Posie's Blog. Tales of island life on a hebridean hill farm

Posie's Blog. Tales of island life on a hebridean hill farm

Thursday 2 September 2010

Duck Pond Invitation




I awake and look out of the bedroom window to see one abandoned tractor blocking all views of the flowerbeds I have spent months weeding and planting, waiting for that burst of colour that, if I could see beyond the happy farmer’s machinery, is there.

Happy potter apparently burst a pipe on the loader of the tractor in our absence, and the farmer’s old lady spewed black oil all over our yard before the happy potter managed to drag her and abandon her in front of the flowerbeds – welcome home then!

The tractor sat for the first day, the happy farmer was too busy checking the animals and getting things back on track.

The second day came and after much ear chewing from the happy farmer's wife the morning was spent tackling the old lady’s machinery, getting those tractor parts back in working order. Of course it doesn't go according to plan, and a lot of huffing and puffing from the old lady and the disgruntled happy farmer and much oil later, and eventually a  smile was put back on that happy farmer’s wife’s face.  The old lady chugged gracefully  away from the flower bed and back across the farm yard well out of the happy farmer's wife's sight. Flowers back in full bloom and insight. Two smiling ladies then!

Word must have got out that she was once again in fine form, and I am talking the tractor here, as a little while later, just when the happy farmer was about to get on with some of the other much needed tasks around the farm, he got an invitation. The pleasure of his company and that of his old lady tractor was requested immediately to go and spend an afternoon towing a tractor and topper out of a local duck pond, courtesy of the local gamekeepers. 

One happy frustrated farmer arrived home much later with one muddy tractor and two happy game keepers each with big smiles and huge thirsts. The rescue operation had been a success!

Until next time….

11 comments:

Pondside said...

Good morning, Rosie. I've just had a lovely catch-up on your recent posts. You have all the fun - tractors, mud, rabbits..... :)
Lucky you to have chicks - our hens weren't broody at all t his summer - that, or the rooster hasn't been doing what he needs to do!

Bluestocking Mum said...

Gosh - what a gorgeous cottage garden against the walls.

Loved the analogy of the tractors (an old lady.) There are a few of them going up and down our fields at the moment.

xx

bayou said...

That made my day! I have been smiling and giggling all long. We got an old David Brown together with the farm, btw. But it is in a slightly better condition than the one you show ;-).

MILLY said...

Love the flower beds, beautiful foxgloves and the red poppies. I scattered a packet and interestingly only have one red poppy, but with many flowers. Your header photo is just lovely.
Glad to hear you are still painting.

Molly said...

Posie - you do a brilliant blog. I love your garden. Lots of 'machinery' in front of the flower borders here as well!

Funkymonkey said...

I love your garden and am quite envious of the lovely display of foxgloves you had. They are magnificent.

Tracey

Tattieweasle said...

Don't the flowers just look heavenly! So Glad the Old Lady was able to be of use and of course the Happy farmer. I used to have a lovely old grey fergie when I worked on the farm; always slipping gears and having to use a spanner on its innards to get teh right one to engage!

Exmoorjane said...

Oh Posie, thank you so much for your lovely comment... I love this post too - such fabulous pictures, such a lovely snap of your life....just gorgeous. xxx

Posie said...

Ah thank you all so much for your lovely comments...glad we could all enjoy the views of the flowers x

Fennie said...

Loved that post Posie, and sorry for the delay in catching up! The Fordson tractor - the blue one - is very evocative as I learned to drive on a tractor just like that, ploughing and pulling the bailer, all an exceedingly long time ago. I'mm off to the Mill next week there to drive the Mill tractor, too, which is orange and not unlike yours by the looks of it. Beautiful flowers you have.

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

Love your poppies, what a fabulous colour! I am always encouraged to find people gardening in less than easy circumstances! It makes me feel in good company.