Two-year mark

This is where we're at two years after moving here:

Middle paddock 2 years ago - a rough paddock was all it was

On the way to being an orchard

The veg garden 2 years ago - you couldn't see the beds

And today

House and patio area 2 years ago

And today

House and weed fest at the south-east corner 2 years ago

Heather slope and black face today

'The Glen' 2 years ago

Natural regeneration after the weeds were removed

Chicken housing area 2 years ago

Wild flowers have replaced nettles

The apple orchard with Cedric the Peacock RIP

And today's fowl

The old conservatory complete with ant colonies

New conservatory

Top corner clearance under way

Turned into a useful space

October chores

The middle paddock has been cleared up already

Our amazing weather has held all week and the garden clear-up has continued apace. The top two paddocks are mown and all the mulch has been distributed. We harvested the comfrey (in the bottom left corner of the picture) for the first time and are making fertiliser tea in two rain barrels from it.

All the tender plants have been taken inside or covered up with cloches or fleece. Jim made nice little cages from a bit of fencing wire (our old washing line) and we got the tea plants covered just before the coldest night so far.

Winter quarters for the tea

In the summer months, these cages will have to be covered with chicken wire as our chicks have developed a bit of a taste for tea - maybe that's why their bedtime is later than that of the adults. But, to be fair, they try everything and eat pretty much everything apart from nettle (pity, but at least they do seem to enjoy dock leaves very much).

Young ladies of leisure, but next month they'll need to start working

This fine young cock has discovered raspberries

In the veg garden, the beans, broccoli and courgettes are coming to an end and all the winter veg (leeks, celeriac, parsnip, kale) are starting to come on line. There are still lots and lots of carrots. The Jerusalem artichokes are flowering, but we haven't dug any up yet - very soon. And, of course, there are still squashes ripening. It's always hard to tell when they are ripe the first year that you grow a variety. All the repeats are obvious to me, but I don't want to harvest the new ones too early.

The sweetcorn is more of a baby corn alas, no comparison to Canadian peaches & cream, but then we weren't expecting much after the cool summer. Good to have a taster this year and we'll try again next year.

The one thing that is early this year is the Christmas cactus:

Not bad, Mr Lidl

Now we just need to tackle the bottom paddock (and start on the huge pile of wood waiting to be processed) and then it's time to celebrate two years here next weekend. With pumpkin, of course.

Pumpkins!

The autumnal garden clear-up has begun now that the house is painted. We can already feel a difference from the black south wall after it's been soaking up the rays for a couple of weeks. This week someone actually said, 'Wow, it's hot in here!' which has never happened before. Take note those who came to visit in the winter before and were feeling the chill, it's now safe to come again.

Lovely to have a freshly painted cottage

The range has been lit again after Jim comprehensively serviced it and the chimney attached to it. We're all delighted it's on, none more so than Madame Poppy who has taken up her rightful place by it.

The joys of a warm Rayburn

The pumpkin and squash harvest has begun in earnest and the champion is a Pink Fairy weighing in at 10.85kg.

One of eight huge pumpkins on this plant!

The other squashes are a colourful lot, too. So far: Turk's Turban, Jack be littles and Ambar.

The first lot of squashes

One little aubergine has appeared at last. Don't know how much it will grow at this time of year, but at least it shows that it can be done. However, I'm not planning to grow any next year; they are just too susceptible to greenfly and, until I've got that properly under control, I'll concentrate on tasty crops that won't need as much 'babying'. 

The winter salads have been sown in the greenhouse as has some spring cabbage and cauliflower. I'm going to try a few more things in the greenhouse over winter. Next month, I'll sow some peas and sweet peas. And some broad beans outside.

Meanwhile, it's mulch, mulch, mulch with all the goodness of the grass that hadn't been cut for two months (Jim really had to peen his scythe to a super sharp edge this time). All the hedges, all the areas that are empty over winter and all around the remaining crops.

And Soruss is practising his crow. Apparently it doesn't come natural to cockerels... It's getting better, but I don't think his dad is impressed. 

Let's just hope this fine autumn weather holds. Here's tonight's sunset over the Mountains of Mourne:

Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea