Category Archives: Uncategorized

The magic of sparks and small toolboxes

While I was at Elvaston Castle at the weekend I got to talking with Mark Constable of the Al Fresco forge. Mark was demonstrating lighting a fire using a flint and steel, making it look easier than lighting a match … Continue reading

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Dawn Mowing at Brantwood House

Time, once again, for the ‘dawn mowing’ at Brantwood, former home of John Ruskin.  Last year, Sally Beamish invited early-rising north west scythers to join her in the beautiful lakeside hay meadow, to mow and prepare for the first outdoor theatre … Continue reading

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A Dalbeattie teaser

I spent yesterday working in Dalbeattie with Gavin Phillips. I’ll write a full post about the interesting day we had another time but for now there’s just time to share this quote Gavin has framed in his workshop.   While we … Continue reading

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Woman mowing wheat

It’s unusual to see old pictures of women mowing so this great photo merits it’s own post.  Note that she’s holding the snath by the shaft it’s made for someone taller than her and there’s no cradle or bow on … Continue reading

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Transylvanian milking stool

A quick post to share a picture I found from the trip Christiane and I made to Gyimes in Transylvania this summer for a Haymaking Festival. One morning we got up early and walked up the hill to where our … Continue reading

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"Mowing" by Robert Frost

Winter time and the mowing season is well and truly over in my neck of the woods, hence the smaller number of posts (why not check out my green woodwork blog SteveTomlinCrafts which gets more active in the autumn and … Continue reading

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Apple Day 2011

Update 12/10/11: Unfortunately the National Trust today contacted me to say they have cancelled this year’s event due to the recent rain and condition of the fields. On Sunday 16th Oct I’ll be at Acorn Bank near Penrith for their … Continue reading

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Anna Karenina extras "scandal"

I got back last night from the second round of filming the mowing scenes for Anna Karenina by Tolstoy. While we were away somebody told us about that the filming had made the papers because of extras being supposedly underpaid. … Continue reading

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The Scythe Song

I’m in Romania, mowing as part of a Haymaking Festival but while I’m away I thought you could have some music. For ages I’ve been looking for a scythe song, ideally something for a team of mowers to sing while … Continue reading

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Mowing weeds & rushes

During the winter I worked on a friend’s farm planting up some areas with a mix of hardwood trees. This week I’ve had two interesting days of work clearing the vegetation which has had all year to grow up in … Continue reading

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