Rain at Last

After weeks of no rain today's heavy downpours have left the garden refreshed (if a little battered). At least my forget me nots and euphorbia are pretty resilient.

Storms and sunshine

We've had a little thunder this afternoon and some brief heavy rain, but now sunshine is falling on the trees opposite us.

Scarecrow Mk2

After 18 months of faithful service our scarecrow decided he needed a lie down, taken out by gales just before Easter. Work has now begun on a new model!

Blossom Time

It's been a glorious year for blossom, especially on the damson and blackthorn. Our apples are just starting to flower and so is the hawthorn.

Severn Bore and the Bristol Lido

In March we travelled down to Gloucester to watch the Severn Bore, something I'd always been intrigued by. Then we swam and dined at the Bristol Lido (my idea of fun but with water at a chilly 19 degrees maybe not Dave's!)

Sabbatical

We are currently taking some time off from the B&B to do all the things we fancy! In February we travelled to Malaga for a few days and went to see where the fabulous Ave Maria Seville oranges grow. We also visited markets and a wonderful glass museum.

Green Leaves and Blue Skies

Walking back up our lane green leaves are unfurling on the trees against a clear blue sky. In the bank bluebells are beginning to open and spring is definitely here.

Service Resumed

I've been having a bit of a break from the blog and have been posting on Twitter instead (@HillFarmBnB) but for those of you not on that platform I'll try and post here too!

Clocks change

Today the clocks have gone back which means that the sun will set with us before 5pm. A bright cold day with another frost forecast tonight.

Autumn sunshine

Sunshine filling our living room and casting shadows across the landscape. The grass looks surprisingly green again and the areas we re-seeded have begun to sprout.

Snow

While I was serving breakfast this morning it started to SNOW! It has been a very strange year, grass just cut for silage and now snowflakes in October.

Dawn

After a sleepless night I was awake to watch the dawn unfold. Outside it's mild and damp with dew, lots of small birds sing unseen in the hedges.

Family time

Last night we sat around the kadai, lit sparklers and watched the stars! A lovely mild evening and time to relax.

Puss aka non-pet

Puss came and sat on the bench this morning giving us meaningful looks, we went and got her food and she immediately walked across the lane to inspect the sheep!

Sunset

Another beautiful but too early sunset, it's completely dark now before we finish supper and the sun has moved round to set at the bottom of the garden so I can watch it as I cook.

Still flowering

Flowers that survived the Storm Callum gales bringing late colour to the garden.

Haylage

The fine weather makes it possible to get a late cut of grass for haylage, very welcome after such a difficult year. It will provide the cows with some tasty winter feed. It is always scary to see the laden trailer squeeze past our stone gateposts!

Fog

We've had some very misty starts this week with still mild air. I love watching the way the mist tumbles down the Big Field, it moves fast and can form and be gone in minutes.

Walking

The wonderful weather is too good to be filled with domestic tasks so we drive to Alstonefield a little further up from us in the Peak District and go walking.

Grass cutting

With snow until March and the summer drought it's been a really difficult year for livestock farmers. This means that the fine sunny weather forecast for this week provides the chance to cut a late crop of grass from our fields. It will help feed neighbouring cows through the winter.