There's more to farming than milking cows -
This week Henry and James have been lumberjacks (or is it woodcutters?). Years ago we planted some pine trees in the top corner of the wood. We used a few at Christmas, but mainly they were left to their own devices. We've taken advice, and are now chopping down some of them. We won't get rid of them all (popular with owls and buzzards), and we're leaving all of the branches for wildlife. The rest are now stacked up and drying out for next year's fuel supply.
And this afternoon Henry has been an Aga engineer. Our Aga (installed 1950) is very solid and reliable and is powered by solid fuel. This has advantages (keeps going in a power cut) and disadvantages (needs filling, riddling and emptying daily, and produces a film of dust on every surface within range). It can go for several months with no problems, but lately the temperature has been more than usually erratic, and this morning there was a definite smell of old steam engines. So, we had to let it cool down - open the lids and doors and remove as much ash and unburnt coke as possible - and Henry has attacked the build up of debris in the flue. It's not modern technology - more brute force. He'll finish off after milking, then light it again. And in about 12 hours it should be back up to a usable temperature.
And just after dinner, Henry put on his mole catcherr guise. The total so far is ten (with two in one trap on Tuesday!)
There may be videos on Aga servicing and catching moles, but nothing could beat this Lumberjack Song.
Click and singalong!
This week Henry and James have been lumberjacks (or is it woodcutters?). Years ago we planted some pine trees in the top corner of the wood. We used a few at Christmas, but mainly they were left to their own devices. We've taken advice, and are now chopping down some of them. We won't get rid of them all (popular with owls and buzzards), and we're leaving all of the branches for wildlife. The rest are now stacked up and drying out for next year's fuel supply.
And this afternoon Henry has been an Aga engineer. Our Aga (installed 1950) is very solid and reliable and is powered by solid fuel. This has advantages (keeps going in a power cut) and disadvantages (needs filling, riddling and emptying daily, and produces a film of dust on every surface within range). It can go for several months with no problems, but lately the temperature has been more than usually erratic, and this morning there was a definite smell of old steam engines. So, we had to let it cool down - open the lids and doors and remove as much ash and unburnt coke as possible - and Henry has attacked the build up of debris in the flue. It's not modern technology - more brute force. He'll finish off after milking, then light it again. And in about 12 hours it should be back up to a usable temperature.
And just after dinner, Henry put on his mole catcherr guise. The total so far is ten (with two in one trap on Tuesday!)
There may be videos on Aga servicing and catching moles, but nothing could beat this Lumberjack Song.
Click and singalong!
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