hebrideanstyle-blog

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One job a day. #1jobdown via Instagram

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Oh hey.

I’m told that people are missing my blogs. This year, in a classic “new year, new me” stylee, I am going to try being better at it. Last time I blogged, I wasn’t long out of hospital after kneeling on a nail. To be honest, that threw me off kilter for most of the year. Everything became a catch up exercise, and I didn’t catch up. Veg did ok, but not brilliant. Carrots failed to germinate well,…

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Last year, I got an old rotovator from a very kind friend. It needed some TLC, and between one thing and another, it has taken longer than I expected to get him up and running, and it has involved a lot of help from other friends and mechanics. Today, I finally got him running smoothly. (It’s a Howard 350)

In under an hour I rotovated a 20 metre strip which would have taken the best part of 2 days with a fork.

Happy days!

The resulting soil is beautiful. If only I could get a machine to manure it too…

The house is fully framed upstairs and downstairs, and the first electrical fix began today – exciting times.

Just as exciting is the stair renovation, being lovingly done by David. The edges of the steps, and all the spindles and handrails were removed in the 1960 upgrade of the house. We are using old floorboards and joists from the house to recreate the original. I can’t wait to see the finished result.

In my spare time, I’ve started a new crochet project – the plan is to turn out a lovely ripple blanket. The yarn is from Attic24 in a range of stunning colours. It’s fast becoming a bit of an addiction.

Howard the Rotovator Last year, I got an old rotovator from a very kind friend. It needed some TLC, and between one thing and another, it has taken longer than I expected to get him up and running, and it has involved a lot of help from other friends and mechanics.

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I am off on my holidays on Monday. Fingers are firmly crossed for good weather, but I am packing some layers just in case Gran Canaria suddenly decides to channel the west coast of Scotland.

I had planned to leave Tiree tomorrow, but the best laid plans of mice and men are often thwarted by a weather forecast. I took a few hard looks at the long range and brought my departure forward 2 days. It meant a mad scramble to get things done, but I think it was justified. Tomorrow will tell!

Weather for Tiree tomorrow

What it did mean was a lovely day in Helensburgh, working in a comfy hotel and catching up with old friends. I even manged a meal at the new restaurant in town – Cattle and Creel. By jove, it was good! I can highly recommend the steak, and the chocolate parfait. I couldn’t help taking a picture. It was so good!

I got a tyre replaced on the van and fitted in all my bulk buy shopping, which was an unexpected bonus.

Mya spent a night in the ensuite in the hotel last night. I don’t think she enjoyed it much, but at least she didn’t bark, and she was a darn sight warmer than she would have been in the van. She is now safely ensconsed in kennels.

Before I headed off, two awesome things happened. First, we got a spell of dry weather. Actually dry. Secondly, my friend and Olark colleague Madalyn popped over to Tiree as part of her sojourn in the UK. Apparently Tiree was pleasantly warm in comparison to winter in Michigan… Serious kudos for braving it at this time of year! Madalyn ++

Plenty got done over the last week. The new potato patch was fertilised, and then covered. Carrots were lifted and bagged. Some are for sale in the local shop, Bùth a’ Bhaile, which is exciting. The rest were put in a traditional straw and earth clamp. Peter was home for a few days and hopped over the stile to edge the new herb patch, working right up until the morning he left! Madalyn helped me weed and turn over last year’s carrot patch, which was also covered and in the midst of it all I got a batch of new-to-me implements from Harris for the Fergusson tractor. All I need to do is oil them and knock them back into working order and learn how to drive the tractor… Shouldn’t take long…

The evening before I left I battled low temperatures and tar in an attempt to waterproof the henhouse. We shall see how successful I have been on my return.

And finally, the presence of a visitor was a great excuse to do some walking and enjoy the beautiful few days.

Tomorrow, I am collecting the second polytunnel, spare cover, a hot water cylinder and plumbing accoutrement from my parents’ back garden. I feel a game of transit tetris coming on… Don’t think my mum will be sad to see the back of the packages littering her garden, though!

Holiday time! I am off on my holidays on Monday. Fingers are firmly crossed for good weather, but I am packing some layers just in case Gran Canaria suddenly decides to channel the west coast of Scotland.

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The sun has been found!

The sun has been found!

To be honest, the only bright spot in the last week has been the fact that the kittens have stopped running round the toilet seat with muddy paws. No matter. Croft work continues apace, as does the work on the house – Stewart is doing an amazing job – it is such a relief to see things going back together again. And, the sun came out for a few days which was also a blessed relief. Winter has been…

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Get your griddle on!

Get your griddle on!

I am sure there are plenty folk out there who have an old cast iron griddle laying around. Rusty probably. You want to use it, but don’t know how to clean it, and you can’t bring yourself to throw it out. Whatever you do, don’t throw it out! “They don’t make them like that anymore!” Here’s how I cleaned my Gran’s old one. I washed the dust off. Then I smothered it in vegetable oil and put it on…

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Despite our best efforts, yesterday was a write off. Storm Gertrude did her worst, and there was no way much could be done, even in the tunnel, other than taping up small tears.

The polytunnel has stood up to some serious wind this winter and it is impressive how well it has done. I made a wee video yesterday so you can get a flavour of the surroundings!

I did manage to sort out the compost yesterday, though. I got 9 bags of beautiful compost from the bins, and turned and rearranged the rest. One bin is ready to compost down further for summer, and a second for winter. The third bin is free now for the next collection.

I got some help too! The Professor ventured out in the breeze. Today he made it as far as the polytunnel where he wreaked havoc…

I am pretty chuffed that despite the wind and rain, we still have enough produce in the tunnel to supply folks with the occasional veg order –  must be doing something right.

Since today was calm, I managed a run – a total of 6k, and a personal best 5k of 32.08. I didn’t want to go, but the feeling of success was worth it in the end.

Last on the job list was creating a path in the hen enclosure. The poor wee souls are upto their oxters in water right now, so we liberated some of the gravel for the drive and made a nice new path. We’ll see how long it lasts.

Gertrude got the better of the pumphouse roof, but as my Dad says, it won’t be the first time it has been patched and I doubt it will be the last. In happy news, there is a perfectly formed, if small, Kohl Rabi in the polytunnel.

And finally, the second tunnel has been just been ordered!! I can almost smell spring…

  What a weekend Despite our best efforts, yesterday was a write off. Storm Gertrude did her worst, and there was no way much could be done, even in the tunnel, other than taping up small tears.

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It’s been a long winter, and it’s not over yet.

Nonetheless, it’s time to get planning, digging and preparing all over again.

Christmas and New Year are past, and I am slowly beginning to get going on all the jobs needing done. So far, the polytunnel has survived 6 good going storms, although Frank tore a hole in the east end. It was a repairable hole, though, which was good.

So, first thing was to extend the henhouse as the hens were getting a bit cramped. As Becca was visiting, I roped her in and used her superior joinery skills. The hen house now has a full length nesting box on the left hand side.

Then, it snowed. And melted just as fast, but not before the hens had a little skate.

Once the freeze was over, Jane and I set about clearing the garage. Over the last few months of last season on Fresh off the Croft we had pretty much reached the point of blindly flinging things into the garage, including all the groud cover and netting. It took the best part of a say, but the garage is now spring cleaned and ready for a new season.

Next on the list is fertilising and covering the eight 20 metre strips in the allotment. The first one is done, and Jane was delighted to discover the quality of the latest batch of manure. She does love her compost!

The seaweed has now arrived, so it is all systems go as soon as the pegs for the ground cover wing their way here.

Two new kittens arrived at Coll View at New Year. They are 7 months old, and adorable. Captain Haddock and Professor Calculus

And finally, I treated myself to a new toy – a trail camera. So far it has spotted cats, blackbirds and a rat. My next goal is to get a video of an otter. Watch this space.

Tomorrow, I am going to rearrange the compost. No doubt I will be doing it in the rain. Then, I am going to order the second polytunnel… Happy days!

  And… we’re back! It's been a long winter, and it's not over yet. Nonetheless, it's time to get planning, digging and preparing all over again.

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The slowest run yet, but yet the most important one

The slowest run yet, but yet the most important one

I got schooled today. I’m not sure who by, though. Myself, maybe? For the last 9 weeks, I have been following the NHS Couch to 5K running programme. It is exactly what it says on the tin. In 9 weeks, it teaches you to run 5k in half an hour. When I started I couldn’t run for 60 seconds. In the last week, I have been running for 30 mins without stopping. One goal has eluded me, though. I have not…

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Today was spent clearing the polytunnel, ready for the winter.

I have never grown veg over the winter, so this is all new to me. At this time of your I am normally hanging up my gloves and settling down for a well earned rest.

This week, we did the last veg run for this year. That means that veg boxes have stopped as we don’t have enough produce to produce a fixed number of boxes each week, but we will still have bits and pieces for sale. Hopefully we will be able to get going nice and early next year, and extend the season that way!

As the garden moves into a new season, so does the house.

8 windows are in. 4 to go. Hopefully, the stoves will follow soon, and framing on the ground floor of the big house is scheduled to start in November… exciting times.

Before that, I need to clear out the top floor (so it can be stripped out). To the end, I have hired a shipping container. My Dad’s books and assorted furniture and building materials will be stored in it.

We have also upgraded the hen facilities, adding a new drinker and a treddle feeder so the hens can eat as and when they need to.

And, in a spell of amazing weather, I FINALLY took my kayak out. Two and a half years it has taken to get it in the water in Tiree, but I’ve done it! It also fits in the van, which was a delightful surprise.

Onwards and upwards!

The next phase Today was spent clearing the polytunnel, ready for the winter. I have never grown veg over the winter, so this is all new to me.

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As usual, I’ve been busy. I have also been battling my own brain, which has decided to have a bit of an up and down time.

It’s odd. Back when no-one read my blog, I would write quite happily about the joys of bipolar, but since I know a few folk read it now, I am less inclined to, which is probably a bad thing. Either way, it’s not been a whole lot of fun, but I have kept my head above water, and am working on a new fitness regime in an attempt to keep my brain chemicals in better check. The complete lack of summer and early arrival of Autumn hasn’t helped, I imagine. However, lots of good things have happened too, in between my multiple naps.

The Royal Mail fiasco was reverted. It was attributed to an admin error, however you wish to interpret that. Mull and Tiree community councils, and local Councillors did a sterling job, and local mail is now remaining in Tiree. Victory.

Coll View is now proudly displaying 5 double glazed windows, and with 7 to go, there is a real prospect that this winter will be substantially less draughty.

  There is also a shiney new, insulated(!!), concrete floor in the big house, which is very exciting.

Other activites over the last few weeks have included chutney, pickling, Scotch pancakes and corn on the cob. A large hedgehog was evicted from the hen house, and in very exciting news, the plot for a second polytunnel has been marked out and covered.

  The kale has turned out lovely, and we have managed to keep the veg boxes going into October, although supplies will begin to dwindle now.

Today, I completed my third run in the first week of couch to 5k. Only 8 weeks to go! I also swam twice this week – in a wetsuit – and whilst it was a little nippy, it was delightfully relaxing.

We shall see what next week brings, but tonight, full of homemade bolognaise, and watching a good old British drama on the BBC, life is good.

Up and down, and up and down As usual, I've been busy. I have also been battling my own brain, which has decided to have a bit of an up and down time.

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Royal Mail is axing local mail - and they are keeping it very quiet

Royal Mail is axing local mail – and they are keeping it very quiet

I don’t often rant, but this one is worth it – trust me. Head Office at Royal Mail has made a new decree. One that will have a huge effect on rural communities such as ours. Let me paint a picture. I live in Tiree. A small island off the west coast of Scotland. Quite far off the west coast, actually. The ferry takes an average of 4 hours. If you shop online, you don’t actually get next day…

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Things have moved on well in the house this week thanks to David who is working his socks off.

The end room and study are stripped out completely and the middle room will be shortly.

We have found some incredible bits of timber hidden behind the old framing, and it turns out the doors, when unclad, are the original ones, complete with moulding. The fetching lampshade in the end room is still hanging, but to my amusement, I may have to keep it for posterity.

In other news, I successfully put up my first electric fence. I can confirm it works…

And from looking quite tidy for a while there, the front of Coll View is returning to normal, with piles of wood!

Here’s hoping for a decent weekend of weather so I can get caught up with a world of outside jobs.

  Reducing the place to rubble Things have moved on well in the house this week thanks to David who is working his socks off.

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Today was a day of interesting discoveries!

In the cupboards over and under the stairs I found:

3 bedpans

2 Ostrich eggs

A ship in a bottle

A variety of ugly crockery

and an empty suitcase.

      The stairs themselves have finally been opened up. back in the day, Coll View was clad internally in a delightful combination of hardboard and woodchip. All of this has to be removed for work to move on. The stairs were boxed in and proved a nightmare for getting furniture up and down. No more. Underneath the hardboard is the original stair, which with a little TLC should be able to be restored to its former glory. I think I’ll change the colour… It was also delightful not to do any of the demo work myself.

I also found a wallpaper steamer. I think that was a little optimistic of whoever put it there. In this house, woodchip is removed with a claw hammer…

The incident with the strimmer will be put behind me.

A day of discoveries Today was a day of interesting discoveries! In the cupboards over and under the stairs I found:

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Yes, I know, it’s been ages. Suffice to say, it has been a busy summer.

I headed off for 3 weeks away, 2 of them in the States, and although I got back 2 weeks ago, it has taken ages to feel like I am back in the game. After today, I think I am.

Between us, Jane and I cleared the polytunnel and did an Autumn clean, ready for winter planting. It goes against the grain to lift plants that are still alive, and in some cases producing, but it needs to be done in order to get ahead of things for winter. If we can get seeds germinating now, there is a chance of keeping some veg going until the end of the year. The tunnel certainly looks better for it. The beans were removed, the squash was tamed, courgettes were pruned right back and will come out in the next few weeks (I was going to do it today, but I didn’t have the heart – they are still producing!). We also removed lettuce which had been in too long, a variety of things we had forgotten about, and a world of nasturtiums. Finally we tied up and untangled the somewhat unloved tomates. They are late, but there is lots of good fruit growing. Hopefully we will get a bit of sun this month to ripen them up. I’ll need to turn my attention to the outside beds now, the grass cutting, weeding and digging never ends.

                    We are harvesting onions just now, and drying them wherever there is space. You can’t actually get into the garage at the moment for chicken wire and onions!

Deliveries kept going whilst I was away thanks to Jane, and my Mum and Dad, who all did a sterling job. We kept the Beachcomber supplied all summer, and veg boxes have now resumed. 10 went out this week! We were also delighted to supply the River Cottage and Beachcomber food stand at the Tiree Music Festival, and we got a double page spread in the local paper, the Tirisdeach. No pressure to keep growing, then…

As I didn’t have enough to do when I got home, I took a notion to spruce up my living room. I think it’s looking pretty good, as long as you ignore the fireplace and don’t look too closely at the floorboards, or windows, or paintwork or…

I took the opportunity to spruce Beryl up too…

                The America trip was awesome. Becca and I had a whale of a time in Colorado and then New York. Highlights included going up Pike’s Peak on a train (14,000) feet, seeing humming birds, driving a 500 series BMW, and pretty much everything in New York. I won’t bore you with all the photos, but here are some edited highlights.

Back in the saddle. Yes, I know, it's been ages. Suffice to say, it has been a busy summer. I headed off for 3 weeks away, 2 of them in the States, and although I got back 2 weeks ago, it has taken ages to feel like I am back in the game.

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Tireeumi - delicious and nutritious!

Tireeumi – delicious and nutritious!

I am not trying to poison you, you can actually eat Courgette leaves. In fact, in Italy they call some leaves TENERUMI, and there’s a popular soup made out of it. Tried and tested in the Coll View kitchen is my version of it. Tireeumi (Italian Style) 3 large courgette leaves (or squash leaves) 1 clove garlic 2 onions 3 tomatoes spaghetti salt, pepper parmesan optional: coriander Cut courgette…

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Summer is still trying to figure out whether or not it is sober. The jury is out.

Some days are great, but they are too few and far between. The major issue is the base temperature, which is still hovering around 12. Not great for out door growing. Things are happening, but slowly.

There is nothing I can do about it, although I could live without Facebook reminding me that on this day last year I was lifting enormous garlic bulbs. I reckon they still need another month this year.

There are lots of positives, though, honest…

The new Wondermesh is over the salad beds, and the brassica bed is dug, trenched, sown and covered in mesh. Big thanks to Sarah and Adam and Joseph and Jen for their help making that happen!

There was a good enough evening to have a barbeque, and I got to try out my DIY firepit. I made it last year from an old washing machine. It worked perfectly.

Peas are on the way, along with mangetout. The courgettes are doing their thing almost too well, and there are plenty of bees about. The only spectacular failure so far this year was my outdoor strawberries, which failed entirely.

The allotment itself is looking smart. The grass is cut, edges trimmed, and with the mesh up, and the second windbreak taking shape, it is looking rather professional. Herbs went into the new bed at the side of the tunnel. They are mainly biannuals, so hopefully they will produce lots at the beginning of next year. This week I need to get on top of the walled garden which has rather run away with itself.

Looking good

And if all that is a bit too much loveliness for you, feast your eyes on this beast of a spider which appeared in the house…

ps. Thanks to Tiree Development Trust for a start up grant which let us buy the Wondermesh :-)

  And so it continues Summer is still trying to figure out whether or not it is sober. The jury is out.