire is on and the cats are sleeping on a blanket on the sofa. I wish every evening was as peaceful as this. Is it the calm before the storm, with only 2 weekends to go before Christmas. I’m in full mince pie and icing Christmas cakes mode….. We tend not to […]
I woke up in the middle of the night last night. Wide awake with my mind whizzing over everything there is to do before Christmas. It isn’t easy to get it all done. The way I manage it and working full time is to make a comprehensive list almost a timetable. Right down to change […]
There really is “no place like home” and now is the perfect time to love and enjoy it, get a little cosy ready for the winter and indulge in the dark nights wrapped up indoors. I don’t know if it’s just the fantasy of farmers and growers but the thought of getting in after, all […]
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas here. Mince pies are in our little shop and I’m making pastry and pulling pork to keep the shop stocked on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Pop along if you get the chance for a pulled pork sandwich and a glass of mulled wine or a beer. Remember […]
November, November we are here already. It’s darker evenings and wood smoke. Slow cooking and cosy nights in. We don’t really slow down on Christmas farm however, well it is Christmas farm after all and we are all getting really excited. Everyone has lists, lists of things to harvest, lists of things to make and […]
We are at the end of October and I can’t quite believe it. We are having some amazing weather and the grass is still growing, in fact in some spots it’s growing better than it has all summer, because of the summers drought, and now it has everything it needs, warmth and rain. The last […]
