September

2 – Combined barley in Rashery Field. A good crop, valuable winter rations for the cows and fattening lambs. Straw baled into big round bales to be used for bedding when the cattle are housed.  

Racing pigeon still in residence. It can now fly onto the stable roof.

4 – Vet out to calve one of our cows. Sadly a breech birth, the calf was dead. After careful thought decided to set Minnie, the premature calf, onto the cow.

5 – Annual drive out from Ingram for members of the Borders Driving Club. Ten “turn outs” took part, all very smart horses – and one pony – pulling a variety of traps and carriages. The circular route of about ten miles was quite tough, up and over the hill, but everyone enjoyed the views.    

6 – Wether Hill gather postponed because of fog. We wean the hill lambs from their mothers now with the exception of the ewe lambs that are returned to the hill for a little while longer. Gathered part of the Ewe Hill in the afternoon when fog cleared. Saw lots of mushrooms and toadstools.

Minnie is back in her pen again. Cow not that keen on her “adopted” offspring. Minnie might have coped had the cow been really “kind”.

7 – Gathered remainder of Ewe Hill. From the top of Turf Knowe I could see a little band of sheep making their way OUT under the cover of the bracken. Signalled with my crook and makeshift flag to Johnny and Jim below. They got them!

Minnie acquired a companion today, a twin calf that mother didn’t want. A lovely strawberry roan colour, we’ve named her Bella.

With the exception of Monday we’ve enjoyed an “Indian Summer” this week, and some busy days sorting ewes and lambs in the sheep pens.

Several sightings recently of red squirrels: two chasing each other around the farmyard, two in hazel trees further up the valley and another on a branch of the Scots Pine, beside the farmhouse, where the peafowl roost at night. The chicks are now all big enough to fly up with their mothers.

10 – Kelso Ram Sales today. Johnny and Ross came home with four very smart Texel tups. Much work or “dressing” goes into getting them ready for sale. Their fleeces are combed and trimmed, not a strand of wool out of place.  

Watched swallows in the garage feeding four young in the nest. It is their second brood.

11 – Ingram Show today, always held the second Saturday in September, a great local occasion. Lots of visitors, yet the gate was down on last year probably due to the chilly day. Entries in the tent were just two short of 800. Handicraft entries fewer than last year but lovely flowers and some amazingly large vegetables made for a very colourful display. The baking classes were keenly contested: 16 entries of rock buns, 15 gingerbreads and 14 chocolate cakes plus jams, tray bakes and lots more. There’s also a dog show, adult and children’s sports and a pony gymkhana not forgetting the excellent homemade tea.  

The Newcastle and District Beagles met at the farm this morning.

13 – Not having seen the pigeon for two days conclude it has finally flown, perhaps back to its home loft.

15 – Have yet another calf to feed. Its very wild mother, a heifer, would have nothing to do with it. Whilst we could have endeavoured to sort that out, we then found she has blood coloured milk, quite unpalatable for the calf.

17 – 7a.m. Gathered Wether Hill. Sheep down to the pens by 9a.m. Good walk with all the dogs but hard going, and wet, amongst the bracken.

19 – Back home after 24 hours away at a wedding on Lindisfarne, Holy Island. Vicky and David were married in the very impressive castle that belongs to the National Trust. Everyone had to be there promptly to ensure the service was on time so that the registrars could get off the island before the tide came in!  Life there is governed by the tides that flood the road and causeway joining the island to the Northumberland coast.   

Autumn is here. Still dark at six in the morning, the nights are pulling in and the blustery wind is cold. Lots of conkers on the horse chestnut tree in the yard, and the apple tree is laden.

25 – Leek and Onion Show at the Bridge of Aln hotel. Johnny grows Kelsae onions especially for the show. Very big by comparison with ordinary onions they also have a milder flavour. His onions won 6^th prize and the leeks were 8^th.  

Sightings the past week include a flock of fieldfares, newly returned from Scandinavia, for their winter holiday; a kingfisher at Brandon Ford and several flocks of geese flying in their characteristic “V” formation. A red squirrel was seen in the farmyard, and another in our neighbour’s garden. Not having seen hedgehogs for quite a while, it was nice to hear of two that were given a helping hand across the road; a third, unfortunately, was a casualty.

26 – Bella, the strawberry roan calf, went to a new home today.  Friends Judith and Ian needed a calf for one of their cows. Have since heard that she’s getting on very well with her new mum.