Thoughts From A Devonshire Farmhouse: March 2026

THOUGHTS FROM A DEVONSHIRE FARMHOUSE

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This Month: 'Tis The Season To Be... (at the moment, wet!)

January 18th 2013

I honestly could not move abroad, mainly because I am fully British to the DNA core - which has shown I'm more 'Celtic' than anything. (A relief because I was dreading being shown to have Norman ancestry! LOL)

I also love Britain and our seasons too much. Although, I confess, the recent days - weeks - of rain has gone beyond boring! (Apparently, a place in Cornwall suffered 50 consecutive days of rain.)

To balance the winter weather, I'm lucky where I am here in Devon as we're in a sort of dip in the valley so 'weather' goes over or around us. There was snow the week we moved in (January 2013) and then the 'Beast From The East' which was a sudden cold blast in late February, early March 2018 (Really? That long ago!) No deep or lingering snow to speak of since then - frost, and very cold though.

The 'Beast' caught me out. I went across to the dairy to give Wonky Donk a goodnight pat and his evening hobnob biscuit. That was fine, except I couldn't get back!

I'd crossed to his stable, (the window on the right) because I think I must have walked quickly without thinking, but coming back I realised that the entire lane was a sheet of black ice which I daren't walk across. I spent ten minutes shouting to the house (opposite) for help. Finally the family heard and fetched out some salt...

Wonky Donk
sadly missed

I don't like snow or ice. I did when I was a child, of course, but I think worry has kicked in with age... Greenland? You're quite safe from me. I don't want to buy you. You're too cold. Ditto Iceland. (Has anyone told a certain someone that most of the time it isn't green it's white?)

I'm more than OK with the snow we get here (when we get it) as long as no one has to drive anywhere, we have a tank full of oil for the heating and a freezer full of food. And even more important, food for the animals. We can go without, they can't.

Which upset me the other day, when it dawned on me that I doubt there are many animals alive in Gaza. They would all have been eaten. No food for the people means no food for the animals. You don't hear that side of things on the news, do you? On the other hand, perhaps it is just as well. The bombing would have left them all starved and/or severely traumatised.

standing with Ukraine

I don't suppose the situation food-wise is quite as bad(but bad enough) in Ukraine, but the noise of Russian bombs and drones must be terrifying for the animals and the people of course, but apart from the youngest children, people can understand what is happening, animals can't. It's not just the household pets - farm animals and wild animals. Who is there to look after the wildlife?

Mr Trump could so easily put an end to this pointless war by fully backing Ukraine if he wasn't so set on being best mates with Putin. Can any right-minded person understand why he's pro-Putin and anti-Zelenskyy? He has to be expecting some sort of lucrative business deal from Putin doesn't he? The go-ahead to build hotels etc - which seems to be the plan for Gaza. Kick out the Palestinians and turn the place into Gaza-Regid-On-Sea for the rich and wealthy.

Anyway...

Thunder storms seem to go around us here in Devon. I Like watching them. As long as they are not too close!

The best one was when I was a teenager. We were crossing the Adriatic by boat on our way to a holiday in Greece. It was a bit choppy (understatement!) but my Dad and I had our sea legs so were on deck one evening watching a distant lightning storm. I don't remember hearing any thunder - but the illumination show was incredible!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it was Benjamin Franklin who invented a lightning conductor rod for buildings and sailing ships around 1749–1752?

I often hear distant rumbles and see the dark sky with flickering lightning over to the north-west horizon (the direction of Wales) and we've had several gale-force winds these last few years. Fortunately no big trees too close to the house. Though some of the guttering came down in a small section last February. Still waiting for it to be fixed. (What is it with men and getting jobs done???)

I like Christmas, just a pity it falls in mid-winter, but there again, Christmas in mid-summer as in Australia and New Zealand? No, not for me.

Spring I like. If the weather behaves.

Look at that pic of the dairy above again ... see all the snowdrops? They're just about finished this year, and the daffodils are coming out. Mostly buds but there are a few brave ones.

Not that I end up with many daffs...

(no she doesn't eat them, just breaks them all!)

It's wonderful to hear the birds singing again, the buds and new leaves breaking out on trees and shrubs. We have a few crocuses, some morning glory - and loads of primroses.

It is a little warmer to very occasionally sit and have a morning coffee break outside under our gazebo. But coats are required.

And the lighter evenings! Oh Joy! I don't always suffer from S.A.D. but I do sometimes start that feeling of can't be bothered and preferring to stay in bed this time of year. It's been worse since Covid - I think because 2020/2021 brought staying indoors and away from people to the fore, and then became a bit of a habit.

This year (2026) didn't get off to a good start for me as I went down with an occasional visitor infection again - I call it 'Hamster Syndrome' because the glands on the right side of my neck puff up and I get flu-like fever symptoms which knock me for 5... then in came another virus, and knocked me for 6. (Is that a cricket saying? I must look up what it means one day!) It wasn't Covid or flu - fortunately I'd had my booster jabs, but a nasty, lingering virus.

Frankly. Dormice and hedgehogs have the right idea.

Sound asleep dormouse - found in our hay

Whilst on the subject of vaccinations... what IS the matter with parents who will not have their children protected against serious illness - or even death - by refusing to have the MMR jabs or Polio? Are they ignorant or stupid or both? All the so-called risks and anti-vac voices have proven to be FAKE and FALSE. Fair enough if, as an adult you didn't/don't want the Covid and flu protection - that's your choice (a stupid one, mind you - unless you have known health risks anyway.) But to not do everything possible and sensible to protect your children? What is the matter with people??? (I include Trump and his mindboggling idiot cronies.) I add, Mr Trump was more than happy with the science progress when he got Covid. Personally, I still think someone should have let him try the bleach.

And the inconsistency? He wants Greenland in order to see off Russian and Chinese shipping, because the ice is melting and opening the far north sea lanes. Melting because of Climate Change. Yet he insists that Climate Change is Fake News and a con trick. Go figure...

Good science is not some silly made-up fiction. OK some theories come and go (fat was bad for you, now it isn't because that's where the vitamins are stored. Red wine was good, ditto dark chocolate - now maybe not, so not everything is as good as it could be (what a pity science discovered nuclear weapons and maybe some areas of AI) but we are all grateful for the progress science has made for health - Cancer research, Parkinsons, Aids... (Did you know that the Reagan administration was heavily criticized for a slow, silent, and inadequate response during the early years of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s.) We fall over backwards to want cures for strokes, heart problems and cancer - no one is claiming those cures and procedures are false, or fake. Yet very important MMR and Polio jabs...?

Summer I like as long as it doesn't get too hot. Another reason why 'abroad' wouldn't suit me. (Too many places = too hot. Too many places = too cold!) I guess the UK is somewhat of a nice balance most of the time, although the weather IS changing. Being close to a farming community here in Devon, indeed son-in-law - and now my daughter by association default - is a farmer. There is no argument. The weather has changed!

make hay while the sun shines...

Summer, for us, means haymaking. There is something infinitely satisfying about seeing son-in-law Andrew cutting and turning the crop in our top field, then all hands on deck when he bales to bring it safely in. I can't do much to help now, but I do sit and watch. (And supervise.)

The year before last, I was sitting there watching as the others loaded bales onto the trailer and a honey bee from the hives in the same field came to say hello. She landed on one of the flowers on my patterned skirt and sat there for a bit. I swear she was trying to have a friendly conversation before she flew off again.

the final bales and full moon
Haymaking about 10pm summer 2025

Terribly tiring but absolute bliss.

You can read about haymaking in the third of my Jan Christopher Cosy Mystery series... "The Darling Buds Of May - set in Devon" and "as delicious as a cream tea"!

A Meadow Murder: https://mybook.to/AMeadowMurder )

the book cover
© avalon graphics

the actual view - our top field

And so to autumn. Again, it's the weather which makes the difference - warm, sunny days are good. Autumn morning mists can be lovely, as can be the first crisp days with a hint of frost.

But best of all - and best for all the year - are the wonderful autumn colours!