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

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

Tuesday 7 June 2011

Nourishment comes from ripped carpets and body cream.....


The blog, like my flower beds, has been suffering from serious neglect. Weeds have taken over, as the flowers have been burnt and battered by the May gales. The weather has been challenging and not what you would expect for the time of year. The island’s whisky festival was wild and windy and the whisky club that took over our holiday accommodation took over the farmhouse kitchen as well, as we all mucked in together to cook by candle light on the oil fired Rayburn as the harsh weather led to lengthy periods without power.

The farm house has been neglected too. The building project has taken over. It has been something of a mammoth undertaking, borne out of the necessity to diversify, to survive.  The happy farmer decided several years ago to renovate the old farm steadings and transform what were ruins into comfortable living spaces once more. The old Millhouse and the original farmhouse into holiday homes which we let, and now, where the horses were once stabled, we will have more living space and further holiday accommodation. The old boiler house and what was once the stable for the Clydesdale, now houses a ceramic café. It is an undertaking which brings the farmer a lot of satisfaction as he rebuilds and renovates the old buildings where his great uncles and grandparents lived before him. He has worked his fingers to the bone, taking on all the elements of the building project himself, in between farming, from the brick work and slating, through to the plastering and plumbing, no mean feat when you are one man building alone. The latest part of his project is very nearly there.

 Meantime the animals that share our living space are adding suggestions to the building and housing projects themselves. Ruby, the pup, has decided to helpfully join the farmer's wife in her quest, after several years of nagging, to convince the happy farmer that new carpet is required not just in the extension but in the existing farmhouse too.The pup has taken it upon herself to rip out the old worn dining room carpet,a project which has taken her a few weeks, but  which is gaining momentum, with victory in sight when the happy farmer was overheard quipping that once the pup has got through her chewing phase new carpets are a must…yes yes yes smiled the farmer's wife, at last!! The happy farmer’s wife was most impressed to see  the resident cats have now joined in her 'build a conservatory' campaign. The happy farmer gave an amused groan when he saw that his tractor cab has been invaded by cats sprawling out in the glass cab, three at once, all lounging around waiting for the day they have a conservatory to laze about in.

Comfort arrived in the shape of the most luxurious package last week, a gift from Ila spa, via Jane’s blog. A jar of the most silky soft, nourishing body cream, it is truly the most gorgeous cream I have ever come across and it arrived at a time when the weather was dismal and I felt as if the house was falling down around me with all of the building work. The cream has a soft, velvety texture with the  light scent of fresh roses, which nurtures the skin long after application. It is a very soothing, relaxing cream, made from natural ingredients and has been a huge boost, "Central to Ila's healing potential is the higher energy or vibration present in its products. Each ingredient is chosen for its spiritual attributes as well as its physical and emotional benefit: ",
 thank you so much to both  Ila and Jane, it was very much appreciated.

www.ila-spa.com

Until next time.....

16 comments:

Elizabethd said...

Posie, it all looks so inviting.How courageous of your husband to do it all himself, but also satisfying, I imagine.

Good for the animals...obviously you have them well trained in showing what is next on the shopping list!

Molly said...

The weather has been so unpredictable this year. Posie, your Happy Farmer is a credit to you - it's shaping very well. And as far as the new carpet goes - Ruby is well and truly on your side as well:0) I have a new blog address - someothermountain.blogspot.com - would love to see you if you have a minute.

Frances said...

Wow, Posie, isn't it strange to have "strong" weather at the end of spring, when you'd think that you'd be sitting back and enjoying the flowers.

I am in awe of all the building renovations and improvements that you and the Farmer are doing. Wonderful to learn that your dogs and cats are helping out!

Yes, a perfect time for the arrival of a package containing a skin soothing cream.

Enjoy that soothing, and let's hope that the weather gods will provide some weeks of beautiful days and nights.

Gosh...how I do hope that I eventually get to visit this magic place that you call home!

xo

Pondside said...

What a lot of industry at your place! It's wonderful that you can come up with plans that allow you to stay on your beautiful island. A stay at your place would be a dream holiday to many!!

Funkymonkey said...

You live in such a beautiful place, it's easy for us townies to forget just how difficult weather conditions can be in such places. Not to mention the hard work required to maintain a living.

I love your new header photograph by the way, and a lovely post.
Tracey

Pipany said...

Sounds as though you have more than enough on your plate Posie. Enjoy that lovely cream and it will all be worth it...eventually! x

Chris Stovell said...

Gosh, you've just made our projects look a bit easier, although I'm still apprehensive about the upheaval that's going to be caused when it starts. Our carpets are vile, but it's going to be a while before I can borrow Ruby and let her loose on them!

Norma Murray said...

That young pup certainly has her uses, as does the Happy Farmer.

GretchenJoanna said...

Our weather has also been difficult and not the usual...amazing how significant and heartening a gift like your hand cream can be to the body and soul, when you feel battered by everything.

Posie said...

Elizabeth - I am in awe of what he has achieved, but with all of the hard work comes a huge sense of satisfaction especially when his family has been here for generations and he has now preserved the buildings for the next generations.
Molly - I would never have thought I would be so pleased to see a pup ripping up a carpet, but good on her :-)
Frances- it would be so lovely if you could visit one day, I look forward to that
Pondside - I am looking forward to the day you come over to the island for a visit too
Tracey - I know it was quite challenging getting used to power cuts again when I first moved here, thankfully they are not quite so frequent now
Pipany - thank you, and you enjoy your new baby x
Chris - Any upheaval is challenging...and you can borrow Ruby anytime
Norma - they very much have their uses, I certainly wasn't getting anywhere with the carpet nagging
Joanna - thank you for calling by

bayou said...

Hello, waving over to the Whisky Island! I am sure, your Happy Farmer is in need of some good stuff at the end of a working day! I know exactly how you feel but we have been lucky and had more gentle wheather. Our projects are much slower than foreseen but eventually, we will get there, as you will :-). What is a ceramic café? I love the elevation system of the Happy Farmer. It would be big fun to come across at the same time when Frances and Pondie are there! How about a big party when another project is finished???? (Challenge!)

Milla said...

I was just thinking oh to be a cat when I was reading that, and then you introduced the body cream and I weakened. Sounds like VERY hard work all that ... it WILL all be worth it!

Posie said...

Bayou - there will defiantly be a party...and wouldn't it be lovely if you could all make it, however I would party whenever you arrive!! I the ceramic cafe we serve teas, coffees, light lunches and home baking, there is pottery and art work for sale and unglazed pottery for people to paint and then we fire it in the kiln for them and they collect it a few days later.
Milla- I keep saying the word WILL in capitals too...to try and convince myself...it WILL be worth it in the end lol

bayou said...

Ha! WILL comes from willpower, doesn't it? :-)
Great, Posie, lets plan to party and fire your kiln for our pottery we will make then. I shall be there! Should I convince EG now to change mind? We were just planning some days in Cornwall for the end of the summer. But then there is the dog and I am not sure how he would behave, I am afraid we have to wait until my son will have time to come for house sitting again.

Fennie said...

Oh you are a brave soul and cheerful as always and what a great feeling to see the outbuildings being restored - but I do feel for the poor Clydesdale or has he gone to the great stable in the sky. (And what do you do with a departed Clydesdale anyway? - it must be like having a beached whale in your farmyard). It's been windy here too but nothing like your winds I imagine. Still shut in by the winds, closed off by the lack of power, full of visitors - why not hold your own whisky festival? But don't then try counting the geese!

Posie said...

Bayou - that sounds like my kind of plan :-)
Fennie - the Clydesdale who lived in the byre was from another generation entirely, many many moons ago, long before the happy farmer's time. The Clydesdale was a working horse on the farm, pulling the plough for the happy farmer's father and grandfather....