Saturday's Goings On

I've never shown you Big Brother's dog before. Meet Ben. He's a Border Collie - the traditional breed of dog here on the island, because they're good with the sheep. 

Apparently.

Big Brother calls our Jackson, 'Nice but dim'. He reckons the Border Collie is the Einstein of the doggy world, whereas the Labrador relies on blonde good looks rather than on brains.

 

The sheep were being moved today....again.

 

 Here are the lambs in the back of the pick-up, while their mums rode in the trailer.

They were not happy bunnies, I can tell you.  What a noise!

(And a bit of a whiff too, but don't tell BB I said that. He reckons their aroma is sweet. Mmmm, I think we'll leave this conversation right now.)

But talking of sweet....

 Catherine made a load of mini whoopie pies today, and filled them with....

 this. 

 Marshmallow fluff.... Lovely.

(Yes, I bought just a few jars. Why do you ask?)

When Big Brother tasted them, he reckoned that wars had been fought over less. Yep, we like it. A lot.

 Today was another day in the plot. It was productive, but, oh boy, it was cold.... and windy.


Our winchill was about 1C (34F), but the sun did peek through the clouds now and again.

 

 Here are our two 'cages' and another shelter in front of the one on the right.

Both are now planted with a variety of brasiccas.

Inside the windbreak outwith the cage are four rows of leeks.

 

 See the doors? The Builder made these today, so I can wander in and out of my cages at my leisure. Aren't they fabulous. I knew there was a good reason I married that man.

  

Here are the potatoes that we planted a few weeks ago in the tubs. 

 Peas plants under glass. As always, the wind is our greatest battle here. Hence the cages, the windbreaks and the glass coverings. 

These peas are Duchy Originals. That's Prince Charles' label, and so I'd like you to show a little respect. A small curtsy, or salute if you're a guy, will suffice, but I will not have any disrespect shown to my Prince Charles Peas.

(Having said that, if they don't grow for me, and if they don't give me a harvest of lovely tasty peas, I'll take all this back, and you can then say what you want about them.)

Here's a close-up of coriander (cilantro) about to bolt.

  

 I plant coriander every couple of weeks, but if I leave a plant - even a week after the leaves are ready for use - the plant develops these stems which grow in between the main stems. The leaves that grow on these new stems are not large and flat like the 'proper' coriander leaves. They are smaller and 'lacy'. I'm not sure there's much I can do to stop this. I've read so much information on growing coriander, and bolting comes naturally to them. The only answer is to plant new seed every couple of weeks.

And so to tonight, to feet up, to aching backs and to tired eyes. 

How kind and how wise our Heavenly Father was to give us the Lord's Day. He made us, knowing we would need physical rest from our labours one day in seven; and He knew that we would need a day on which to recharge our spiritual batteries. 

Hope you all have a blessed Lord's Day.