Can't Sleep

Another Early Start

   Me and sleep just ain't friends at the moment, it's been a while since I had a real nights sleep and yet again this morning I sit here with an early morning cuppa wishing I was still snuggled up in a warm bed like most people. I may have mentioned before that a lot of my older family all had problems sleeping, some only ever getting a few hours every night and I'm just hoping this isn't going to be my problem, I just put it down to the odd bit of stress or worries but I'm beginning to believe that's not the case, maybe a I need a small glass of something every evening to help, home made sloe gin sounds a good solution.
   Yesterday went really well with a good selection of beads being made followed by an hour in the garden getting bed number seven sorted, more seeds were sown in the greenhouse including cabbage and yard long french beans plus more flower seeds were sown for Yvonne, so all in all it was a very productive day.
   Last night my head was full of ceramic ideas so like always my note book never left my side, the plan is that I spend this fri, sat and Sunday in the ceramic room catching up on the last few freezing cold weeks, but I'm guessing I'll be very lucky if I manage to get all three days out there.
   Ok I better get my post sorted ready to send out later today, I need to photograph more beads to list this evening too, so I think this morning may not just be an early one but also a busy one.

Grey Start

No Sunshine This Morning

   After the last week of bright mornings we are back to those damp grey starts today, the rains of last night leaving the ground dark and heavy and shrubs still hang with water jewellery, really not the best of mornings.
   It's another full day at my torch for me with so many beads to make, I think the morning will be spent making focal's while this afternoon it's lentils and tyres, I really love days like this, days where I have a full nine or ten hours ahead in which I'm free to make whatever I fancy, in how many jobs are you able to do that ! No orders to sort or large amounts of spacer beads to make, just me and my flame left alone to play all day, bead makers heaven.
   One good thing about this milder weather is the fact I can get some ceramics done, it was so cold out in the clay room in the last few weeks that there has been no pot throwing, water, clay and freezing temperatures made for very cold hands, so they were put on hold for a few weeks. Now I'm glad to say my evenings can once again involve getting clay on my hands.
   I'm pleased to say I managed to get some time in the garden yesterday after work and another bed was set, that's six in total now, just another three to do plus the strawberry tables and runner bean trenches. The seedlings in the greenhouse are getting stronger every day and later today more seeds are to be sown, onion sets are to be set in one bed then covered with fleece until they get up and running and I need to plan the new site for my Gooseberry bushes, they were potted up last autumn now need a permanent home again.
   Ok, cuppa time over and my flame calling, I hope you all enjoy your day and get lots done and tho it's a grey day just remember spring is around the corner.

Day In Garden

Glad The Week Is Over

   It's been what seems like a very tough and long week with work and other things going on here at the barn so we decided to spend our day working in the garden, for me it was building yet more raised beds in the kitchen garden and for Yvonne it was cutting back any of last years growth on shrubs and having a good tidy up in the greenhouse.
   I was happy to get two more beds made and four beds all dug over and raked ready for sowing. My first crop of shallots for pickling are now set and a few rows of early radish are also sown, now we just need the weather to stay half decent.
   So far I've managed to keep all the seedlings in the greenhouse protected from any frost and fingers crossed it may mean a great early start to the growing season. Today I've sown some cabbage and french bean seeds under cover, the cabbages and most other greens will be sown every few weeks which I hope will mean fresh greens for most of the coming year, they are so easy to grow and full of goodness, it's a pity more people don't give them a go, they even grow really well in containers so lack of space is no reason not to.
   Next month the real fun will begin with most of the root vegetables being sown direct into the beds, carrots, beetroot and parsnips being my favourites, a lot of salads will also be sown next month both in beds and in pots, I still sow spring onions in pots as they grow so much quicker in the greenhouse and lets be honest a salad isn't a salad without spring onions.
   Tomorrow is a full day making beads for both of us, I still have focals to list in my ebay shop but they won't be going on this evening as after working in the garden I'm not sure I'll be able to move later haha ! To think I used to be working 9 or 10 hours a day landscaping yet now the odd day and my body feels like it's been hit by a train, oh well I guess we all get older, it's one thing to bike for miles but digging is a different excercise and one that I need to get used to again.
   Ok it's time for a cuppa while I watch the rugby, I hope you all enjoyed your day and tomorrow we get more sunshine.

Warm Spell Is Coming

Will The Weather Man Be Correct ?

   So we are looking forward to a warm spell by the sounds of the weather man, well if we are it will be great news for all us who want to get the garden jobs done, but I'll believe it when I see it. I must admit yesterday wasn't as cold in the barn tho it was as always a job to get my feet warm, I think those woollen socks need another outing.
   After working at my flame yesterday making lentil beads and focals I managed to get the second raised bed set up in the kitchen garden, to be honest with the cold winds blowing over us here in the fens it was great to to be keeping warm with some manual work. On our trip to the post office this morning I'll be keeping my eye out for free horse manure, in the summer months you see bags at gates all around this area but I'm guessing now when I need some they won't be there, sods law.
   It was nice to see some sunshine yesterday plus there seemed to be every bird in the area in our garden feeding, it was more like a spring morning than that of mid february, tho we did get some rain last evening. I'm happy with our bird feeding stations this year, we kept them topped up and did our bit to help those little feathered guys through the winter. I'm not sure what number of finches we will get this coming spring as now some of the big conifers are no longer there, I know some were nesting in those monsters but I just hope they find there are enough left to build again.
   As I mentioned last week I'm looking to start a new website after all the crap I've had from Mrsite and I think I've found a new hoster that looks ok for what I need, I don't want anything fancy just a reliable website from which I can show and sell my work, the hard bit is thinking of a new name for the site, I think I have 30 already noted down and still I'm not happy with any. It was mentioned that I keep the old name but I'm thinking a fresh start means a fresh start so a new site would be ideal plus I can add a link to the old site pointing people towards the new one.
   Ok I better get off to the post office then back to my flame next to the warm kiln, it will be nice when those early sunny mornings of summer are once again with us and I'll be sitting in the garden with a cuppa writing this blog, I'm sure it won't be long and anyway, we have the sights of spring to look forward to before then.
  

Back To My Torch

A Full Day Working Yipeeee !

   It's back to work for me and a full day in the barn, it seems ages since that happened and even the weather is mild for a change so no hot water bottles or foot warmers needed. I need to catch up on a couple of orders and there are beads to photo and list this evening, I have a pile of focals to list and a few more sets too.
   Yesterday someone mentioned how good it would be if we could all go back in time when our trades and crafts would allow us to barter, exchange our products for those of others, how a set of spacer beads could be exchanged for a dozen eggs or other everyday needs. Well it sounds like a great idea and I'd be one for trying it out any day, I'm guessing there must be sites out there on the wide world of the Internet where such things are done, there must be people out there who also think it would be a great way to live. I must admit in the summer I always have spare veg that I end up giving away to family or friends so with that and my beads maybe I could have something to offer.
   With the idea of moving the lamp working into the clay room this summer in mind we also know there will need to be one hell of a sort out in the barn, after the last six or seven years working in there you can imagine how much junk I've collected from bead making equipment to jewellery findings, even all the tools for silver work, I'm sure it will mean weeks sorting through it all, but I guess that could be fun.
   Well I better get off to my torch, cuppa time over and lots of beads to make plus I'm sure barter ideas to think about, hope you all enjoy your day and if you too like the idea of a barter town then let me know.

God I'm So Bored !

Looking After Ziggy

   Well to say I'm bored silly is an understatement, but it's in a good cause, little Ziggy my gardening mate was booked in at the vets yesterday for a small operation so now as he needs to be away from the other two dogs while he recovers I'm the one with the job of keeping him busy. After lots of walks a trips up the garden he is finally asleep in his pen with a new quilt and pillows, you can imagine who was in charge of that, Yvonne thinks more of the dogs that she does me I'm sure of it !
   At last the the snow as gone and the ground is ok to dig over, ideal to make a start on my raised beds tomorrow, thursday we'll all be back to work as normal so there is no way I'm getting bored tomorrow, I'm sure my little mate will enjoy a few hours helping me set beds up rather than sitting in the house feeling sorry for himself, tho even today he is nearly back to normal, I won't mention what he had done as it makes my eyes run just thinking of it, lets just say most men wouldn't want to lose them !
   A lot of bead orders were posted today so I hope there are just one or two left to post tomorrow, wish I had someone here who would do all the mundane jobs such as listing, packing and posting etc then I could stay on my torch without spending hours every week sitting at the pc, I don't think I'll ever get used to the admin side of things. I wonder if you can still hire an apprentice for a shilling a week like the victorians, including bread and water that is, I'm no Scrooge !
   Well off to the kitchen for me, dinner to cook and then an evening infront of the fire, feet up, notebook at my side and a nice coffee.
  

Warmer Day

Melting Snow and Cold Hands

   It's been a lot warmer today, even the car started this morning, not like yesterday when it was around    -12 and poor black Emma just wasn't starting, still the garden is covered in snow yet at last it's melting away leaving the winter shrubs green once more.

  Along with my little helper Ziggy I made time to play around in the kitchen garden site to start laying out some of the timbers for the beds, talk about cold hands I think I could place them in the stove and it wouldn't burn. This was followed by a visit into the greenhouse where those tiny seedlings are still keeping warm and looking stronger every day, some of the early tomatoes are through now, far too many of each sort as every year which makes the idea of selling off excess plants at the gate a promising one. I think like most people I must sow far too many seeds and end up with what can only be called hundreds of spare tomato, cucumber and pepper plants, not to mention all the cabbage and lettuce plants. I try dumping some onto family and friends but they never all get used, so this year they will indeed go on sale at the gate.
   After a morning at my torch I've spent a few hours making ceramic beads and pendants in the kitchen, I know Yvonne will kill me if I make a mess but sod it, a pan around the head is better than freezing my nuts off in the clay room, plus I've managed to find time to cook a nice pan of chili so I'm sure she won't mind. I'm happy with the ceramic beads, every set being different and all new to me, I'll make sure I get more done every evening this coming week then I'll have enough to fill the kiln for a bisque firing. Ive been making some two hole pendants too so I hope they turn out ok.
   This evening I'll be parked in my chair by the fire with my notebook and pencil drawing more ceramic bead ideas, it's strange how a week off ceramics can give you new life, fresh ideas just the same as a day or two from my torch.
   With a fresh week ahead and some milder weather on it's way I'm really looking forward to a very productive seven days which I hope means lots of listings in both ebay and etsy shops.
   Ok I'm off for a coffee and yet another new notebook, I hope you all enjoy your evening and have a great start to the new week tomorrow, at least there shouldn't be too much ice to remove from your cars in the morning.

World Of Ice

Not Even Going There !

   It's a day indoors in the warm for us, there is no way we can work all day out in the barn with these temperatures, I have a feeling this is the coldest day we have had since we moved here nearly ten years ago, even the stubble on my top lip became ice covered within minutes of being outside, I felt like the likes of Scott heading off to the pole.

   When we moved here people told us how the folks of the fens were hard people, they faced some freezing winters that were bitterly cold, yet still they went about their business without so much as a bad word. Now I know just what they mean, you see the real local fen tigers just carrying on as normal some without even a hat or winter coat and I thought all the years working out in the winter weather made me used to it !
   Yvonne is out there just cleaning a few beads that she needs to post then it's back to the warm for her and a day in front of the fire.
   Looking at the amazing ice effects this morning has I must admit given me some ideas for bead designs tho I'm sure most bead makers will have tried most of them, it's just finding that one unique idea that may work, sounds easy but I promise it ain't !
   Well I better leave you all to enjoy your own Ice worlds, I'm just off out with the camera to see what pictures I can come up with, it's ok seeing the pictures but a different matter of getting them with a lens.

No Sleep, No Work And In Agony !

   A Night To Forget

   What a night I had, I must have slept with my head in a silly position as I woke in the early hours with the most painful neck and shoulder, I must say I'm used to bad backs etc having spent all those years landscaping but this had be beat, I was in agony. It is safe to say it's a lot better this afternoon but I'm really not looking forward to bed tonight. We seem to think the fact I have a pile of pillows when I go to bed is part of the reason and it was suggested I use just a single pillow tonight.
   Every time I turn my head to the left I feel it and It even managed to stop me working a full day, a good excuse to be in the warm this afternoon ! I've had a warm wheat bag in it and that seems to have made a big difference so fingers crossed tomorrow I'll be back to normal work wise.
   I've been photographing beads and started to list some in both etsy and ebay shops but a lot more to come, the last of the bead mountain is now in the barn where they will stay for the next few years I'm guessing.

   The temperature here today as been really low, the soft snow is now crunchy under foot and the thoughts of spring are now just satarting to entre my head. The timber for the raised beds arrived yesterday so now it's just a matter of waiting for the snow to clear and the ground to warm up before I start getting them built, I think this is the first winter I have ever wanted to pass quickly.

Back To Normal

The World Seems Alive Again

   After the last couple of days it's nice to see the world here in the fens is back to normal, the roads seem clear and the early workers have been passing since 6 this morning. It was great getting back to my flame yesterday, we put in a long day but at least we managed to keep warm which was a big help.
   Thankfully the freezing temperatures didn't reach us last night and the paths to the barn are still safe to use, we had some rain late last night and I thought it may freeze but thank god I was wrong. I hope the coal arrives this morning as it would be nice to keep the cottage warm over the next few days, so fingers crossed.
   Maybe, just maybe my timber will turn up today from the local wood yard, I ordered some of the boards for the raised beds at the weekend, I will need more but this will give me enough for a good start when the snow clears. There is yet more news on the seed front, the leek seeds are popping their heads up above the compost now so there is yet more life in the greenhouse, it's amazing really how that tiny bit of heat can bring those small seeds to life when outside the glass the world is thick with snow, lets hope I can keep those seedlings safe and well over the next month so we get some nice early crops this year.
   On the bead front it's yet another day for etsy beads plus I need to make some spacer orders from the website and this evening I'm listing a few more beads in both the etsy and ebay shops, I still have sale beads to list so I guess more of those can be added too.
   Last night we talked about moving the bead making into the clay room in the summer and me using the barn for my ceramic work. The main reason behind this is the fact that we could warm the clay room far better as it's constructed from block work, not timber to let in the cold and no ill fitting door to let drafts in. It would be ideal for next winter as we are both reaching the limits working in the barn in these cold months, yes I know if we could afford to use electric heaters we would be ok but the fact is we just can't. So it makes sense to try to move into the clay room where we could, if we can find a second hand one, fit a small wood burning stove. With the solid block walls it would make it so much safer to fit as timber and heat just don't get on. The clay room is all fitted with electric and to be honest it would just mean building new work benches in there, out torches should be easy to move and the kiln we can set up anywhere, so it all makes sense to do it, next winter with a warm work room, god what a great thought !
   As for moving the ceramics into the barn, well it would mean I get lots of beanches to work on and space to place pots to dry, a real positive way to go.
   Ok off to work now, the kiln should be ready and I'm looking forward to new beads, hope you all enjoy your day and everything is back to normal where you are.

Dark Cold Morning

Cold Day Ahead

   It's a dark old morning here this morning with the sky looking like it may well be full of more snow, the temperature is just above freezing and a few brave souls are heading out off to work on the ice, the kiln is on warming up for a long cold day ahead and hot water bottles are at the ready waiting to be filled, so all in all the normal winter preparations are done and it's cuppa time.

   Its a bit chilly here in the cottage as we let the stove go out in the night, we are now down to our last bucket of coal and as the coal man won't be here until tomorrow we decided to just light the stove later this evening, after all we will be in the barn all day so seems silly to waste those last pieces of black gold warming an empty home.
   It's back to my torch for me today after a weekend playing with clay tho I must admit I got nowhere near as many ceramic beads made as I thought I would, I guess this big kid was distracted by the snow too much. I need to get more beads made for my etsy shop as most of the new sets have sold, I'm really enjoying doing something a bit different alongside my focals that I always enjoy. The sale beads have gone down really well and I've enjoyed hearing from some of those who obtained them, I'm glad they have found new homes and can be of some use, I'll sort out a few more sets then the rest will be off to the barn in a box.
   I'm still looking for a new website provider after being let down by MrSite, it really pisses me off that a firm who were getting two hundred quid a year from me couldn't even be bothered to help sort the problem out, two websites and I couldn't download a picture tho I can download pictures on to every other site I go on to, just makes you wonder who was the cause of the problem mmmm ! I'm sure I'll get something sorted soon, fingers crossed.
   Ok I better get out there to my flame and face the cold tho to be honest I'm looking forward to being back on my torch, two days off make this bead maker a really grumpy one !
  

Dad, My Tongue Won't Go In

     As you can see in the picture, Ziggy loving the snow while I was playing in the greenhouse, and great to see my first seeds are coming up on the heated bench, mixed salad leaf will be the first crop this spring by the looks of it, I need to get a lot more sown including the first early radish.

   Ok, back to it.
  

It's Here !!

Snow Arrives In The Fens

   So at last it makes it here to the fens, deep snow was waiting as we woke this morning, a white quilt covers the garden and tree branches bend under thick winter coats, winter is now here with all her beauty, just a reminder of the power she holds and the wonderful presents she can command.

   An early start was called for here with the stove being the first job, once that was sorted and coal bucket filled it was out to the barn with kiln to start, Yvonne wants to make spacers today so no warm day inside for her. The barn looks so cold across the garden nestled under the snow covered conifers.
   It's ceramics for me in the kitchen, beads and pendants to be made along with a number of cups of tea that is, but I think that's after a few more jobs, the first being to salt the path to the barn as the last thing we need is a broken leg or ankle.
   We planned to get all orders posted tomorrow but the few that are to be recorded may have to wait a day as the roads here are not good, just a couple of four wheel drives daring to use them, better safe than sorry and we could always walk the couple of miles to the post office, we'll see how it goes tomorrow.

   Well I better get those jobs sorted and beads made, I hope you all enjoy the snow and it doesn't cause you too many problems.

Snow On It's Way

Will We Or Won't We ?

   Well we have been told the snows are on the way, they forecast four or five inches but I'll believe it when I see it. I know three little dogs who will enjoy it if it does arrive and to be honest this big kid will too, I'm sure the camera will be out and you'll be getting a few winter photographs here on the blog.
   It was yet another bitterly cold day here in the fens not getting much above -3 all day, yet it seemed warmer in the barn, I'm guessing the two pairs of socks helped haha. Now I have a weekend of ceramic bead and pendant making ahead, it was planned I'd be throwing pots but to be honest it's so cold in the clay room my fingers would drop off, so the kitchen table as been cleared of beads and I get two days working in the warm yipeeee !!
   This last few days have been a real pain and I mean pain, my back as been killing me, yes I know it's my old work chair and yes I must be sitting in a very bad position but how the hell do I change, new chair ?, out the question, sitting straight, not a chance, I guess it's just something I need to accept, and if it means the odd bit of back trouble then so be it.
   Ok off to make coffee followed by a few hours relaxing and waiting to see if the snow arrives.

Warm At Last

Freezing Fens

   Well it's only took around 15 hours for me to feel warm, the barn was to put it politely, bloody freezing today, whatever we tried it just wouldn't warm up, heater, hot water bottles, numerous layers of clothes plus countless cups of tea and coffee all failed, I guess we just need to get used to it as the next couple of weeks seem to be bringing more cold weather with them.
   Days like this remind how much I must love my job, at least when I was landscaping I was out lifting huge amounts of stone keeping warm, now I sit trying to keep warm while what seems like every corner of the barn holds yet another tiny hole to let in the cold, all part of the perfect world of a beadmaker !
   I think tomorrow I'll try to set a new world record for wearing the most jumpers, I'm sure I could get three or four over the two shirts, maybe strap an hot water bottle to my back as well, we'll see.

Thick White Frost

Delayed Start

   A late start here this morning, the propane tank just ran out and they shop won't be open yet so time for a quick cuppa and a few lines here.
   We woke to a great white covering of frost this morning, a really nice picture the garden makes with the ponds frozen and every shrub hanging with ice jewellery, this is was we expect from early February and she hasn't let us down. We face a cold day in the barn but an exciting one with me trying out yet more bead ideas, the last week or so my note book hasn't left my side, I guess we all have spells when the ideas just flow, it must be the same for those who write.
   I just hope Yvonne gets those hot water bottles filled while I'm replacing the gas tank, we are going to need every bit of warmth this morning, it's days like this when I'm glad I work with a flame !
   Ok I better go change that gas and I'm sure I'll be back on here this evening.