Where We Live
I live on a small croft (7acres) just outside Lumsden. I moved here from Aberdeen, and have not regretted a day. I have 1 Horse, 4 dogs, 1 cat, and loads of Chickens. I would love to have cattle and sheep, but my work prevents this happening at the moment.
My house is at least 100 years old, it used to be part of the Clova estate years ago, and probably housed one of the estate workers.
I have not really done a lot to the house, except put in a Kitchen, and knocked a wall down between two very small bedrooms to make a sitting room. I regularly paint all the rooms just to keep them fresh looking, with the help of my daughter.
In my outbuilding I built 3 stables which are completed and 1 which I just use for storage, At the back of the building there was an old double stall, which I think must have been for cattle. I converted and made it a bit bigger so that I could keep my hay and straw dry during the winter. Things get done slowly, when money allows, but I keep doing as much as I can, and maybe one day it will be perfect. (if there is such a thing)
My New Shed
I'm excited just now as I am having a new shed delivered. My friend is going to help me put it up. I am going to keep all my tools in it instead of having them strewn all over the stables. This is one of my projects for this year. Everything seems to get put into the stables at the moment, and there is so much tools and things in there that I am fast running out of space, so when it goes up I will be able to give myself more space in the stables.
My Yard
I try to keep my yard tidy, well as tidy as I can with so many chickens running around. I would like to try and make it nicer, but am at a loss as to what or how to do it. I can't really have plants, as either the chickens or the rabbits eat everything. I don't have the money to have it like landscaped, but could do something if only I could think what to do. I did make myself a little decking bit, with a table and chairs and the little barbeque, but the chickens think it's really cool and spend so much time on it that it takes so long to clear it and sweep it that I can't be bothered cleaning it and just go and sit further down the yard. I really like wood and stones, and am always looking for big stones or logs to do something with. I painted all my stones along the edge of the yard White, I think it looks quite nice, but you have to paint them maybe twice during the summer, which I don't mind doing. I think it gives you something that catches the eye when you drive up the driveway. My yard is quite windy, I think it has something to do with the fact that I live in a hollow sort of bit, and during the winter the wind seems to blow 4 ways at the same time.
So, I think its maybe back to the drawing board to see if I can come up with a sort of plan for what I want to do, I wish I was artistic or something, then I may have an idea of what I should be doing. Maybe I should buy some of the gardening magazines, they may give me some idea's. Well I'm off to the shop to see if I can find a magazine for some help.....
Boo Hoo Winter
I know its winter, but everything is in such a mess. We had heaps of snow and now that it has almost gone, everything is now covered in ice. Twice I have slipped and landed on my bottom. That is bad enough but all my dogs usually land up pouncing on me. Well, I have a lots of plans for when the ice has gone, and its just a case of waiting for it to go. I am going to try planting some new trees this year. I planted some a few years ago but its so windy where I live that they get blown about. I want to make a new garden with some nice plants. Maybe a rockery, that would look nice. I would like to get a new shed to replace my old van which is going for scrap soon. I have been using it as a store for a few years now and its time it went as it just looks a mess. Think I will go and look at some gardening magazines and get some ideas.