Farmhouse Kitchen

 

Our weather changes so quickly at the head of the dale.  Yesterday bright and beautiful, today not fit for man nor beast.  The wind has howled and the rain lashed all day so instead it is a case of being productive indoors.  Mince pies are in the freezer, scones made for tea, a pan of soup ready to help warm up frozen husband when he finally comes in and all brass polished.

A good day's work.

 



First Snow

The first snow of 2014
Upper Swaledale looking beautiful as she dons her mantle of winter white.

Sundown, rolling mist but was I on my own?

Looking west as the sun sets and ......

the mist rolls in, low and enchanting.

But what or who is this?

Goodbye Goliath

We have been selling our tups at Kirkby Stephen Auction Mart today and it was time to say goodbye to Goliath.
He looked very fine indeed and there was plenty of interest in him. 
He's been bought by a farmer in Lunedale, Co Durham.
We hope he does well for his new owner and sires lots of good lambs next spring.

Crowning

All Swaledale Tups have to be registered with the Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association.  Every year the tup shearlings are inspected as being correct and tagged.  This is known as Crowning. 

Remember Goliath, the giant tup lamb, born two years ago?  Well this is him being looked over by the crowners at Hoggarths today.  He is still a bigger than the rest.  He will be sold at the Tup Sales in October and I have high hopes for him.

Crowning goes on all over North Yorkshire, Cumbria & Co Durham but it is only here at the very top of Swaledale that the tradition of 'following on' still happens.  Farmers go from farm to farm following the crowners.  It gives those that follow a sneak preview of the standard of tups that will be coming up for sale in the autumn. It is also an opportunity to do a bit of marketing, explaining the tups breeding and pointing out its strengths.  Good head, good legs, good bone, good sort, no sweat - in other words they have to be GOOD!   

As you can see from the number of vehicles in the yard, there was a good following today.

Make Silage While the Sun Shines

We have taken a crop of silage from some land we take in Teesdale.  It was baled on site and then transported by lorry back to Pry House Farm.

Because our loader tractor was over in Teesdale, our neighbour came to get the bales off the wagon for us.

When it is wrapped in several layers of silage wrap (keeping it air tight) it can be stacked outside until it is needed for the sheep and cows during the winter.

Road Sign of the Year Award

Somewhere In Swaledale

I wouldn't normally condone graffiti but for 'smile value' alone this gets my vote every time!