August has been a mixed month weather-wise. There have been some astonishingly beautiful days, and there have been some pretty dreadful ones. At least there is solace in the fact that our visitors have lovely comfortable surroundings if they decide to stay in on the wet and rainy days!
The Salen Show this year was on a wetter day than I can remember but the almost tropical downpours (at times) didn't dampen the spirit of the day - everyone was in waterproofs and there were lots of umbrellas, to go with the smiling faces! Farmer helped J showing his Cheviots, and he won the Overall Sheep Champion, as well Show Reserve which was very exciting!
The wild Angelica in the wood has been beautiful this year - before the marauding stag gets the seed heads!
The Heather has been beautiful also - the hill has been glowing all month.
Finally last week the silage was made. Farmer used our old mower to cut the fields - we made it this year in the field below the house, and also in the Coronation Meadow at Haunn.
J had a late night wrapping bales that evening but it was good to get them done in case it rained. The Devils bit Scabious is amazing this year, though still no Marsh Fritillary butterflies! Farmer kindly agreed to leave the beautifully thick patches in the middle of the Coronation Meadow so they could flower in peace.
Some gorgeous skies, at sunset and now the nights are dark enough, occasionally the Aurora Borealis again, which is exciting!
Over last weekend Farmer and his team of valued occasional helpers gathered the hill ewes and lambs and got them all sorted in time for loading the wedder lambs on to the lorry this morning along with the cast ewes. The fields were noisy last night with the hill ewes calling for their lambs.
As I write he and the lambs are on the ferry. The sale starts at 11am, and he is third through the ring... not usually the best time of the sale as the prices tend to start slowing while the buyers get themselves sorted out..fingers crossed!