February Half Term

Saturday morning - and it is half-term down here in Dorset.  We have families coming to stay which is lovely.  What is even better is that the weather man has forecast dry days.... what a relief!!!  Anyway, we have already had 2 beautiful days in a row, so fingers crossed.  It is a beautiful morning, and I attach a photo of our fishing lake giving a misty appeal.

January 2013

January 1st - and at last no rain!  I went for a wonderful walk around Egardon Hill Fort - which is close by.  Walking up and down the ramparts - the views are wonderful whatever the time of year.  Guaranteed to make you feel all is well with the world!
Dorset is so full of exciting walks and  fantastic views.

SUMMER 2012

Its a beautiful sunny Sunday morning.  My guests are just finishing their breakfast, and I wanted to add to my blog a picture - not sure whether I can, but will try, just to welcome you through my front door!

MARCH 2012

A quick update on to what is happening here in the depths of Dorset.  Spring is fast approaching.  The lake now croaks in the morning, and little splashes tell me the frogs/toads are about.  The ducks are getting possessive.  The Canada geese are here in high numbers.  The dafs are all nodding.  The primroses clustering over the banks.  The thrush is belting it out every morning.  My hens are laying so well.  My geese have started to lay now too, so a quiche is in the oven!  The garden is getting tidy,  and I am trying to decide what seeds to bring on, and which veg is going in.  I can't get too forward yet - as the purple sprouting is only about to sprout and I still have far too many leeks to get down me!
Its time for the phone to get busy too - Easter is fast approaching - this is one of my favorite times of the year.

December 2011

Winter and Christmas is fast approaching!  The Christmas lights are up - and very pretty!  We have had a wonderful autumn - so mild, and I am still picking autumn raspberries, the odd tomato from the greenhouse and peppers!  The garden is keeping us going, and we survive on lots of vegetable soups.  But now we have had a couple of frosts - but the bedroom window remains open at night!!
So news - and what is happening here at New House Farm.  We have probably now finished with guests for this year - we close for Christmas - but there is still a weekend ahead.
Lots of craft fairs and carol services.  Santa seems to be getting everywhere - no wonder he needs 11 months to get over the events.  I see Bridport does a Ghost Walk at 7.30pm on the 13th - by candlelight... 
On Boxing Day we have the West Bay Wallow - an annual event - swimmers take off, generally in fancy dress, and swim off East Beach.  We always seem to get down there - and cheer them on, and cheer them back - remarkable how blue they get!!!  Our youngest has always said he will be doing it - but no where to be found on the day!  We usually cycle to West Bay then return via most of the hosteries - I need my bike to lean on....
Lots going on for Christmas so let me just wish my readers all the best for the season, and a prosperous New Year.

Autumn Blog

Mid - October - and definitely colder!  There is a gentle mist rising off the lake and swirling up through the valley.  So what is happening in West Dorset now?  We are all getting ready for Halloween - I see that next week Bridport has Halloween Ghost Walks - a must obviously!  There are also Apple and Harvest Day at Kingston Maurward - I may well go to this, as we have several apple trees that we cannot name.  Then it will all be getting ready for firework night.  October has been an amazing month, and even though it is cool this morning I went swimming in the sea at Charmouth on the 2nd.  Its going to be a lovely day today, and hopefully through for the half-term.  The last of the swallows disappeared about the 8th - 10th October.  Always sad to see them go.
So what has been happening here on the farm.
The maize has been foraged, in fact the meadow has been ploughed, and re-seeded and the grass shoots are up.  I am sorry to report that the little pigs have grown and gone - but it was always going to be so.  The ducklings on the lake have grown and just about ready to fly now.  Sadly - mother duck only retained 3 ducklings.  There are a lot of foxes and it is nature's way.  The apple crop has been gathered and the last pressing is going to happen today.  We have 2 barrels with a mix of apple and pear and I am quite looking forward to sampling this, but it wont be ready for months.  The geese are misbehaving quite regularly by either escaping or debarking my apple trees.  I am forever wrapping wire, plastic etc round the trunks - and I am sure they think its for their entertainment....  The lake is still busy and many carp over 20lbs coming out - but I know there are some in there over 30lbs - we wait.
Well, back to work.  I have a houseful of guests, so very fortunate....

September 2011

I have really neglected this facility - so will now try and update any reader with what is about to happen in this lovely area.  September is a lovely time of year - even if we have definitely lurched straight into autumn.  Having said that - it has been a lovely hot day today.  So what is about to happen.  This weekend in Bridport we have the Wessex Military Band celebrating 30 years of music making.  Dorchester has its County Show this weekend (2 days).  Over 450 tradestands and 6000 animals!  Next weekend on the 11th there is the Eggardon Kite Festival on Eggardon Hill - an old hill fort just to the north of me.  From the 16th to the 18th there is the Bridport Hat Festival - all must wear a hat!  This is all great fun.  Well that finishes that bit!

Tomorrow evening in Powerstock the cinema is showing Tamara Drew - which was filmed locally;  I have already seen it once, but will go again!

So what has happened here on the Farm.  The gosling has grown to be the same size as the geese.  The piglets are now big boys.  The maize stands about 7 foot high.  The lake has been fishing amazingly well - and I have been promised loads of photos - I am still waiting.

I have had a huge crop of cucumbers, tomatoes are ok and everything else has been keeping me happy.  We have (like everyone else) a lot of apples.  The farmer has made a cider press and we have already about 15 gallons of cider on the go!  This is quite exciting.  Have collected about 2cwt apples today which will get pressed Friday.  Have also picked over 12lb of sloes - some will go for sloe gin and the rest will be made into wine.  It is always such a busy time of year.  I have made 6lb of damson jam and today have made 5lb of raspberry.  The eldest boy is demanding my apple and marrow chutney - which will soon have to be made.  The weather will now improve - just as soon as the kids go back to school, and we should have an Indian Summer. 
Its been quite a cool summer - but quite prolific - 3 hatchings of sparrows in the box, lots of swallows, martins and sand martins dipping in and out of the lake.  Last lot of ducklings - a huddle of 5 - were snuggled up together by the lakeside this evening.  Lots of little bats flitting about.  Large deer on the hill this morning.  All is well.