Ivor

Ivor, 2 days ago to random

I'm off to the old lead mine at Nenthead shortly to take part in a learning session concerning the condition of old lead mines. To volunteer to study the condition of mining structures across the north Pennines.

I'm torn between doing something like this, which might use my stonework skills, or learning more about the rare flora around me. About which I know nowt but Inspired by Margaret E Bradshaw MBE (98). Can I do both and still do actual work repairing walls for farmers?

Ivor, 8 days ago to Bloomscrolling

The grazing fields that are also cut in August for a hay or haylage crop are thickly carpeted in Marsh Marigold. Some have Globeflower among them but they seem absent in this field across from the house. The photo doesn't do the view justice here, it is an intense yellow, quite incredible to see the field transformed.

Sheep with lambs have been moved to rougher ground, I don't know if this is a rule from Natural England or just normal sheep management. #Bloomscrolling

Ivor, 9 days ago to random

Yet another repair needed at The Binks. After this, I can work at a farm a few miles down the dale, which will keep me busy for most of this year. There are just not enough Wallers now for the miles and miles of walls that need repair.

Ivor, 10 days ago to Bloomscrolling

Farmer has told me that, as well as the Marsh Marigolds, he's never seen as many Globe Flower coming on as in this year, out of 11 he's been here. He puts it down to the extremely wet conditions from autumn into spring. It's certainly very wet still underfoot. #Bloomscrolling

Ivor, 10 days ago to random

That Monday feeling. #Grumpy #SheepOfMastodon

Ivor, 11 days ago to woodworking

I bought four oak planks from Hexhamshire Hardwoods last year with the intention of cutting them into new slats for a garden bench where the wood had rotted but the metal ends were good.

So far I've cut 3 at 35mm wide and 3 at 55mm wide and they're pretty straight if I say so myself. I'm not used to working with wood and it's a different challenge to get them right. It's quality wood but a bit thicker so I'll also have to rebate the ends of the slats. #garden #WoodWorking

Ivor, 12 days ago to random

I think the germanic #Polarlicht is a rather good descriptive hashtag as licht in Scots is 'light'. #aurora

Ivor, 16 days ago to random

It's only bin day, lads. I've been rattling about in the byre. Sorry if I got your hopes up for some tasty snacks.
#SheepOfMastodon

Ivor, 17 days ago to Cat

There are animals back in the field behind the house for first time this year. There are 15 tups of different breeds, some Swaledale, North Country Cheviot and Beltex (I think). Which is probably Ruben's entire flock of tups, enough to cover hundreds of ewes. They certainly provided extra entertainment for Bramble the cat. #Cat #SheepOfMastodon

Ivor, 20 days ago to random

That's the through stones in place. That slab with my gloves on is cut square, unlike the others. That suggests it came from a demolished house. Although it looks like a paving slab, it would have been on the roof of a house or barn near here. One of the forty plus that have been demolished in the last hundred years. #Teesdale

Ivor, 20 days ago to random

This lamb is still unsteady on its feet. Maybe born yesterday.

The ewes with twins have broken through another bit of wall at the Binks, so they're all mixed up with the ewes with single lambs again. Not my fault this time. #BloodySheep #SheepOfMastodon

Ivor, 23 days ago to Birds

Let's not dwell on earlier mistakes. It's not a bad day and I've just seen my first pair of Golden Plover and a female wheatear in this field so the day can only get better. #Birds #birdsofmastodon #NPennines

pixelfed, 26 days ago to fediverse

Loops is a new platform for sharing short videos, and it's open source + federated using #ActivityPub

We're really excited to share this sneak peek that showcases the new onboarding flow and discovery features (Connect Mastodon) and look forward to the upcoming beta release!

Are you ready for #Loops ?

Loops app demo

Ivor, 1 month ago to random

I'm back at the Binks for Craig and Tracey. It's just a short walk from the house. Once this small gap is done I have a contract for a 300 metre rebuild at Bowlees farm. That will start next week and take me most of the summer as I won't be working every day.

There's a cold north wind blowing, about 4°C and it's misty, almost fine rain so I'd better keep moving to keep warm.
#Teesdale #SemiAlpine

Ivor, 1 month ago to random

As its #EarthDay I've put up the Barn Owl box on the byre roof. It's just high enough, I couldn't safely go any higher. It faces west but I'm hoping it won't get too much sun. (Sun! Up here?) Painting it white should help. That's also Raby Estates colour to blend in with the house. Here's hoping it gets a tenant.

Ivor, 1 month ago to random

We parked on the western side of Stanhope to make more of a walk into the village. I thought this was a footbridge on the map. It gets a bit hairy towards this side.

Ivor, 1 month ago to Birds

I'm making an owl nest box. The last face to go on will have a rectangular entrance hole cut in it just above the cross bar there. I Hope the owls don't bring a spirit level. 👷🦉🦉

Do you think it needs a spar across inside to roost or hop on? Or is that just too much gentrification. #Birds

Ivor, 1 month ago to VegetableGardening

Eve and I were invited back to Bowlees farm today for coffee, birthday cake (John's birthday) and a blether. More detail of their walling job, it's around 300m, grant aided. I can start anytime now.

They also want Eve to advise them on gardening around their education barn, to brighten the place up as they have a lot of school visits planned. Concrete was being poured to make their yard wheelchair friendly, if rain keeps off. Nice to see a young #Farming couple getting on with new ideas.

NatureMC, 1 month ago to random

I have a raptor's nest in the tree outside the office window. It's almost unbearable when the little ones are hungry. You immediately want to go on a mouse hunt, that's how these sounds touch your heart!

Ivor, 1 month ago to random

I went to have a go at this bit of wall yesterday pm but realised my boots wouldn't allow me to get the stones out that have fallen into the sike. I need to wear wellies.

The keen eyed among you will spot the plastic pipe in the sike and a couple of concrete slabs used as through stones which means this bit of wall has already been rebuilt, maybe within 30 or 40 years or even less.

Ivor, 1 month ago to gardening

Our friends further up the dale asked if I had a rotovator to turn over a small patch of unused soil over a wall from their house. Garden ground is so limited at these houses, it's small but could produce some veg.

I haven't got a rotovator but happy to do a spot of digging. Very stony in there but I had some help from a chicken tractor. The eggs should be delicious tomorrow! #Gardening

Ivor, 2 months ago to random

These throughbands are some of the largest I've seen. I struggled to get them off the wall. Time to get the coat off.

Ivor, 2 months ago to random

Just the copes to put on now. Taking my coat off for this part.