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.
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Monday, 6 February 2012
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 !
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.
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 !
Sunday, 5 February 2012
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.
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.
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.
Friday, 3 February 2012
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.
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.
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
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.
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.
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.
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